[Pibe-division] can blind consumres of gps technology for blind provide concrete suggestion how to travel with this technology for orientation purposes when using a cane

[Sara Rooz]

I am a blind certified teacher of the blind. I travel with a white cane and have been trying to incorporate the gps technologydeveloped for the blind traveler  to assist me in knowing where I am when traveling in my neighborhood. I understand the layout of my neighborhood and can cross safely streets. My gps is from the manufacturer of Sendero Group on my note taker. Can other blind consumers of blind gps technology give me concrete suggestions how to learn how to use my gps to know where I am, plan a route to a particular destination and plan a route to a point of interest such as going to a  shop in my neighborhood? The documentation for  my product is clear and I feel comfortable learning the commands. I have been contacting many experienced orientation and mobility specialists about this issue but have not got many practical suggestions. There is an interesting study in the October-November Journal of Visual Impairmentand Blindness  where the author describes how gps technology can assist school age students to learn orientation and mobility skills. I have emailed this author for suggestions to the questions I have posed in this email but have not received any response. 

Any blind consumer who has a gps for the blind feel free to suggest me concrete ways I can use my gps to become oriented to my neineighbborhood.

Sara Rooz

Certified Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired in New York

 
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