(Notes courtesy of NCBI)
Guiding a person with impaired vision on stairs:
After you have offered a person with impaired vision your arm, and he or she is walking with you, it may happen that you need to use stairs to get where you are both going.
Some tips to remember:
- Always guide the person towards the stairs in such a way that the handrail will be easy for them to reach.
- Stop at the beginning of the staircase, especially if the stairs lead downwards, before telling them that there are stairs. If you tell people with sight loss that you are approaching stairs, while moving towards the stairs, you are raising the level of stress involved.
- Wait until you reach the stairs, stop, then tell the person you are guiding whether the stairs are up or down.
- Tell the person with impaired vision that there is a handrail nearby, and then wait for him/her to grip it before you move off.
- You may need to give further directions (higher, lower, farther forward, etc.) to help the person to find the handrail.
- Ask him/her whether he/she would like to stay on your arm as well as using the handrail, or whether he/she would like to use his/her cane. It is usually best to let a guide dog user use the dog on stairs.
- Always go in front of a person with impaired vision, whether going up or downstairs, so that you can advise them of any problems ahead. (Vacuum cleaner cord, or “Wet Floor” sign, for example).
- If the person with impaired vision opts to continue on your arm while on the stairs, ask him/her to allow you to go one step ahead. This is easier for both of you.
- Don’t count steps, unless there are only 2 or 3. A miscount could cause a trip. It’s best to wait until the person’s foot is on the top (or bottom) of the stairs, and then say “Now we’re at the top” or “Now there’s a landing before the next flight”.
