[nfb-db] How are you?
Janice Toothman
janice.toothman at verizon.net
Tue Aug 14 18:49:10 UTC 2012
I have sent my application in for a new dog even though it breaks my
heart. I guess that with my hearing problem it made it difficult to
discuss with GDF my concerns without rationally without getting
emotional. I was worried about safety. Then, Shannon Dyer offered to
caption telephone calls between me and GDF which helped clarify things
but didn't lesson the emotional struggle. I have not told them when to
pick her up. I had asked to keep her until I got a new dog. However,
Greg, (a trainer who knows Destiny and me, suggested I do it before
school starts. I haven't time to think since my mother has been in the
rehabilitation facility. My dad and I visit every day and have family
meetings. It is a family crisis. There is so much to deal with. My
classes start on the 29 of Aug.
Janice
On 8/14/2012 12:02 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote:
> Janice,
>
> I saw a few days ago, that you were retiring Destiny. Is this true? I am sorry that you are forced to retire her. I am sure your crushed. If you need to talk please do let me know.
>
> I have a class date for GDF, sept 24 to oct 19, but it right in the middle of my semester. I need and want to go, but can I handle getting a dog, and all my school work.
>
> When does your semester start? And have you talked to GDF about getting another pup?
>
> *hugs*
> Talk soon,
>
> Marsha drenthSent from my iPhone
>
> On Jul 30, 2012, at 6:23 PM, Janice Toothman <janice.toothman at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Marsha,
>> I have found many deaf-blind groups on the internet and belong to two others through google. There are at leastt least 16 different deaf-blind internet groups. Some are more "chatty" and high volume than others. For instance, dbtc: db-talkcity at googlegroups.com I have found to be high volume. where as DBL : deafblind at googlegroups.com is not. There are others that are topic oriented, such as the creative writing (DBCN:db-cnet at googlegroups.com). I hope this helps.
>> Janice
>> On 7/30/2012 4:31 PM, Marsha Drenth wrote:
>>> List,
>>>
>>> I am about a month away from starting my semester. I was down at the campus
>>> this morning, and I can already tell its going to be an interesting
>>> semester. There is A LOT of construction going on the campus. So this is
>>> going to make for a difficult travel situation. In the past I have preferred
>>> to use my hearing aids while traveling. But with all the construction, its
>>> so noisy, I just take them out. And take my chances on just not hearing. I
>>> am beyond frustrated at this point with my ears.
>>>
>>> My question, Catherine mentioned below, there are other email lists of DB
>>> people on the internet. I am interested in learning to navigate this
>>> challenge I have ahead of me with no vision and very bad hearing. I have
>>> asked my university to help me secure funding to have an guide from the
>>> train to my building and back on a daily bases. And I have even taken the
>>> leap to ask my BVS counselor if they can pay for ASL training. So I would
>>> like to meet other people like me. This list has been great. I am just
>>> curious of what other people are out there.
>>>
>>> Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
>>>
>>> Marsha
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
>>> Of Catherine Miller
>>> Sent: Monday, July 30, 2012 3:24 PM
>>> To: nfb-db at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-db] nfb-db Digest, Vol 42, Issue 41
>>>
>>> Carrie: Folks here have given you some good advice. I agree with them that
>>> LCB is an excellent facility. Although I did not attend the center for the
>>> entire six months training, I have participated in other programs there.
>>> The executive director, Pam Allen, is a friend and mentor to me. Pam and I
>>> regularly consult on matters pertaining to deaf-blindness. Based on years
>>> of experience with Pam and the Center, I my hunch is that you are not
>>> required to cross the streets with your unique combination of hearing loss
>>> and vision loss. Rather, I think that, in typical fashion, LCB's staff is
>>> pushing you to find your own limits, allowing you to tell them when enough
>>> is enough. Our search for independence is a powerful motivator. We can
>>> surpass our limits, often very successfully, with the right motivation.
>>> It's unbelievable what we are willing to risk to earn our freedom. But
>>> ultimately, you call the shots yourself. Talk to your O&M instructor; talk
>>> to your rehab counselor. If you are determined to attain a higher level of
>>> mobility than is possible in six to nine months, then think about requesting
>>> an extension of your length of stay at CB. I don't want to see you crossing
>>> the street in uncertainty out of frustration.
