[nabs-l] the use of sighted guide technique

[Arielle Silverman]

I use sighted guide fairly often with close family, friends etc. As
Antonio says, it is often more graceful and allows us to converse
without having to talk a lot about directions.
I generally don't use sighted guide with people I have just met. I
want them to get an impression of me as an independent traveler first
before we start doing sighted guide and I don't want to burden them by
asking to hold their arm. When my fiancee and I started dating, I
intentionally did not tell him about sighted guide until the fourth
date because I wanted to be sure he didn't think of me as the girl who
always needed to hang on him. I actually bumped into him once on our
first date which was quite hilarious! It may have been a little
rebelliously independent but I think the timing was very good and when
I did actually inform him about sighted guide I knew he already
thought I was a decent traveler. We use sighted guide now but he also
knows that I can get around fine just walking beside him or on my own.
However, when I don't do sighted guide, I still listen to where the
person is going and actively follow them. I can avoid most obstacles
by listening to where they are going. If I'm walking in a group, I try
to walk at the front or to the side so I don't trip or hit people with
my cane. I have colleagues who still don't do sighted guide with me
just because I never got around to suggesting it. We walk a little
slower than we would if we used sighted guide, but it is not a big
deal.
When I was growing up I used to go sighted guide almost exclusively. I
still remember one time in college when, after being around the NFB
for a few years, I decided not to use sighted guide on a group outing.
We were doing "trick-or-canning" which is like trick-or-treating on
Halloween, except we collected canned goods for food banks instead of
candy. I was carrying a bag of canned goods and because I chose not to
use sighted guide, my hand was free to hold my own bag. If I'd done
sighted guide I would have had to ask my guide to hang on to my cans
for me because I always carry my cane whether or not I am also using
sighted guide. It felt incredibly liberating to carry my own stuff and
to freely choose whether or not I  wanted to hold someone's arm.

The bottom line is it is really about choice and whichever method
gives you and your partner the most freedom and convenience.

Best,
Arielle

On 8/15/13, Antonio M. Guimaraes Jr. <freethaught at gmail.com> wrote:
> Kelsey,
>
> I agree that cited guide techniques are faster and convenient at times. It
> is important for me to develop a level of independence from always following
> someone around.
>
> It seems to me that you have the pended on sighted people to guide you too
> much, and for too long. I hope you will consider where I'm coming from,
> since you asked the original cited guide question.
>
> I typically walk holding a sighted persons elbow when I am walking with
> them. I have tried walking through environments like a parking lot with my
> mother while trying to get to a store. It is frustrating to her, and
> counterintuitive to see me finding all of the cars along the way. It is
> counterproductive for me to reach the sidewalk and turn the wrong way, away
> from our destination to ask some other sighted person the direction of the
> pharmacy, or other destination. These are techniques I will use if my mother
> were not there. After all, I can only guess at which direction the store
> will be if I am not very familiar with the area.
>
> So trying to be rebellious Lee independent hasn't worked so well.
>
> Walking with sighted friends down the sidewalk and finding all obstacles in
> my way is also unnecessary, and makes the sighted person look inconsiderate
> to other people around, since they are supposedly watching me run into
> things.
>
> This may seem small to some of us, but this technique for walking on my own
> when walking with someone draws unnecessary attention.
>
> I think you need to create opportunities to do things away from your family,
> and with supportive friends. Maybe even something you do on your own, like
> going for a walk, or just going to grab something at a store you haven't
> been to before.
>
> These exercises might increase your confidence and skill.
>
> I hope this answers some of your questions
>
> Antonio.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Aug 9, 2013, at 4:50 PM, Kelsey Nicolay <piano.girl0299 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>> I will be joining a women's chorus very soon.  The group practices at a
>> church in my hometown.  They are on Friday evenings which means my parents
>> have to wait until rehearsal ends to go down to our camper.  My question
>> is this: I have always just went sighted guide with my family or friends
>> just because it is faster for everyone.  However, since I may have to take
>> the transit sometimes or go with another chorus momber, do you think it is
>> appropriate to use sighted guide technique with them, whether it be the
>> transit driver or another person in the group? Or should I arrange for
>> someone to show me how to get in and out of the chorch independently? If
>> so, if my mobility instructor cannot do it, how would a family member go
>> about taking over this role? I used sighted guide with my friends in my
>> college women's chohus, but I have a feeling that since this group is a
>> community group, it will be different.  What do you guwiths think?
>> Thanks,
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nabs-l mailing list
>> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> nabs-l:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/freethaught%40gmail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/arielle71%40gmail.com
>