[nabs-l] navigating parking lots/open spaces and other travelquestions

[Dezman Jackson]

Kerri,

A lot of good info on this topic from the list.  As for locating things in 
wide open spaces such as parking lots, it might also be helpful to use the 
echo feedback you get from tapping your cane.  For instance, as I'm walking 
in the general direction of where I know the dumpster is in my complex, I'll 
stop every so often and tap my cane against the pavement and if I receive a 
echo bouncing back off of something that I may be looking for in that 
direction,, I follow the echo as I cue in more on the object.  This also 
works quite nicely for walking through large parking lots to locate 
buildings.  Since building entrances typically face a street, put your back 
to traffic and walk away from it using techniques such as the echo feedback 
which I just described, shopping carts in the case of stores, doors opening 
closing, etc, to manage in these situations.  I might also add that canes 
with metal tips such as the NFB carbon fiber or fiberglass canes work best 
for getting the feedback you need from the environment.

Hope the helps,
Dezman
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 9:41 AM
Subject: [nabs-l] navigating parking lots/open spaces and other 
travelquestions


> Hi All!
>
> I hve a few more travel questions I wanted to ask.
>
> First, what is the best way to navigate parking lots and those
> driveways in the parking lots you sometimes have to cross? Cars can
> come in and out of them and there is no landmarks or anything...it's
> just one big open space.
>
> The reason I am asking is because I live in a big apartment complex.
> To take the trash out, you have to go all the way across the parking
> lot. For the most part, the parking lot has a curb along it which I
> can follow with my cane, but there are two places where the curb ends
> and you have to cross this driveway/street like thing (I don't know
> what it's exactly called.) Anyway, there are no landmarks and no
> curb...you have to go straight across it and pick up the curb on the
> other side.
>
> I've been told that cars can come in and out of the driveway things,
> but I imagine it's not too busy. However, it terrifies me that a car
> is going to come while I am crossing and hit me. Do I just make sure
> to listen before crossing and try to cross as fast as I can?
>
> Also, veering is a huge problem for me. I know most blind people can
> not walk in an exact straight line but what is the best way for me to
> cross this driveway and stay as straight as possible so I can catch
> the curb on the other side and not get myself lost? I've read that
> keeping the cane centered like near the middle of the stomach, where
> the belly button is helps. I've also read that walking fast and trying
> to keep your feet straight helps. I was taught at convention how to
> use the two-point touch technique with my palm up, moving only my
> wrist. Is there anything else I can do? It scares me that I'm going to
> get really lost when taking the trash out and end up getting in hthe
> middle of the drive way thingy.
>
> Also, because I didn't know the hotel at convention, like everyone
> else I got very used to getting lost and wandering around and asking
> assistance to get where I wanted. It made me get over my fear of
> getting lost in huge buildings. However, I am still very scared about
> getting lost outdoors. What is the best way to deal with this? Is it
> the same concept as getting lost inside a building...jjust walk
> around, and ask assistance when you hear someone coming? I know this
> will sound very irrational, but I guess in a building you only have so
> much space, so many floors. Outside, you have the whole world...it
> never ends...there is no limit! I hope that doesn't sound too dumb.
> How did you get over fears of getting lost outdoors?
>
> I really want to try taking my own trash out independently but I am
> terrified of veering when crossing that driveway thing, getting hit
> while crossing, or getting really lost and not being able to find the
> building my apartment is in. There are like 10 different buildings,
> and they are building more! There is a pool on one side of the parking
> lot, the trash thing, and a clubhouse...and you have to cross the
> parking lot to get to all of them...so it's a huge open area with the
> various apartment buildings spread out all over.
>
> I could have an orientation and mobility instructor come and help me,
> but there aren't any good ones here and I hate route travel...I know I
> can do this myself if I can get over these silly fears!
>
> And, finally...when you are using your cane and you are in a hallway
> looking for a certain door or just going along a hallway where there
> is a wall on either side with doors along it...do you still use the
> two-point touch technique or do you switch to more of a constant
> contact technique where you slide the cane from side to side?
>
> Thanks so much and hope these questions don't sound too dumb.
>
> Kerri
>
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