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

Tue Nov 9 19:04:09 UTC 2010

Kerry, sounds good.  Go with a friend and practice independence another 
ocasion.
----- 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 1:39 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independent Travel At Crowded Major College 
SportingEvents


> Hi Kimberly, Jedi and All:
>
> Wow, Kimberly thank you so much!
> I have been to our stadium several times and knew the parking lot was
> huge, sprawling, and full of drunks. I guess since I was always guided
> I forgot about all the steps!
> I'm glad to finally find a fellow sports fan who follows a school in
> the Big East conference...we play you guys there next week actually on
> Nov. 20...I just wrote a story about the game being televised on the
> Big East Network.
>
> Thanks Kimberly for giving me a little wake-up call. I guess I'm kind
> of on an independence high from the basketball game last week.
> Your right that the basketball games are much calmer and a better
> atmosphere...they are inside a building and I don't know of anyone who
> drinks there...I don't even think they sell beer there.
>
> Thanks so much...I want to be safe but also find and practice my
> independence as well.
>
> Here is what I may do.
>
> Let me know what you guys think about this considering what Kimberly said.
>
> I have an extra ticket for the football game Saturday. I go to the
> game with someone. I go to the basketball game Friday by myself as I
> did last week and really try to see if I can practice
> independence...try to find my seat by asking for section numbers, and
> see if I can get to the concession stand...that sorta thing.
>
> Then I can be somewhat independent on my birthday, I still get to do
> all the things I want to, but still be safe.
>
> And Kimberly...thank you so much...you may have just kept me from a
> dizasterous and potentially very dangerous and harmful situation!
>
> Hope your stay in Morgantown was a good one; it is a big problem that
> there are no blind people around here but I intend to do what I can to
> solve it eventually!
>
> Kerri
>
> On 11/9/10, Kimberly thurman <kimthurman at insightbb.com> wrote:
>> Kerry and all:
>>
>> I usually don't give my opinions on this list often, but I have to jump 
>> in
>> here.  I live in Louisville, Kentucky, home of the University of 
>> Louisville,
>> a school in The Big East Conference with your school, West Virginia.  I 
>> have
>> been to a football game there in Morgantown when the University of
>> Louisville played West Virginia.
>>
>> I don't want to squash your eagerness to be independent, but  one of 
>> these
>> football games is not the time to practice it.  I don't know too many
>> sighted women who would go to one of these events alone.  The area you 
>> would
>> be traveling in is massive and noisy.  The stadium is quite dangerous 
>> with
>> steps and more steps everywhere.  The tailgating parking lots are full of
>> drunks and cars.  I have gone with my sighted husband, and he has to be 
>> on
>> full alert while navigating these places himself.
>>
>> The basketball game might be doable if you can get into the building on 
>> your
>> own.  The atmosphere at those events is not quite as rowdy and the venue 
>> is
>> not so daunting.  I think you could get directions there from some nice
>> people.  Do not be afraid to take help when it is offered.  I will take 
>> all
>> the help I can get when I walk into the restrooms at these events by 
>> myself.
>>  I carry the cane just so people will know I am blind.  There are usually
>> lines, which I don't want to cut and make people angry.  Most of the time
>> someone will let me cut the line anyway.  People are usually very nice.
>> Just try to be pleasant when you refuse help, so that person will get a
>> positive image of blind people.
>>
>> Sorry for all the advice, but I just want you to be safe while 
>> maintaining
>> your independence.  See if you can get someone to go with you to the
>> football game.  I think you will enjoy it much better.
>> On Nov 8, 2010, at 11:08 PM, Kerri Kosten 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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