Sighted Guide By Michelle Parker

Basic Sighted Guide Purpose: To enable the student to utilize a sighted guide safely and efficiently.

Basic Method With the back of his hand the guide contacts the student’s arm. The student moves his hand up the guide’s arm into position just above the elbow.

Rationale The purpose behind this method is to maintain constant contact with the guide’s arm which avoids unnecessary grouping and helps to locate the proper position above the guide’s elbow.

Observations Contact may also be established by the guide supplying a verbal clue in the context of the conversation. Ex. “Sue it’s Mrs. Parker do you want some help?”. The position can be modified when there is extreme difference in height between student and guide.

Positioning The student’s thumb is positioned just above the elbow on the lateral side of the guide’s arm with the remaining four fingers on the medial side, with a grip that is secure. The arm of the student should form and angle of 90% approximately with the forearm pointing forward.

Positioning In order to afford optimal informational feedback the thumb and fingers must be in proper position. A secure grip is also important. The positional relationship between the student and the guide allows the student reaction time. The student should be about ½ step behind guide.

Resources Hill, Everett and Ponder, Purvis, O&M Techniques- a Guide for the Practitioner, American Federation for the Blind New York, New York, Glover, Donna, Instruction in Basic O&M Techniques, 2008.