[Sportsandrec] Looking for ways to navigate Trails in nature.

Mon Aug 24 06:38:09 UTC 2015

I have done a train type of situation using sighted guide technique with
more than one blind person. I think that using canes or walking sticks will
help amincely even if the blind participants aren't used to using a Cain
when going sighted guide, I.E holding onto each other by the elbow. This way
each person can relay trail information to the person behind them as needed.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sportsandrec [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Arielle Silverman via Sportsandrec
Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2015 8:47 PM
To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
Cc: Arielle Silverman
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Looking for ways to navagate Trails in nature.

Hi Kendra. I have been with my sighted husband for six years, and we
often hang out with my blind friends together, though we have not gone
hiking yet with them. I think that even the best sighted guys will
take a while to get used to being around a lot of blind people.
Unfortunately, sighted people grow up immersed in the larger society's
cultural beliefs about blindness and even when they intellectually
understand what we can do, they might not emotionally feel comfortable
with blind people traveling safely at first. I do think it gets better
with time. If he feels stressed about the hiking, perhaps you could
spend some timejust hanging out together with your blind friends in a
quiet setting where he can just talk to them and get to know them as
an equal. I also think that even when sighted guys understand that
they aren't responsible for us, they usually have access to some
privileged information. The lone sighted person in a group may feel
obligated to pass this privileged information along (such as
information about directions, alerts about upcoming obstacles, or
information about scenery)and this can become a kind of
responsibility. One thing you might consider is having the blind
people pair up and walk holding arms or linking elbows so the sighted
person only needs to give verbal directions to one person in each
pair. Sighted people often like to watch those who are following to
make sure they are keeping up, so it's easier if he only needs to look
back at the person right behind him. If you are comfortable using
sighted guide with your boyfriend you could hold his arm and then
relay information about turns, etc. to the others who are walking
behind you. Best of luck!
Arielle

