[nagdu] No mailRe: partial vision, white canes and guide dog use

Wed Feb 1 14:01:55 UTC 2012

I'm pretty sure NFBnet has a "vacation" mode, too.

> Dan,
>
> There isn't a no mail option, like what Yahoo groups has.  You will need
> to choose daily digest, regular individual messages or unsubscribe and
> resubscribe when you get back.  To unsubscribe go to the bottom of this
> message and look for the unsubscribe link.  Press enter on it or
> whatever you do to activate a link.  I'm remembering when you get to the
> web page there is a confirmation button to press.  That's it.
>
> Happy travels, hope to hear from you when you get back!
> Julie
> On 1/31/2012 1:50 PM, Dan Weiner wrote:
>> Hey,
>> , sorry to clutter the list with this, but I don't know how to put my
>> subscription on nomail and I need to do it because I'm going out of
>> town.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for all the help  and I wish you all the best on this
>> beautiful Tuesday.
>>
>> Dan and the Carter Dog
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf
>> Of Cindy Ray
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 2:16 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
>> Subject: No mailRe: [nagdu] partial vision, white canes and guide dog
>> use
>>
>> Pretty much (in many areas anyway) all are taught the cane to a greater
>> or
>> lesser degree. At least that seems to be my observation.
>>
>> On Jan 31, 2012, at 12:50 PM, Lyn Gwizdak wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Julie J,
>>> I am one of those people who has some vision - enough to be dangerous!
>> LOL! During the 1950s and 60s, those of us with some vision weren't
>> taught
>> Braille or mobility with a white cane.  The TOTALS weren't even taught
>> how
>> to use a cane!  But they did get Braille.  Is this still the case now?
>>> My vision is tunnel vision and in good light, I can see fairly decently
>> through that tiny straw-sized field.  Obviously I miss a hell of alot!
>> I
>> also can't tell steps or curbs by vision but can sometimes use shadows
>> to
>> tell steps or curbs - mainly in places I know.  I have no night vision
>> at
>> all.
>>> I feel more relaxed using my dog over the cane; although I can do fine
>> with the cane.  With the dog, Landon sees the important things for safe
>> travel while I can use my vision to see some landmarks or to look at
>> something other than my feet and where I'm putting them.  Walking
>> straight
>> upright with head up is better and won't attract the people who would
>> want
>> to bother you on the street.  They look for inattentive people with
>> their
>> heads looking down to pester.
>>> As far as Braille goes, I've tried to learn it a few times as an adult.
>>>  I
>> find that I don't have the sensitivity in my fingers to decern the dots
>> properly.  I can still read most print with my magnifying glasses and am
>> so
>> happy about that so I can read the LGBT books I want as well as the
>> other
>> political ones I find that NLS for the Blind wouldn't touch with a ten
>> foot
>> pole! LOL!
>>> When I took cane travel lessons in the 1970s, I took it under blindfold
>> and I fouond this VERY useful and am glad the NFB centers teach this
>> that
>> way. You really do pick up on stuff that vision tends to overpower.
>> Like
>> the fact that roads slope slightly as you leave the curb, cross and
>> approach
>> the opposite curb with the street at a hump at the center of the
>> crossing.
>>> I make my dogs go to the curbs and work as if I had no sight so he
>>> works
>> just as well at night when I have no vision with the exception of the
>> traffic signals and streetlights and the lighted signs on businesses.
>> Everything else is black.  But landon sees quite well in light or dark.
>>> Lyn and Landon
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Julie J."<julielj at neb.rr.com>
>>> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users"
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 5:55 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [nagdu] Introduction and Questions
>>>
>>>
>>>> Robert,
>>>>
>>>> I think that any blind person who wishes to improve their skills,
>>>> options
>> and to better themselves should be given that opportunity.  By blind
>> person,
>> I mean any individual whose vision is so impaired that it requires use
>> of
>> alternative techniques of daily living.
>>>> There are loads of blind people that are told they have enough vision
>>>> to
>> read standard print.  It doesn't seem to matter if they can only read
>> that
>> standard print in certain light sources, or in certain color
>> combination, at
>> the rate of 10 words per minute or for only 10 minutes at a time.  They
>> are
>> encouraged to use their vision at the expense of all else.  It doesn't
>> seem
>> to matter that Braille would be faster, less stressful and doesn't cause
>> headaches.
>>>> The same goes for orientation and mobility.  Lots of blind people are
>> coached to only use a cane in certain situations or not at all, relying
>> on
>> their vision.  It doesn't seem to be a problem if these same individuals
>> can't go out after dark because of their particular visual condition.
>> Or
>> perhaps they have to stop in the doorway of the movie theater for a few
>> minutes so their eyes can adjust.  The people behind them won't mind,
>> I'm
>> sure.  It won't be stressful or embarrassing to be trying to follow
>> someone
>> and miss stepping over a curb because all their available vision was
>> being
>> used in the other task.    I'm sure it's perfectly acceptable to be
>> continually scanning the environment for obstacles, nervous that you
>> will
>> miss something.
>>>> I used to be one of these people.  Most of my remaining vision is gone
>> now, but I very clearly remember the days when accepting an invitation
>> to a
>> friend's home, out to dinner or a movie was contingent on a long list of
>> things...what time of the day would it be when the movie is over, are
>> there
>> steps, have I been there before, do I already know what's on the menu
>> and on
>> and on.   My life dramatically improved when I got my first cane and
>> learned
>> Braille as an adult.  Suddenly I didn't have to have an anxiety induced
>> meltdown when I needed to take a night class at college. I could go to
>> restaurants that I hadn't been to before.  I could actually read the
>> notes I
>> had taken in class.
>>>> I also believe that both a long white cane and a guide dog are equally
>> respectable mobility options.  Both offer blind people the ability to
>> move
>> about their environment safely and conveniently.  Both have advantages
>> and
>> disadvantages.  I don't believe that one is better than the other.  Of
>> course individuals have their preferences, but to say that chocolate is
>> better and everyone must give up strawberry is pretty judgmental and I
>> think
>> should be avoided.
>>>> Why then would we want to take away an opportunity for some blind
>>>> people?
>> It seems that the answer to this question can only be answered in one
>> way.
>> We must view people with less vision as less capable and the guide dog
>> as a
>> superior mobility tool, making it the preferred method of mobility for
>> the
>> lower functioning among us.
>>>> I don't think vision has anything to do with the potential of an
>> individual.  I think attitude and knowledge are the factors that
>> determine
>> success in this world.
>>>> I'd love to hear others thoughts on this issue, level of vision and
>>>> using
>> a guide dog.
>>>> Julie
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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>>> m
>>
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