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Second Sense - Beyond Vision Loss

Archive: March 2021

Ready for an Outing? Effective Route Planning Strategies

March 1, 2021 | Leave a Comment

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 »

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Compass Directions on the outside of circle are used in creating a mental map

Mental Map: A Tool for Traveling with Less Worry

October 1, 2020 | Leave a Comment

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 »

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Kathy seated in her 1966 red Pontiac LeMans parked on Daytona Beach.

The Day I Gave Up Driving

November 30, 2017 | 2 Comments

by Kathy Austin, CVA

It was not a conscious decision. More like a weak moment. It was a dark and cloudy day, but warm for the first week of December. My husband and I were moving into our new house with friends and family helping out. Our big yellow lab, Beauregard, was at the vet being boarded for the […] Read More »

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David holds his new cane

That New Car Feel

May 2, 2017 | 1 Comment

by David Flament

It must be the culture I grew up in that makes me use car analogies for everything.  This post, of course, is not about a new car, but a new white cane. I thought it might be time to purchase a new cane because mine was showing signs of wear.  I am not sure how old […] Read More »

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Uber car in downtown Chicago

Ride Sharing: Tips for Maximizing your Travel Experience

October 1, 2016 | Leave a Comment

by Kathy Austin, CVA

You are getting into a stranger’s car. You wonder … am I going to get to my destination?  Am I going for a joy ride to somewhere over the rainbow?  Who is this person anyway? I’ve been using Uber on a pretty regular basis for the last several months.  I’d like to share some of […] Read More »

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Polly demonstrating one of the 1-Touch hand positions she learned

Battling Fear with Self-Defense

March 4, 2015 | Leave a Comment

by Polly Abbott, CVRT, COMS, Director of Rehabilitation Services

Many challenges come with vision loss, particularly for those new to visual impairment. Some people who are blind have a great fear of not being fully aware of the environment. Lacking details typically gained through visual information, gives a sense of loss of control when making choices that may affect personal safety. It’s the seemingly […] Read More »

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The Language of Mobility

October 15, 2014 | 1 Comment

by Alex Jones, Guest Blogger

I am drawn to O&M, or orientation and mobility, because I think it is an interesting and multifaceted field of work that draws on proven methods, progressive thought and creative instincts. Vision and Gait Lately, I find myself incredibly invested in how blindness and visual impairments affect one’s gait. I have become increasingly aware of […] Read More »

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Please Don’t Open the Door for Me!

August 14, 2014 | 4 Comments

by Kathy Austin, Community Engagement Specialist at Second Sense

“Opening the Door” can be a euphemism for discovery and learning. Today, I’d like to “open the door” and provide a little education on opening a door for someone with vision loss. I know lots of people out there have kind souls and a genuine desire to help someone in need.  As a person with […] Read More »

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Getting a Grip: Thoughts on Using a Human Guide

June 24, 2013 | 3 Comments

by George Abbott, Guest Blogger

Considerations for Your Guide Many of us who travel with a long white cane or dog guide may choose to benefit from the services of a human guide from time to time. Noisy, crowded unfamiliar areas, such as an airport or major train station, a buffet line, or construction site, to name a few. While […] Read More »

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