[Blindtlk] Asking Questions While En Rouse

[Hyde, David W. (ESC)]

Asking questions is an art, not a science. Depending upon who I am asking, and what I am doing, I'll ask in different ways. If I'm facing the person I'm asking, say across a desk, or something, I may point. I'll ask an affirmative question such as
"Are the elevators to my right (point to my right) or left (point to my left(" Sometimes I dig distance information, which is almost always unreliable. If I am looking for a street I'll ask if this is a specific street and point at the street I am asking about. If I need a cross street I'll ask if court street, for example, is to my left (point) or right.

Rather than ask someone if this is number 4732 on a building, I will ask them what the number on the building is.

The answers you will get from others have a lot of build-in variables. What you ask, what they know, how they answer, and how you interpret their response. Sometimes travel is a succession of questions to different people. It never hurts to double check information as you go down the block. 

Like questions, travel is also an art, there are no hard and fast rules. The more you do, the better you will probably get. Remember, what we now call NFB Training was invented by people just like you and me.



-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kelby Carlson
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2011 12:29 PM
To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blindtlk] Asking Questions While En Rouse

I was reading the most recent Braille Monitor and came to the article "Have Cane, Can Travel" by Jennifer Dunnam.  I found the article to be quite excellent, but there was something I was wondering about.  I haven't had official NFB mobility training, though the training I have had is quite good.  What I would like to abbm is this.  I am a very verbal person and certainly not afraid to ask for help or ask for directions when and if I need them.  But I often run into the problem of my questions eliciting very non-specific anserers, and I think that's because my questions aren't specific enough either.  Can any of you offer tips on how to frame questions in the best way possible so as to elicit only the information I need?

Also, I found the idea of using a print map or Google Earth in conjuction with a human reader to be a very interesting one, and may try it.  (I've not had a ton of luck with transcribed maps; but having things described to me by someone might very well work
better.) Thoughts?

Kelby S.  Carlson

Vanderbilt University


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