[NAGDU] update on me

Aleeha Dudley blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com
Mon Feb 20 20:53:33 UTC 2017 

Hi Andrew, Amanda, and all,
I want to chime in here and would like to make a few general comments, meant as encouragement for anyone struggling with their travel skills or others. 
You do not necessarily need a sighted person to teach you everything. If you know the basics of cane travel, you can start by just walking around the block, or even up and down your driveway. Take note of what you consistently come across, and slowly expand the area you know. As Cindy said, it’s generally safe to cross a street when the traffic is moving that is going in a parallel line to your direction.
     Sighted people don’t need a manual to know how to teach you. All they need to tell you is what’s around you: coffee shops, stores, other businesses, you get the idea. Slowly, you can ask them to stay behind you and only intervene if you are in danger or have gotten really lost. 
I know that training isn’t an option for everyone, it can be expensive and funding can be hard to come by, but that is also an option if you can get it. Training was the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I am so grateful that I took the time to do it.
Andrew, regarding the iPhone and other devices, there are a ton of resources online, including videos on YouTube, podcasts, etc, that can teach you how to use a smartphone. And, best of all, many are free!
I hope that some of what I have said helps you in some way. Keep trying, and don’t forget that blind friends can also be a fantastic resource. One does not need to see to help.

> On Feb 20, 2017, at 2:43 PM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> So until you can get into the program, when the woman can work with you,
> work on a route and then try it by yourself in the interim. It is scary at
> first, but the pride that comes from having done it is just immense. I
> remember when Jet, my black lab, could no longer work. I needed to walk to
> the bank, or go there somehow. I began coming up with all kinds of excuses
> why I couldn't do it, and pretty soon I didn't. I began to realize that they
> were borne of fear. So I decided one day I was just going to do it. I did,
> and I was a little afraid, but I got there and back, and I really felt like
> dancing.
> Cindy Lou Ray
> cindyray at gmail.com <mailto:cindyray at gmail.com>
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org>] On Behalf Of Amanda Markham
> via NAGDU
> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 2:37 PM
> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org <mailto:nagdu at nfbnet.org>>
> Cc: Amanda Markham <markham73 at gmail.com <mailto:markham73 at gmail.com>>
> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] update on me
> 
> I use a cane. Worked at a training center for the blind for 9 months in
> 2009. Up until then, I lived in a strictly residential area and wasn't
> tought lighted intersections. I cross them now, but it needs work. After I
> left the center, I had an instructor that only could work with me once a
> week and I started only working  small routs.
> Recently we've been working on city bus travel. But she says that it'll be a
> couple weeks before she can work with me again. So this is why I'd like to
> do the O and M training at leader dogs. Jump starts early work and I can
> work everyday instead of once a week. I do live with my mother who is
> sighted but she  cannot stand for long periods or walk long distances
> because of her knees. Last May she had knee replacement surgery.
> 
> On 2/20/17, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of andrew 
>> edgcumbe via NAGDU
>> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 1:48 PM
>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: andrew edgcumbe <rollercoasterman86 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] update on me
>> 
>> i am not amanda but i will answer same questions for myself I don't 
>> have much in way of sited friends myself how can some body who is 
>> sited tell you what todo iActually, I think Gary had good suggestions. 
>> They are probably way better than the ones I gave.
>> Cindy Lou Ray
>> cinddyray at gmail.com
>> f they have not delt with blind  people in orientation. Is there any 
>> kind of book or tips we can give those e helping us learn roots to 
>> things? also like what is the trick to learning things to crossing 
>> streets can this be done without an o and m instructor.
>> 
>> On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 2:42 PM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU 
>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> You do not have any sighted friends? Have you not taken any mobility 
>>> and do you use a white cane? You don't need a professional to help 
>>> you with it really. I hope you will really benefit from that Leader 
>>> course, but it is too bad you can't do that because you need constant
>> practice to get better.
>>> The less you do it, the more fearful you become. I know this from a 
>>> little bit of experience.
>>> Cindy Lou Ray
>>> cindyray at gmail.com
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Amanda 
