[nagdu] getting around in places you don't know

[The Pawpower Pack]

I am Deafblind and do use gps with my phone and a braille display and Vivianna is right it takes practice but I have finally gotten my groove with it. 
Firstly, before I even go to a new place, I try to find out as much as I can about it, where it is, which forms of pubtrans go there, etc.  If possible, I will talk to friends who have gone there before— blind or sighted.  
The first time I go to a new place I like to go early so I have time to get myself unlost.  I have no problem asking passers-by for help, not so much physical assistance— bringing me somewhere, but just simply to tell me how to do it.  Then I try until I find where I want to go.  
I have swarn off my local paratransit this year for a number of reasons, so have had to do a lot of this kind of stuff as I become comfortable taking fixed-route bus to all of my places where before I used paratransit.  It has been a fun challenge. 
 

 Rox and the kitchen Bitches: 
Mill'E, Laveau, Soleil
Pawpower4me at gmail.com
Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 19, 2014, at 6:08 PM, Larry D Keeler via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Well, I just go out and explore first. Then, if I can't use GPS which I do not have, I ask a lot of questions ahnd also use landmarks that I do know. For example, I use busy streets that I know as landmarks. I also ask a lot of questions and leave time to get sort of lost. I also walk near bus routes in case I get totally goofed up. Then, I can find a bus stop and get on.
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vivianna via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2014 5:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [nagdu] getting around in places you don't know
> 
> 
>> Hi Steph,
>> are you able to use something like BlindSquare on your Iphone?
>> this is a great worldwide navigation app.
>> you could start by learning various different routes and places to go around your home and, then, expand from there.
>> the neat thing about BlindSquare, is that, you can use earbuds or a bluetooth headset to listen to it as you walk along.  and, you can put it to sleep with the tap of a button, waking it back up when you need to hear it again.
>> you can also use it with a braille display, although, i do think this would hinder fluid fast pace walking.  but, hey, you could also review things with a braille display before you head out if need be.
>> good for you that you are wanting to get out more.
>> 
>> Vivianna
>> 
>>> On Nov 19, 2014, at 3:46 PM, Stephanie via nagdu <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi all,
>>> Hope you are all well. I have decided to write about some challenges I am having, even though I am feeling rather embarrassed to do so. But I am feeling a little restricted and want to know if any one has some ideas for my situation. As background to the following, I am hearing impaired as well as totally blind.
>>> I'd like to know how to navigate places I don't know. I never did this much with my cane, but Gypsy has changed that for me and I'm finding I want to get out more. I want to do things like go to concerts at the melbourne recital centre and St pauls in Melbourne. Problem is,  I don't know   how, and getting a taxi from the station to  those places is not possible due to the short distance. I could  ask the public but that's taking a risk.
>>> I contacted my guide dog school and they sent an instructor out. But we just didn't jell. He couldn't seem to understand that I cant hear the audio lights, unless I'm touching it which is not possible when a lot of people are around. They also gave me such a huge amount of info like the whole route in one hit and I couldn't follow the directions due to struggling to process his info in a noisy train station. And to top it off, Gypsy seemed to pick up on all this, stopped and wouldn't move with out a lot of coaxing, and the instructor told me I wasn't supporting my dog. Gypsy has never reacted like this before or since.
>>> I'm thinking of contacting the alternative school just for o and m purposes, or finding another solution on my own that will actually work for me.
>>> Even catching trains can be a challenge although I have my systems in place. I always ask for assistance from the station as I cant hear the anouncements.
>>> Thanks for taking the time to read my rather lengthy email.
>>> Steph
>>> 
>>> 
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