>>>
>>> Make an appointment with Pam Allen; tell her that I suggested it. She needs
>>> to know about the doubts you feel, in order to make adjustments to the
>>> curriculum if that's what is required.
>>>
>>> I congratulate you on your strength of character and your unrelenting desire
>>> to achieve all that is possible, despite your unique combination of sensory
>>> disabilities.
>>>
>>> It seems to me that a very important question to answer is whether your
>>> hearing is perfectly stable. Perhaps it is possible for you to learn to
>>> determine the directionality of traffice. But if your hearing, like mine,
>>> is unstable, whatever you learn will be lost when your hearing changes.
>>> Likewise, if your hearing aid features adjustments that allow you to turn
>>> off rear microphones to block out background noise, be sure the settings are
>>> always in the same position every time you stop to listen for traffic.
>>>
>>> You strike me as someone who does not find it easy to ask for help. But
>>> please consider whether an SSP might allow you to reach a higher level of
>>> achievement. If the answer is "possibly," then help us to organize
>>> ourselves and a plan that will result in the education of the Federation
>>> about why we need SSPs.
>>>
>>> Carrie, I'm glad you've found the division list. There are other list with
>>> other DB people on the Internet. With your input, we can claim our place
>>> alongside our blind brothers and sisters. With the Federation's help, there
>>> is no limit to what we can accompish.
>>>
>>> With best regards,
>>>
>>> Cathy Miller
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Jul 29, 2012, at 10:11 PM, nfb-db-request at nfbnet.org wrote:
>>>
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>>>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Today's Topics:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Re: Crossing Streets? (Marsha Drenth)
>>>> 2. Re: Crossing Streets? (Alicia Richards)
>>>> 3. Re: Crossing Streets? (Scott Davert)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> Message: 1
>>>> Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2012 22:18:45 -0400
>>>> From: "Marsha Drenth" <marsha.drenth at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "'NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List'" <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Crossing Streets?
>>>> Message-ID: <1FB9E1719C3849B0A200F7A2D9288C92 at Cptr233>
>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>>>
>>>> Carrie,
>>>>
>>>> Your not the first with a hearing impairment to go to a NFB center. How
>>>> those other students did I am not sure. From what I have heard, the travel
>>>> was the hardest of all. I don't have any suggestions on how you would
>>> cross
>>>> the streets better. But as a person with a hearing impairment myself, no
>>>> normally hearing person, can know what we hear, the fear and uncertainty
>>>> that goes along with that, or can walk in our shoes. Its hard. If anyone
>>>> here has any good ideas please do share them. Please don't get me wrong,
>>>> when I say this next part. The NFB centers are awesome in their training.
>>>> The problem comes when a person, with a hearing impairment attends, they
>>> are
>>>> very not well equipped to train a person with both blindness and hearing
>>>> difficulties. From another friend of mine who attended LCB quite a few
>>>> years ago, there was a young lady who had a severe hearing loss. But again
>>>> had trouble with travel. She left and I think was suppose to go to the
>>> HKC.
>>>> I might be wrong here. But when it comes to an NFB center it's the coined
>>>> training and that is it, any deviation from that causes problems. At one
>>>> point I looked into going to a training center, specifically an NFB
>>> center,
>>>> but because of my hearing impairment. I was not guaranteed that
>>>> accommodations could be made for that. I am a very independent person, who
>>>> uses a guide dog too, my cane skills are not what I would be going there
>>>> for. The program is to be there for all of the training, including cane
>>>> travel. I spoke to Al spooner, regarding this matter. Its really sad when
>>> a
>>>> person with a hearing impairment goes to an NFB center, and who can't have
>>>> accommodations made for that. Again I might be wrong, so I would like for
>>>> someone to prove me wrong.
>>>>
>>>> Carrie, I do hope you find the information your looking for. Good luck!
>>>>
>>>> Marsha
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>>> Of Kerri Kosten
>>>> Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 8:22 PM
>>>> To: NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List; Ed McDonald; Charlene Smith;
>>>> Arielle Silverman; Paul Migliorelli (+1 303-552-6970)
>>>> Subject: [nfb-db] Crossing Streets?
>>>>
>>>> Hi Everyone:
>>>>
>>>> Though I have been on this list for a long time now, I don't post much.
