Learning to lead blind walkers

As co-ordinator of Southwark WfH scheme, Sylvie organises walk leader training days but she also has a background in special needs work.

Sylvie decided to devise a new ½ hour session – entitled ‘Walk in my shoes’ – as part of the training day. Trainees get into pairs. They then take it in turns to shut their eyes and be led by the other person relying only on trust and good communication.

The trainees begin to understand, for example, how changes underfoot can make them feel as though they’re going to fall or how the shadow of a tree gives the impression of a wall. They become much more aware of their senses, the smell of spring flowers or even the Thames, the sounds of children, dogs, or leaves under foot.
Sylvie Livett, co-ordinator, Southwark Health Walks

This part of the training takes places on a gravel footpath besides the Thames. While it is going on, Silvie dashes around persuading passers by to talk loudly, crunch their crisp packets, sit on benches with their legs outstretched and all manner of other things that the leader then has to explain to their ‘visually impaired’ partner.

The aim is for trainees to become aware of what helps blind people, or those with visual impairment, to feel comfortable, safe and informed. At the end there is 10 minutes of feedback and all evaluations have shown that participants are very positive about ‘Walk in my shoes’.

WfH Cascade Trainers in the area are now adding this session to their programme and the Royal National Institute for the Blind is aware that Southwark Health Walks have walk leaders whose training has included this session.

My hope now is that the rebuilding of Burgess Park – where we often walk – will include a sensory garden. If we could then put on the visual impairment walk there, that would be wonderful.
Sylvie Livett, co-ordinator, Southwark Health Walks