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CSD Accompaniment Training 2012

General Information

As the person trained in accompaniment, you should also know the accessibility

measures in place for your Federated Body or 101 Week group. This means knowing

accessible ways to participate in physically engaging activities such as messy days,

knowing where accessible washrooms and elevators are, and knowing which

alternative events are in place for wet or physically inaccessible events. Please

talk to your VP social about this.

Accompaniment is a type of support used to get someone from Point A to Point B.

This could be an accommodation for a person with a visual impairment, a person who

gets disoriented easily, a person living with chronic pain, a recently injured personwho is not used to using a mobility device such as crutches or a wheelchair, or for

any other reason.

Federated Body executives should make sure they announce the names of the

people trained in accompaniment to the 101ers throughout the week and at kit

sales not only to 101ers who request accompaniment. Names should be

announced so that when accompaniers introduce themselves to the 101ers who have

requested accompaniment, 101ers know that they are with the correct people.

When a person asks for accompaniment, make sure to ask if they have any

specific needs, including which gender they would prefer to be accompanied

by. If their needs are difficult to accommodate, please inform your executive,

and feel free to get in touch with CSD for help.

Doing Accompaniment

Introductions

1. Introduce yourself by name to the person even if you have already metseveral times and ensure that they are comfortable with you accompanying

them.

2. Ask which side they prefer to be accompanied on. This opens up theconversation of if they have any other preferences.

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3. Ask if you can touch them before you do.4. Make sure you know where they want to go, and that when you get to your

destination, you let them know where you are (to make sure you got them to

the right place).

Doing Accompaniment

1. Make sure the person is holding your elbow so that they have control overletting go of you if they want to.

2.Your elbow should be at a 90 angle and should be held tightly againstyour body.

3.You should be standing in front of the person (not beside them) so thatyou are about one and a half (1) people wide (the width doesnt matter, just

that you are not side by side). This ensures that you will see whats in their

path because it will be in your path as well.

4. If they are taller than you, lift your elbow back behind you (still close toyour body) so that they can take longer strides. If they are shorter than

you, they may want to hold your forearm.

5. Tell the person before you start or stop walking.6. Make sure that the pace is okay with them. Ask if they want to slow down

or speed up.

7. If you are in a very narrow or crowded place, they may want to walkdirectly behind you and hold your lower back. Make sure that if you are doing

this you are communicating very clearly and that the person you are

accompanying is comfortable with this.

8. Describe your surroundings to the person, especially changes in the floor(texture or slope), changes in lighting (and the reason for those changes),

and major things that are happening around you such as loud noises or

unusual crowds. You can also ask the person how much they would like you to

describe.

9. Tell the person when you are entering a new room or building. This willhelp explain lighting changes and also help to orient them by telling them

what progress has been made.

10.Use automatic door openers wherever possible.

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11.Dont forget to chat with the person! It is important that they trust youand feel comfortable with you. Chatting is also a way to pass the time, and an

opportunity to encourage the person to get involved. Remember that safety

is most important, and you should always interrupt the conversation to

mention an obstacle or the fact that you are starting walking or

stopping.

Post Accompaniment

1. When you are leaving a person you have been accompanying, make sureto orient them in the room. Take them to a wall or chair and either ask to

touch their hand so you can physically show them the object, or bring them

very close to the object so that when they reach out they can touch it. Let

them know if they are in the middle of the room, a corner, etc. Also let them

know approximately how many people are in the room.

2. Ask if there is anything else the person needs such as directions toanother place or information about future 101 Week events before you

leave.