How to Walk with a Guide

Sometimes 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.

Hold the guide’s arm just above the elbow, similar to the way you hold a glass of water or a soda can (credit: Dona Sauerburger)

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 the outside of the guide’s arm, and fingers on the other side, nearer the guide’s body). This grip will provide the greatest feedback from the guide’s movements.
2. The grip should be firm enough so you don’t lose contact with the guide but not so firm that the guide is uncomfortable.
3. If you use a cane, take the guide’s arm with your free hand.
4. Tell the guide if their pace is too fast for you. It’s important to walk at a comfortable pace for both of you.

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

5. Follow the guide’s movements and stay half a step behind the guide when you walk together. Keeping your elbow close to your body is a good way to do this.
6. If you walk in this position, instead of side-by-side, you will have time to react to hazards or obstacles in your path.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. If you are approaching a narrow space, your guide should signal the change by moving his or her hand behind the back. You then move directly behind your guide and slide your hand down to the guide’s wrist.
11. When approaching a drop-off, your guide should stop with his or her toes close to the drop-off and announce: “Curb up” or “Stairs going down.” Then, the guide should step forward and allow you to find the stair or curb with your toes. If there is a handrail, your guide should always position you on the side of it and let you know where it is so you may use it.
12. When going through a door, you will need to know two things from your guide: 1) Does the door open to the right or the left? and 2) Does the door open out or in? If the door opens on the right, you should be on the guide’s right side. If the door opens on the left, you should be on the guide’s left side. This may require a change of sides.
13. 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.
14. Try to use visualization in combination with this guiding technique to receive maximum feedback from your surroundings. For more information, see Learn To Use Your Other Senses.