Day 4

Traveling in a hallway staying in-step like a pro.

I've got this staying 'in-step' thing down pat.  It becomes second nature after using it, especially when it saves your face from contacting most objects. The cane should tap on the opposite side of your step to ensure that side of your body is protected from obstacles.

I was instructed to find the north east stairwell in the science building where we were working.  This building has 3 sets of stairways. In order to get to the correct one I had to 1) Remember where the heck I was in the first place. 2) Begin traveling in the correct direction. 3) Recognize the landmarks and clues that would tell me I arrived at the place I needed to be. 
Landmark: Something on a route that will be always present (like a drinking fountain)
Clue: Something that may or may not be there, like the smell of food in a cafeteria or the sound of an air conditioner that may cycle on and off.

This particular route I was looking (that would be looking with my cane if that makes any sense) for the landmark of a small wheelchair ramp that led to some round dark room entry contraption thing. After the darkroom ramp, I knew the stairs were right around the corner. If I came to the elevator (yet another landmark) I had gone too far. On the doors to the stairway there is a plastic half-moon shaped decoration on the door. Once I thought my cane had contacted the door, I felt the front of the door for the decoration to make sure I was not entering into some random class lecture.

Searching for my half-moon landmark.

  From the door, I had to practice stairs again. This time I did better. Not as freaked out about breaking a leg. Going down a flight of stairs is still a little more daunting than going up, but I just had to commit and go for it.

Success. Finally.

Having a visual memory of a place helps so much when under blindfold. We all take for granted how much information our vision gives us. Children who have been blind their whole lives have difficulty with concept development that sighted children pick up naturally.That being said, My instructor took me to a different building I had never been to. I had to learn the layout just by walking around it trying to remember where I encountered my landmarks and clues. I knew the hallways were in a basic rectangle shape, but I got turned around so many times. I had no idea what direction I was traveling or anything. So disappointing. After taking the blindfold off at the end of the lesson and being able to see the layout of the building I couldn't believe how small the rectangle hallways I had traveled really were. The hallways felt huge when I was fumbling around! Oh man. I got myself lost in front of an elevator. Don't ask me how, but I got completely turned around in a 3 sided little study area right NEXT to the stairs I was told to find. Insert joke <can't find her way out of a paper bag here> My point is that if you can't visualize it, travel is more difficult.

This is me actually getting lost in this little area. Take note of the stairway indicator sign directly to the left. Yeah. Not my best moment.

 

I did eventually find the stairway, however, I do believe my instructor had to intervene and give me a hint. We are in the same building tomorrow for a bit so I should have an easier time now that I've seen it.