[nabs-l] Need Some Encouragement/Some Travel Questions...

Tue Nov 26 20:52:50 UTC 2013

Hi Kerri.  I'm sure you aren't the only one who struggles with hearing
loss and traveling.  For myself, I am going to attend a state run
center after getting my associates degree.  I'm looking forward to
getting my O and M skills more developed.  Since there is no
transportation or paratransit in my area, I am not able to go places
independently.  I enjoyed using my cane while at my local community
college to get from building to building.  It was hard for me for a
couple years, to not have people help me get from place to place, but
the advantage of being independent is I can go from the library over
to the student center to get lunch, or whatever I'd like and not have
to ask people for help.  At home, I would like to walk the few blocks
to the Caseys store and gas station for a pop, or to pick up a pizza,
or whatever, but currently I don't have the skills to do this.  I have
had a lot of o and m people tell me because the way our streets are
laid out and the highway that comes before the store, that I would
need help to get their safely.  I know, that having a severe hearing
loss would make it very difficult to hear which way traffic is coming
from and when it is safe to cross.  I'm glad you were able to graduate
from your training course at the NFB center.

On 11/26/13, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Everyone:
>
> I hope it's okay for me to post this. I have debated for a long time
> whether to post about this but I feel like everyone else is allowed to
> post on topics such as family issues and other things so I figured I'd
> post my frustrations.
> I really just want some encouragement, and to know whether I am the
> only one going through this.
> I am totally blind, and in addition to my blindness I have severe
> hearing loss. I can hear sounds and can communicate with people and
> such, but I can't tell which direction sounds are coming from.
> Basically, my hearing really affects my travel.
> Last year, I graduated from the Louisiana Center for The Blind. I
> really enjoyed it, and I really enjoyed cane travel class. I enjoy
> using my cane and traveling.
> Anyway, because of my hearing loss, and the fact I am not that great
> at mental mapping, I did a lot of routes in training. My instructor
> told me when I returned home if someone (anyone) showed me where to go
> around my area I'd be okay.
> To make a long story short, I returned home and things didn't happen
> as they were supposed to.
> I guess I just feel frustrated because I don't feel like I get to use
> my cane that much. Sure, I can go to the mall, or a game or somewhere
> indoors and to get directions from people but where I am not getting
> much practice is outdoors like walking from city block to block and
> crossing streets.
> Another thing that frustrates me is when I do finally get someone to
> show me something I love it because I get to really use my cane and
> then I have to wait a week or more to be able to go out there again.
> For example, there is a Dollar General store located across the street
> from me. The problem is first though that this particular street is
> extremely busy. I am unable to cross busy streets or lighted
> intersections without assistance because of my hearing loss. I
> arranged for someone to help me cross the street. However, I forgot
> one thing. This dollar general has a huge parking lot that is open and
> has no landmarks and I can't hear the echos from the building.
> I had a friend on Saturday walk with me to the dollar General just to
> try to map it out and see how big the parking lot was. With this
> friend, I was able to use my braille compass, and work on mental
> mapping and such just like I was taught in training. Well, my friend
> can't help me again for another week or so.
> I just wish I got to work on the things such as using my braille
> compass, and mental mapping, and really using my cane like I was in
> training more often. It really brings me down when I get to do this
> type of thing for a day, and then I can't do it for another week or
> more.
> I guess I just wondered am I the only one in this situation?
> I know on this list nobody else likely has hearing loss but is there
> anyone else who doesn't get to go out and travel much?
> Have any of you been to training and then afterwords not really been
> able to do as much afterwords?
> Is anybody else on this list also a route traveler or who has to stick
> primarily to someone showing them where something is first?
> Does anyone on here have to use a local mobility instructor to show
> them where things are? If so, what was your experience?
> As I said, I hope it's okay for me to post this. I usually try not to
> post rants, or negative threads, but I just feel
> frustrated/discouraged sometimes because I feel like I am the only
> one. It seems like everyone else who graduates from NFB centers are
> able to get right out there and travel completely independently
> without having to depend on anyone to show them anything. Everyone
> around here is sighted, and so drives, and I guess sometimes I just
> feel like I am the only one who struggles with travel. I feel like
> with sighted people they don't have to be shown anything, or are
> limited in where they can drive. It seems like everyone else who
> graduates from NFB centers are able to just use their hearing to
> travel everywhere. I guess sometimes I just feel
> frustrated/discouraged because I feel like I am the only one and so
> wondered if others were also in a similar situation where you struggle
> with travel or don't get to get out there and use your cane that much.
> Thanks, and this is the only negative post from me I promise!,
> Kerri
>
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