>>>> But, I am having a problem I don't really know what to do about and I
>>>> need to find a solution rather soon.
>>>> I am a current student at the Louisiana Center for The Blind, the NFB
>>>> training center. I did very extensive research before choosing this
>>>> center, and I chose this one because I knew it was the best of the
>>>> best and I could learn to become independent to the point where I
>>>> would have the confidence to be able to go anywhere, have the
>>>> confidence to do anything I wanted, and be able to travel in
>>>> new/unfamiliar environments without needing to be orientated by a
>>>> mobility instructor everytime I moved somewhere.
>>>> Besides this, I much prefer the structured discovery method of
>>>> learning over the ttraditional route travel method.
>>>> In addition to being totally blind, I have hearing loss. I basically
>>>> only have hearing in my left ear. My right ear is completely deaf.
>>>> This means that I hear sounds pretty well but I have trouble with
>>>> localization and knowing which direction sounds are coming from.
>>>> I am at the point in my training where I am having to cross
>>>> intersections with stoplights. In order to cross these intersections,
>>>> I am supposed to cross when the parallel traffic is moving. The
>>>> parallel street is the street that is beside me. When the parallel
>>>> traffic is moving, the perpendicular traffic (traffic on the street in
>>>> front of me) can not go.
>>>> I am having two problems that do not seem to be getting better. First,
>>>> I am having a lot of trouble telling which street is going. I can hear
>>>> the traffic. I can hear when it is stopped/idaling. But, I am having
>>>> trouble telling which street is moving, the one in front of me or the
>>>> one beside me.
>>>> At first, my instructor would ask me questions such as "What is
>>>> moving?" and I would try to tell him/her and then cross at the
>>>> appropriate time. However, now, since I have been in training for a
>>>> couple of months, my instructor does not say anything because he/she
>>>> wants me to make the decision on my own and trust myself.
>>>> So, what happens is we approach the street. I admit I am terrified
>>>> because there is so much traffic and I know I have to cross the street
>>>> on my own. I attempt to listen. I get somewhat of an idea of what
>>>> street is going. I then become even more scared though and don't
>>>> cross. We end up just standing at the particular intersection for 20
>>>> minutes or more and my instructor gets onto me.
>>>> I don't know whether my issues are with hearing or my fear. My
>>>> instructor avidly believes I am just letting my fear stop me and does
>>>> not understand why I am not gaining confidence and beginning to trust
>>>> myself more. My instructor believes I can do this even with one ear.
>>>> I guess I am both afraid and unsure. I can sort of tell which street
>>>> is moving because it seems at times (I don't know if this is accurate
>>>> or not) but it seems that the perpendicular street (the street that is
>>>> in front of me) sounds a bit louder and when the parallel street is
>>>> moving (the one beside me) it sounds sort of quieter/a bit further
>>>> away from my left ear. Sometimes though, on different streets, for
>>>> some reason I don't hear this slight sound difference and all the
>>>> traffic sounds the same to me. I can hear it, it just all sounds the
>>>> same so I can't tell which street is going. However, I am still afraid
>>>> to go, so end up just standing there for much longer than I should. I
>>>> guess I am afraid that it will be the wrong time and if I go it will
>>>> be the wrong time. So, I don't go, and we end up standing at one
>>>> intersection for forever.
>>>> The problem is that I have already been in training for a few months,
>>>> and students are only in training for up to nine months. I want to do
>>>> as well as I can here. I do not want to be one of those students who
>>>> is here for nine months but barely learns anything. That is not why I
>>>> came here.
>>>> Also, these particular streets are only about four blocks from the
>>>> center which is a very short distance. If I can not figure out how to
>>>> cross these streets, I will never be able to advance very far in
>>>> travel, and this will really cause me a lot of problems in the rest of
>>>> my life when I have completed training.
>>>> How do you all handle street crossings? How do you know which street
>>>> is moving when you only have hearing in one ear?
>>>> Is there something else I can listen for? Is there a certain pattern I
>>>> can listen for or something to help me?
>>>> Is it possible that I am becoming so terrified/anxious that my fear is
>>>> affecting my hearing?
>>>> Is it accurate/true that the perpendicular street sounds louder than
>>>> the parallel one? Could I use this slight difference in sound to
>>>> properly judge which street is moving?
