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

[Darian Smith]

ah, and I forgot one thing, while navigating in a building I am
wanting to find a particular roon on a side of the hallway, Igo to an
oldie but goodie; shorelining (contacting the wall I amnearest to and
where I think that door is with my cane . I'm still using two point or
constintcontact (whatever you want to use in this case), but  I would
make  shure that my ark is   contacting that wall I want.
  I hope that makes sense
  Darian

On 7/28/10, Kat Bottner <kat.bottner at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hey Kerri,
> I totally agree with Darrian here, it's a good idea to just do a try
> run of any route, or if you don't feel comfortable doing it alone, why
> not ask a family member or a friend to go with you at first,so if need
> be they can point out things,such as land marks you can use, that
> maybe you don't find yourself.  I know for me, having mobility
> instruction helps a great deal, that's what I did when I moved from my
> mom's into the apartment complex I'm in now.  Although I don't have to
> cross that big of a parking lot to get to the dumpster, I do cross the
> drive way thing that the cars use for getting into the parking lot who
> live in the complex.  I'm not sure how your complex is layed out, or
> how far the parking lot is to your apartment building, but it helps me
> to find a path, a side walk, or walk way to trail for easy getting to
> the dumpster and back to my building.  I hope this helps, and hope you
> can figure out a solution to this challenge that works for you!  Also,
> like Darrian has already mentioned, keep the questions coming, no
> question should be not asked just because you may think it's dumb or
> you're not sure how someone might react, just ask, and you might be
> surprised of what response you'll get.
>
> Take Care,
> Kat
>
> On 7/28/10, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Kerri,
>>  all very good questions.
>>  as for the  crossing  a driveway and making sure you contact the
>> desired corner, i would first put my back to  the sidewalk I am
>> wishing to leave, or line up my heels to  the curb I wish to leave,
>> hold my cane centered  as always, but instead of arking it, just hold
>> it centered once I start my crossing, I find I keep a very straight
>> line  in those situations where I am most concerned with vereing.   Of
>> course you are going to have to listen for trafic, but in a parking
>> lot  such as in an apartment complex, chances are the amount of
>> traffic you will get is not  too bad at all. If you want to give it a
>> dry run and see what issues you are having, you might do that. If you
>> need land marks on your dry run; who's to  say you can't bring some; a
>> chair,  an orange cone, something that you can contact with your cane
>> to help you to break down the route.
>>  I know  it can be frightening to give  figuring out a route a go, but
>> I think that if you take what your trying to figure out and break it
>> down  into steps, it will be easier for you and not as stressful.
>>  as for  traveling in the public  outdoors, you can always ask for
>> directions from the general public.  Stores, eateries, gatherings of
>> people at a streetcorner or on the sidewalk are good people to ask
>> because they are right there and have agood vantage point of what's
>> around them and  can give you good information  alot of the time.
>>  I hope that helps, and keep the questions coming!
>>   Darian Smith
>>
>>
>> On 7/28/10, Julie McGinnity <kaybaycar at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Hi Kerri.
>>>
>>> I used to be very scared too of walking in open spaces like parking
>>> lots.  It's hard to figure out where things are because everything is
>>> so spread out.  It might help you and make you feel a little more at
>>> ease to have a sighted friend or family member walk behind you as you
>>> go across the parking lot to the dumpster for the first time.  They
>>> wouldn't have to say anything unless you got lost.  It might make you
>>> feel better to know if you are doing it all right.  It's scarier to
>>> get lost outside because it's harder to find people to ask for help,
>>> and it's so wide open.  I know exactly how you feel.
>>>
>>> Good luck.
>>>
>>> On 7/28/10, Jewel S. <herekittykat2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> I have a similar circumstance to deal with at my apartments. To get
>>>> out of the parking lot, I have to cross a large parking lot, or go all
>>>> the way around on the sidewalk and walk on the side of the driveway
>>>> when the sidewalk ends.
>>>>
>>>> Can you see well enough to see the white lines in the parking lot?
>>>> These can be a big help. On bright sunny days, I can just make out the
>>>> lines, and as long as I am at the spot where the line ends, I know I'm
>>>> on target to not run into any cars or be in the middle of nowhere.
>>>>
>>>> If you can't see the lines, what other landmarks can you find? Is
>>>> there a center "aisle" in the parking lot, like is often seen in the
>>>> parking lots of stores (a curb and grass)? If so, walking on that
>>>> would be of great help, I'm sure.
>>>>
>>>> Other than that, my best suggestion is to stick to the curb until you
>>>> feel more comfortable crossing the open parking lot. I have only just
>>>> started crossing the open lot myself as I start to get comfortable
