Physical & Visual
Environment
Chapters 11-13
Guidelines for Working &
Socializing with the Deaf-Blind
Physical Environment
Chapter 11
Clothing:
Loose clothes
Clothes with pockets
Day packs
Comfortable shoes
Pleasing Texture
Contrasting, non-reflecting
Ideal is high neckline, ¾ sleeves
Comfortable Environment
Sitting/standing
Move furniture
Adjust yourself for comfort
Support your back!
“Comfortable chairs not ideal
Don’t twist!
Support your wrist
Lower your arms
Lower your shoulders
Same side of table
Take opportunities to put your hands down
Take opportunities to stretch, & to rest
Give each other backrubs
Lighting
Affect choice of place
One size does not fit all:
 Fluorescent overhead lighting best for Usher’s
 200 watts lighting for Usher’s but 60 watts best for people with
Optic Atrophy
 Avoid placing DB person in front of window or into the light
 In general, overhead light is better
 Lighting should be bright enough to read by
 DB people wear hats indoors
 Glare
 Takes more light to see facial expressions and hands of people
who are dark skinned.
Sound
Turn off radio and TV
Choose a quiet restaurant
Rooms with rugs and drapes minimizes
echoes and provide good acoustic
environment
Minimize environmental noise
The Art of Conversation
Chapter 12
Optimal to clear communication
Relax and
Prepare
Focus
It’s ok to talk about yourself
Tell the DB person what you see, what you
notice
Enjoy the DB person’s imagination
Art of Conversation II
Blither but don’t ramble
Redundancy is good
Pausing and receiving feedback is good
Use non-verbal communication
Respond to the feeling not only the
content
Talk about things the person knows and
things that is new to the person
Art of Conversation III
Don’t take responsibility for the feelings
Good communication is form as well as content
Be assertive
If you feel interrupted, say so
Remember interruptions are probably not
personal
Build your skills
Remember to show appreciation
From time to time review all the points made in
this book about being clear.
Describing What You See
Chapter 13
Place
Mood
Time and Patterns
Elements of Good Descriptions
Motivation
Focus
Timeliness
Information vs. Evaluation
Organization
Who and What to Describe
Describe the physical surroundings
Describe the people
Describe the ambiance
Describe things that are new or striking
 Points of Interest
 Meeting Information
Take your cue from the DB person
Notice and mention the presence of the DB person’s
friends; social details
Mention interesting new consumer information
When walking w/ a DB person, give a running report of
stores you pass and what they sell in general
Why Describe Something
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

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Notice your own feelings
Don’t describe things just for the sake of it
Shopping tips
Pressed for Time
Longer stays require thorough orientation
Form and placement of light sources
Scents
Layout, grounds and walls
Safety issues:

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Elevators and escalators
Obstacles
Sharp corners & sudden turns
Stairs if unusual
How to Describe Things
Start with basic, general plan of the environment
– where are you? Outdoors, in the lobby, someone’s
office?
– What’s the name of the street, building?
– Who else is there what are they doing?
– what do you see?: décor, posters, bulletins etc.
Begin with the familiar and then add new
information
Description with Purpose
Repeats
Practice this skill
Try to be efficient not lengthy
How to Describe Things II
Try to be specific:
 Ex: Instead of many, say about 25 people; instead of
big, outline the size
 Instead of saying something is beautiful, explain what
you are seeing ex: mountain range with sun setting,
sky has blue & pink streaks etc.
Describe behavior instead of labeling it
Use the DB’s hand as a simple map
Mention trends such as fashion, hair, fads etc.
Reading Menus & Other Papers
Begin with sense of menu: ordinary,
elaborate, elegant, folksy then identify
major sections
Inform about specials of the day
Use same strategy for handouts
Keep your eyes/ears open for other goingons while reading
Cultural Protocols
Provide visual information that fosters
independence such as location of bathrooms,
water fountain, or TTY pay phone.
Provide visual information that is culturally
relevant such as large print, Braille materials, or
TV with captions etc.
Share protocols for meetings
It is important to introduce yourself & your team
interpreter prior to start of activity or meeting.
When changing interpreters, announce an
interpreter switch.
Support Service Providers (SSPs) should also
introduce themselves
Protocols I
Every time you speak, always start with stating
your name
Consistently identify speakers
Start with global information, move to large
categories, description and detail ex:
 Global: Discuss upcoming Election
 Categories: Current Issues: Who is Republican,
Democrats etc.
 Description and detail: Names of local and national
incumbents running for office, their platforms etc.
 Use this technique also for various settings
Protocols II
If possible, provide opportunities for DB
person to connect visual information with
touching the object.
Ask for pauses if you need more time to
share information or details
Empowerment Cues: make mental notes
of particular interests of DB people, and
then provide pertinent visual information
when appropriate.