[nagdu] partial vision, white canes and guide dog use

[Lyn Gwizdak]

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
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nagdu mailing list
> nagdu at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nagdu_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nagdu:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nagdu_nfbnet.org/linda.gwizdak%40cox.net