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Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing at Scouts. Read more

Discover what this means

Practical tips for leaders

Practical tips for leaders

  • Always ask a young person  / adult with visual impairment what they use to help themselves and how they prefer to be communicated with

  • Always let the individual know who is talking to them by saying their name and introducing them. 

  • Let the individual know when you have moved away from talking to them. 

  • Don’t assume the individual will pick up on facial cues to recognise how you are feeling or where you are looking.

  • Offer clear explanations and explanations of surroundings 

  • Ensure the person has an opportunity to raise any concerns they have to a familiar adult

  • Assess your meeting place and external meeting places for accessibility for a visually impaired person and consider adaptations that may need to be made to ensure that person feels comfortable, safe and can access your planned programme of activities.

  • When using written resources, provide them electronically to allow use of magnification software. Consider the printing paper colour if you are providing printed materials – black text on a cream background, for example, can be much easier to read than text on a white background for some visually impaired people. Ask what makes a difference to the person you are supporting.

  • Keep meeting areas clear of clutter and if the environment changes, inform the individual. 

  • Look at top tips and strategies on the Royal National Institute of the Blind’s webpages. These are designed for teachers but have lots of tips for any adult supporting young people with visual impairment