Ben, who is blind, watches football every Sunday at his buddy’s apartment. One afternoon, a new neighbor joined the regular crew.
“I could tell he was wondering: why’s that guy here? He can’t even see the screen.”
Ben was quick to break the ice. He offered the neighbor a seat on the couch, and pointed to the earbud in his right ear. He prefers the radio broadcast over TV, he explained, because it’s much more descriptive.
“I think I changed his mind,” he laughed. “Between my fantasy football stats and my hot wings recipe, it’s pretty clear you don’t need to see the screen to be a real fan.”
CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE
Explain the location.
Some simple orientation will help your guest feel at home. Phrases such as “the living room has a couch on the left with a coffee table in front of it,” or “the bathroom is to your right,” can be helpful. Eliminate any random obstacles that might pose a tripping hazard.
Describe the food.
If you are serving food and beverages, tell your blind guest what’s on the tray or in the cooler. Also, offer to help fill a plate or refresh a drink.
Use “see” verbs freely.
You won’t offend a blind person if you use visual verbs such as “did you see that,” or “you see what I mean” or “we can watch that later.” People who are blind use these words too.