>>>> Could my attitude have something to do with this? Instead of going
>>>> about this with an excited, positive, can-do attitude, maybe I am
>>>> being too negative/scared? Could my approach/attitude possibly be
>>>> affecting things?
>>>> I should point out that I have not made a bad decision yet when
>>>> crossing. My instructor has never had to actually stop me. He/she
>>>> keeps telling me this, but I still feel as if each street crossing I
>>>> manage is kind of like pulling teeth so to speak because I am so
>>>> scared and then I end up standing at the intersection for so long.
>>>> Because of this, rather than gaining confidence with each street
>>>> crossing, I am instead still terrified.
>>>> Are there any federationists who have hearing in only one ear or a
>>>> similar situation that may not be on this list that could possibly
>>>> help?
>>>> Is there anyone else I could contact?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks so much!
>>>> Kerri
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nfb-db mailing list
>>>> nfb-db at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> Message: 2
>>>> Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2012 21:29:52 -0500
>>>> From: Alicia Richards <alicianfb at gmail.com>
>>>> To: "NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List" <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Crossing Streets?
>>>> Message-ID: <B4AA2A3FF6F0425AAD135A7B94D49B66 at aliciab5324f6e>
>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>>>> reply-type=original
>>>>
>>>> Hello, all. I rarely post to this list, as I am blind, but hearing.
>>>> However, I'd like to respond to Kerri's message. Please forgive the
>>>> upcoming lengthy message.
>>>>
>>>> Kerri, I'm not quite sure what to suggest here. I will continue to think
>>>> about it. I personally feel that the LCB, like most blindness centers
>>> I've
>>>> known, has no idea how to handle a client who has a hearing impairment as
>>>> well as blindness. I'm not saying LCB is a bad center. I know it's our
>>>> best one, actually. You're right about that. I agree with them nine times
>>>> out of ten. But I think they are wrong on this issue: that your travel
>>>> instructor is wrong in this case. Seriously, your message makes me want
>>> to
>>>> take our Center's sleepshade policy, and apply it to hearing. I'd love to
>>>> put an earplug in one of your instructor's ears, and see how well he/she
>>>> could distinguish traffic patterns.
>>>>
>>>> First, I truly do not believe this is an issue of your having a negative
>>>> attitude, or being too afraid. Your message clearly shows you have a very
>>>> positive attitude, and I admire it. You're ready and more than willing to
>>>> learn, and want to get the best out of your program. Not all students do.
>>>> I don't think you're afraid of independent travel, but simply of street
>>>> crossings. And I don't think it's you not trusting yourself. I truly
>>>> believe it's about your hearing impairment, and you very naturally wanting
>>>> to be safe. Your fear, in my opinion, is nothing more than inteligent
>>>> self-preservation, which any normal human would have. I'm glad you've
>>>> consistently made the right decision about when to cross thus far, but it
>>>> sounds as if your hearing is not trustworthy enough to be counted on all
>>> the
>>>> time, and personally, that's a gamble I would not want to take. Whether
>>>> parallel or perpendicular traffic is quiet or loud doesn't seem to be
>>>> relevant, if you're not able to tell which direction it is moving, through
>>>> no fault of your own, by the way. From my bits of experience with those
>>> who
>>>> are hearing impaired and blind, it seems like the biggest mistake hearing
>>>> people make is to assume that hearing has to do with loud and quiet only.
>>>> We often don't factor in things like directionality. I know I certainly
>>>> didn't until I started meeting people who were in situations similar to
>>>> yours.
>>>>
>>>> I'm pretty sure this is not at all what you want to hear, but I'll say it
>>>> anyway. Most blind and hearing impaired people I know use street-crossing
>>>> cards if they can't distinguish between perpendicular and parallel
>>> traffic.