>>> Markham via NAGDU
>>> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 1:24 PM
>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Amanda Markham <markham73 at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] update on me
>>> 
>>> I don't have anybody in my area who can do this for me. Which is why 
>>> I have to get help this way.
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> 
>>>> On Feb 20, 2017, at 1:29 PM, Cindy Ray via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> I am wondering if those of you who have no means of woking with a 
>>>> professional could go out with people you know sometimes and work 
>>>> on this on your own. Than as you grow more confident, you can go 
>>>> out alone and ask for directions, ask what is where, or call places 
>>>> to see where they are. You might want someone to go with you at 
>>>> first, but if you get some ideas, you might need minimal help. For 
>>>> instance, mostly when you are crossing streets, if the traffic is 
>>>> paralle to you, you can cross. You have to be careful about turning 
>>>> vehicles, and many streets have buttons so that you self-actuate 
>>>> the light. You have to learn where the ones that get you across 
>>>> your
>> preferred street are.
>>>> Maybe you can walk along and find shorelines--cracks between the 
>>>> sidewalk and other cement, grass, rocks, whatever. You can have 
>>>> someone go with you to describe what and where things are so you 
>>>> can get some idea what you are going to encounter. Choose a place 
>>>> you would want to go often, then have someone go with you a couple 
>>>> or three times. After that, go by yourself but have them trail you 
>>>> so that if you get lost they can help you out of a bind. 
>>>> Eventually, you
>>> would o how to get there.
>>>> 
>>>> Cindy Lou Ray
>>>> cindyray at gmail.com
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: NAGDU [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of andrew 
>>>> edgcumbe via NAGDU
>>>> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 11:43 AM
>>>> To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users 
>>>> <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Cc: andrew edgcumbe <rollercoasterman86 at gmail.com>
>>>> Subject: Re: [NAGDU] update on me
>>>> 
>>>> the thing is this I moved into town and stuff but i don't know the 
>>>> streets and things i can't go to the coffee shop or the pool or 
>>>> anything can't go for a walk inless i have somebody with me. The 
>>>> cnib is the main orginization here in canada but as i said it seems 
>>>> hard to get weekly o andm even once a week.
>>>> 
>>>> On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 12:38 PM, Marianne Denning via NAGDU < 
>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Andrew, I am so sorry you can't get the training that would be 
>>>>> helpful to you.
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 12:22 PM, andrew edgcumbe via NAGDU < 
>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi amanda I did the o and m training program at leader dogs 
>>>>>> actually it
>>>>> is
>>>>>> a great program. I never have gotten a guide dog yet because i 
>>>>>> don't feel good about my o and m skills I can't seem to get 
>>>>>> enough o andm here it seems it seems difficault to get them to 
>>>>>> come.  I am from
>>>> ontario canada.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Mon, Feb 20, 2017 at 12:18 PM, Amanda Markham via NAGDU < 
>>>>>> nagdu at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Just heard back from the O and M instructor I worked with from 
>>>>>>> the Association For The Blind here in my area and she says there 
>>>>>>> schedules are so booked, it'll be a couple weeks before her or 
>>>>>>> one of the 3 other instructors can work with me. She very 
>>>>>>> strongly suggested I fill out the application for the
>>>>>>> accelerated O and M training program at Leader Dogs For The 
>>>>>>> Blind. I have just submitted my application. So glad this is an 
>>>>>>> option available to me because this will be a week long training 
>>>>>>> with work
>> every day.
>>>>>>> This will be good in the long run cause if I wait and work with 
>>>>>>> the instructors here, they can only work with a client once a week.
>>>>>>> Thanks for reading this.
>>>>>>> Amanda Markham
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> NAGDU mailing list
>>>>>>> NAGDU at nfbnet.org
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>>>>>>> rollercoasterman86%40gmail.com
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>> marianne%40denningweb.com
>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> --
>>>>> Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
>>>>> Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
>>>>> (513) 607-6053
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> NAGDU mailing list
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>>>>> rollercoasterman86%40gmail.com
>>>>> 
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>>>> m
>>>> 
>>>> 
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> 
> 
> --
> Thank you and warmest regards,
> Amanda markham
> 
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