Social Distancing Options
Instructional Notes
Together with your instructor, you will discuss and practice which option, or options, work best for you and your guide dog.

Option 1: Customer assistance or friend / family outside of your householdÊ
This option works well for shopping situations or at the airport, whether independent or with someone that does not reside in your household.

o Follow:ÊYou can follow someone allowing each to maintain the 6-foot / 2-meter social distance buffer. Ask them to continue to talk to you, not your guide dog, and have them alert you to any upcoming turns or elevation changes.Ê

o Be Followed: Someone can follow you from behind, similar to instructor position, and provide you with directional feedback so you may direct your dog.

o Human guide: Although it does not offer the ideal 6-foot/ 2-meter buffer, there are adjustments that can be made to offer some distance between each person and to minimize physical contact. Always ensure you both are wearing a mask and carry hand sanitizer to use after discontinuing human guide options. You will be heeling your guide dog.

How to increase social distance during Human Guide:

o Hold on to opposite ends of your long cane.

               		

o Hold on to a shopping cart handle that is led by your assistant.







o Hold on to the other personÕs wrist with your free hand. They extend their arm back at mid-line and you extend your arm forward at mid-line.



o Hold on to the other personÕs shoulder.



Ê To minimize physical contact:
* Wear gloves.
* Use a sturdy paper towel or tissue, which can be disposed of after use.


Option 2: Heel your guide dog and use your long cane

o This is an ideal independent option best used in a situation such as standing in line or moving about in crowds such as public transit. This provides a contactless preview of the environment. 
o This option offers 3.5-foot to 5-foot / 1.1-meter to 1.5-meter buffer depending on personal long cane length. If your cane contacts someone, take a step or two back to get the team closer to social distancing norms.


Option 3: Work your guide dog and extend your long cane out in front

o This option works only at slow speeds and for short distances in situations such as advancing forward in a line at your grocery store or coffee shop. Essentially, your guide dog assists with maintaining a straight line while your long cane provides a contactless preview of the environment.
o This option offers 3.5-foot to 5-foot /1.1-meter to 1.5-meter buffer depending on personal long cane length. If your cane contacts someone, set the harness handle down and take a step or two back can get team closer to social distancing norms.

 Technical description of working your guide and using your cane:
* Start with arm holding long cane relaxed at your side
* While keeping wrist neutral, extend cane out in front by moving from the shoulder, keeping arm straight (similar mechanics to a ÔForwardÕ gesture)
* Aim to keep the tip of the cane on the side you are holding the long cane and always in contact with the ground.

DO NOT:
* Sweep the cane side-to-side or maintain your typical arc width. This will interfere with and possibly confuse your guide dog.
* Use in the vicinity of any potential elevation changes. This is not a safe method for elevation change detection. Return to working your guide dog without using your long cane near suspected and known elevation changes. 
* Use if you are in an unfamiliar environment. Rather, use either Options 1 or 2 mentioned above.


Option 4: Guessing distances via auditory or functional vision

o This option works well if you feel accomplished in judging distances via auditory or visual sensory.







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6/2/21                                                           Instructional Notes Ð Social Distancing Options