[nfb-talk] walkers?

Tue Dec 27 14:25:55 UTC 2011

David;
I wonder why the store, where I got my walker did not tell me about these.  Good imfo to have in case my sight gets much worse.  He knew I had a sight problem.
This has never been mentioned by the NFB.  Are there any other walking aids for the blind?  I have pain in my feet and find myself using my white cane, when stepping off cerbs as if it was a regular walking cane.  
Terry P.

-----Original Message-----
From: David Evans [mailto:drevans at bellsouth.net] 
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 1:04 PM
To: NFB Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] walkers?

Dear Gena,

The feelers can be placed at a spot on the frame of the walker so that they can be used to locate curbs and most steps , going up, as well as walls and furnature.
One feeler is pointed straight ahead and another is pointed slightly to the side, on each side of the front rail of the frame to sense walls, curbs and steps, before you hit them and the ones on the sides are there to help you follow a wall or find the sides of a door frame opening.
The feelers are flexible and bent when they hit something.  You can feel this and change your direction according to what the feelers are telling you.
There are also the ultrasonic glasses the vibrate when there is an object in front of you that can also be obtained and used too, but I think it is overkill for the most part.
I do not know what might work for you, so I am just throwing it out there for your knowledge.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
----- Original Message -----
From: "d m gina" <dmgina at samobile.net>
To: <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 10:05 AM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] walkers?

>I didn't know about the feelers, do they help with finding curbs before the 
>front of the walker does?
> Or steps things like that?
> Interesting to me.
>
> Original message:
>
>> Dear Chris,
>
>> You can get little "feelers" to go on your walker to help you sense 
>> things
>> in front of your walker.  The just clamp on the frame of the walker and 
>> you
>> can use either two or four of them to help you "feel" your way along.
>> The two in the front will feel things in front of you and if you put two 
>> on
>> the sides, they will feel things on either side of you for trailing a 
>> wall
>> or finding openings such as doorways and counters.
>> The feelers are only about a foot long, are spring loaded and flexible.
>> They are usually white in color and have Red plastic tips on them.
>> You should be able to get them from the same place you get the walker or
>> from a surgical supply store.
>
>> I hope this helps and you recover quickly.
>> Happy Holidays.
>
>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Marsha Drenth" <marsha.drenth at gmail.com>
>> To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 9:47 PM
>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] walkers?
>
>
>>> Chris,
>
>>> Sorry to hear about your fracture. I don't have much experience using a
>>> walker, although I know it can be done. As my mother, is at the LCB
>>> center,
>>> uses a walker because of balance issues and issues due to her diabetes.
>>> She
>>> has a walker with very big wheels, and that has a seat for resting
>>> purposes.
>>> I have never heard of a ruling walker. I do believe that there is a list
>>> on
>>> the NFBnet site for people who use walkers and wheelchairs. If you were
>>> asking about a wheelchair I could help you there, as I have done this
>>> several times sadly.
>
>>> Good Luck, feel better soon.
>
>>> Merry Christmas!
>>> Marsha Drenth
>
>
>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>> On
>>> Behalf Of Chris Westbrook
>>> Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011 7:08 PM
>>> To: NFB List
>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] walkers?
>
>>> I have unfortunately lost quite a bit of balance due to a stress 
>>> fracture
>>> and possibly other things, and when I was at physical therapy today my
>>> therapist showed me and recommended I get a ruling walker.  I'm
>>> considering
>>> it for around the house and longer distances possibly, but I am 
>>> wondering
>>> if
>>> I could really use one in an unfamiliar environment.  Clearly using a 
>>> cane
>>> with one would be out of the question because of holding on to the 
>>> walker
>>> with both hands, but is there a way of doing sighted guide or something
>>> with
>>> one of them?  I suppose someone else could put their hand on the handle
>>> with
>>> me and guide me that way.  Does anyone have any experience wit using a
>>> walker?
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nfb-talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/marsha.drenth%40gmail.
>>> com
>
>
>>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
>>> signature
>>> database 6735 (20111222) __________
>
>>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>
>>> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>
>>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
>>> signature
>>> database 6735 (20111222) __________
>
>>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>
>>> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> nfb-talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/drevans%40bellsouth.net
>
>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfb-talk mailing list
>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> nfb-talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/dmgina%40samobile.net
>
> -- 
> --Dar
> skype: dmgina23
>  FB: dmgina
> www.twitter.com/dmgina
> every saint has a past
> every sinner has a future
>
> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit 
> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nfb-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/drevans%40bellsouth.net 

_______________________________________________
nfb-talk mailing list
nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nfb-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org/terry.powers%40nih.gov