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
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
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 »
Tags: driving, giving up driving, Independent Travel, RP
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 »
Tags: Independent Travel, orientation and mobility, white cane
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 »
Tags: guide dogs, Independent Travel, Lyft, Mobility, Ride Sharing, Uber
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 »
Tags: Blind, independent living, Independent Travel, self-defense, Vision loss, Visually impaired
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 »
Tags: Independence, Independent Travel, Mobility, O&M, Vision loss, Visually impaired
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 »
Tags: Daily living skills, Guide dog, Independence, Independent Travel, Vision loss
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 »
Tags: Blind, Independent Travel, Mobility, Sighted Guide, Visually impaired