[nabs-l] Independent Travel At Crowded MajorCollegeSportingEvents

[H. Field]

Hi Kerri,
If you go early, there's no reason why you need someone to meet you 
and escort you. Assuming, that is, that the stadium is willing to 
provide you with such assistance. If the game starts at twelve, you 
could be dropped off at eleven. Or even ten thirty. That way you would 
have plenty of time to find your seat. As there would be thousands of 
other people finding their seats as well, I'm sure you wouldn't have 
any problem locating yours. If the stadium has multiple entrances, 
they probably can tell you what entrance would be closest to your 
seating section. In the end, only you will know what level of 
challenge you enjoy and what level of adventure suits your 
personality. Some people build up to big events. I myself would never 
do anything challenging if I had to build up to it. I jump in at the 
deep end and do whatever I want and take life and the adventure as it 
comes. Neither way is right or wrong, as such. But, my way is right 
for me, and the building up method is not right for me. However, the 
build-up method might be perfect and the absolute best way for another 
person. So, in the end, having established that you've nothing to fear 
from the drunks, and that you have strategies for getting help if you 
need it, you must decide what level of challenge you want, and which 
approach is most motivating and confidence-building for you. If you 
manage to get some stadium staff to guide you to and from your seat, 
what other challenges do you envisage that your solo visit to the 
stadium will give you. Apart from a trip to get some food, or to visit 
the rest-room, it all sounds fairly unchallenging to me. Finding your 
seat seems to be the major challenge and, from all that you've 
written, it sounds to me that this is what you'd like to do. I don't 
see why you shouldn't give it a try. Pack a lunch, or at least some 
healthy snacks, arrive as early as you think is good for you, and see 
what you can accomplish with random requests for directions. if you 
haven't found your seat within 20 minutes of game start time, you can 
always just ask a kind fellow spectator to assist you. In all my years 
of wandering about the world as a blind person I have found that just 
about every person you meet is happy to help. Take a close look at 
what you want to get out of the experience and plan for that. You 
won't be in personal danger.
So, now all you need to decide is, what do you want to accomplish out 
of the experience.
Just my thoughts.

Best,

Heather

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kerri Kosten" <kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Independent Travel At Crowded 
MajorCollegeSportingEvents


Hi Kimberly and All:

Okay let me clear a few things up.

Kimberly I appreciate your concern so very much.

I am not going to go wandering through the parking lots; I want to go
to this game for the game and do not plan to tailgate either before or
after the game. So, I will be nowhere near the parking lots...they are
a perfect recipe to be raped...you have a bunch of rowdy crazy drunks
all in one area...I'm not gonna get lost in that mess.

I dont want to go to this game alone to prove I am independent or to
practice my self-defense/screaming techniques with a drunk...I want to
do this alone to prove that I can in fact go to crowded events and do
not need to wait around for feel-sorry-for-the-blind-girl sighted
people.

I have to disagree Kimberly about the couch burning...we only do that
for big major wins and I do not agree with that at all...it makes our
school and the state of West Virginia look very bad.

I will have my cell phone and a whistle; I have also made arrangements
to be dropped off and picked up at the stadium entrance and have two
arrangements to get home. Like I said I do not plan to wander around
the parking lot at all; I want to go to the game to enjoy the game.

I know I will need assistance to my seat...I don't plan to just do
this entire thing without asking a single person for help...what I
haven't decided is whether I will call the stadium ahead and have
someone who works at the stadium escort me to my seat (similarly to
asking for assistance at airports) or whether I will use my cane and
ask random people along the way "excuse me what section is this?"
"Section 102" Okay...I need to keep going; I need section 145...

Since this is my first game I am leaning toward just having someone
who works at the stadium help me...but the adventurous side of me who
loves loves loves structured discovery cane travel wants to do
otherwise...

Thanks everyone again!
Kerri

On 11/11/10, Ashley  Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
> Joe,
> That's right.  That's why I haven't gone to huge events like the one 
> Kerry
> spoke of alone.  Instead I started small by going to school plays 
> and
> concerts and out to eat.  Later I may attempt large things with 
> thousands of
> people.  I think you need to build up confidence.  Otherwise as you 
> say you
> might have a rotten time and get so frustrated in the process.  So 
> its fine
> to build up to independence with no guides.  Maybe a few times use
> assistance.  Then you'll be familiar with the layout and next time 
> do it
> alone.
> Someday I'd like to attend a concert or play with thousands such as 
> at the
> Verizon center but I'm going to work up to that goal.  Even when I 
> do go, I
> might go with a blind friend and we can figure out things together.
>
> Ashley
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
> for
> nabs-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/kerrik2006%40gmail.com
>

_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
nabs-l:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/missheather%40comcast.net