Blind and Visually Impaired Training 

Ahoy SVI Volunteers,

You are invited to an optional training opportunity to enhance your abilities to more effectively and supportively interact with people who are blind or visually impaired.  This one-hour hands-on and interactive training will increase both you and our guests’ enjoyment during the Bonnie Lou Gibson Memorial Sail for the Blind and Visually Impaired you have volunteered to help on October 14^th.

We will be meeting Saturday, October 7^th at 2 o’clock at the Post 291 facilities in the “Hut”. We will be focusing on doing an immersion training for assisting visually impaired. Anybody who has registered to volunteer for this event, is encouraged to attend the training.

In addition to an exceptional oral lecture, volunteers will receive simulation training.  This training will consist of being blindfolded yourself and/or guiding somebody who is blindfolded. Our route will start at the parking lot and end by getting onto a sailboat. Most of the guests are mobile but some have more limited mobility. We are working to make sure those passengers will have an easier access vessel.  

This training will prepare you to use descriptive vocabulary, as well as keeping everybody who visits for the visually impaired sail safe. Our goal is to make everyone feel comfortable and secure while transiting in an unfamiliar area. Waking on different terrains and down ramps and upstairs to a moving vessel with limited or no vision can be challenging. If you are unfamiliar with being a guide this will be a chance to practice!

Dress is casual but, if possible, wear you name badge. 

Our instructor, Nichole Zepeda, will also go over some basic etiquette for anyone who cannot attend during their shift briefing on October 14^th.  However, we will not be able to practice being blindfolded, and being a guide the day of the sail. 

Looking forward to meeting everyone! 

-Nichole Zepeda, Dive Heart Instructor