[nagdu] blind man goes missing while traveling

[Tami Kinney]

Lea,

With so little detail about what happened that resulted in his 
disappearance, it's tough to say for sure whether a guide dog could have 
changed anything.

I will add that, having done airports and train depots with both cane 
and guide dog, using the guide dog kicks butt! I also tend to keep a 
folding or telescoping cane where I can reach it handily, since it can 
be pulled out as an added identity symbol or to investigate objects that 
could be significant for orientation or just random things to add to my 
confusion. /lol/ So, I see myself as more likely to transfer from one 
train to another successfully and safely with a guide dog to be stronger 
than with a cane... But that's just me.

If this man does, in fact, wear sunglasses and the cane he carries is 
white and red, then those items can be helpful in identifying him out of 
a crowd of other slender brown-haired men. Just as the scars that were 
mentioned. So those who are looking for him or those who read the 
article and might see him in passing will have something distinctive to 
notice that is very visible. /smile/

I do hope that this gentleman will be found safe and sound and reunited 
with his family.

Tami

On 12/24/2011 02:21 AM, Lea williams wrote:
> CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Charlotte Mecklenburg Police are searching for
> a blind man who was reported missing after he didn't make his
> connecting train to Alabama.
>
> The family of Mitchell Malik Smith, 33, said they haven't heard from
> him since December 16, the same day he traveled to Charlotte.
>
> Police said Smith had arrived at the Amtrak station on North Tryon
> Street from Washington, D.C., but didn't make the connecting train to
> Birmingham, Alabama as scheduled.
>
> According to police, Smith is legally blind in both eyes from an
> incident several years ago.
>
> He is described as 5'11" tall with a slim build, with brown eyes and
> dark brown hair.
>
> He has a scar on the right side of his head hear his right eye and a
> possible smaller scar on the left side of his head.
>
> He is said to sometimes wear dark glasses and carries a red and white cane.
>
> If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Mitchell Malik
> Smith, you are asked to call 911.
>
> The part
> He is said to sometimes wear dark glasses and carries a red and white cane.
> gives me the cringe. I don't like this stario type or whatever it
> would be called. I know not all blind people wears sunglasses, and
> some might for their own reasons other than eye contact, like
> scarring. but it is a bit odd to be in doors or be wearing dirty
> glasses.
> But any how. I wonder what could have happened to this guy? And
> weather if having a guide dog would have helped him in any way? IDK.
> This is strange, how could he have just wondered off unless he was
> going to go off and get something at a restorant or store. What yall
> think?
>
> Sorry if this was not a good list to put this on, if you have a better
> idea of whitch one to put it on, feel free to say so.
>
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