Amla Mehta is honored to offer this guidance and training to emergency responders — police officers, firefighters, and EMS — based on her personal journey of gradual vision loss. Her work is grounded in lived experience, not theory.
In early November 2025, Amla’s mother felt light-headed with a racing heart. Amla called 911 and collected her mother’s belongings instinctively. When first responders arrived and assessed the scene, no one verbally informed Amla — who sees through the lens of a “fog machine” — of her mother’s real-time health status. The EKG result was never relayed to her. This is the gap Amla’s training closes: emergency responders must provide a verbal play-by-play to blind individuals at every step of an emergency.
People with less physical eyesight require verbal updates during any type of emergency. Never assume the blind individual understands what has visually transpired.
People automatically assume the person who is blind understands what has physically or visually transpired at the scene, when they do not.
The ultimate goal for every emergency responder is to exhibit clear communication and sustain safety while maintaining dignity and respect for individuals with low vision.
Emergency responders cannot afford to be distracted physically, mentally, or emotionally. Distraction causes resistance, not resolution.
If the blind individual is emotionally or physically distraught, provide calm, soothing reassurance through the sound of your voice.
Refrain from abrupt loud commands or physical contact without permission. This may cause negative reactions from the person with low vision.
Emergency responders must prioritize working with clarity and self-efficiency while aiding people who are visually impaired.
Expect the unexpected. Recognize low-vision aids: white cane, guide dogs, magnifiers, dark sunglasses, AI software via phone.
Exercise the vial demonstration model: medical info in a vial placed in the refrigerator, retrieved by the on-call emergency responder upon arrival.
Emergency responders train with role-play: one as the guide, one as the blindfolded trainee, navigating from Point A to Point B.
Actions speak louder than words. Being proactive sharpens the emergency responder’s physical and intellectual skills.
Serve, protect, and ensure informed consent while maintaining a safe environment for the individual who is blind.
Bring a practical, thoughtful, and memorable preparedness message to your audience.