<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Danielle,</div><div>I too at first was a little not into using the cards. But over time, of forcing myself to use them I got use to it. I say force, because in my head, I say to myself, you don't need the card, you can hear the traffic, when in all reality I can not hear the traffic at all,its an arguement I have with myself every day. but then, something happens to change my mind, like a car turning in front of me, yes my guide stops, but if that day I might be using my cane. what would happen? Or something else much more scary happens. Then I am justified in using the cards. I lived my whole life 37 years without needing the cards, and now I do. Its much safer to use the cards, get the help, then to have the alternative happen. Its like when people who are losing their vision, are learning to use the cane, they don't want to, then they fall down a curb or stairs, then they realize that perhaps using the cane is the best possible solution. For me in a mjaor city, its easy to use in the sense that the places I travel, there is alot of foot traffic. use it, and eventually it will be second nature. </div><div>Good luck!<br><br>Marsha drenth <div>email: <a href="mailto:marsha.drenth@gmail.com">marsha.drenth@gmail.com</a> <div>Sent with my IPhone </div><div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Please note that this email communication has been sent using my iPhone. As such, I may have used dictation and had made attempts to mitigate errors. Please do not be hesitant to ask for clarification as necessary.</span> </div></div></div><div><br>On Apr 21, 2015, at 10:26 PM, Danielle Burton <<a href="mailto:danielleburton94@gmail.com">danielleburton94@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div>Hi Anjie, </div><div>I am Danielle Burton from Kentucky. I am a student at Morehead State University studying Elementary and Special Education. I am totally blind with mild to moderate hearing loss. I wear hearing aids in both and am currently working my first guide dog from Guiding Eyes for the blind. I want to say welcome to the list and I'm glad you're seeking information. I cannot always cross streets independently either. I will often ask passersby for assistance in crossing the street when I am having trouble hearing. I have a street crossing card but I don't use because I am not comfortable with it. Although, I confess I've been in situations where I thinI should have used it. I do have a question for everyone myself. For those of you who do use a street crossing card how did you come to feel comfortable with this method? I was shown once how to use the card by an O and M instructor but havent used it since. </div><div>Danielle <br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On Apr 21, 2015, at 9:35 PM, Cheri via nfb-db <<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<meta content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" http-equiv="Content-Type">
<meta name="GENERATOR" content="MSHTML 11.00.9600.17728">
<font id="role_document" color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial">
<div>Anjie, thank you for keeping everyone apprised of your situation.
When I was supposed to go to the doctors office that does the tests for vertigo
and balance issues, I canceled my appointment. At that time they told me
it was a $400. co pay. I didn't feel the tests would benefit me because I
already had balance problems</div>
<div> </div>
<div>My husband went just last year and they said he had vertigo and wanted him
to go for treatment at a Brooks rehab, but he didn't feel it was
necessary. He told me they put him through tests that measured how much
fluid is in the ear and made him walk on different surfaces that had measuring
devices inside of them. This is if you have dizzyness, migrains and issues
relating to your balance. I myself have to use a cane that can steady me
and keep me from falling. I usually don't go out any more without my
husband. When I get to the store I always use the shopping cart to hold
onto. I should go for the treatment, but other people who went told me the
treatment is only temporary and you have to keep going back. They told me
at the time that if I came for the test that medication might be ale to help,
but a physical therapist who helped me with balance treatment said it wouldn't
help me. I was told by a Nuerologist that balance depended on
hearing. I don't know that he is right either. Because a lot of
people have hearing loss don't have balance issues. </div>
<div>All I can say is go for the testing and see what they tell you Be
sure to wear tennis shoes. I hope that you get the right kind of
help. Keep us informed. Praying for a positive outcome Anjie.
xxxx Cheri </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>In a message dated 4/21/2015 8:57:22 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a> writes:</div>
<blockquote style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><font style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color="#000000" size="2" face="Arial">
<div>Thank you everyone for your replies and words of advice. I met with my VR
counselor today and will be seeing an Otologist hopefully in the near future.
I have been writing differences I have noticed in my hearing since I am a bit
nervous about this upcoming appointment.</div>
<div>Last week I worked with a Mobility Instructor who encouraged me with
being okay to ask for assistance crossing streets that I am not confident
about due to not hearing certain types of cars. This sort of goes against what
I learned in training, but I want to do what it takes to stay alive and be
safe.</div>
<div>I will be sure to let you know what I find out at this Otology
appointment. What typically happens that this type of appointment?</div>
<div>Thanks lots. :)<br><br>
<div><br></div>
<div>-Anjelina</div>
<div>Sent from my iPad</div></div>
<div><br>On Apr 21, 2015, at 4:38 PM, Marsha Drenth via nfb-db <<a title="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
<div>Cathy, </div>
<div>Your so correct, the NFB needs to accept that there are alternatives.
And that those alternatives are not a bad thing, nor will they defeat the
independence that you have, or that the NFB promotes. So blind persons use
their hearing to cross streets, great, but deafblind persons can not do the
same. So we use alternative methods, either by getting help, using a street
crossing sign, taking a different route, or getting a ride to a location.
