They get the volunteer on the phone before starting the crossing. Well, standing still. That way there is nothing ?that needs to be done other than listening and talking. One hand holds the phone, and the other is free to use the Kane as usual. ?And as I mentioned,
this particular person was doing it in a residential neighborhood so no problem with a lot of noise and horns. Obviously, one would have to assess whether it could work in other types of environments or not. But it worked for this person in this particular
residential environment.
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On Oct 25, 2023, at 7:38?AM, Gerald Levy via groups.io <bwaylimited@...> wrote:
?
And how does this person use her smarphone while simultaneously scanning with her cane? Seems to me that it would be kind of awkward to futz around with the touchscreen while gripping a cane. And unless she holds
the phone close to her ear, how is she able to hear the directions spoken by a volunteer above all the horn honking and other noise at a busy intersection? ?
Gerald
On 10/25/2023 10:24 AM, Patty Arnold wrote:
I also know someone who uses volunteers through their smart phone to let them know whether or not they are veering. The person who is blind ?obviously has to have all the correct training and know what to do to compensate. In one case, the person used the smart
phone in a residential area and it made her able to then get across the street without veering into the side road. This was initially done in the presence of her O and M instructor to make sure it was actually being done safely and successfully. ?It seems
to work for her.
?
Walking quickly seems to help too.?
Hello,
If you use the iOS app OKO and there's a stoplight, you can keep yourself oriented to the stoplight which will keep you from veering significantly. It requires you to hold the phone steady (either on a neck strap or in your hand).
Thanks,
On Wed, Oct 25, 2023 at 6:16?AM Gerald Levy via
<bwaylimited=
[email protected]> wrote:
Veering off course seems to be a problem for many cane users.? There is no easy solution.? Some exceptional blind cane users claim they can guide themselves in a straight line by using echolocation like a bat, basically flicking their tongues back and forthe
like a freaking reptile to sense environmental vibrations to guide them.? A blind O&M instructor named Dan Kish has tried to popularize the use of echolocation by blind pedestrians, but there is a lot of controversy over whether this technique really works
or is just a bunch of malarkey. And of course, echolocation would be totally useless for someone who is also deaf or hearing impaired in addition to being blind, and sadly, most O&M instructors have no clue how to train a blind client who is also hearing impaired
and do not understand that wearing hearing aids is not a panacea. Some busy intersections in major cities now have audible traffic signals that make it a little easier for blind pedestrians to guide themselves in a straight line from one side of the street
to the other, but they are not always kept in working order and they tend to be few and far between, and incredibly, their installation has been ? opposed by the largest, so-called blindness advocacy organization in the US. ??
Gerald
On 10/25/2023 12:43 AM, Madison Martin wrote:
Hi all,
I tend to veer a lot especially when crossing streets, my instructor says this is normal but I still find it annoying. Is this true and if so is there anything that I can do to prevent it from happening alltogether or at least reduce
the chances of it happening? If it maters at all I use a folding cane with a roller ball tip because apparently it works the best on all surfaces. Look forward to any thoughts that anyone has. Thanks
Madison
