[nfb-db] More Travel Questions...

Sat Apr 13 15:08:20 UTC 2013

No, I agree with you completely. I always follow people by sound and use my
cane. However, many of my clients hearing is not good for that and they
need physical contact with the person to tell where they are going and to
follow them.

I also have clients that have been very reluctant to use a cane. The
biggest issue seems to be getting them to trust it and the other issue is
showing them that they need it. The third issue is them trying to put it
away or not take it with them. Once all these issues are solved it's very
easy for them to learn and they seem to take off. I have managed to switch
most of my clients to a straight cane and it's amazing the difference it
makes. I use only a NFB straight cane myself. I still have the Ambutech
folding cane and the last NFB telescoping cane I had in college from before
I got my first guide dog. I am currently between dogs by choice. My first
dog was from a school. I trained my second dog and when my health
got bad handed her over to another handler. I trained a third dog for my
adult foster son who had 3 dogs that didn't workout for him because of his
special needs, so I custom trained his current dog to work off of two
handlers.

Oh, about that folding Ambutech cane. Back in college at the time is was
the lightest folding cane they had. It's an ultra light graphite 64 inch
with a NFB metal glide tip. I picked it up a couple of months back and
tried to use it. WOW, that thing is heavy! I mean I knew it
was heavier than my telescoping cane but after 8 years of not using it I
was surprised. It's no wonder some people develop wrist problems or don't
arc the cane properly.

Thanks, Beth Koenig

On Friday, April 12, 2013, Kerri Kosten wrote:

> Hi Beth:
>
> Many may disagree with this, but at LCB I was taught to never let the
> person lead me across the street. I was taught to politely explain to
> them that I can use my cane and that I can walk beside/follow them.
> I don't really like taking people's arms because it takes the control
> from me and like you said unless I am using my cane I can't tell where
> we are going and I don't like that.
> So, I walk beside the person and use my cane.
> If I am in a huge hurry or something like that I let a person guide me
> but very rarely.
> Many may disagree with this, but one of the biggest fears I had to get
> over at LCB was just using my cane period. I was so afraid because I
> had always been guided.
> If I let people guide me all the time I will definitely begin to
> become afraid again, and I will lose my good mental mapping skills I
> have developed.
> Thanks,
> Kerri
>
> On 4/12/13, Beth Koenig <bethko at gmail.com <javascript:;>> wrote:
> > One thing is that you should never let someone grab you to lead you
> across.
> > I know some people are just trying to help but freeze in your tracks and
> > ask for their arm. If you can also take the hand they have used to grab
> you
> > with and use it to find their arm yourself. You should practice this
> with a
> > partner while holding your cane until you feel you can juggle the
> person's
> > hand and your cane comfortably. Where I live most people will just tell
> me
> > when to cross or I will follow them. When people grab me it is usually in
> > an attempt to stop me falling down stairs.
> > When you are crossing the street use your cane at all times. Never depend
> > on a sighted person to keep you safe from curbs, trees, poles, etc. I
> have
> > some sight and I have never been able to walk with any kind
> > of confidence outside my home without a cane.
> > As for strange danger, the biggest deterrent is looking really confident.
> > The other thing you can do is take some self defense classes. Aikido, and
> > Judo are both good.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Beth Koenig
> > bethko at gmail.com <javascript:;>
> >
> > On Friday, April 12, 2013, Sheila Leigland wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Janice I agree with you. I have become mor vigilant since losing so
> >> much hearing but not yet to the point of being afraid to travel alone. I
> >> am
> >> interested in how you got your fm deviced and where you got it. You can
> >> write me offlist if you like. Thanks.
> >>
> >> Sheila Leigland
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> nfb-db at nfbnet.org <javascript:;> <javascript:;>
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Beth Koenig
> > bethko at gmail.com <javascript:;>
> > (714) 699-DEAF (3323)
> > Deaf Blind Services Specialist
> > Executive Director
> > Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center
> > 1525 Durant Street 303
> > Santa Ana, CA 92706
> > http://www.deafadvocacy.org
> > Health, safety, and productivity are the cornerstones of independence. At
> > the Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center we provide the training and
> services
> > necessary for the deaf and disabled to achieve equality and independence
> in
> > all areas of life.
> >
>
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>

-- 
Beth Koenig
bethko at gmail.com
(714) 699-DEAF (3323)
Deaf Blind Services Specialist
Executive Director
Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center
1525 Durant Street 303
Santa Ana, CA 92706
http://www.deafadvocacy.org
Health, safety, and productivity are the cornerstones of independence. At
the Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center we provide the training and services
necessary for the deaf and disabled to achieve equality and independence in
all areas of life.
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