[nfb-db] More Travel Questions...

[Marsha Drenth]

Carrie, so you were taught at LCB that you should use your cane and follow the person. If you had less hearing, what would they have taught you? I ask this because if you had less hearing, nor could hear the person to follow them, what then? if when I cross the street now, I ask that I be allowed to hold on to the persons elbow, in sighted guide. I use my guide dog or my cane, I am still in control. If its a busy street, and I am trying to cross, but can't hear, its safer to have that help using that sighted guide. I would never let a sighted person drag across me the street. Just a thought. 
Marsha drenth  
Sent with my IPhone 

On Apr 12, 2013, at 11:57 PM, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> 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> 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
>> 
>> 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:;>
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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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