None of these things are bad, none of these things means a deafblind person
is less independent. We use SSP's, for communication and guiding, again
different from what blind persons do, but still the same in doing what we
need to do. </div>
<div>I know I am preaching to the choir here... I'll get off my soap box for
now. LOL </div>
<div><br><br>Marsha drenth
<div>email: <a title="mailto:marsha.drenth@gmail.com" href="mailto:marsha.drenth@gmail.com">marsha.drenth@gmail.com</a>
<div>Sent with my IPhone </div>
<div><span style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto">Please
note that this email communication has been sent using my iPhone. As such, I
may have used dictation and had made attempts to mitigate errors. Please do
not be hesitant to ask for clarification as
necessary.</span> </div></div></div>
<div><br>On Apr 21, 2015, at 11:03 AM, Cathy Miller via nfb-db <<a title="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>>
wrote:<br><br></div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div><span>Angelina: Welcome! I am very glad to have you here
among us. I am Cathy Miller, from Louisiana. Coping with
hearing loss has been a traumatic experience for me, but more than that,
it is a journey. Congratulations on the courage to reach out to
others like yourself. I'm so glad you found
us!</span><br><span></span><br><span>I was diagnosed with Retinitis
Pigmentosa at age 18. I got my first pair of hearing aids in my
mid-20s, but all they did was make the muffled speech louder, so they were
not the answer for me. Several years later I received a pair of
digital hearing aids which helped a lot more, except when there was
background noise. It was a few years later that I walked in front of
a car while crossing the street. I was not hit, but the driver was
extremely angry with me and yelled and called me some horrible names.
I knew it was time to do something different and stopped crossing
the street alone. This story has a happy ending, as I received
cochlear implants, which make life bearable and often wonderful.
Although I still cannot understand speech in noisy environments, I
design my lifestyle so that hearing in a noisy environment is no longer a
necessity. It was difficult to realize that I needed accommodations,
and that no one was going to give them to me. I had to learn what I
needed and demand to have them. If someone has something to tell me,
they do it under circumstances that are accommodating. After all, I
drilled two holes in my head in order to hear you; the least you can do is
speak up.</span><br><span></span><br><span>So, back to crossing the
street. One of the things that folks in the deaf-blind division of
the NFB are promoting is the use of Support Service Providers
(SSPs). These are persons trained to help us to perform our
daily routines without putting ourselves in harm's way. With
training from O&M specialists such as those found at NFB training
centers, many deaf-blind folks still cross the street independently; but
if that is not what you believe is right for you, then you may have an
alternative. orientation and Mobility specialists are great, and
they push us beyond our comfort zones, helping us to retain our hard won
independence. But ultimately the decision is yours, and although I
encourage you to learn to cross the street if you feeel safe, if it's not
for you, you are the only one who can say no. Just know that we
deserve alternatives. Go to the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC)
website and find the regional representative who serves your state.
Talk with that person about whether the training offered at HKNC is
right for you. Scott Davert is one of the national representatives,
and we are extremely fortunate to have him among us. Remember that
the NFB deaf-blind division exists for folks like you who want to share
their experiences and develop best practices among peers who live in the
trenches. As you walk this journey, please consider sharing your
successes and your challenges with us. I hope that others will
return the favor. You will find lifetime friends among us. We
will meet in orlando in July and hope that you can join us there.
Please tell us more about yourself.
</span><br><span></span><br><span>Cathy
Miller</span><br><span></span><br><span>Sent from my
iPad</span><br><span></span><br>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>On Apr 18, 2015, at 7:00 AM, <a title="mailto:nfb-db-request@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:nfb-db-request@nfbnet.org">nfb-db-request@nfbnet.org</a>
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<blockquote type="cite"><span>Today's Topics:</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span> 1. Newby to the list
(Anjelina)</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>----------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Message: 1</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 17:58:52
-0400</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>From: Anjelina <<a title="mailto:anjelinac@att.net" href="mailto:anjelinac@att.net">anjelinac@att.net</a>></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>To: "<a title="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>" <<a title="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org" href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Subject: [nfb-db] Newby to the
list</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Message-ID: <<a title="mailto:D251A95F-67E1-4416-8F4D-32655EA8E2E0@att.net" href="mailto:D251A95F-67E1-4416-8F4D-32655EA8E2E0@att.net">D251A95F-67E1-4416-8F4D-32655EA8E2E0@att.net</a>></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Content-Type: text/plain;
charset=us-ascii</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Good day list,</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>My name is Anjelina and I am new to the
list. I am interested in learning more about deaf-blindness. Over the
years I have noticed some hearing loss in my right ear which I have been
able to compensate for. A few weeks ago I had a near run-in with a car
while crossing a busy street which really startled me since I didn't
hear the car. If you all don't mind, can you tell me a bit about your
hearing loss and how you have coped with it?</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Thanks</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>-Anjelina</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Sent from my iPad</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>------------------------------</span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>Subject: Digest
Footer</span><br></blockquote>
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<blockquote type="cite"><span></span><br></blockquote>
<blockquote type="cite"><span>End of nfb-db Digest, Vol 75, Issue
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