[nfbmi-talk] Blog by Federation Writer In omaha

[joe harcz Comcast]

I differ somewhat with some on this issue too Cheryl. While I agree that 
blind folks in general should never be denied the right to become travel 
instructors and indeed many are and good ones at that it is not a skill set 
I, ersonally have. I, personally am not inclined to this career path in 
other words. But, that is a personal assessment and a recognition of 
personal limitations.

I have other talents and other deficienties for sure.

Regardless, while I think I'm competent and qualified to be a Rehab Teacher 
of the Blind I don't thinkk I am personally equipped to be a travel 
instructor.

But that's me.

Peace,

Joe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cheryl Wade" <wadecher at msu.edu>
To: "NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 7:13 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Blog by Federation Writer In omaha


>I think the best experience I ever had was when another blind person taught 
>me hy to get around CMU. We had a great time. He taught it to me in a 
>manner I could visualize, building one thing on another. It was very 
>successful. I agree that blind people should teach other blind people to 
>get around, but I'd freak out totally if I had to do that. Just differences 
>in people.
>
> Cheryl Wade
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Fred wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
> To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 11:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Blog by Federation Writer In omaha
>
>
>> Hi Cheryl,
>>
>> I am so happy you are on this list.  You are definitely preparing for the 
>> right profession.
>>
>> This post was not to bring up the old, tired and irrelevant dog/cane 
>> debate.  This is a subjective matter and your story is perfect proof of 
>> this.  The whole point is to travel, who cares if you use a dog and I use 
>> a cane.
>>
>> Again, the NFB philosophy of training is significantly different from 
>> that of Western Michigan University, when it comes to travel training. 
>> We believe that blind people can teach blind people to travel.  We 
>> believe in structured discovery where skills are built upon skills and a 
>> thought process for problem solving is developed.  notice the example of 
>> when Bridgit strayed into the body shop.  She used environmental clues to 
>> resolve her mistake and did it on her own.  There is no shame in asking 
>> questions.  With structured discovery, I believe that some fundamental 
>> skills can be taught that will serve in any city or town or countryside 
>> at any time to create a self-confident capable traveller.  Dog or cane, 
>> no different.  Your point about your relationship with your travel 
>> trainer is telling.  At Leaderdog you received respect.  That is 
>> fundamental to structured discovery.  The instructor must respect the 
>> student enough to believe in them and help them to develop universal and 
>> generalizable problem-solving techniques.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>> [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cheryl Wade
>> Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 11:43 PM
>> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] Blog by Federation Writer In omaha
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Here I go running my mouth off again.
>>
>> I am glad there are centers where blind travelers can get lots of concise 
>> cane training. I had cane training at the Michigan School for the Blind 
>> summer program and later at the college prep program at the University of 
>> Detroit. In all these instances, I never was able to reach a destination 
>> independently. I cried on the shoulder of one O&M instructor when I was 
>> in about seventh grade, and asked him what would happen to me. These 
>> instructors were grad students from WMU, I think.
>>
>> So I didn't use a cane in high school. After all, I was convinced it 
>> would not work for me. I was afraid I would only be able to take 
>> curb-to-curb service to my job -- when that job should happen -- and that 
>> I would always go sighted guide.
>>
>> Then I reluctantly and fearfully got my first guide dog. I had lots of 
>> problems and cried through the training. My family and I expected this 
>> dog to be a kind of four-legged human who would sit around and be nice. 
>> Anna, my shepherd/husky cross, wasn't! But somehow, over the ensuing 
>> months, I learned my way around Central Michigan University's campus, 
>> then learned about the shops downtown and the shops just off campus. For 
>> the first time in my life, I was free! I could walk straight because the 
>> dog would do the eyeballing and walk straight. I not only knew the 
>> directions, but I could execute them.
>>
>> I definitely advocate the long white cane as the first line of defense. I 
>> think children should have canes by the time they're three years old. But 
>> I was not fortunate enough to have that kind of training, or at least I 
>> did not do well at it. I truly would like to know, how would you have 
