[nabs-l] a couple of questions

Fri May 7 16:32:43 UTC 2010

Hi Kerri,

You can go outside to call your cab if you don't want to do it in the
bathroom. I think you will be pretty safe outside as long as you are
obviously on your cell phone.

When you call the cab, you can ask them to call your phone when they
arrive, and put your phone on vibrate so you know when they call.
Then, go outside and listen for an idling vehicle.

Alternatively, when you call, you can tell them you're blind and that
you won't be able to see them through the window, so the driver should
park and come in and find you, or be sure to call your phone.
Sometimes this is good if the place where you would meet the cab is
crowded or it's hard to tell whether a cab has pulled up.

As for your second question, you can definitely request assistance in
finding the food court, and then ask directions to the movie theater.
Since the mall is all on one level you will just want to be sure you
are going the right way and then ask people as you are walking so you
know when you are getting close to the theater. You might also be able
to smell popcorn! In my experience, most mall-goers are more than
happy to be an escort or at least to give directions, so don't worry
about bothering people by asking questions. If no one is around, you
can also walk into a random store and ask the storeclerk for
directions. I have done this many times.

When you get to the movie theater, ask where the line is or listen for
the ticket counter and then follow the line until you get to the
counter to buy your ticket.

Best of luck and I hope you enjoy the karaoke and the movie. I am glad
to see that you are interested and determined to get out on your own
even without a lot of cane training. Many blind people in your
situation would simply just stay home or only go out with sighted
friends, so you are taking a good first step just by coming up with a
plan and going.

Arielle

On 5/7/10, William ODonnell <william.odonnell1 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> You can do the following:
> [1]. go outside and call the cab, put the phone on vibrate to know when they
> call.
> [2]. Since you know the bar near home, do you know your way around?  Why is
> one guiding you? Do you use a cane or dog?
>
> Before leaving, reserve a pick-up time for leaving and comeing home.
>
> --- On Fri, 5/7/10, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> From: Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [nabs-l] a couple of questions
>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Date: Friday, May 7, 2010, 7:22 AM
>> Hi:
>>
>> I have a couple of questions I am hoping some people on the
>> list can
>> help me with.
>>
>> First, my father owned a very very popular bar where I live
>> called
>> Crocketts. My father passed away a couple of months ago but
>> the bar is
>> still open. I went tonight for the first time since he
>> passed away.
>> Tonight was kereoke night and I had more fun than I've ever
>> had just
>> hanging out, listening to the different people sing or try
>> to sing
>> kereoke and just being around people.
>>
>> There is a similar bar called Coaches that has a kereoke
>> thing every
>> week just like Crocketts does that is very fun. I have
>> never gone to
>> this by myself but have gone with friends and really
>> enjoyed it also
>> for the same reasons...music, people, and just fun
>> entertainment away
>> from my house.
>>
>> At Crocketts, since my father owned the bar I am safe
>> there. I sit at
>> the bar (I don't drink) but I sit there anyway. The
>> waitresses and
>> bartenders all know me and frequently check on me to make
>> sure
>> everything is all right.
>>
>> However, at Coaches it is a diffferent story. I am not
>> really known
>> there, and when I've gone with friends we are usually
>> seated at a
>> table. The waitress comes around to serve drinks and food,
>> but as soon
>> as the bill is paid they leave and we are on our own.
>>
>> Here is where my question comes in. I would like to begin
>> going to
>> Coaches for their kereoke night. Getting there is no
>> problem, but how
>> do I manage the getting home part? I carry my Iphone with
>> me, but the
>> bar is so loud that it is impossible to hear anything to
>> call a cab.
>> Also, how do I know when the cab gets there? Again I
>> usually have the
>> driver call me when he arrives but again I wouldn't be able
>> to hear my
>> phone.
>>
>> At Crocketts since everyone knows me, I have someone guide
>> me to the
>> bathroom where it is quiet. I call a cab, and have them
>> call Crocketts
>> and tell whoever answers the phone that they are outside to
>> pick me
>> up. Of course this is no problem since everyone knows me at
>> Crocketts.
>>
>> But, how do I manage this at Coaches? When I am ready to
>> leave do I
>> somehow flag the waitress down and have her help me to the
>> bathroom,
>> where I call the cab then wait in the bathroom for them to
>> call me
>> back?
>> Waiting outside for the cab after I call would be kind of
>> unsafe.
>> Unfortunately, the friends that went with me before were
>> from out of
>> town and I don't have very many friends where i live that I
>> could go
>> with.
>>
>> Is it appropriate to ask the driver to come inside to let
>> me know they
>> are there...this way I don't have to wait outside?
>> How do you guys handle this?
>>
>> I know it isn't probably the safest thing to go to bars by
>> yourself
>> but kereoke is a ton of fun and I know if I could figure
>> out this
>> getting home part I'd be fine.
>>
>>
>> Also, I have another question. I would like to go to the
>> mall/movies
>> Saturday. Again, I'll most likely be by myself. I would
>> like to get
>> something to eat first in the food court in the mall, then
>> go to the
>> movie theater. Our mall is pretty big and spacious and
>> spread out. It
>> is all on one level but i am pretty sure the food court and
>> the
>> theater are at separate ends. How do I get from one place
>> to the
>> other?
>>
>> When I arrive at the mall, I plan to go to the information
>> desk and
>> get assistance to the food court. When I have finished
>> eating how do I
>> figure out how to get from the seating area to the movie
>> theaters?
>>
>> Do I just start wandering around and asking random people
>> for
>> directions to the movie theater, then obtain assistance
>> again at the
>> movie theater to purchase a ticket, ETC to see the movie?
>>
>> Sorry for such a long email and so many dumb questions.
>> Yes, I am the
>> same girl who posted a few weeks ago about not having been
>> taught in
>> cane travel and wondering whether I should go to national
>> convention.
>> However, I am tired of sitting around, and want to go and
>> do
>> regardless of my skills and I figure the best way is to ask
>> questions
>> on here as needed and just grab my NFB cane and go!
>>
>> Kerri
>>
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-- 
Arielle Silverman
President, National Association of Blind Students
Phone:  602-502-2255
Email:
nabs.president at gmail.com
Website:
www.nabslink.org