You may need to guide a deafblind customer around while you are serving them.

Do

• Offer your arm for the deafblind person to hold so they can follow you
• Let them hold stairs handrails. Walk in front to guide them
• Take care not to bump them into anything

Don’t

• Grab, push or pull a deafblind person. This could cause alarm or an accident
• Hurry the deafblind person
• Suddenly change direction. Deafblind people often have problems with balance

If you are taking a deafblind customer through a narrow space or doorway, move the arm they are holding onto gently behind you. As the person feels the movement of your arm they will move behind you.

When you are showing a deafblind person to a seat, put their hand on the arm or seat of the chair and let them sit down. Please don’t try to push them into the seat.

Important points

• Keep floor space, aisles, doorways and stairs clear of boxes or rubbish so that a deafblind person will not trip over them
• If fire alarm is raised, check for any customers who may not see people leaving or have heard it
• Try not to wash floors when customers are around. Deafblind people can’t see a slippery surface, caution signs, or hear a shouted warning