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

[Andrew]

Hi I myself  can identify with you a bit. I live in the country with
no transit or busses or anything like that I  live out in the middle
of nowhere.  I actually have to count on my family to take me places
or somebody to drive me places to take me into town and things. I
find that very frusterating as it keeps me from doing all I really
would want to do it is not like I can go down a street to a coffee
shop.  I don't have streets here it is just long gravel roads.

 I  can't really be independent while living in the country.  You
people in the states are very  lucky to have the big training centers
Canada does not have that at all.  I been considering moving into a
big city for these reasons brought out by people on this list.  and so
I can have a life of my own and things.

On 11/26/13, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> justin,
> I like to do the same thing. It combines route travel with exploration. Once
> I know the environment, I'll go a little off course to see what is there.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: justin williams
> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 8:03 PM
> To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Need Some Encouragement/Some Travel Questions...
>
> Once I know an area, I do like to wander around and look at the side trails
> just in case I get entangled or a little off the path so that I know what
> happened and how to correct myself if this occurs.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley Bramlett
> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 7:47 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Need Some Encouragement/Some Travel Questions...
>
> Kerri,
> I think Cindy had some excellent points.
> I wanted to add a little more and respond to these questions.
>
> 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?
>
>
> My response:
> I have not been to a nfb center and don't plan to but I might try an out of
> state center.
> However, as I have spatial challenges, I anticipate always needing guidance
> in mapping out routes I'll do over and over, no matter how much training I
> have. To some extent, I think I will be a route traveler for sake of my
> sanity and time. Discovering new ways takes more time and I feel that going
> unfamiliar places outdoors is scary. I mean, you have the whole world out
> there. Sure I'd go out and stroll around if I had the time and knew it was a
> fairly safe area. But if I need to get to say, a doctor's office, I'm not
> going around to figure out what is around it. I'd probably follow a route
> that someone showed me or gave me directions to. For me, I believe route
> travel would be the fastest and less nerve racking thing.
>
> Sighted people use routes too. They often take the same route to go to work
> or the same store all the time.
> So, learning a route to work or a grocery store is fine, nothing wrong with
> that.
> I would use a reliable friend or family member, or if that doesn't work I'd
> ask a mobility instructor.
> Many instructors  will let you discover more and problem solve. If you
> intend to do a route over and over, having a mobility instructor assist in
> orientation is helpful. Do you know how you learn best? If writing down
> directions helps you remember it, then either you or the instructor can do
> that. If you learn well with maps, your O&M instructor can make a map of the
> area.
>
> I have used the O&M service from our vr agency, dept for the blind and
> vision impaired or DBVI.
> All instructors but one were fine.
> I mentioned my O&M growing up last email; my instruction growing up was real
> route based and I was not encouraged to problem solve and did not analyze
> intersections.
> However, as an adult, I have had more success. The worst part of O&M was the
> frequency. I received it a few times per month in my community; they have
> too many to serve to teach you more consistently.
> Instruction was more helpful. I feel that instructors were more open to
> teaching me what I needed and how I learned best. The downside was one of
> them told me to rely too much on my vision.
> I was shown techniques to ride our WMATA subway system called the metro. The
> instructor explained the layouts of different types of stations and gave me
> a braille guide of stations which shows which line stations are on.
> She told me to listen for our stop and if I could not hear it, I'd ask
> someone which stop we were at. She told me that most times color lines
> alternated, but to be sure of the color, I'd have to ask someone.
> She had me interact with the public and fellow riders just as I would do
> alone. I had to take responsibility for finding the right train and getting
> off it and out of the station. I also learned more about crossing streets
> including pressing buttons to activate those pedestrian walk signs. She also
> oriented me to college. There is more, but those are highlights. I was also
> shown how to use the metro to go to a few internships.
> If you want more info on this, I can explain.
>
> So to answer your questions, yes and yes. I have done mostly routes, and I
> have used agency O&M instruction.
> I don't think all problems disappear after training. If O&M is a hard skill
> for you, it will always be that way. But you can still travel, just may need
> you use other ways.
>
> I also wanted to add something about sighted people. You said sighted people
> don't have to be shown anything. I believe that is inaccurate. Sighted
> people use guidance too. Some have better spatial memories than others just
> as blind people do.
> Its just not obvious because sighted people see maps which represent miles
> of space on paper. They also see signs.
> Sighted people might have a friend show them where building y or x is.
> They might go out and find it  if they know the general area and then read
> numbers to locate a specific address.
> My mom has gone out to find places before she has appointments so she knows
> where it is in order to find it quickly with time pressure.
> Sighted people also ask for directions a lot in new environments.
> So while they may not have as much hands on guidance as us, they certainly
> use some guidance.
> Its via maps or verbal directions or computer directions. Also sighted and
> blind people can use GPS which is almost like someone showing you where
> building y is because GPS gives you turn by turn directions.
> Its not like all sighted people know where everything is and just take off
> and go. No, not at the beginning at least. They have to use tools to help
> them out too.
>
> How is the public transit in your area? II f its bad, I hope you can move
> soon to be more independent.
> Meanwhile remember other ways to travel and don't be so hard on yourself.
> You could use paratransit if that exists. You could use taxis. You might be
> able to get a driver from a community club to drop you off somewhere like a
> strip mall while you shop. Check with the lions clubs; then take your driver
> out to lunch or something as payment.
>
> Could you take a taxi to that dollar store you mentioned? I know cabs are
> expensive, but once in a while you might be able to afford it.
> It sounds like you feel trapped and I know how that can e. When I was at
> college, I used the campus shuttle to get to the metro station and from
> there I went to the mall or nearby restaurants. When I came home, I missed
> the freedom I had; I cannot walk to a bus stop as it’s a dangerous busy road
> with no sidewalks. I can use paratransit and taxis though.
> I think you'll be fine. Just try and get out as much as possible so you can
> practice your skills.
> HTH,
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kerri Kosten
> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 3:26 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: [nabs-l] Need Some Encouragement/Some Travel Questions...
>
> 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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