>> helped a discouraged, frightened kid like me? What went wrong in my 
>> education? Why couldn't these teachers in the summer programs have a 
>> rational discussion with me -- I was certainly bright enough for it --  
>> and help me strategize for getting to destinations alone? How do you 
>> teach a totally blind person spatial relations and get them accustomed to 
>> what "straight" feels like? I now tell people to imagine a steel cable 
>> extending straight in front of their stomach, and follow it. I continue 
>> to be an independent traveler, but the people at Leader Dog were much 
>> friendlier and kinder to me, and made me feel much less "on trial" than 
>> the cane teachers did. Using a dog was fun; if you screwed up, they 
>> didn't yell at you. They didn't make me feel like everything was a big 
>> test, and that if I failed, I couldn't do all the cool assignments the 
>> other kids were allowed to do. I was made to feel like a colleague in 
>> this journey, not a subservient. (I had one cane instructor who called me 
>> "Little Cheryl" because I could not use a cane like a "Big Cheryl"
>> should be able to. Talk about patronizing!
>>
>> I do feel that travel skills are transferable, but I do NOT like the idea 
>> that a kid can go to some other city and learn to get around, then come 
>> home and have no one to help them get started identifying locations. It 
>> takes a fairly seasoned traveler to figure out where stores and other 
>> places are.
>> You have to use the Internet to compare addresses of places you know with 
>> addresses of places you don't know. You have to know cardinal directions, 
>> absolutely. You have to ditch your fear of getting lost, and love 
>> yourself enough to feel comfortable asking people for directions.
>>
>> Is an eight-month training program the only answer?
>>
>>
>>
>> End of rant.
>>
>> Cheryl Wade
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Fred Wurtzel" <f.wurtzel at att.net>
>> To: "'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List'" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 8:47 PM
>> Subject: [nfbmi-talk] Blog by Federation Writer In omaha
>>
>>
>>> Notice, there is no travel instructor following Bridgit as she goes on 
>>> her
>>> first route.  The Iowa Center teaches well and then truststhe student to
>>> use their skills.  This is what I mean by the professionals building
>>> confidence in blind clients.  Iowa practices the positive philosophy as 
>>> I
>>> mentioned earlier in the post on this list about rehabilitation
>>> counselors.  Again, I strongly encourage everyone to read “Blindness:
>>> handicap or Characteristic,” probably the best single essay on blindness
>>> ever written.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> As a note, Bridgit is writing in the Omaha World herald as a staff
>>> blogger.She is a member of the NFB Writers Division.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Livewell logo
>>>
>>> Using the long white cane
>>>
>>> Published
>>>
>>> Thursday April 14, 2011
>>>
>>> By
>>>
>>> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
>>>
>>> The entryway of the Iowa Department for the Blind was warm.  Heat 
>>> streamed
>>> out of
>>>
>>> the vent enveloping me in warmth.  I reveled in it as I prepared to step
>>> out in the
>>>
>>> cold of February.
>>>
>>> Flipping the glass lid up on my watch, I felt the raised dots and arrows
>>> checking
>>>
>>> the time.  It was now or never.  I had been at the training center for 
>>> two
>>> weeks,
>>>
>>> and after working with an instructor on how to use a long white cane, I
>>> was now going
>>>
>>> out on my own for the first time.
>>>
>>> I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
>>>
>>> A blast of icy air greeted me as I slid my cane down the first step, my
>>> feet following.
>>>
>>> Repeating this until the final step, I turned south beginning my walk
>>> around the
>>>
>>> block.
>>>
>>> My black heels click-clacked on the pavement as my cane arced left to
>>> right.  Keeping
>>>
>>> the motion in a shoulder width pattern, my body avoided collision with
>>> parking meters
>>>
>>> and buildings.
>>>
>>> Halfway down the block, a cold breeze flitted around me, and the faint
>>> sound of traffic
>>>
>>> echoed through the alley separating the Department from the building 
>>> next
>>> door.
>>>
>>> I crossed the alley, continuing toward Grand Street.
>>>
>>> Traffic in front of me sounded closer.  A greasy warmth permeated the 
>>> air.
>>> I wrinkled
>>>
>>> my nose as I passed the Domino’s on the corner.
>>>
>>> Cars whooshed and rumbled by on busy Grand Street as I turned the 
>>> corner.
>>> My cane
>>>
>>> tapped against the cement planters which surely were empty in late
>>> February.
>>>
>>> My pace remained steady until my cane slid off a curb.  Stopping, my 
>>> ears
>>> detected
>>>
>>> cars to my right.  The traffic on Grand was still speeding by.  This was
>>> the parking
>>>
>>> garage so I listened to determine if any cars were pulling in or out of
>>> the garage
>>>
>>> before crossing the drive.
>>>
>>> Reaching the other side, my cane found the curb, and I stepped up on the
