[nabs-l] Independent Travel At Crowded Major College SportingEvents

Tue Nov 9 05:39:10 UTC 2010

I don't think wandering around a crowed game setting is a good idea for a 
sighted person under shades.
They need to work up to something like that.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 12:22 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independent Travel At Crowded Major College 
SportingEvents


> Hi Jedi and All!
>
> I just got a crazy idea...you all will probably laugh at me and think
> I'm stupid but I'll throw it out there.
>
> Jedi suggested I go to the football game with a blind woman and I
> replied that I'd absolutely love to but there aren't any blind people
> around here which is unfortunately true.
>
> I'm really trying to have a new positive attitude and find solutions
> instead of complaining.
>
> So, what about finding a sighted person and putting them under
> sleepshades? I have three backup canes they could use, and I could
> show them how to use the cane. We could go to the game and knowing
> that they would be very new to blindness...I'd be in charge of our
> travel...so essentially I'd have a "blind" person accompanying me even
> though they aren't technically blind!
>
> I know it's crazy...but I had to share...what you all think? Lol...I
> wonder if anybody would go for it? Lol...
>
> Oh how I wish I could somehow pull this off...
>
> Sorry for such a crazy idea! Just had to throw it out there!
>
> Kerri
>
> On 11/8/10, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi Jedi and all:
>>
>> Thanks so much for your answers! For the upcoming basketball game I
>> will definitely be more assertive with the people and tell them
>> exactly what I want...I think I can do the basketball game fine!!
>> Thanks so much!
>>
>> I would absolutely love love to go to the football game with another
>> blind person but there aren't any other blind people around here.
>> That's the problem with that idea...you have no idea how much I'd love
>> to do that...if there were another blind person around here I wouldn't
>> be asking the questions I do on this list lol but unfortunately there
>> isn't.
>>
>> Okay onto the female thing...honestly when I really really sit and
>> think about it...the reason I bring the whole blind female thing up is
>> that I'm scared something bad will happen...a drunken man grabbing
>> me...someone pushing me and knocking me down (I'm really petite),
>> something like that...going with another blind woman would certainaly
>> squash this fear...but there aren't any around here.
>>
>> Since I don't have any other blind people to go with, and your right
>> it would be kind of silly asking a sighted person to let me take
>> charge of the travel...since there are so many drunks at this game
>> would it maybe be best for me to call the ticket office ahead, explain
>> the situation, get to the game super early, and have someone from
>> security or who works at the stadium help me into the game early (so
>> there are no lines), I listen to the game, then maybe could make
>> arrangements to meet someone afterwords somewhere to get home?
>> I know this isn't at all independent travel but with the situation
>> would that be better or should I try to go for the true doing it on my
>> own?
>>
>> Kerri
>> Kerri
>>
>> On 11/8/10, Jedi <loneblindjedi at samobile.net> wrote:
>>> Kerri,
>>>
>>> About asking for directions and refusing assistance. You're on the
>>> right track. Just let folks know that you're okay and tell them what
>>> kind of help they can give you if at all. Otherwise, say no thanks and
>>> move on. If they insist on helping you, just be polite, yet firm, in
>>> your refusal by stating that you're not interested in receiving certain
>>> kinds of help and would prefer other forms of help instead.
>>>
>>> As to taking a sighted person along but you being in charge, it is a
>>> little impractical to tell a sighted person to take the back seat
>>> because they don't know how. They will want to help you, so they'll
>>> interfear. Otherwise, they'll just be super anxious and no fun to be
>>> around. So your better bet is to either go it alone or ask a friend to
>>> go who you know won't get in your way. If you can, I'd recommend
>>> inviting a blind friend to tag along.
>>>
>>> You asked about being a female and going to these kind of events. I'll
>>> be honest: it's really hard (just as is true with blindness) to stop
>>> thinking of oneself as a helpless and defenseless female at the mercy
>>> of potentially drunken men. You talked about people thinking of you as
>>> the poor blind girl. It sounds like you're still struggling with that
>>> in your own mind. If it were me, I'd probably go with someone just to
>>> have someone to talk to and because the buddy system is always a safe
>>> bet no matter your sex or vision status. But if at all possible, go
>>> with another blind woman. That way, you'll know in your heart that sex
>>> nor vision has anything to do with anything.
>>>
>>> Good luck.
>>>
>>> Respectfully,
>>> Jedi
>>>
>>> Original message:
>>>> 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
>>>
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>>
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