What is the most effective way to use a card to solicit aid?

 

Photo of "Deaf-blind woman holding a sign asking for assistance in crossing the street" Stand near the curb facing the street to be crossed while holding up the card, to convey the desire to cross.
Photo of "Deaf-blind woman holding a sign asking for assistance in crossing the street - man is approaching"
Use gestures or body language to convey the need for assistance. Photo of "Deaf-blind woman holding a sign asking for assistance in crossing the street - man has approached"
Photo of "Man assisting deaf-blind woman across street"
Photo of "Deaf-blind woman with cane holding card at eye-level" Hold the card at about eye level to the side, to be seen more easily and to avoid confusion about why the card is being held.
Periodically turn the card to face perpendicularly to make it visible to people who may be waiting to cross or approaching the person's side. Photo of "Man approaching deaf-blind woman"
Photo of "Man reading card held by deaf-blind woman"
Photo of "Man continues reading card" If deaf-blind people do not face the street they want to cross, people are not sure that they want to cross, or which way they want to go.
Photo of "Man assisting deaf-blind woman across the street"
Suggestion: When a person taps the deaf-blind person to offer assistance, the deaf-blind person can automatically point across the street he or she wants to cross. Photo of "Deaf-blind man with cane waiting to cross busy street"

How should the card be worded?

Top of card: purpose ("CROSS STREET")
Next line: how to approach the deaf-blind person ("Tap Me")
Last line: visual and hearing impairment ("I am deaf and blind")

 

Below is the card, following suggested word order.

Please help me to
CROSS STREET
TAP ME
if you can help - I am both
DEAF and BLIND.
Thank you.

 

For more information contact Dona Sauerburger at:

sauerburger@mindspring.com

1606 Huntcliff Way
Gambrills, MD 21054, USA
Phone: 301-858-0138

 

SpEdEx logo