[nabs-l] The Importance Of Independent Travel

[Arielle Silverman]

Hi Roanna and all,

In thinking about independent travel, I would start by asking what may
seem like an obvious question: Do sighted people have the right to
travel independently where they want to go when they want to go there?
If the answer to that is yes, then it shouldn't be any different for
blind people. Unfortunately, sometimes well-meaning people in our
lives like parents or teachers seem to think that independent travel
is scary, dangerous or less important for us than it is for them and
other sighted people they know. This is not true, but we can start to
believe that because that's what the people around us believe. That
was my own experience for many years. I feared going places by myself
and crossing streets, not for any real reason, but just because
sighted people put their own fears upon me. However, I overcame this
by moving out on my own, and later by attending LCB. I think you would
be an excellent candidate for an NFB training center. I am glad you
are getting mobility instruction now, but I think you really need to
be living away from your parents before you will have the chance to
grow and develop your skills. An NFB center will give you 6-9 months
of rent-free housing away from your family with instructors who can
help you gain confidence. Eventually you will likely realize that you
are fully capable of functioning as an independent, self-sufficient
adult, and the only thing holding you back is other people's
misunderstandings of blindness.

Best,
Arielle

On 7/16/14, Shikha via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi
> My name is shikha and i travel independently with my long white cane.
> Before i went to training at Louisiana center for the blind i did not use a
> cane because i did not want to except my blindness.
> I have retinitis pigmentosa and did not leave the house at night.
> My advice is to travel with sleep shades and always challenge your self.
> It is ok to cry because it is natural  to get upset. Just keep trying every
> day because you are eventually going to become confident and independent.
> At first it is hard to get used to them but eventually you will love them if
> you keep telling your self that i love being blind then every day you will
> have the motivation to travel with sleep shades.  Also go to the NFB website
> and order a free white cane.   I am ready for becoming completely blind but
> i am happy that i have vision before the sun goes down and i do not mind if
> my vision keeps on deteriorating.
>
>
> Shikha.
>
>> On Jul 16, 2014, at 10:52 AM, Roanna Bacchus via nabs-l
>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Dear Students,
>>
>> I'd like to discuss another topic with all of you.  On Monday I had a
>> conversation with my mobility instructor during my training session at
>> UCF.  We were talking about the importance of traveling independently as
>> blind individuals.  I got very emotional while we were having this
>> conversation and began to cry.  Because I've never traveled independently
>> in the community, I lack the experience of traveling on my own.  Can each
>> of you tell me your stories about inarependent travel? Hope to hear from
>> you soon.
>>
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