[nabs-l] navigating parking lots/open spaces and other travel questions

[Jewel S.]

I have a similar circumstance to deal with at my apartments. To get
out of the parking lot, I have to cross a large parking lot, or go all
the way around on the sidewalk and walk on the side of the driveway
when the sidewalk ends.

Can you see well enough to see the white lines in the parking lot?
These can be a big help. On bright sunny days, I can just make out the
lines, and as long as I am at the spot where the line ends, I know I'm
on target to not run into any cars or be in the middle of nowhere.

If you can't see the lines, what other landmarks can you find? Is
there a center "aisle" in the parking lot, like is often seen in the
parking lots of stores (a curb and grass)? If so, walking on that
would be of great help, I'm sure.

Other than that, my best suggestion is to stick to the curb until you
feel more comfortable crossing the open parking lot. I have only just
started crossing the open lot myself as I start to get comfortable
doing so.

As for finding your apartment, are there any landmarks nearby? For
example, my apartment is the only one with just two steps down to the
building. The other buildings all have several up or several down
(this was on purpose...because of my trouble with balance, stairs can
be dangerous for me). Also, about a hundred feet to the left of my
building is a turn in the sidewalk ninety degrees. To the right is a
zig-zag left then right. If I end up at either sidewalks and walk to
the direction I think my apartment is in, I look for these features in
the sidewalk to show me where I am.

Additionally, smells can be of great help, good or bad. I know when
I'm at the dumpster because goodness, does it stink! I know where the
spot to cross from the middle of the round-about is because there is a
lovely crepe myrtle in blossom right where I need to cross. This won't
always be there (the smell, not the tree), but it helps for now, and I
have other ways to know.

Sounds are also good to use. There are several young Chicano children
who live in the apartment building next to mine. They play outside
their building each afternoon, so when I come home, I aim for just
right of them, and often turn up directly in front of my steps! At the
round-about outside my apartment complex, I use the crepe myrtle's
smell, but I also listen for cars coming from Marcom Street. If there
is one coming, I hear where they are and aim about 10 feet to the left
of that, often making it directly at the sidewalk or grass to the
right or left of the sidewalk where I can easily find the sidewalk.

Use all your senses to figure out where you are, where you are going,
and what you are doing. Find landmarks (or at your apartment, make
one), and go straight when you can.

When it comes to crossing a driveway, it is better to go too far from
the open area or road than too far away. So, if you are on the right
side of the road, veer right if in doubt, and if you're on the left
side of the street, veer left if in doubt. Because of my balance
problems, I veer often. My O&M instructor saw this and gave me the tip
that when in doubt, move away from the road rather than toward it. If
you're in the driveway, you're safer than if you are in the open
parking lot or road.

This won't help much with a driveway connecting to a parking lot, but
when you're crossing a driveway connected to a street, listen to the
cars on the street. Keep them at an even distance and you'll be going
straight. If you veer too far away from the road, you'll hear that the
cars are further away, and if you veer too close, the cars will sound
way too close. Listen to the cars as you travel, and you'll be able to
correct your path across a driveway or intersecting street. Also, if
there is a car waiting on the intersecting street or in the driveway,
use their placement as a target. If they are too far forward, aim to
go behind them by a minimum of 10 feet to avoid getting hit if they
back up suddenly. If you feel they are not too close to the road, go
in front of them about 5 feet so they can see you.

I noted above that you can make your own landmarks for some places,
like your apartment. A very simple way to do a last-minute check
before putting the key in is to put a rubber band around the doorknob.
I did this when all the doors looked the same tactilely and I kept
trying to put my key in someone else's door. If your leasing office
allows it, you can put a large potted plant or other item outside your
apartment to use as a landmark.  Most companies will allow plants and
outside furniture.

That's all I have for now. I hope it helped!



On 7/28/10, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi All!
>
> I hve a few more travel questions I wanted to ask.
>
> First, what is the best way to navigate parking lots and those
> driveways in the parking lots you sometimes have to cross? Cars can
> come in and out of them and there is no landmarks or anything...it's
> just one big open space.
>
> The reason I am asking is because I live in a big apartment complex.
> To take the trash out, you have to go all the way across the parking
> lot. For the most part, the parking lot has a curb along it which I
> can follow with my cane, but there are two places where the curb ends
> and you have to cross this driveway/street like thing (I don't know
> what it's exactly called.) Anyway, there are no landmarks and no
> curb...you have to go straight across it and pick up the curb on the
> other side.
>
> I've been told that cars can come in and out of the driveway things,
> but I imagine it's not too busy. However, it terrifies me that a car
> is going to come while I am crossing and hit me. Do I just make sure
> to listen before crossing and try to cross as fast as I can?
>
> Also, veering is a huge problem for me. I know most blind people can
> not walk in an exact straight line but what is the best way for me to
> cross this driveway and stay as straight as possible so I can catch
> the curb on the other side and not get myself lost? I've read that
> keeping the cane centered like near the middle of the stomach, where
> the belly button is helps. I've also read that walking fast and trying
> to keep your feet straight helps. I was taught at convention how to
> use the two-point touch technique with my palm up, moving only my
> wrist. Is there anything else I can do? It scares me that I'm going to
> get really lost when taking the trash out and end up getting in hthe
> middle of the drive way thingy.
>
> Also, because I didn't know the hotel at convention, like everyone
> else I got very used to getting lost and wandering around and asking
> assistance to get where I wanted. It made me get over my fear of
> getting lost in huge buildings. However, I am still very scared about
> getting lost outdoors. What is the best way to deal with this? Is it
> the same concept as getting lost inside a building...jjust walk
> around, and ask assistance when you hear someone coming? I know this
> will sound very irrational, but I guess in a building you only have so
> much space, so many floors. Outside, you have the whole world...it
> never ends...there is no limit! I hope that doesn't sound too dumb.
> How did you get over fears of getting lost outdoors?
>
> I really want to try taking my own trash out independently but I am
> terrified of veering when crossing that driveway thing, getting hit
> while crossing, or getting really lost and not being able to find the
> building my apartment is in. There are like 10 different buildings,
> and they are building more! There is a pool on one side of the parking
> lot, the trash thing, and a clubhouse...and you have to cross the
> parking lot to get to all of them...so it's a huge open area with the
> various apartment buildings spread out all over.
>
> I could have an orientation and mobility instructor come and help me,
> but there aren't any good ones here and I hate route travel...I know I
> can do this myself if I can get over these silly fears!
>
> And, finally...when you are using your cane and you are in a hallway
> looking for a certain door or just going along a hallway where there
> is a wall on either side with doors along it...do you still use the
> two-point touch technique or do you switch to more of a constant
> contact technique where you slide the cane from side to side?
>
> Thanks so much and hope these questions don't sound too dumb.
>
> Kerri
>
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com