Sassy Wyatt is a registered blind Disability Awareness Consultant who films her experience travelling London's public transport.

Asking for support is part of Sassy's everyday travel experience, but she sometimes experiences poor treatment. The two clips showcase a bad experience, as well as a good one.

Ms Wyatt advises that the best way to approach a blind person you have never met is to introduce yourself. She gives the example: 'Hi, my name is Grant, I noticed you standing here, would you like any assistance?'

However: "If the blind person does know you or has requested assistance from a service, such as the London underground, being specific works best. 'Hi Sassy it’s Dave from Passenger Assistance, I’m here to get you to the exit. How can I best assist you?'

It is important because it helps orientate the blind person to the sound of your voice and they can accept or decline your offer of help, and continue the conversation in explaining how best to guide them.

Stairs in the tube stations and around other public transport systems are hard enough to navigate for a sighted person - for a blind person, the key is for a a person with sight to match their exact pace: "If you overcompensate and are not aligned, the person could be unsteady on their feet and not feeling safe as you ascend or descend."

When it comes to guide dogs, which are always on the person's left side, people should not interact with the dog as it will be in 'deep concentration and work mode.'

Sassy says that if someone is assisting a blind person with a guide dog, the the guide dog owner will hold onto the dogs lead with their left hand and the sighted persons elbow with their right hand.




ENDS