[Menvi-discuss] Blind Drivers

Tue Aug 9 15:58:40 EDT 2011

Prayer is indeed the key, Bill, no matter the type or circumstances of the
journey.  I confess that my choice of accompanied travel is often a matter
of wanting to spend time with sighted friends.  Since I live alone, I
sometimes crave that kind of companionship.  And yes, there are always risk;
and yes, I always carry my cane along in case of unexpected need.

Karen

From: menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org
[mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of Bill
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 3:49 PM
To: 'This is for discussing music and braille literacy'
Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Blind Drivers

OK, I know I was the one who proposed the creation of DENVI, but I cannot
resist the temptation to jump in on this off-topic topic.  (grin)

My parents supported my mobility training when I finally actually got some
training starting at age 14.  This despite me coming home on a couple
occasions with some serious bruises and lumps on the forehead.  The skill of
having learned to travel independently with my white cane has been a
life-long gift to me.  I have used it to commute to school and work by
myself using public transportation, to walk by myself not only in
center-city Philadelphia (the big town near me) but also in New York,
Boston, Los Angeles, Denver, London, Paris, Leipzig and other cities I have
probably forgotten about.  Traveling independently does not always mean
never soliciting aid from others.  It means being in charge of getting from
point A to point B as independently and as safely as possible.

We all have our own comfort levels for tolerating risks.  And we all have
our own set of skills when it comes to mobility.  I certainly respect
Karen's decision to travel as she chooses.  But we have to be careful when
it comes to worrying about those mean people.  Yes, they are out there.  But
we cannot allow them to paralyze us into fearful inaction.  When it comes
right down to it, life itself is a risky business.  Whether sighted or
blind, getting out of bed in the morning may be hazardous to our health.
Before starting any journey, I try to remember to pray for God's protection.
I try not to take my mobility skills for granted either.  I am eternally
grateful to my mobility instructors for the skill they taught me and to my
parents who never tried to keep me from walking to school by myself or from
starting any other journey I can think of.

OK, this is your DENVI president and charter member signing off.  

Regards,
Bill

Bill McCann
Founder and President of Dancing Dots since 1992
www.DancingDots.com
Tel: [001] 610-783-6692 

From: menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org
[mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of Leena and Charity
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 3:24 PM
To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Blind Drivers

I like both. It's fun to go with people, but at the same time, if I needed
to go with someone, I'd have to rely on when they could do something as
opposed to when I need to do something. I have an audition Thursday and I'm
going by myself because I don't have a free sighted person to go with me and
it's fine. If I had to rely on them, the danger would be that I couldn't go
for my audition and therefore wouldn't get that music scholarship. Just an
example.

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Karen Gearreald <mailto:karen118 at cox.net>  

To: 'This is for discussing music and braille literacy'
<mailto:menvi-discuss at menvi.org>  

Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 12:20 PM

Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Blind Drivers

Good point, Syl!  I always feel safer when accompanied by a sighted person.
Besides, the companionship of sighted friends is a great treat.  Here at
home by myself, I can be alone without fear; but who knows what is out there
in the big world?

Karen Gearreald

From: menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org
[mailto:menvi-discuss-bounces at menvi.org] On Behalf Of SClark6144 at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 09, 2011 2:41 PM
To: menvi-discuss at menvi.org
Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] Blind Drivers

I figured someone would spoil the fun.  I was just getting ready to ask how
you blind folks feel about silent cars.  I guess I'm wondering if you're
really out there by yourself.  It is SO dangerous, and I don't mean cars, I
mean really mean people.  If I had a blind person in the family, they would
go NOWHERE unaccompanied.

Syl

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