[nabs-l] Winter weather travel

[humberto]

Like my so knowledgable and graceful teacher of the blind says, 
We learn more from our failures than our successes.

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com
>To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Sun, 13 Feb 2011 01:44:35 -0600
>Subject: [nabs-l] Winter weather travel

>Marsha,

>First, no one is "super" anything-- that goes for blind people 
too.
>True, some may understand cardinal directions better, and some 
have an
>inate ability to quickly navigate new surroundings, but we are 
human--
>not cookie-cutter versions of one another.

>If anyone caused you-- or anyone else-- to feel inferior because 
of
>struggling in nasty, winter conditions, I would assume said 
person has
>never independently traveled in such conditions.

>Sighted and blind, we all lose our direction, and we all can 
become
>disoriented.  The true test of good skills is when you refuse to 
give up
>and keep truckin'.

>We should work on using any skills and methods available to us.  
We
>should live as independently as we can-- and by this, I mean 
pursuing
>our goals efficiently, living by our own terms and not what 
others
>direct, and setting a positive example as a blind person, and as 
an
>individual in general.  We strengthen our own lives as well as 
those
>around us when following this path.

>This does not mean, however, that you will not make mistakes or 
lose
>focus at times.  Training at an NFB center, or other similar 
center,
>does not ensure a life devoid of mistakes or challenges.  What it 
does
>ensure is that you will be armored with the proper tools, 
methods,
>attitudes and support to help you navigate challenges.

>You mentioned an hearing impairment-- this, of course, adds 
another
>dimension to your "skills" used for dealing with weather related 
issues
>when traveling.  It does not mean it is impossible, but it 
certainly
>presents a challenge, and one, I might add, you seem to have 
overcome.

>I have mild neuropathy so Braille is not always efficient for me.  
I
>have spent the last 8 years being embarrassed by this, but I 
realized it
>is out of my control.  Others can think what they want about the 
lack of
>my Braille reading; I know the truth.  I know Braille, and I use 
it as
>often as I can.

>We all learn at different paces, and we all have strengths as 
well as
>flaws.  Anyone implying that difficulty when traversing city 
streets
>during winter,, or other unfriendly weather, is due to a lack of 
ability
>with mobility skills, has their own issues to deal with.

>These mindsets-- attitudes-- do not fill people with a desire to 
attend
>a training center, or join the Federation.  They simply turn 
people off,
>and give us rational, open-minded people, a bad name.

>Bridgit

>Message: 28
>Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:15:52 -0500
>From: "Marsha Drenth" <marsha.drenth at gmail.com
>To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
>	<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Winter Weather Travel
>Message-ID: <C60922D15FF745BBAE2D58A416098BC6 at Cptr233
>Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"

>Great question. Last year I asked this same question, as I am new 
to the
>northeast. And the response I got was that it must be something I 
am
>doing wrong with my mobility. Because as a NFB person, who has 
just the
>best mobility and orientation, I should NEVER get lost, nor never 
be
>disorientated, and it does not matter that there was 3 or 4 feet 
of snow
>on the ground. I should always be able to find my way. *being 
very
>sarcastic
>here* and that "if" I were getting lost, maybe I should go to a 
training
>center, where I could get better skills. My point was I was 
laughed at
>because I was getting lost in the snow, the ice, and the high 
winds. I
>guess it should not matter, that I have additional disabilities, 
like a
>hearing loss, and balance issues. Its my fault, and not the snow. 
I am
>sorry guys, it was not my fault all my landmarks were covered up. 
Now
>some of you might say, going to a center is important here, but I 
do not
>fall into needing to go to a center category. I am NOT a super 
blind
>person, nor ever will be.

>Great question. But I also find it funny how so many people are 
so quick
>to judge others who are blind, for skills or things they can't do 
so
>well. I will be happy to see suggestions and little tips and 
tricks
>others have to say about this.

>This was certainly not directed at anyone. Just sayin. LOL

>Marsha



>_______________________________________________
>nabs-l mailing list
>nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
for nabs-l:
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/humbertoa
5369%40netzero.net