Providing Directions

Use directions such as “right” and “left” in accordance with the direction the person who is blind is facing.

Give approximate distances and landmarks along the way, such as “The stairwell is about twenty feet down the hall to your right,” or “The elevator is on the left at the end of this hall. You will pass two doors along the way.”

Landmark clues can also be sounds and smells, so you could mention the smell of popcorn at the cafeteria or the sound of a loud machine at the transition to a production floor.

If outside, give distances in blocks and numbers of streets the person will cross. “City hall is three blocks up on your left” or “You will cross two streets and the bus stop will be at the end of the block on your right.”

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