You are welcome to the thumb press guide which is a technique for aiding people with visual impairment. This technique is used as an informative tool to alert people with visual impairment of impediments such as gutters, hills, slopes and any obstacle which is to be crossed or moved over or under.

Unlike the sighted guide technique where an individual with visual impairment holds his guide’s upper part of the elbow, the thumb press guide is suitable when both of you hold hands while walking.

To indicate any impediment that requires the stretch or a lift of the leg or hands, the guide presses the thumb of the person with visual impairment.

For clarity and certainty, the guide will have to discuss with the visual impaired person the number of times the thumb should be pressed to signal the different forms of impediments they are likely to come across.

For instance, visual impaired directive: please press my thumb only once if there is a gutter, twice if we are to descend stairs, thrice if we are passing beneath a higher object and I need to duck.

Kindly note that this technique is purely personal and must be carefully planned with the person you intend helping to ensure reduction of failures.

Join us again next month on the GESI Corner.