[nabs-l] Finding seats VI that does not use cane or dog

Fri Sep 20 02:11:17 UTC 2013

Suzanne,
Wow, that sounds like quite a load! I've found that most people tend to mind
their own business so they probably won't even notice you walking across the
room to find a seat. Also, my school has a ton of eating places so I don't
have to bring meals with me. Is this something you could try? That way your
bag would be much lighter.
Hope this helps.
hannah 

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Suzanne Germano
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 6:59 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Finding seats VI that does not use cane or dog

The cctv which is only 5lbs of what I carry is to see the board. I do not
use it for reading. I have the books on my laptop. It is a million times
better than using a monocular or mini binoculars. It fold up fairly small.

In addition to my magnilink student pro cctv, I also have a17 inch macbook,
ti84 calculator, 4 pairs of glasses (all of which I need for various light
and/or distance, mini binoculars, candy grip 5 inch cctv, notepad for taking
notes, small bag with contacts lenses, solutions etc, 1.5 inch binder with
my notes, 2 monoculars, labcoat on wednesdays.... Plus I bring
3 meals with me. There is literally nothing I could do without.

I have used my vision my entire life I would have to drop out of school and
take time to become proficient in speech. I was never good with audio books.
I am a visual learner. I can do large print.

I do read with the cctv at home because I have a 27 inch monitor and it is
so much faster when I can get more on the screen!

I can see available spot at table right near me. I just don't know if there
are spots across the room if the first table are full without walking all
around.

On Thu, Sep 19, 2013 at 5:44 PM, Arielle Silverman <
Arielle.Silverman at asu.edu> wrote:

> Hi Suzanne,
>
> I agree with everyone else re: using a cane. I think it makes these 
> kinds of situations a lot less awkward. People might still wonder why 
> you are using a cane if you can see some things, but I always feel 
> like those wonderings are other people's problem, not mine. If someone 
> is really curious they will ask and it will become a good educational 
> opportunity.
>
> My strategy for finding a seat is to come up to a table that sounds 
> quiet and gently touch the back of the first chair. If it feels like 
> it is empty, I then gently reach out a little more toward the front to 
> confirm the chair is empty. If it is taken, then I walk to the next 
> chair and check that one, or ask the person occupying the first seat 
> if other seats at their table are open. I have never had problems with 
> that method and since I use a cane, there's no weirdness about why I'm 
> asking the question.
> I also think your roller-bag situation sounds unnecessarily obnoxious.
> I am wondering if you could switch from the portable CCTV to a more 
> compact solution like speech software or screen magnification on your 
> laptop or screen enlargement and speech on an I-device?
>
> Arielle
>
> On 9/19/13, Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Suzanne,
> >
> > Water coolers and water fountains are your friends.  I am a singer 
> > and understand the need for hydration.  That was one of the first 
> > things I did when learning this new campus for grad school.  Water 
> > cooler water is nice and cold too, so if you can find those, then it 
> > will be a real treat.  That way you can carry a smaller bottle of 
> > water and have a hand free.
> >
> > Honestly, though not carrying a cane may make it more complicated, 
> > finding an empty seat as a blind person is not fun.  I have some 
> > vision, so I tend to do what I call the awkward blind hover when 
> > looking for a spot.  I stand at a table where I don't hear noise, 
> > wait, listen, and look for people at the table.  I don't recommend it.
> >  It is much more efficient to simply ask another student or worker 
> > if you're in a cafeteria setting.
> >
> > I would then definitely recommend finding a way to use a cane.
> >
> > On 9/19/13, Elizabeth Mohnke <lizmohnke at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> Hello Suzanne,
> >>
> >> I would also suggest using a cane as a means to identify yourself 
> >> as being blind or visually impaired. Although in addition to 
> >> identifying you as blind
> >>
> >> or visually impaired, the cane could also help you navigate various 
> >> places you find challenging when using your vision alone.
> >>
> >> I think the teasing goes away as you get older. However, I am not 
> >> quite sure
> >>
> >> if this holds true with the notion of others thinking that you can 
> >> still see. I remember hearing someone say this about me because 
> >> apparently I was looking this person directly in the eyes from 
> >> across the room. I could barely make out the general outline of 
> >> this person given the distance
> and
> >> the lighting conditions much less be able to visually identify any 
> >> details of this person. However, nonetheless, the person still 
> >> questioned my ability
> >>
> >> to see.
> >>
> >> I know you can use a cane with a roller bag, so perhaps you can 
> >> experiment to see which technique works best for you. I know you 
> >> have concerns
> about
> >> placing your water bottle in your bag. Have you tried using a 
> >> smaller bottle, and then refilling it at a drinking fountain? Or 
> >> perhaps you could try using one of those water bottles that you can 
> >> strap on your back
> like
> >> a
> >>
> >> backpack.
> >>
> >> I would definitely encourage you to give the cane another try. I 
> >> really like
> >>
> >> the long NFB white canes because they are so light when compared to
> other
> >> canes. If you are interested in trying out one of these canes, I 
> >> believe there is an application form on the NFB website you can 
> >> fill out to get
> a
> >> free white cane.
> >>
> >> However, I also understand making the transition to a long white 
> >> cane
> can
> >> be
> >>
> >> difficult for some people. I know this to be true because it has 
> >> been something I have struggled with in my own life. So if you are 
> >> still in that
> >>
> >> stage where you are just simply not ready to make this change in 
> >> your life,
> >>
> >> then perhaps you can just simply ask someone where there might be a
> chair
> >> available, and leave the part about being visually impaired out of 
> >> the conversation.
> >>
> >> Warm regards,
> >> Elizabe
> >>
> >> --------------------------------------------------
> >> From: "Suzanne Germano" <sgermano at asu.edu>
> >> Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 2:12 PM
> >> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> >> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> >> Subject: [nabs-l] Finding seats VI that does not use cane or dog
> >>
> >>> I don't use a cane or dog but when I walk into a room like the 
> >>> engineering tutoring center, I find it very hard to know where an 
> >>> empty seat is.
> >>> these
> >>> are tables that hold 6-8 people.
> >>>
> >>> Being someone use does not use a cane I find people difficult if 
> >>> you
> say
> >>> for example "I am visually impaired would you mind showing me 
> >>> where an empty seat is" It seems they have to go through the song 
> >>> and dance of "you don't look blind" "why don't you get glasses" 
> >>> but rarely answer the question.
> >>>
> >>> Because I am not obviously visually impaired I feel very 
> >>> uncomfortable just walking up and down between all the tables 
> >>> looking for a spot when just off to the side I may have missed 
> >>> one. I feel like everyone is wondering what the hell I am doing 
> >>> and thinking I look stupid.
> >>>
> >>> I know this comes from years and years and years of being teased 
> >>> and no one understanding legally blind and I should just get over 
> >>> feeling like
> they
> >>> think I look stupid. But in the meantime does anyone have any good 
> >>> techniques?
> >>>
> >>> I did use a cane in high school. Partially for identification and
> partly
> >>> for mobility but I still had issues with people because I would 
> >>> ALWAYS get the comment "Your not blind" They could never just 
> >>> answer my question like what bus is this
> >>>
> >>> Suzanne
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> l.com
> >>>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Julie McG
> > National Association of Guide dog Users board member,  National 
> > Federation of the Blind performing arts division secretary, Missouri 
> > Association of Guide dog Users President, and Guiding Eyes for the 
> > Blind graduate 2008 "For God so loved the world that he gave his 
> > only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but 
> > may have eternal life."
> > John 3:16
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
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