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

Carly Mihalakis carlymih at comcast.net
Wed Nov 27 06:30:52 UTC 2013



Evening, Kerri,

         Your post did speak to me for a reason that, I became brain 
damaged 10 years ago before attending a training center here in the 
San Francisco Bay Area. A feature of brain damage, for me, has been 
unreliable street crossings and short term memory problems so, I 
cannot retrace my steps or know how many city blocks I have traveled. 
For me, this wasn't cutting it for too long. My partner happens to be 
a budding teacher of the visually impaired and, for us, It just isn't 
practical trying to get our schedules to jive, so I have figured out 
traveling "Turkey" style, after learning from some friends who worked 
in Turkey about getting people on the street to help you travel.. So, 
like when I need to cross streets or figure out where I currently am, 
or simple features of the rout, I just grab someone happening to be 
in the vicinity. I grab their shoulder, asking them the information I 
am after. Now, I realize people may get up in arms, but for me, it 
works like a charm.
And, you hear blinks, all the time say, part of what makes them a 
strategic traveler is, knowing when to recruit ol' Sighty's help...
for today, Car
408=-209-3239

PM 11/26/2013, Anjelina wrote:
>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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