Proven Verbal De-escalation Techniques for the Blind & Visually Impaired

Safety Positive Foundation’s Verbal Craft Training — so next time you’ll know what to say when people are grabbing instead of asking.

A common struggle for Blind and visually impaired individuals is knowing what to do when someone comes up and grabs our arm, shoulder, or cane without our consent. 

 

How can you respond in a way that doesn’t escalate things or put you in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation?

 

The Safety Positive Foundation Verbal Craft Training offers a solution to that very struggle.

Verbal Craft is a program that trains people in proven verbal de-escalation techniques.

Developed by Andy Prisco, Verbal Craft helps people improve their self-control and respond peaceably in situations with the potential for increased anger, aggression, and violence. 

Andy originally created this program with particular professionals in mind, such as first responders, mental health professionals, and many others. He then learned of the particular challenges faced by the BVI community in our daily lives and decided he wanted to help.

In partnership with SPF founder and CEO Amy Wilson, Andy helped develop the Safety Positive Foundation Verbal Craft training.

This one-of-a-kind, full-day workshop equips you with the verbal tools to handle yourself with confidence in uncertain situations.

If you’re looking for ways to clearly communicate your boundaries when others are overstepping them—whether they realize it or not—this training is for you.

What you will learn in Safety Positive’s Verbal Craft Training:

  • History of the Blind in personal safety—the good, the bad, and the ugly

  • Brain states—how your brain generally operates in potentially aggressive situations

  • Types of aggression—ways people could respond to you in those interactions

  • Types of conditions—why people are not listening to what you ask them to do

  • Practical communication tools—the Verbal Craft framework for communicating your boundaries in a safety positive way

This training is the first of its kind for the BVI community. We’re dedicated to equipping you with a personalized formula to help you navigate tense situations with your dignity and personal safety intact.

Join us for our next SPF Verbal Craft Training

Our next training will be held Sunday, May 5, from 9 am to 4 pm Central Time.

Check back regularly as we update our schedule with Verbal Craft opportunities!

Because we believe in the value of Verbal Craft training, we’re offering multiple ways to access it.

Monthly Trainings via Zoom

Our November training opportunity is on Sunday, November 19, from 9 am to 4 pm Central Time. Grab your spot today!

Group Training via Zoom or In-Person

Learn about scheduling a Verbal Craft training for your organization or agency by emailing our team at [email protected] for a consultation appointment.

Check back regularly as we update our schedule with more SPF Verbal Craft training sessions!

Meet Andy Prisco, the mind behind Verbal Craft

Andy is the founder and CEO of Jumpstart Mastery, one of the largest, legislatively funded, psychiatric emergency response team programs in the United States.

As a lifelong student of responding to anger, aggression, and violence (AAV), Andy is devoted to studying and developing techniques to avoid the use of force in managing behavioral crisis incidents. 

His training programs and consultation services have been used by…

  • Federal, state, and regional law enforcement agencies
  • Care and services systems
  • Corrections systems
  • Behavioral health agencies
  • Youth and family service organizations, 
  • public sector businesses experiencing the uptrend in AAV at points of service delivery
Lightning bolt logo for Jumpstart Mastery

Are you ready to take proactive steps toward your personal safety?

Grab your spot today for our next SPF Verbal Craft training.

© 2025 Safety Positive Foundation

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