One day, after labouring over the selection of a couple new shirts, it occurred to me there must be better ways for colour-capable people to communicate with colour-blind and partially colour-blind folks.

Now I don’t want to blow my colour-limitations out of proportion. I realize my limitations are modest and my challenges could be much worse. For example, according to family legend my grandfather was either completely colour-blind or very close to it. So, I know, my challenges are small.

Regardless, I feel I have some ability to speak in support of colour-limited people.

It seems to me it is time to set colour-capable people straight about their woeful communications with those of us who are less gifted in the spectrum of visual colours.

So, to get started, I have created the following…

10 Tips for Communicating with Colour-blind Folks:

Tip #10

Don't waste your breath saying, “Until I go blue in the face”.

[For all colour-blind people know your face could already be blue…perhaps even orange. And, speaking out of the blue, colour-blind people will think you are trying to pull their legs if tell them you have the blues.]

Tip #9

Never assume colour-blind people are looking for ”greener grass”.

[That just ain’t happening…there is no greener grass or greener pasture for colour-blind people. And furthermore - don’t get upset if your colour-blind neighbour has the ugliest lawn on your street.]

Tip #8

Refrain from using that ”low-hanging fruit” saying when talking with colour-blind folks.

[Colour-blind people don’t see fruit on trees…well maybe some of them can see lemons and oranges…if the sun happens to be shining just right.]

Tip #7

Don’t argue with a colour-blind person who denies being “green with envy”.

[And, don’t try to convince a colour-blind driver that last street light was red. A colour-blind driver just won’t accept that…especially if he’s your spouse.]

Tip #6

Don’t expect your colour-blind buddies to get excited about painting the town red.

[If you insist on this activity, remember colour-blind people are lousy painters…so, make sure you check their spray cans prior to departure.]

Tip #5

”What are you – yellow?” are not the right words for challenging the colour-blind.

[Rather than feeling their manliness is being challenged colour-blind fellows fear they are coming down with an illness and ask for their wife’s opinion.]

Tip #4

Don’t complain about red tape in front of colour-blind people.

[And, don’t be too surprised if colour-blind people appear to be wearing rose-coloured glasses when you hand them pink slips.]

Tip #3

Remember, colour-blind people agree with the Borgs...”Resistance is futile.”

[I know this to be true. My grandfather was an electronics enthusiast. My mother helped him get over the Borgish futility he felt around resistors.]

Tip #2

Here’s a fine little love poem, pretty much guaranteed to win colour-blind hearts:

Roses are grey

Violets are grey too

Sugar is sweet

And so are you.

Tip #1

Don't expect colour-blind people to get all excited about ‘50 Shades of Grey’.