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

Wed Nov 27 07:03:04 UTC 2013

Good morning Carly,
I like your can-do attitude! Even though your methods of seeking out
information may be seen as unconventional for some, it works for you
and you are still able to accomplish what you want! This is how I
define independence.

On 11/27/13, Carly Mihalakis <carlymih at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> 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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-- 
Anjelina