[nfb-db] More Travel Questions...

[Janice Toothman]

I think that it is important to do what each feels safe doing. I feel 
more independent with my guide dog or cane and holding onto somebodies 
elbow who or talking to me via my FM system because I can't discern the 
traffic on busy streets due to my severe hearing loss. I feel that it is 
my choice to take the person's arm to further my independence. 
Otherwise, I might as well not venture out to do the activities I need 
to do that involve crossing streets on a daily basis. I consider the 
ability to make choice  in how to be independent when dealing with my 
deaf-blindness essential in developing a repertoire of coping skills.
Janice
On 4/15/2013 11:28 AM, Kerri Kosten wrote:
> Hi:
>
> First, beth, I am really curious. If you do not mind me asking, what do you do?
> Do you teach cane travel?
> I'm so glad you also use the NFB straight cane like me and like me
> prefer to follow the person. I'm also glad you prefer your clients to
> use the straight NFB cane. I feel it is much better than the folding
> canes!!
> Marsha, if you are lined up properly when it is time to cross you just
> go straight across the street. Unless you veer badly, you always just
> go straight across the street.
> My street crossings are usually very straight.
> So, I don't really need to necessarily listen for the person.
> The thing is, when I got to LCB like Beth talked about I was also very
> afraid because I had no experience using my cane and had always been
> guided all my life. I also was very afraid to cross streets...any
> street. I had to work for several months at getting over my fears, and
> to be honest when it is a street that is very very busy I still become
> a little afraid. I'm honestly afraid that if I begin letting people
> just lead me across the street or I take their arm I'll slowly begin
> to develop those fears again.
> Marsha, my instructor did tell me once that if it was too noisy for me
> to hear a person it as okay to take their arm if I absolutely could
> not hear. But, it has to be very noisy for me to have to do this and I
> haven't had to do this yet.
> For example, if I am at a game or something, and the crowd cheers and
> I can't hear the person to follow them maybe then I'll take their arm,
> but I want to be very careful about when I do this because I do not
> want to redevelop my fears again.
> Thanks,
> Kerri
>
> On 4/15/13, Sammons, Elizabeth <Elizabeth.Sammons at rsc.ohio.gov> wrote:
>> All,
>>
>> I have been following the conversation on crossing streets safely with
>> interest. I guess I can offer a bit from both perspectives, since I am very
>> low vision and use a cane, but because I am hearing more or less still, I am
>> sometimes asked by other blind or d/b friends to go out, etc.. I can tell
>> you from the more or less sighted-hearing perspective, it is extremely
>> stressful for me if someone does *not* take my arm. This is because (1) I am
>> not sure where they may be otherwise and (2) if they are low-hearing or
>> there is simply a lot of noise, I am not sure I can communicate with them
>> safely and in the case of a street crossing, in a timely way. (3) I am
>> booking it across the street, and I do not want to be slowed down by someone
>> slower than I am unless they have a mobility impairment that prevents them
>> from keeping up with me, because again, the crossing time may be limited. So
>> I would like you to think about taking someone's arm if they invite you to
>> do so. I do agree about not having them take your arm.
>> Hope this perspective does not offend anyone, and I am just sharing for a
>> different view.
>> Thanks,
>> Elizabeth from Ohio
>> Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission -
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>>
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