Move to town with no O & M training available?
Move to town with no O & M training available?
I’ve got RP, but a decent amount of central vision. I can still see cars if I’m looking right at them, people walking right at me, usually find cross I’ve got RP, but a decent amount of central vision. I can still see cars if I’m looking right at them, people walking right at me, find crosswalks, that sort of thing. But I use a white cane because smaller objects, curbs, potholes, glass doors, etc. are a giant problem without it. I had basic O and M training to use the cane with that level of vision. But as my vision continues to deteriorate, I’m sure I’ll need additional training for stuff like crossing uncontrolled intersections, getting from place to place without so many visual cues as I have now, walking in a reasonably straight line without visual cues, getting from place to place without getting disoriented, and so forth. My question is this: I’m thinking seriously about moving to a town that has way better walkability than where I am now (that and affordability would be the two main reasons for moving). But there appear to be no available OM specialists anywhere near it. So is it a really stupid idea to move there, or given that I’ve got the basic training and some residual v ision, can I pick up these other skills some other way? And if so, what other ways would you suggest?
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Would better walkability and affordability let you save enough money to visit another town that does have O&M specialists available?
This is something I am considering for myself now.
The worst of my vision loss happened at the beginning of the Pandemic when there were no in person services available in the area. At that time my O&M training consisted of 3 hour long phone calls. I had a little remaining vision at the time and no one was really supposed to go anywhere at the time anyway so it was enough. Now that I have almost no useful vision remaining and things have improved enough that they are doing in person training again I have been trying to get in person training. Unfortunately, even though there are specialists within the normal travel distances I live in a notoriously high crime area so no one is willing to come to me.
To get in person O&M training I will have to travel to a neighboring town so I am in the process of saving enough money to spend a few days some where I can get it. Not easy because there is not a lot extra right now.
I’m sorry to hear that. I hope someone here responds to my question with some remote suggestions so you don’t have to spend the money to travel. As for me, I am super old, so even ignoring my vision, it’s a pain (literally) for me to go as far as I’d need to. What I’m thinking right now, which might work for you if it isn’t stupid (someone else I’ll have to chime in about that): almost everything I learned with my current level of O&M training could’ve been explained to me orally, or I could’ve read it. The trainer was mainly useful for keeping me from injuring myself while I was practicing with her. That is, the main value of having her in person was to have somebody act as a spotter. So I’m thinking that if there’s some online way to learn the techniques, etc., then all I’d need is someone who I can trust enough, and as willing to do it, to spot me properly while I practice. Of course, it might not be easy to find someone like that.
Darn! I did it again!
I colored your situation with my own instead getting more information about what you really needed and answering your question. It is a bad habit and I apologize.
NFB had what's now a booklet that helped me a lot at the time: Cane: Instructions in Cane Travel for Blind People
- I particularly found section 3 Actually Walking Around pretty useful in the short term but in the end it has all proved useful so the entire thing was a good read
It looks like it could be a useful read for a sighted person trying to spot you as well
There have been a number of things I have listened to and read since that have provided some help as well...but it was harder to remember where I found them. If I hadn't remembered originally finding the NFB one above on the page for their Free White Cane Program I might not of known where to find that either.
As for my situation, that is good advice that I will be following until I can make my trip and get that in person training. I can do well enough with the day to day now. My end goal, if I can manage to afford it, is to independently travel as much as I can. I never took the time to do that back when I could still see and am regretting it a bit. My O&M skills could use a bit more finesse for unfamiliar areas that I may not have as much time to learn as I would like.
@NoConfigence2192 That book has given me more instruction when I moved to Ontario 9 years ago than any O&M instructor. There is not much of that here either. I read that book and the rest was building up my confidence.
Thanks! That’s all very helpful. Thanks for following up.