>>>> doing so.
>>>>
>>>> As for finding your apartment, are there any landmarks nearby? For
>>>> example, my apartment is the only one with just two steps down to the
>>>> building. The other buildings all have several up or several down
>>>> (this was on purpose...because of my trouble with balance, stairs can
>>>> be dangerous for me). Also, about a hundred feet to the left of my
>>>> building is a turn in the sidewalk ninety degrees. To the right is a
>>>> zig-zag left then right. If I end up at either sidewalks and walk to
>>>> the direction I think my apartment is in, I look for these features in
>>>> the sidewalk to show me where I am.
>>>>
>>>> Additionally, smells can be of great help, good or bad. I know when
>>>> I'm at the dumpster because goodness, does it stink! I know where the
>>>> spot to cross from the middle of the round-about is because there is a
>>>> lovely crepe myrtle in blossom right where I need to cross. This won't
>>>> always be there (the smell, not the tree), but it helps for now, and I
>>>> have other ways to know.
>>>>
>>>> Sounds are also good to use. There are several young Chicano children
>>>> who live in the apartment building next to mine. They play outside
>>>> their building each afternoon, so when I come home, I aim for just
>>>> right of them, and often turn up directly in front of my steps! At the
>>>> round-about outside my apartment complex, I use the crepe myrtle's
>>>> smell, but I also listen for cars coming from Marcom Street. If there
>>>> is one coming, I hear where they are and aim about 10 feet to the left
>>>> of that, often making it directly at the sidewalk or grass to the
>>>> right or left of the sidewalk where I can easily find the sidewalk.
>>>>
>>>> Use all your senses to figure out where you are, where you are going,
>>>> and what you are doing. Find landmarks (or at your apartment, make
>>>> one), and go straight when you can.
>>>>
>>>> When it comes to crossing a driveway, it is better to go too far from
>>>> the open area or road than too far away. So, if you are on the right
>>>> side of the road, veer right if in doubt, and if you're on the left
>>>> side of the street, veer left if in doubt. Because of my balance
>>>> problems, I veer often. My O&M instructor saw this and gave me the tip
>>>> that when in doubt, move away from the road rather than toward it. If
>>>> you're in the driveway, you're safer than if you are in the open
>>>> parking lot or road.
>>>>
>>>> This won't help much with a driveway connecting to a parking lot, but
>>>> when you're crossing a driveway connected to a street, listen to the
>>>> cars on the street. Keep them at an even distance and you'll be going
>>>> straight. If you veer too far away from the road, you'll hear that the
>>>> cars are further away, and if you veer too close, the cars will sound
>>>> way too close. Listen to the cars as you travel, and you'll be able to
>>>> correct your path across a driveway or intersecting street. Also, if
>>>> there is a car waiting on the intersecting street or in the driveway,
>>>> use their placement as a target. If they are too far forward, aim to
>>>> go behind them by a minimum of 10 feet to avoid getting hit if they
>>>> back up suddenly. If you feel they are not too close to the road, go
>>>> in front of them about 5 feet so they can see you.
>>>>
>>>> I noted above that you can make your own landmarks for some places,
>>>> like your apartment. A very simple way to do a last-minute check
>>>> before putting the key in is to put a rubber band around the doorknob.
>>>> I did this when all the doors looked the same tactilely and I kept
>>>> trying to put my key in someone else's door. If your leasing office
>>>> allows it, you can put a large potted plant or other item outside your
>>>> apartment to use as a landmark.  Most companies will allow plants and
>>>> outside furniture.
>>>>
>>>> That's all I have for now. I hope it helped!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 7/28/10, Kerri Kosten <kerrik2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> 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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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> ~Jewel
>>>> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
>>>> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Julie McG
>>>  Lindbergh High School class of 2009, participating member in Opera
>>> Theater's Artist in Training Program, and proud graduate of Guiding
>>> Eyes for the Blind
>>>
>>> "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
>>> everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
>>> life."
>>> John 3:16
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Darian Smith
>> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
>> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
>> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace
>>
>>
>> “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are
>> spiritual beings having a human experience.” - Teilhard de Chardin
>>
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>
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-- 
Darian Smith
Skype: The_Blind_Truth
Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace


“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are
spiritual beings having a human experience.” - Teilhard de Chardin