Appropriate help for the visually impaired

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As a frontline Police officer, what do you do when you come across disabled people? Needless to say, you will try to do something to help them. However, many of us are unaware that people with different handicaps require different degrees and forms of help. For example, many presume that visually impaired persons (VIPs) are the same as blind people and treat both groups in the same way. And that would be wrong!

Retina Hong Kong conducted a workshop at the Police Training School (PTS) earlier this month to explain how frontline officers should communicate with and handle VIPs. Over 150 PTS staff and trainees attended the workshop.

President of Retina Hong Kong, Mr Tsang Kin-ping, told OffBeat: "Our concern over Police officers' understanding of VIPs arose from their handling of a public event involving a number of VIPs.

"Therefore, we wrote to Police Public Relations Branch and offered to give a talk at the PTS to enhance officers' understanding of VIPs. We believe that such information will help to improve mutual trust and co-operation between VIPs and Police officers, which is essential to a harmonious society."

Mr Tsang joined four Retina Hong Kong members and staff to brief officers on a number of topics including the difference between blindness and visual impairment, and the skills required to handle VIPs and their special needs.

The workshop was both informative and interesting, according to three participants, Station Sergeant Lee Wai-keung, Sergeants Tung Sui-lun and Lee Chung-keung.

Station Sergeant Lee told OffBeat that the workshop taught him how to identify and approach VIPs. "Many people think that VIPs can see nothing. In fact, they can still detect things with their eyes but not as clearly as we do.

"Unlike blind people, many VIPs do not wear sunglasses or use a walking stick. So, it's quite difficult to identify them from their appearance alone.

"However, we can differentiate them from others by observing their gestures and movements. For instance, their walking pace varies from time to time and they frequently move their heads for a clearer vision."

Speak clearly, be specific

Sergeant Lee added: "The speakers also told us that the most effective way to communicate with VIPs is to talk to them in a clear manner because they may be unable to interpret our facial expressions or other body language.

"To guide VIPs, we should let them hold our arms or forearms instead of pulling their hands. Besides, we should also give directions and distances in great detail. Don't simply point your fingers in this direction or that or say things like 'this side' or 'over there'. Instead, tell them it is 'in front of' or 'behind' them, on their left or their right."

Sergeant Tung said that the workshop reinforced similar advice he had received from his two visually impaired friends. "I think it is a good idea to organise workshops of this nature because it enables frontline officers to get a clear concept of the appropriate handling of VIPs."

PTS Continuation & Promotion Training Division Chief Inspector, Mr Lau To-sang, expressed his gratitude to Retina Hong Kong for their unfailing enthusiasm and effort in preparing for the workshop. "Similar workshops will be run in future whenever they are needed. Moreover, we will continue to invite guest speakers from all walks of life to give talks to us so that we can further enhance our understanding and ties with different sectors of our community."

To get more information regarding visual impairment, please visit Retina Hong Kong website at http://www.retina.org.hk

Workshop: "visually impaired" is not the same as blind
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