[nfb-db] Questions About Getting Assistance Across Streets

[Marsha Drenth]

Carrie, 

I agree with the other ladeis, you have a right to shop at that dollar store. You have the right to cross the street independently. 

I guess I misunderstand. When you say that you want to go into the restaurant and ask for help. I am assuming you will ask an employee of the restaurant? Not a ordinary person? I have done this before and been able to do some education. I would say that its not a good idea to ask for help in the restaurant during the busy times, but I do think this is an option. Also if your going into the dollar store and asking for help from a clerk to help you shop, yes asking them to help you acrss the street is doable. Again I would say employees should be helping you. Alos nnot during the busy times when customers are coming in and there is no one to help. Maybe find out at both places, at the restaurant and dollar store, when there is an extra person on staff, someone you have built up a relationship with, and go every week if you need. if its every day then I would say that you should find other options. Are there neighbors that ever walk over to the dollar store? Are there other business in the area that employees could help. 

Good luck and let us know what happens, 

Marsha drenth  
Sent with my IPhone 
http://adventureswith2feet4paws.blogspot.com 

On Feb 27, 2013, at 12:22 AM, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Everyone:
> 
> First, I wanted to say I successfully graduated from the Louisiana
> Center for the Blind on Thursday, January 31.
> It was wonderful. I would not change my decision to go to LCB one bit.
> It was the best decision I ever made.
> It was hard and challenging, but I learned so much.
> And, to those who are wondering, I can't speak to the other two NFB
> centers, but I can definitely say that LCB does work with people with
> severe hearing loss. I am a much much better traveler now than I was
> when I started at the center. I recomend anyone and everyone go there
> for training!
> If you have any questions about training, or what it is like going
> through training at LCB with hearing loss, please do not hesitate to
> ask me either on here or off-list!
> Okay, now for my questions.
> I live on a street now called University Avenue. I live very close to
> a Dollar General which of course sells everything and which I am
> extremely excited about!
> However, in order to get to this Dollar General, I have to cross
> University Avenue. University Avenue is a two-lane road which has a
> ton of traffic. My parents, and travel instructor at the center think
> it would be safest for me to get assistance to cross because of there
> being so much traffic.
> There is a restaurant that is across the street from this Dollar
> General. I can get to the restaurant from my house because I don't
> have to cross University to get to it.
> I was thinking of going into the restaurant and seeing if someone
> could help me across.
> Then, I figured when I am finished at the dollar store, I could ask
> someone at the dollar store to help me back across.
> How have you found people's reactions to be when asking someone like
> an employee of a store or a restaurant to help you across a street?
> Is it usually a problem for them?
> Does it burden them or inconveenience them in any way?
> Should I feel guilty at all for wanting to go to the dollar store
> which is across a pretty busy/heavily traveled street?
> I guess I am just struggling with this a bit because in Ruston when I
> used the sign it was different because there were no stores or
> businesses around.
> I guess I feel a little more guilty here because I don't want to
> inconveence anyone.
> In Ruston they were used to seeing students crossing these streets I
> needed help with.
> Here, everyone and I mean everyone drives.
> Nobody just walks to the dollar General.
> So, it makes me feel guilty/embarrassed having to ask people to walk with me.
> But, at the same time, I live very close to this dollar Store and I
> feel I have a right to walk there as much as someone else has a right
> to drive there.
> Also, since everyone on this list has hearing loss and so theirfore
> likely needs to get assistance crossing certain streets, how do you
> prefer to get assistance?
> Do you find it's easier to go into a business and ask someone such as
> an employee or someone to help you or do you find using the sign/card
> easier?
> I live on University Avenue, and I'm sure I'll need to cross it for
> more than just the dollar store so I guess I have to get used to this
> asking assistance thing lol.
> Like I said it went extremely well in Ruston, but it was different there.
> 
> Thanks,
> Kerri
> 
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