[nabs-l] perceptual awareness

[Darian Smith]

Hello  listers,

  I at times  get  disoriented   in places that  should be familiar to
me, as well, (of course) in unfamiliar areas as well.
  My view  is that  alot of blind people do get turned around in
places that  they know or don't know.  I would even venture to say
that a sighted person  could  as well.  I think the only difference
between a person with vision to a person without is that  they can
see, therefor  they can  quickly glance around a room and identify an
object that  orientates them.  As a blind person,  I find that I
simply stop,  calm myself and  ask myself the typical questions: "
what do I hear?" " what do i smell/feel?" and  try to re-set the
picture in my mind.  My opinion is that  that's what  good ole cane
travel class is all about... not so much knowing where you are  at all
times no matter what (even in the comfort  of our  own homes) but, to
be able to  figure out  where we are by problem-solving it out.
   That said, I tend to  kind of make fun of myself  and  think  "gosh
Darian, figure it out will ya?  if it was a snake it would  have
bitten ya!" :)
 Hope  that helped in some way.
  Best,
  Darian

On 10/14/09, Ashley <cumbiambera2005 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I actually find that auditory thing around the house quite useful. I
> even find myself using auditory cues outside the house, and I often
> find myself tapping my cane to listen for an echo which would give me
> an idea of where there might be a building in relation to where i am.
> And while that doesn't tell me where I'm at, at least I'd know there
> was a building and I'll try to find it in the hopes of being able to
> seek help.
>
> On 10/13/09, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
>> Well, in your situation, it's hard to say what's causing your feelings
>> of disorientation. But if it is your dyslexia or some other thing that
>> could equally happen to a sighted person, you might be at a greater
>> disadvantage just because there are more visual cues and patterns to
>> work with in most spaces than tactile/auditory ones. So, in an area
>> where it makes sense, you could simply create something very
>> distinctive to reorient with such as a radio in your kitchen or
>> something. That way, you won't need to depend on patterns so much and
>> you can reorient based on the distinctive sound. Or, worse case
>> scenario, you walk to the radio just to have a point of reference. On
>> the streets, you could use a GPS or compas to get you back on track. A
>> guide dog might be a useful tool for you if you're interested in
>> animals since guide dogs take care of some of that for you.
>>
>> Respectfully,
>> Jedi
>> Original message:
>>> I am wondering if any one has experienced this or something like it and
>>> if you have any ideas as to what causes it or how to fix the problem.
>>> At the risk of sounding silly, I sometimes have some sort of perceptual
>>> problem.  It may be because of blindness, but I believe it has
>>> something to do with my dyslexia.  I am not really sure what to call
>>> it, but it is similar to vertigo, though I am positive it is not the
>>> right word.  I sort of lose my sense of direction.  It is especially
>>> terrifying when I am in a place I already don't know, but it even
>>> happens when I am in a familiar area.  When it happens in a familiar
>>> place I can adjust after a moment or to but it is still frustrating.
>>> Basically what happens is everything around me is different from the
>>> way it was a second ago.  I am fully aware that the room didn't
>>> actually change, but my brain no longer recognizes the pattern.  I mean
>>> I could be in my kitchen, and I know my kitchen-I cook in and clean it
>>> every day with no proble
>>>  ms except those random moments when all of a sudden I suddenly don't
>>> know which way I am facing or what the proximity of matter around me
>>> is.  When this happens I feel like a crazy person because I know my
>>> house, and it doesn't happen all the time and it never lasts long, but
>>> I feel so lost when it does.  I know it has nothing to do with
>>> orientation because it has nothing to do with  learning an area.  I use
>>> to think it did as it happens allot more when I am in a big open area
>>> but it happens in places I am very familiar with as well.  I started
>>> thinking it might be a blindness thing, but I don't know many other
>>> people it happens to if any.  I was diagnosed with dyslexia, and that
>>> is your brains inability to recognize patterns.  It shows up mostly in
>>> reading and righting, and it defanatly does that for me, but I am
>>> wondering if it extends farther to spatial and directional perceptions.
>>> If anyone has any thoughts on this  please let me know as I am curious
>>> as to  it's relatio
>>>  nship to dyslexia or if it is something else entirely and any thoughts
>>> on how to remedy it.
>>
>>> Thanks so much.
>>
>>
>>> Andi
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