[nabs-l] Independent Travel At Crowded Major College Sporting Events

[Kerri Kosten]

Hi All!

I have some more travel questions, this time about navigating sporting events.

I am a huge sports fan. My team is the West Virginia University
Mountaineers, we made it to the Final Four last year in Basketball and
are a major Division I school.

I am trying to do what I want when I want and keep a positive attitude.

This coming weekend is my birthday. All I really want is to practice
independent travel and feel the confidence that comes from doing what
you want when you want independently and knowing you used your cane
and for the most part did it yourself. There is a basketball game this
Friday, and a football game this Saturday.

First I'll start with the questions about the basketball game, then
move to football. I attended a basketball game last week and things
went well for the most part but I do have a few questions.

First, how do you explain to sighted people that you appreciate their
help but you need to explore on your own? At the basketball game
Friday, I want to try to find my seat on my own...I want to pass each
section (not go into each section but walk past it) and every once in
a while randomly ask someone "Excuse me what section is this?" Oh,
this is section 45...I need section 60...I need to keep going...kind
of like the way everyone finds their delegations at national
convention or the way you find your gate for a flight at an airport. I
need to explore, not be guided! Of course though the sighted people
just want to guide...how do I let them know their help is appreciated
but I need to explore on my own and that all I need is some directions
towards say the ticket window or the concession stand?

Also, because I haven't had much practice using my cane I don't walk
as fast as I should. Because of this when I am lost...I look lost.
Another thing I do is when I am unsure of where to go I tend to doubt
myself and turn around thinking I am going in the wrong direction when
in fact I am usually going the right way! How do you gain more
confidence when lost? Does it just come with time? When your unsure do
you just keep going even if you doubt yourself until you find someone
who can give you directions or tell you if you are going the right
way?

On Saturday is a football game. About 60,000 people attend our games
and they are a big deal. Being that next week is my birthday, I really
want to go to the game. At the moment I don't have anyone to go with
and thought it would be fun and a big boost of confidence to try going
by myself.

For the football game should I call ahead and let someone know I am
coming so I can be watched out for? (I'm more scared of the drunks
being a female not because of blindness)

My concern is not so much getting to the game; my concern is after the
game. After the games you have 60,000 people all trying to get home at
the same time and traffic is horrible. There is no way I could get
home after the game; a cab couldn't get near the stadium. I know
several people who are tailgating. Would it be safe as a female to try
navigating the parking lots with all the drunk tailgaters with my cane
and just asking random directions? Do police or other emergency
officials patrol the tailgating areas after the games or is it just
the fans?

Is it even possible or safe for a blind person, particularly a female
to go to a major college football game by themselves? Has anyone on
this list done it or know of anyone who has? Or, am I just crazy?

Heres the thing. Almost all of the people around here feel sorry for
me and see me as the poor blind girl. Many people also know my
mother...and so not only do they see me as the little blind girl but
if I call them to ask for help with anything they immediately want to
know why my mother isn't doing it for me, or helping me or whatever.
If I call someone such as my aunt and go to the game with her and her
friends and they guide me everywhere (as sighted people seem to want
to always do) what does that say to them? And, what does it tell them
about my new NFB philosophy of cane travel and independence?

Is there any way of going to the game with someone but them letting me
be in charge of the traveling? Would that be too much to ask a sighted
person? So, someone is with me, and I am holding their arm so we can
stay together but I am in charge...asking for directions, telling them
which way to go, trying to get us un-lost when we get lost...that sort
of thing. So, that way I'm with someone but get to practice travel at
the same time.

The thing is if I'm just guided I never get the practice and confidence...

Help! I'm torn...it's my birthday...I really want to  practice
independent travel but also be safe...I love love love the idea of a
person coming with me but me being in charge of the travel. I don't
care how I do this football game but one way or the other I want to
have some independent travel and feel that confidence whether with
someone or not!
Help!

Wouldn't it be so cool to go to my aunt's tailgate aftr the game? I
can hear her now..."Kerri! How did you get here? What are you doing
here?" Me:"Oh I just got back from the game. I'm here with my cane...I
just asked a bunch of directions." She'd probably scream lol!

Thanks for all help and ideas!

Kerri