[NAGDU] update on me

Amanda Markham markham73 at gmail.com
Mon Feb 20 21:34:05 UTC 2017 

That's the thing. They didn't mention anything specifically.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 20, 2017, at 4:07 PM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> So when they said that your mobility skills weren't good enough, what did they cite as examples. It really makes me wonder.
> Cindy
> cindyray at gmail.com
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amanda Markham via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 3:04 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Amanda Markham <markham73 at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] update on me
> 
> I'm definetly not afraid. I've been walking up to my local Wallgreens which is two blocks from my house and includes one lighted intersection. I've done this 3 times in one week. I went with my fiancé Jeff who's also a cane user. I did the walk once with him because my hearing was a bit off from the cold I had. Since then, I've done this rout twice by myself with no issue. Next, I plan to expand walking to a plaza a mile away. Will start this next week. Would like to cover the Wallgreens rout a few more times with Jeff walking a little distance behind so he can see how I'm doing.
> 
>> On 2/20/17, Aleeha Dudley via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hi Andrew, Amanda, and all,
>> I want to chime in here and would like to make a few general comments, 
>> meant as encouragement for anyone struggling with their travel skills or others.
>> You do not necessarily need a sighted person to teach you everything. 
>> If you know the basics of cane travel, you can start by just walking 
>> around the block, or even up and down your driveway. Take note of what 
>> you consistently come across, and slowly expand the area you know. As 
>> Cindy said, it’s generally safe to cross a street when the traffic is 
>> moving that is going in a parallel line to your direction.
>>     Sighted people don’t need a manual to know how to teach you. All 
>> they need to tell you is what’s around you: coffee shops, stores, 
>> other businesses, you get the idea. Slowly, you can ask them to stay 
>> behind you and only intervene if you are in danger or have gotten really lost.
>> I know that training isn’t an option for everyone, it can be expensive 
>> and funding can be hard to come by, but that is also an option if you 
>> can get it. Training was the best thing that has ever happened to me, 
>> and I am so grateful that I took the time to do it.
>> Andrew, regarding the iPhone and other devices, there are a ton of 
>> resources online, including videos on YouTube, podcasts, etc, that can 
>> teach you how to use a smartphone. And, best of all, many are free!
>> I hope that some of what I have said helps you in some way. Keep 
>> trying, and don’t forget that blind friends can also be a fantastic 
>> resource. One does not need to see to help.
>> 
>>> On Feb 20, 2017, at 2:43 PM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> So until you can get into the program, when the woman can work with 
>>> you, work on a route and then try it by yourself in the interim. It 
>>> is scary at first, but the pride that comes from having done it is 
>>> just immense. I remember when Jet, my black lab, could no longer 
>>> work. I needed to walk to the bank, or go there somehow. I began 
>>> coming up with all kinds of excuses why I couldn't do it, and pretty 
>>> soon I didn't. I began to realize that they were borne of fear. So I 
>>> decided one day I was just going to do it. I did, and I was a little 
>>> afraid, but I got there and back, and I really felt like dancing.
>>> Cindy Lou Ray
>>> cindyray at gmail.com <mailto:cindyray at gmail.com>
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>>> <mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org>] On Behalf Of Amanda Markham via 
>>> NAGDU
>>> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 2:37 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org <mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>>
>>> Cc: Amanda Markham <markham73 at gmail.com <mailto:markham73 at gmail.com>>
>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] update on me
>>> 
>>> I use a cane. Worked at a training center for the blind for 9 months 
>>> in 2009. Up until then, I lived in a strictly residential area and 
>>> wasn't tought lighted intersections. I cross them now, but it needs 
>>> work. After I left the center, I had an instructor that only could 
>>> work with me once a week and I started only working  small routs.
>>> Recently we've been working on city bus travel. But she says that 
>>> it'll be a couple weeks before she can work with me again. So this is 
>>> why I'd like to do the O and M training at leader dogs. Jump starts 
>>> early work and I can work everyday instead of once a week. I do live 
>>> with my mother who is sighted but she  cannot stand for long periods 
>>> or walk long distances because of her knees. Last May she had knee 
>>> replacement surgery.
>>> 
>>>> On 2/20/17, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of andrew 
>>>> edgcumbe via NAGDU
>>>> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 1:48 PM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: andrew edgcumbe <rollercoasterman86 at gmail.com>
>>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] update on me
>>>> 
>>>> i am not amanda but i will answer same questions for myself I don't 
>>>> have much in way of sited friends myself how can some body who is 
>>>> sited tell you what todo iActually, I think Gary had good suggestions.
>>>> They are probably way better than the ones I gave.
>>>> Cindy Lou Ray
>>>> cinddyray at gmail.com
>>>> f they have not delt with blind  people in orientation. Is there any 
>>>> kind of book or tips we can give those e helping us learn roots to 
>>>> things? also like what is the trick to learning things to crossing 
>>>> streets can this be done without an o and m instructor.
