Guiding blind and partially sighted people

More than 370,000 people in the UK are registered as blind or partially sighted but there are many more, up to two million, who have a visual impairment and are not registered. Most use shops, public transport and roads in exactly the same way as sighted people do.

But sometimes people do need assistance to get around safely without getting lost. When, where and how a sighted person should offer help to someone with a visual impairment, can cause confusion and difficulty for both.

Crowded streets, poor paving, badly parked cars, overhanging bushes - all can create an obstacle course for visually impaired people.

It is important that assistance is offered to those who need it and that it is a help, not a hindrance.

The simple rule is, if someone seems to need help, offer it. The fact that a person is blind or partially sighted does not necessarily mean they need help. It is always best to ask, not assume.

Download Action for Blind People's Guiding factsheet for more information.

Download our guiding fact sheet colour version (83 KB)
Download our guiding fact sheet black and white version (119 KB)
Download our guiding fact sheet Word version (30 KB)