>>> sidewalk.
>>>
>>> Nearing the end of this block, I was elated with my progress.
>>>
>>> Arriving at Fifth Street, whirring, buzzing and hammering blared in the
>>> distance.
>>>
>>> The sounds came from the auto body shop midway down the block.
>>>
>>> The sounds magnified and the temperature changed slightly.  I stopped to
>>> recognize
>>>
>>> my surroundings.  The traffic was muffled and people shouted over the
>>> heavy-metal
>>>
>>> music mingling with electric screw drivers and the pop of hydraulic car
>>> lifts.  I
>>>
>>> realized I had meandered into the body shop.
>>>
>>> Listening to the sound of cars, my cane began its rhythm once more as I
>>> left the
>>>
>>> shop.  The air grew chill again, and the buzz of traffic was no longer
>>> muffled.
>>>
>>> Since the sun was beaming today, it assisted me in finding my directions
>>> as its weak
>>>
>>> February warmth flirted on my face.  I returned my gate to a quick,
>>> succinct pace
>>>
>>> continuing towards Watson Powel Street.
>>>
>>> My cane soon slid into an object in front of me.  Gently tapping it 
>>> along
>>> the object,
>>>
>>> I discerned a car was parked.  Hearing the distant traffic to my right, 
>>> I
>>> knew I
>>>
>>> was on the other side of the alley by the Department.  This must be the
>>> mail truck
>>>
>>> that parked in the alley each day.
>>>
>>> Using my cane to tap around the front of the truck while maintaining the
>>> shoulder
>>>
>>> width motion, I crossed the alley drive.
>>>
>>> My feet started up an incline.  This was the wheelchair ramp at the back
>>> of the Department.
>>>
>>> A moment of temptation seized me as I contemplated cheating.  It was 
>>> cold
>>> and I wanted
>>>
>>> back in, but it would be worth it to finish this first independent 
>>> travel
>>> lesson.
>>>
>>> Turning around, I caned back down the ramp.  A metallic ring echoed as 
>>> my
>>> cane found
>>>
>>> the railing along the ramp.  I lined myself up using the sun again as a
>>> guide and
>>>
>>> clicked on down to the end of this block.
>>>
>>> Finally, I came to home block.  I sidled closer to the brick building.
>>> Tapping my
>>>
>>> cane against the brick, I was searching for the stairs.  I tapped my 
>>> cane
>>> to the
>>>
>>> left on the ground, but tapped against the building on the right so I
>>> would find
>>>
>>> the stairs.
>>>
>>> Sure enough, a quarter of the way down, my cane slid onto the first 
>>> cement
>>> stair.
>>>
>>> Holding the cane in front of me this time, I followed it up the steps. 
>>> My
>>> body prickled
>>>
>>> as warm air ushered me back into the entry way.
>>>
>>> I opened the second set of doors and walked into the building.  The tip 
>>> of
>>> my cane
>>>
>>> clicked again as I left the rug of the entry way and found the marble
>>> floor of the
>>>
>>> reception area of the department.
>>>
>>> Angling slightly to the left towards the elevator, I smiled.  My first
>>> outdoor travel
>>>
>>> lesson, and I made it back in one piece.
>>>
>>> These initial lessons, known as structured discovery, were meant to
>>> prepare me for
>>>
>>> independent mobility anywhere.  It is like riding a bike—once you learn,
>>> you never
>>>
>>> forget, and you can hop on any bike and ride it.
>>>
>>> It is confusing and even doubtful for some that the long white cane is 
>>> an
>>> effective
>>>
>>> tool for independent travel, but if you learn the technique and actually
>>> use it,
>>>
>>> the cane is a powerful and capable tool.
>>>
>>> Eight years later, my travel skills have strengthened, and time and time
>>> again, the
>>>
>>> cane assists me in traveling with independence and efficiency.
>>>
>>> To learn more about structured discovery and the long white cane, visit
>>>
>>> www.nfb.org
>>>
>>> ,
>>>
>>> www.blind.state.ia.us
>>>
>>> or
>>>
>>> www.ncbvi.ne.gov
>>>
>>> .
>>>
>>> Like
>>>
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>>>
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>>>
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>>>
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>>>
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>>>
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>>>
>>> 2 Responses to Using the long white cane
>>>
>>> Lisa  says:
>>>
>>> April 14, 2011 at 4:13 pm
>>>
>>> Great sensual details make this piece clear and enlightening for a 
>>> sighted
>>> person.
>>>
>>> Reply
>>>
>>> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
>>>
>>> says:
>>>
>>> April 14, 2011 at 4:23 pm
>>>
>>> For those who use a long white cane, we forget that not everyone
>>> understands the
>>>
>>> technique. It becomes second nature when you use a tool like the cane
>>> consistently,
>>>
>>> but obviously it is not always clear as to how the cane works to an
>>> observer.
>>>
>>> I try to place readers behind my eyes, if you will, to not only explain
>>> the cane,
>>>
>>> but to hopefully give you a sense of what it is like.
>>>
>>> Hey, it is that “show” versus the “tell” you guys always knock into our
>>> heads! It
>>>
>>> really is effective!
>>>
>>> Reply
>>>
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