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

[Anjelina]

Good evening Kerri and all,
Kerri, I don't think you have to apologize for your post. Your frustrations with travel is blindness related, and as other have said you are not the only one who struggles. I will not repeat what has already been so eloquently stated, however I would just add every situation is highly individualized. There is not a cookie cutter method of success for all NFB center graduates. What wors best for you is ok. If you use a mobility instructor for orientation, then go for it!
I can only empathize with how your hearing loss impacts your travel, so I will not say I understand. You have made it past training. You have goals, and by posting here you are doing something about your frustrations. Remember you are not alone and training is not a magic pill to the bla moments of blindness or hearing loss.



-Anjelina
Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 26, 2013, at 3:26 PM, 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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