On 8/23/15, Kendra Schafer via Sportsandrec <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi all!
> That makes sense. In this case, it's as I alluted to earlier, responsable
in
> nature because of the hazards. I was looking for alternitive techniques
> and/or where you can get good ski poles. By the way, that's a good idea!
> I'll have to check out that one website. I like to see what it says.
> Kendra
>  "When the student is ready,
>  the  teacher will appear"
>  Author unknown
>  Life always proves to me that I know the best roads are out there and so
is
> my job of discovering where they are.
>   Blindness has often tested me.
>
>  Love has set  me free before it  showed me how to see the stars.
>  Baltimore, Maryland  showed me how to soar to the stars.
>  Seattle, Washington let me soar on the wings of my imagination.
> Paganism showed me the way home where  I feel magic all around me.
>  As I move through life, I notice the many ways where my beliefs not only
> ring true, but also proven to be true by others.
>
>  I am soaring like a bald eagle as I set out to live the life I want.
>
>
> I believe that everything is all interconnected and full of magic.
> Blessed Be!!!
> Kendra Schaber,
>  A blind Pagan federationist,
> The National Federation Of The Blind Of Oregon,
> Capitol Chapter,
>
> Live the Life We Want
>
>
> Diehard Fan Of Harry Potter, Middle Earth,  Narnia, and Land of Oz
> universes. I love anything to do with bald eagles.
>  Go Pittsburgh Penguins!
> Go Detroit Red Wings!
> Go Baltimore Ravens!
> Go Seattle Sea Hawks!
> Go Oregon State Beavers!
> Go Portland Winter Hawks!
>
>   I am Happily Living With My Wonderful Boyfriend  In Salem, Oregon.
> This  E Mail Was Sent  right  to your E Mail inbox  from Kendra's
> Constantly Active Mobile Google E Mail Box which is located on Kendra's
> iPhone 5 that happens to be blind user friendly.
>
>> On Aug 23, 2015, at 4:30 PM, Kelly Thornbury via Sportsandrec
>> <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> You know what's funny... If I organize a group outing on the trails I
feel
>> ultimately responsible for everyone's safety, even the sighted folks.
>>
>> I don't see in itself an issue in the ownership of responsibility, I
guess
>> to me it depends on how it's presented. If it's babying or patronizing I
>> have a problem, but if it's pointing out true hazards, interesting
>> scenery, or something like inclement weather I'm pretty okay with it. I
>> would like to think my skills off the beaten path are adequate, but I
also
>> wouldn't want to miss a one foot wide bridge over a twenty foot
dropoff...
>> Trust me that sucks the fun out of a hike.
>>
>> Kel
>>
>>> On Nov 16, 2002, at 9:40 PM, Joe Shaw via Sportsandrec wrote:
>>>
>>> Am I allowed to question his belief in the abilities of blind people
>>> while carrying the weight of being responsible for us? I know... that's
>>> not popular.
>>> Joe Shaw
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kendra Schafer via Sportsandrec"
>>> <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
>>> To: <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: "Kendra Schafer" <redwing731 at gmail.com>
>>> Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2015 4:59 PM
>>> Subject: [Sportsandrec] Looking for ways to navagate Trails in nature.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi all!
>>>> Yesterday, I walked to a local but out of the way historical hot
spring.
>>>> I had my sited boyfriend, and two blind ladies with me. To get to this
>>>> hot spring, you have to walk a half a mile on a trail with a few rugged
>>>> spots and a lot of tree roots. This was my boyfriend's first time
>>>> getting a group of blind people down this kind of trail. The trip
>>>> actually went very well. We all felt good to do the trip because the
>>>> other ladies haven't traveled in nature in three years. My boyfriend on
>>>> the other hand didn't get to enjoy the journey as much as the rest of
us
>>>> so I feel bad for him. My boyfriend believes that blind people can do
>>>> anything we set our minds to,  however, he still feels responsable for
>>>> any blind person's safety, well being and transportation.   How can I
>>>> make the trip more enjoyable for my sited boyfriend who felt the burden
>>>> of responsibility? I suggested finding another volunteer to assist in
>>>> navigating the trails. I know that there is a Better way since I did
>>>> this sort of thing with other groups in the past. Would something like
>>>> this require another sited volunteer? Him taking  the responsability
and
>>>> doing this sort of thing once or twice a year? Are there techniques out
>>>> there for this sort of thing?  Is there a way for me to help one of
them
>>>> navagate the tree roots and follow behind while doing so and letting my
>>>> boyfriend helping all of us through the roughest parts of the trail?
Any
>>>> ideas would be most appriciated Please!!! Thank you!!!
>>>> Kendra
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "When the student is ready,
>>>> the  teacher will appear"
>>>> Author unknown
>>>> Life always proves to me that I know the best roads are out there and
so
>>>> is my job of discovering where they are.
>>>> Blindness has often tested me.
>>>>
>>>> Love has set  me free before it  showed me how to see the stars.
>>>> Baltimore, Maryland  showed me how to soar to the stars.
>>>> Seattle, Washington let me soar on the wings of my imagination.
>>>> Paganism showed me the way home where  I feel magic all around me.
>>>> As I move through life, I notice the many ways where my beliefs not
only
>>>> ring true, but also proven to be true by others.
>>>>
>>>> I am soaring like a bald eagle as I set out to live the life I want.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I believe that everything is all interconnected and full of magic.
>>>> Blessed Be!!!
>>>> Kendra Schaber,
>>>> A blind Pagan federationist,
>>>> The National Federation Of The Blind Of Oregon,
>>>> Capitol Chapter,
>>>>
>>>> Live the Life We Want
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Diehard Fan Of Harry Potter, Middle Earth,  Narnia, and Land of Oz
>>>> universes. I love anything to do with bald eagles.
>>>> Go Pittsburgh Penguins!
>>>> Go Detroit Red Wings!
>>>> Go Baltimore Ravens!
>>>> Go Seattle Sea Hawks!
>>>> Go Oregon State Beavers!
>>>> Go Portland Winter Hawks!
>>>>
>>>> I am Happily Living With My Wonderful Boyfriend  In Salem, Oregon.
>>>> This  E Mail Was Sent  right  to your E Mail inbox  from Kendra's
>>>> Constantly Active Mobile Google E Mail Box which is located on Kendra's
>>>> iPhone 5 that happens to be blind user friendly.
>>>> _______________________________________________
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net
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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