>>>> It's a card that has writing on it that says you are blind and hearing
>>>> impaired, and need assistance to cross the street. Yes, I know, on the
>>>> surface this would seem to go against our philosophy of independence, as
>>>> well as your desire to be so. But, if you listen to Dr. Jernigan's
>>> speech,
>>>> "The Nature of Independence," he basically says that the most independence
>>>> is obtained by employing whatever alternative techniques you need to in
>>>> order to live and travel safely and effectively. To me, you using your
>>>> limited hearing to try and distinguish between perpendicular and parallel
>>>> traffic is neither safe or effective, as your email shows. I view a
>>> street
>>>> crossing card the same way I do a blind person using a white cane. Many
>>> are
>>>> resistent at first. But a white cane is needed for blind people to travel
>>>> safely and effectively. For some blind and hearing impaired people, so is
>>> a
>>>> street crossing card. It's simply another alternative technique. Again, I
>>>> say, I don't think you have a negative attitude or are too afraid.
>>>>
>>>> This is where I think the deaf-blind division needs to help educate
>>> places,
>>>> especially our own training centers, in regards to people with both
>>>> blindness and hearing issues. LCB is most likely to listen to fellow
>>>> Federationists, people they know share their positive philosophy of
>>>> blindness. Cathy and Rox, if I remember correctly, you both live in
>>>> Louisiana, and I know you both have great attitudes and philosophy of
>>>> blindness. Do either of you know anyone or have any connection to LCB?
>>>> Since you guys live in that state, do you think there's anything you could
>>>> do here?
>>>>
>>>> Kerri, I will continue to think about this, but I really wanted to respond
>>>> and say that I don't think your problems here have anything to do with
>>> your
>>>> attitude or lack of self-confidence.
>>>>
>>>> Alicia
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> Message: 3
>>>> Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2012 23:11:04 -0400
>>>> From: Scott Davert <scottdavert at gmail.com>
>>>> To: Alicia Richards <AliciaNFB at gmail.com>, NFB Deaf-Blind Division
>>>> Mailing List <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-db] Crossing Streets?
>>>> Message-ID:
>>>> <CAOHXxEaCGtahNLUhGkSs_nP19UKNHqKRCDPRw7uLUkhNt+8ing at mail.gmail.com>
>>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252
>>>>
>>>> Hello Kerri.
>>>> First, I'm glad you have decided to post and I hope others will offer
>>>> their perspective as well. As I'm only one person and am not an o and
>>>> m specialist, I may not be the best person to ask, though I am a
>>>> person who has gone through some of what you're dealing with now when
>>>> I was receiving training.
>>>> Your fear is not what is holding you back, in my opinion. I had the
>>>> same fear, and I had that fear for a good reason, though the
>>>> instructors I were working with at the time kept trying to get me to
>>>> cross a street using my hearing. I am almost totally deaf in my right
>>>> ear and severe loss in my left. I tell you all of this before I say
>>>> what I have to say so that you know where I'm coming from. I'm not
>>>> you, and I am not walking in your shoes, no pun intended, but my
>>>> experiences are similar. I had most of my struggles in blindness
>>>> training centers with respect to mobility for the same reason.
>>>> Only hearing out of one ear is going to make it almost impossible to
>>>> localize traffic in such a way that you can use the information. Sure,
>>>> you can try to turn your head to determine what's going on, but with
>>>> traffic moving fast, by time you've figured out where it may be coming
>>>> from, it's gone. And while you may be able to detect more quiet or
>>>> more noisy traffic surges, that will not help you reliably determine
>>>> where the surge is coming from. Some traffic surges are louder than
>>>> others, no matter whether they're perpendicular or parallel to you.
>>>> Think about it this way: if there is a bus that takes off
>>>> perpendicular to you when the light changes, that's going to be more
>>>> noisy if only a few quiet vehicles were at that same crossing. You
>>>> could very easily have the same results if the bus or any other noisy
>>>> vehicle were parallel to you. I tried to do this as well. I even went
>>>> so far as to take this theory in to practice and cross against a
>>>> light. Because, like you, I had the fear and was told by others that I
>>>> had to get over it. What I learned though is that there is that fear
>>>> is sometimes there for a very good reason. In the case of analyzing
>>>> traffic patterns with one ear, I am hear to tell you from both a
>>>> logical and personal standpoint that there is no safe way to do so. In
>>>> the words of my friend and an O and M specialist Gene Bourquin, who
>>>> has over 20 years of experience in working with people who have both
>>>> vision and hearing loss, with regard to this type of crossing told me
>>>> the following. "what you're trying to do is both biologically and
>>>> physically impossible". Audiologists I have been to who are educated
>>>> on the effects of both vision loss concur.
