[nabs-l] questions about cane travel and independent travel

Wed May 12 18:40:24 UTC 2010

Serena,
Well said. I would use sighted guide for the same reasons.  Restaurants are 
crowded and noisy and its more burden on a friend to verbally direct you in 
a narrow likely noisy place.  I support independence and practicing cane 
skills but there is a time and place for that.

Ashley

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Serena" <serenacucco at verizon.net>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 12:40 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] questions about cane travel and independent travel

> Of course, you don't want to be a burden to yoru new acquaintance.  Using 
> sighted guide in the restaurant and the movies, however, would be a good 
> idea.  Although it may seem like a burden to have your friend guide you, 
> having her verbally direct you could seem like more of a burden to her, 
> since she doesn't know how to do that yet.  Also, assuming you're not 
> trying to learn the layout of the restaurant or the movie theater, 
> socializing with your friend is more important.  Unless you're a spacial 
> geneous, you won't really learn much about the layout if your friend 
> verbally directs you. Let's face it ... restaurants are crowded places! 
> It isn't always as easy to follow your friend in a crowded place as 
> walking on the street.  As long as you're the person making the decision 
> to use sighted guide, not your friend making you use it, then it's fine 
> for you to use it in the restaurant and the movies.  Use your cane when 
> you're using sighted guide!
>
> Serena
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 12:56 AM
> Subject: [nabs-l] questions about cane travel and independent travel
>
>
>> Hi All:
>>
>> First, I wanted to say thanks for all your help/answers to my other
>> posts. I really appreciate it!
>>
>> I have another independent travel/cane travel question.
>>
>> Basically, if you have not had training when is it appropriate to be
>> guided and when should I be using my cane?
>>
>> Before I got my nfb cane and really became interested in the NFB, I
>> was guided everywhere all the time. I had one of those short heavy
>> folding canes and would bring it along but not use it. I have since
>> learned that guiding me everywhere (I am totally blind) was definitely
>> the wrong approach and was much more damaging than helpful.
>>
>> I ordered and received an NFB cane a few months ago and really like
>> it. However, it is still hard to not use sighted guide...my mother
>> wants to guide me all the time, and I feel like I have to fight and
>> battle to use my cane which isn't right! Though I don't mind being
>> guided in certain situations or if I am in a hurry, I think it is very
>> important to use it sparingly. Though guiding is definitely easier, if
>> I don't begin to use my cane and resist the guiding I'll never learn
>> and become independent.
>>
>> In the past I have had a lot of trouble making friends and fitting in
>> with sighted people. I used to not understand why this is, but now I
>> really believe it was because of my lack of independence as a blind
>> person. For example, if a person wanted to do something they would
>> pick me up and drive me back home no matter how convient or inconvient
>> it may be for them; I didn't know how to use cabs. They would of
>> course always guide me everywhere, sometimes I believe I brought the
>> cane but never used it. If we ate at a restaurant and there was a tray
>> they would carry it to and from the table when we got the food or I
>> was finished. I would ocationly carry the drink but that was it. When
>> I look back at all of it, I think it really took a toll on the person
>> because it made it so that hanging out with me was more of a
>> responsibility/chore than just going to get coffee with a friend.
>>
>> I have a chance to hang out with another sighted person tomorrow. I
>> have never hung out with this girl before. I don't want to be
>> rebelliously independent or be a pain/make it an unpleasant experience
>> with my display of independence but I don't want it to be like it used
>> to where this girl has to do everything for me, pick me up, take me
>> home, guide me...everything.
>>
>> We are planning to go to out to eat and to a movie.
>>
>> I have already offered to meet her there, but she says she does not
>> mind picking me up at all so if it's truly no inconvience to her I may
>> let her.
>>
>> But, once we get to the restaurant and then later to hte movies do I
>> follow her and use my cane or let her guide me?
>>
>> How do I handle this with my mother?
>>
>> As I sadid before it's certainly easier to take an arm but if I do it
>> all the time I never learn to use my cane.
>>
>> I want to do what's age-appropriate. I am 22...so do I think of it as
>> "Would a sighted 22-year-old follow this person or would they take an
>> arm?"
>>
>> I am not one of those people who just does what the NFB says all the
>> time...but cane travel and independent travel is very important to me
>> and I want to become as good and efficient with it as possible. While
>> I believe guiding is good in some situations I want to be careful and
>> use it sparingly!
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Kerri
>>
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