[nabs-l] convention questions

[Kerri Kosten]

Hi All:

I am facing a little dilemma and wanted to get your input.

I would really really like to attend convention this summer in Dallas.
I have a roomate lined up and she checked with the hotel and they told
her they have rooms available and my mother said she'd give me
financial assistance since I missed the Jernigan scholarship deadline.

However, I did not receive proper blindness skills in high school. I
am trying to attend CCB but I don't think I'll be in by the time
convention happens and I have to decide whether I am going to
convention or not really soon.

My biggest weakness area and where I have not been taught hardly at
all is came travel. Until just a few months ago my family guided me
constantly. I had one of those short folding canes and would bring it
along but not use it at all. I also was not taught proper technique.

I now have a straight NFB cane and can use it okay but still do not
really know how to use it. I have flown before but was always with my
family and so didn't really have to go through much of the process or
get a skycab/assistance or anything like that, they kind of just
handled it for me.

I really really want to go to convention but am terrified about flying
by myself and all that goes into taking a shuttle and getting to the
hotel by myself, then what do you do once in you room at the hotel?
I've been told to ask for NFB registration?
I really have no idea what I'm doing with all this.

I am not so much scared about going through the airport in Pittsburgh
as I figure whoever brings me can help me to the gate and seating area
and such.

The part that scares me the most is connecting to another flight, and
then what to do once I arrive in terms of getting to baggage claim,
then taking the Super shuttle to the hotel and all that.

I think i'll be okay in the hotel.

I have tried to talk to a few people about the process. They tell me
that to transfer to another flight all I have to do is get out of the
plane and go up to an info thing that I've been told is usually right
there and ask for assistance to the next gate. Is this correct?

How about when arriving in Dallas? Do I also just go up and say I need
assistance to baggage claim then outside?

How does the shuttle service work? Will they be out there already or
should I also ask the person assisting me to help me with the shuttle?

Do I need to prearrange for assistance or can I just go up and ask for it?

I've been told it's a good idea to tip whoever gives me assistance.

I would feel a bazillion times better about this if I had another
blind person with me to kind of be there and guide me through all of
this. I'm not saying give me sighted guide all the time, but someone
else who is also going through it at the same time, same airport as me
so I'm not completely on my own.

However, as of yet I haven't found anyone who is also flying out of Pittsburgh.
I am from West Virginia, so the closest airport is Pittsburgh.

There is no NFB chapter in my area.

I talked to our First vice president yesterday but since he lives in a
different part of the state as I do he is flying out of Baltimore.

I had my friend, the person who I would be rooming with write to the
Pennsylvania list-serve and ask if anyone is flying out of Pittsburgh
but there was no responses.

I would give anything to go with my friend, but she is from Harrisburg
PA and so for her the closest airport would either be Baltimore or
Philly and Pittsburgh is the closest one to where I live in West
Virginia.

As soon as I send this, I am going to email my state president but I
figured I'd put these general questions on this list first and see
what I get.

Is anyone else flying out of Pittsburgh or if not does anyone know of
anybody who is or how I could find this out?


I have not officially decided anything yet so have not done anything
like book a flight, book my shuttle, or book my hotel room but I know
I have to decide soon.

Should I skip convention this year and wait until I get more training?

The problem with this is I really really want to go and I already miss
out on going and doing so many things I want because of not having the
confidence and travel skills.
I don't want to have to miss out yet again.

But, I am very very very terrified and would feel much much better if
I could have someone to sort of help/guide me through this.

Thoughts? What would all of you do?

Kerri