by Kathy Austin
As a guide dog handler, I try my best not to use ride sharing services to get a ride. The anxiety of trying to find the vehicle, then wondering if the driver will refuse to take me because of my dog, just isn’t worth the stress. Then, there’s the problem of a language barrier […] Read More »
Tags: Guide dog, Ride Share, Uber
by Siobhan Midgley, CVRT, COMS, TVI
It’s a blizzardy Saturday in Chicago; sidewalks slick, visibility low, fingers and toes frozen. I get a text from my client, and he has a conundrum. His usual route to his book club is just one stop away on the L. He knows the route well and normally has no difficulties traveling it. But he […] Read More »
Tags: Independence, interdependence, Mobility
by Kathy Austin
Did you have a few too many delectable dishes and spirits over the holidays? Are your clothes a little bit more snug? Or perhaps the mix of Omicron and January’s cold and snow is preventing you from visiting the gym. If so, we have compiled some at-home exercise programs for you to try. You can […] Read More »
Tags: exercise, Fitness, yoga
by Eleni Gaves, COMS
As we celebrate White Cane Awareness Day, Eleni Gaves, our orientation and mobility specialist, talks about a skill that many with vision loss are reluctant to use – asking the public for assistance. Check out her suggestions and tips to become more comfortable with this useful tool for independent travel. Getting out and around brings […] Read More »
Tags: assistance, Mobility
by Kathy Austin
One lazy summer afternoon relaxing in a lounge chair while vacationing on a lake, I said to my husband, “I think I need to get a guide dog.” I’m not quite sure why I had the sudden realization but it just seemed like time. I was becoming wary of stairs and tripping on curbs. […] Read More »
by Eleni Gaves, COMS
Getting a first cane can seem overwhelming up front. From different sizes to materials and then to cane tips, there’s a lot of variety. And certainly, there is a lack of clarity about what each thing does or why so many variations exist. Add in the fact that you may be wondering how to hold […] Read More »
Tags: cane tips, mobility training, white cane
by Brad Blair
Brad is hosting a route planning workshop on March 17 at 4:30 PM CST via our conference line, 312-809-1004. This is a great opportunity to ask specific questions about the strategies he shares here. The Coronavirus seems to be receding — finally. Restaurants, sports venues, movie theaters and art galleries are once again […] Read More »
Tags: Independent Travel, O&M, route planning
by Eleni Gaves, COMS and Brad Blair, O&M intern
Whether you are fully sighted, losing your vision or blind, traveling in inclement winter weather is challenging. It requires planning and adaptations. These tips and methods will help you plan safe, productive travel. Many of these tips are similar to what anyone with 20/20 vision needs to do, but with methods adapted for those […] Read More »
Tags: travel with vision loss, winter travel
by Brad Blair
Global positioning system (GPS) technology is nearly everywhere. Today, GPS is in nearly every car on the road and every phone carried in a person’s pocket or purse. It’s now taken for granted that if you are planning a route from Chicago to Portland, or even just across town, you will use GPS systems. […] Read More »
Tags: GPS, GPS for visually impaired, O&M
by Eleni Gaves, COMS
When you travel to a new destination, how do you know how to get there? What steps do you take to prepare so you will find your destination with minimal risk of getting lost? A sighted person can use GPS, consult a physical map, read street signs and look out for visual landmarks. People […] Read More »
Tags: Independent Travel, Mental Map, Mobility, white cane