What Do You Do When You See A Blind Person? (1971)

[Music] [Applause] [Music] this is jim who's been blind for three years and this is our hero whose name is phil he's about to meet his first blind person he's like many sighted people when it comes to knowledge about blind people he's totally ignorant and like most people our hero doesn't know that he really doesn't know about blind people he thinks he knows let's prove it by peeking into our hero's mind to see how he would handle this situation [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so [Music] let's speak into phil's mind again does he also have that old-fashioned idea that all blind people are beggars and should be treated as objects of grief and pity [Music] that's what's in your mind that's how you think blind people should be treated isn't it phil well you're wrong and i'll prove it but first let's get jim across the street he won't hurt you no go ahead blind people are just like everybody else they don't bite go up to him that's it and so he'll know he's about to be helped make it clear you're talking to him ask if you can help him no not like that let him take your arm then he can follow the motion of your body jim like most blind people will decide the most comfortable position for him if you just relax you'll make it easier for jim to sense when you come to the curb [Music] who's helping who good at the beginning you might tell him when you come to the curb so he'll know you don't have to walk that cautiously pick a comfortable pace and walk slightly ahead of him no not that far excellent walk in a straight line and avoid any unnecessary or sudden movements sometimes stairs present a problem you see it's not enough to tell a blind person that you're approaching steps you must tell them which way they go up or down also you really should describe them to him the height of the step whether they curve good again stay slightly ahead of him you got the rhythm phil and he'll sense when you've come to the top but again you might tell him our hero is learning he's discovered that jim doesn't beg for a living but works as a computer programmer like some blind people he wears sunglasses because sunlight hurts his eyes but surprisingly our hero has discovered that jim has never tried french food phil is no gourmet himself but that doesn't stop our hero all right it's settled tomorrow at lunchtime we go to the lay souffle and we take a look uh we'll see we'll find out what's on the menu okay i'm sorry don't be i use words like look and see all the time they're an everyday part of our language and as a blind person i understand that so don't let it worry you because when you do you make me feel uncomfortable for you okay mate all right two o'clock must get back to the office oh you ever see a braille watch before no i i just noticed it well crystal pops open run your hands over it i won't break it now no there are a series of raised braille dots that distinguish the hours for you simple you know i'm afraid my hands are a little too insensitive i'll probably break off the hour hand or the minute hand no it's a pretty sturdy watch uh one other thing yeah i'm blind not death uh most blind people can usually hear very well and there's no necessity to shout right i'm sorry all right see you at lunch tomorrow okay oh can i help you no i can manage thank you uh see you tomorrow right it's easy isn't it use words as you would ordinarily use them don't shout at blind people and be at ease with them so you're having lunch with jim now that's going to be a real test for you isn't it okay phil here we are all right uh can i help you no i can handle it okay how much do i owe you you owe me a dollar in 20 cents like most blind people jim keeps track of his money by folding it in certain ways now if he could only keep track of our hero i've heard a lot about lay souffle but i've never had french food before where are you phil you can't walk away from a blind person without telling him you're leaving he might think you're standing next to him and end up talking to himself go back and tell him you were reading the menu i'm sorry phil [Music] this is some place [Music] hold it phil you can't push a blind person into a chair look how silly you both look let's use an old movie device and go back and help you out once again [Music] our hero forgot to use common sense lead a blind person right up to his chair if possible so that he can feel it with his body place his hand on the back of the chair tell him which way it's facing usually he'll get into the chair on his own hook see the easiest method is the simplest addresses manufacturing they get all their business our hero doesn't know it but our real problem is coming up get the house one all right it's good so let me just stand aside let us have a drink so uh oh uh uh your drink is uh right uh if you take your right arm you go right right right right straight ahead straight ahead you uh go go a little bit uh go well i'll take your left take take your left hand maybe i'll be on some men i believe it would be better if i explained yes your wine is almost directly in front of you with your right hand your left hand is the apples the cheese during all the confusion jim has helped himself phil you also need help there are two ways out of this problem one remember those wartime movies they'd say banded at 12 o'clock the air force uses the plane's body as a sort of clock for quick location try it with your friend pretend he's facing a clock he's at six o'clock [Music] is it six o'clock the bread and apples at eight o'clock the wine at one o'clock that's one way the other come on phil use your head remember the easiest is the simplest right guide his hand to the different things and tell him what they are about a gentleman would you like to order yes uh from appetizer escargot and [Music] what would you like would you like uh does that sound rit i have the same you have to say would you like something more to drink uh no i think i'm gonna i'm gonna stay with the housewife that's right what would he like well he he he well why'd you ask him he can talk good for you phil you've discovered an important fact that irritates blind people they can talk for themselves and an interpreter isn't needed because they can't see it doesn't mean they can't hear or talk of course you have to be very resourceful with exotic and complicated food but usually that's not the case generally blind people will tell you if they want their meat cut or their bread buttered if not they'll do it themselves this luncheon has turned out pretty nicely for our hero he's made a friend a blind friend [Music] bill and jim who both like art will sometimes go to a museum during their lunch break during that time they'll argue politics talk about raising their kids and well they're friends now if and when you meet a blind person it might not develop into a friendship like this and again it just might but the important thing is that you know what to do when you meet a blind person if you do you'll make life easier for him and it'll make life more interesting for you [Music] [Applause] you