When meeting a person with a visual disability
Blindness can be defined as the physiological condition of lacking sight. A person is considered "legally blind" in the U.S. with the visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction, or when their field of vision is 20 degrees or less in the better eye. Many people who are legally blind regard their blindness as an inconvenience more than they consider it a disability.

Here are a few tips to assist you when you meet a person who is blind.

• Do not be upset when a person who is legally blind does not recognize you. Feel free to reintroduce yourself by saying more than your name. You may wish to remind the visually impaired person that you last spoke or met on such-and-such a date or in such-and-such a place. It may take more than one introduction for the person who is blind to recognize you.
• Introduce new people with pertinent information, such as "On your right is Christine Johnson, our new treasurer." As you begin to converse (and this is even more necessary in larger groups), say the name of the person to whom you are speaking. This gives the person who is blind a vocal clue.
• When you move, tell the person who is blind. This makes it possible for the person who is blind to follow you and speak to you rather than to empty air.
• Speak to a person who is blind using your normal voice. People who are blind are not necessarily deaf.
• As always, when offering assistance, wait for your offer to be accepted and then wait for instruction.

If you have an etiquette tip to share, contact Inez Torres Davis.