How can I walk more comfortably and effectively with a guide?

Hold the guide's arm just above the elbow, similar to the way you hold a cup (credit: Dona Sauerburger)

There may be times when you find that it is faster and easier to get somewhere by walking with another person who will act as a “guide.” The following tips can be helpful if you use a guide to help you walk to your mailbox, visit a neighbor, or shop in a mall or grocery store.

1. Take the guide’s arm and hold it gently but firmly just above the elbow, with the same grasp you would use to hold a glass of water (thumb on one side of the guide’s arm, and fingers on the other side). This grip will allow you to receive the greatest amount of feedback from the guide’s movements.
2. If you use a cane, take the guide’s arm with your free hand.
3. Tell the guide if his or her pace is too fast for you. It’s important that you walk at a pace that is comfortable for both of you.


The correct position: half a step behind the guide (credit: Dona Sauerburger)

4. Follow the guide’s movements and stay half a step behind the guide when you walk together. A good way to do this is to keep your elbow close to your body.
5. If you walk in this position, instead of side-by-side, you will have time to react to hazards or obstacles in your path.
6. Instruct your guide to approach curbs and steps head-on, rather than at an oblique angle, so that you know where to expect the edge of the curb or step in relation to your guide’s – and your own – body.
7. Remember that it usually requires training and practice to follow the movement of your guide to anticipate steps and stairs, especially if you have some useful vision.
8. Ask your guide to always leave you in contact with a landmark, such as a chair, table, or wall, and not leave you alone in an “open” space.
9. An orientation and mobility (O&M) specialist can teach you additional techniques and signals that you and your guide can use to go through doorways and walk single file through narrow spaces.
10. Try to use visualization in combination with this guiding technique in order to receive maximum feedback from your surroundings. For more information, see Maximizing All Your Senses on this web site.