>>>> SO what is there to do in this situation? With your hearing, which is
>>>> much like mine, nothing. Alternative methods of doing this must be
>>>> looked in to and perhaps an O and M instructor who has experience in
>>>> working with people who have a combined vision and hearing loss needs
>>>> to be consulted.
>>>> For me, the solution was to use a street crossing card. Essentially,
>>>> the card has a graphic of someone holding someone else?s' elbow and
>>>> assisting the person with a cane across the street. It also says in
>>>> text something to the effect that I'm blind and hard of hearing.
>>>> Please tap me on the shoulder if you can help me cross.
>>>> Also, if you're with friends who do have normal hearing, you can
>>>> always walk with them, and just grab an elbow to get across the
>>>> street. Or, have them verbally tell you when they're crossing. If it's
>>>> too noisy, have them tap you on the shoulder when they're crossing. A
>>>> true friend never minds such a minor thing.
>>>> Is that independence you may be asking? Well, I decide which streets I
>>>> cross, work a full time job, navigate around my local area I've
>>>> relocated to without too much difficulty, and have a fairly active
>>>> life. I had trouble getting used to the idea of someone I don't know
>>>> helping me across the street, but I've gotten used to it over the
>>>> years. This is what has worked for me. That doesn't mean it's the best
>>>> solution for you, and I'm certainly not going to sit here and say
>>>> that's what you have to do. The only thing I would say is that you
>>>> must work with your O and M instructor to find an alternative
>>>> solution. If this individual isn't educated in working with people
>>>> with both these losses, it's time for that person to reach out to
>>>> professional resources who do have the experience to garner the
>>>> knowledge necessary to help you succeed. If he/she cannot do this,
>>>> perhaps they should stick to working with people who are blind only,
>>>> as it's a different world for those of us who have a hearing loss to
>>>> go along with it. You cannot get accurate information from something
>>>> that isn't able to take in that information accurately. That's so
>>>> basic I would think most people with any sort of disability education
>>>> should understand.
>>>> Finally, I can tell from your writing that you're a very motivated
>>>> person in your training and that you have the strong urge to succeed.
>>>> Remember that just because you do not do things the same way as your
>>>> classmates, as long as you make your own choices and can get from
>>>> point a to point b, that's all that matters. I'm sorry that this may
>>>> not be the exact solution you wanted, but I hope you will at least
>>>> take my idea into consideration. Again, you can't gain confidence on
>>>> something that you cannot reliably detect due to your ears. Blaming
>>>> you for this is much like blaming a person who is mainly blind in one
>>>> eye but has site in the other for not seeing stairs and tripping on
>>>> them. You can't make them do what their body will not allow them to.
>>>> Finally, I?d pass these 2 article references on to your instructor. I
>>>> find it rather unprofessional that he/she didn?t bother to do a bit of
>>>> research on their own, but that?s another message for another day.
>>>> While these articles have the word deaf-blind in them, they apply to
>>>> anyone who has trouble localizing traffic patterns that is blind. This
>>>> would include you and I.
>>>> I sincerely wish you the best of luck on your quest for your
>>>> independence. Remember, just because you?re not always doing things
>>>> the same exact way as your peers, it does not make you any less of a
>>>> person. You can still do everything they do and mostly in the same
>>>> way.
>>>>
>>>> Scott
>>>> References:
>>>> Bourquin, E., Hogan, S., & Sauerburger, D. (2010). Street Crossing
>>>> Signs: Travelers Who are Deaf-Blind Obtaining Assistance when
>>>> Pedestrians are not Present. AER Journal, 3(4), 139-145.
>>>> Bourquin, E., & Moon, J. (2008). Studies on Obtaining Assistance by
>>>> Travelers Who are Deaf-Blind. Journal of Visual Impairment &
>>>> Blindness, 102(6), 352-361.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 7/29/12, Alicia Richards <alicianfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> Hello, all. I rarely post to this list, as I am blind, but hearing.
>>>>> However, I'd like to respond to Kerri's message. Please forgive the
>>>>> upcoming lengthy message.