>>>> 
>>>> On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 2:42 PM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU 
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> You do not have any sighted friends? Have you not taken any 
>>>>> mobility and do you use a white cane? You don't need a professional 
>>>>> to help you with it really. I hope you will really benefit from 
>>>>> that Leader course, but it is too bad you can't do that because you 
>>>>> need constant
>>>> practice to get better.
>>>>> The less you do it, the more fearful you become. I know this from a 
>>>>> little bit of experience.
>>>>> Cindy Lou Ray
>>>>> cindyray at gmail.com
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amanda 
>>>>> Markham via NAGDU
>>>>> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 1:24 PM
>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Cc: Amanda Markham <markham73 at gmail.com>
>>>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] update on me
>>>>> 
>>>>> I don't have anybody in my area who can do this for me. Which is 
>>>>> why I have to get help this way.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Feb 20, 2017, at 1:29 PM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU 
>>>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> I am wondering if those of you who have no means of woking with a 
>>>>>> professional could go out with people you know sometimes and work 
>>>>>> on this on your own. Than as you grow more confident, you can go 
>>>>>> out alone and ask for directions, ask what is where, or call 
>>>>>> places to see where they are. You might want someone to go with 
>>>>>> you at first, but if you get some ideas, you might need minimal 
>>>>>> help. For instance, mostly when you are crossing streets, if the 
>>>>>> traffic is paralle to you, you can cross. You have to be careful 
>>>>>> about turning vehicles, and many streets have buttons so that you 
>>>>>> self-actuate the light. You have to learn where the ones that get 
>>>>>> you across your
>>>> preferred street are.
>>>>>> Maybe you can walk along and find shorelines--cracks between the 
>>>>>> sidewalk and other cement, grass, rocks, whatever. You can have 
>>>>>> someone go with you to describe what and where things are so you 
>>>>>> can get some idea what you are going to encounter. Choose a place 
>>>>>> you would want to go often, then have someone go with you a couple 
>>>>>> or three times. After that, go by yourself but have them trail you 
>>>>>> so that if you get lost they can help you out of a bind.
>>>>>> Eventually, you
>>>>> would o how to get there.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Cindy Lou Ray
>>>>>> cindyray at gmail.com
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of andrew 
>>>>>> edgcumbe via NAGDU
>>>>>> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 11:43 AM
>>>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog 
>>>>>> Users <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Cc: andrew edgcumbe <rollercoasterman86 at gmail.com>
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] update on me
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> the thing is this I moved into town and stuff but i don't know the 
>>>>>> streets and things i can't go to the coffee shop or the pool or 
>>>>>> anything can't go for a walk inless i have somebody with me. The 
>>>>>> cnib is the main orginization here in canada but as i said it 
>>>>>> seems hard to get weekly o andm even once a week.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 12:38 PM, Marianne Denning via NAGDU < 
>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Andrew, I am so sorry you can't get the training that would be 
>>>>>>> helpful to you.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 12:22 PM, andrew edgcumbe via NAGDU < 
>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> Hi amanda I did the o and m training program at leader dogs 
>>>>>>>> actually it
>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>> a great program. I never have gotten a guide dog yet because i 
>>>>>>>> don't feel good about my o and m skills I can't seem to get 
>>>>>>>> enough o andm here it seems it seems difficault to get them to 
>>>>>>>> come.  I am from
>>>>>> ontario canada.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 12:18 PM, Amanda Markham via NAGDU < 
>>>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> Just heard back from the O and M instructor I worked with from 
>>>>>>>>> the Association For The Blind here in my area and she says 
>>>>>>>>> there schedules are so booked, it'll be a couple weeks before 
>>>>>>>>> her or one of the 3 other instructors can work with me. She 
>>>>>>>>> very strongly suggested I fill out the application for the 
>>>>>>>>> accelerated O and M training program at Leader Dogs For The 
>>>>>>>>> Blind. I have just submitted my application. So glad this is an 
>>>>>>>>> option available to me because this will be a week long 
>>>>>>>>> training with work
>>>> every day.
>>>>>>>>> This will be good in the long run cause if I wait and work with 
>>>>>>>>> the instructors here, they can only work with a client once a week.
>>>>>>>>> Thanks for reading this.
>>>>>>>>> Amanda Markham
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> NAGDU mailing list
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>>>>>>>>> rollercoasterman86%40gmail.com
>>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>> marianne%40denningweb.com
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>>>>>>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>>>>>>> (513) 607-6053
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> NAGDU mailing list
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>>>>>>> 
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>>>>>> co
>>>>>> m
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
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>>>>>> om
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>>>>> m
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Thank you and warmest regards,
>>> Amanda markham
>>> 
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> 
> 
> --
> Thank you and warmest regards,
> Amanda markham
> 
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