>>>>>
>>>>> Kerri, I'm not quite sure what to suggest here. I will continue to think
>>>>> about it. I personally feel that the LCB, like most blindness centers
>>> I've
>>>>> known, has no idea how to handle a client who has a hearing impairment as
>>>>> well as blindness. I'm not saying LCB is a bad center. I know it's our
>>>>> best one, actually. You're right about that. I agree with them nine times
>>>>> out of ten. But I think they are wrong on this issue: that your travel
>>>>> instructor is wrong in this case. Seriously, your message makes me want
>>> to
>>>>> take our Center's sleepshade policy, and apply it to hearing. I'd love
>>> to
>>>>> put an earplug in one of your instructor's ears, and see how well he/she
>>>>> could distinguish traffic patterns.
>>>>>
>>>>> First, I truly do not believe this is an issue of your having a negative
>>>>> attitude, or being too afraid. Your message clearly shows you have a
>>> very
>>>>> positive attitude, and I admire it. You're ready and more than willing
>>> to
>>>>> learn, and want to get the best out of your program. Not all students
>>> do.
>>>>> I don't think you're afraid of independent travel, but simply of street
>>>>> crossings. And I don't think it's you not trusting yourself. I truly
>>>>> believe it's about your hearing impairment, and you very naturally
>>> wanting
>>>>> to be safe. Your fear, in my opinion, is nothing more than inteligent
>>>>> self-preservation, which any normal human would have. I'm glad you've
>>>>> consistently made the right decision about when to cross thus far, but it
>>>>> sounds as if your hearing is not trustworthy enough to be counted on all
>>> the
>>>>> time, and personally, that's a gamble I would not want to take. Whether
>>>>> parallel or perpendicular traffic is quiet or loud doesn't seem to be
>>>>> relevant, if you're not able to tell which direction it is moving,
>>> through
>>>>> no fault of your own, by the way. From my bits of experience with those
>>> who
>>>>> are hearing impaired and blind, it seems like the biggest mistake hearing
>>>>> people make is to assume that hearing has to do with loud and quiet only.
>>>>> We often don't factor in things like directionality. I know I certainly
>>>>> didn't until I started meeting people who were in situations similar to
>>>>> yours.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm pretty sure this is not at all what you want to hear, but I'll say it
>>>>> anyway. Most blind and hearing impaired people I know use
>>> street-crossing
>>>>> cards if they can't distinguish between perpendicular and parallel
>>> traffic.
>>>>> It's a card that has writing on it that says you are blind and hearing
>>>>> impaired, and need assistance to cross the street. Yes, I know, on the
>>>>> surface this would seem to go against our philosophy of independence, as
>>>>> well as your desire to be so. But, if you listen to Dr. Jernigan's
>>> speech,
>>>>> "The Nature of Independence," he basically says that the most
>>> independence
>>>>> is obtained by employing whatever alternative techniques you need to in
>>>>> order to live and travel safely and effectively. To me, you using your
>>>>> limited hearing to try and distinguish between perpendicular and parallel
>>>>> traffic is neither safe or effective, as your email shows. I view a
>>> street
>>>>> crossing card the same way I do a blind person using a white cane. Many
>>> are
>>>>> resistent at first. But a white cane is needed for blind people to
>>> travel
>>>>> safely and effectively. For some blind and hearing impaired people, so
>>> is a
>>>>> street crossing card. It's simply another alternative technique. Again,
>>> I
>>>>> say, I don't think you have a negative attitude or are too afraid.
>>>>>
>>>>> This is where I think the deaf-blind division needs to help educate
>>> places,
>>>>> especially our own training centers, in regards to people with both
>>>>> blindness and hearing issues. LCB is most likely to listen to fellow
>>>>> Federationists, people they know share their positive philosophy of
>>>>> blindness. Cathy and Rox, if I remember correctly, you both live in
>>>>> Louisiana, and I know you both have great attitudes and philosophy of
>>>>> blindness. Do either of you know anyone or have any connection to LCB?
>>>>> Since you guys live in that state, do you think there's anything you
>>> could
>>>>> do here?
>>>>>
>>>>> Kerri, I will continue to think about this, but I really wanted to
>>> respond
>>>>> and say that I don't think your problems here have anything to do with
>>> your
>>>>> attitude or lack of self-confidence.
>>>>>
>>>>> Alicia
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nfb-db mailing list
>>>>> nfb-db at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
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>>>>
>>>> End of nfb-db Digest, Vol 42, Issue 41
>>>> **************************************
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