Audio Tidbits

What do you think the outcome will be if every child who thinks that playing baseball is fun, is told that his or her goal should be becoming a professional baseball player; or perhaps, any child who is interested in science is told that he or she will only be a success when awarded the Nobel Prize? "But no one would ever do that," you protest. Unfortunately, it happens; and any of us may be one of the guilty parties.

Putting the issue into the "can't see" context, all of us who can't see have been challenged in exactly this way. If you check out the previous episodes of Blind How, you will find a few examples of me doing it to you. How? I suggest a skill you might want to add to your personal skill set, and then I do it to you. I tell you that there are people who can't see who have mastered that particular skill. Either implicitly or sometimes explicitly, I suggest that you can and probably should develop the skill, getting as good at it as those who have mastered it.

Why would I do such a silly and maybe even cruel thing to you? Why would I imply that you will only be successful when you have mastered a particular skill? I don't have any excuse. I realized that an hour or so ago.

My sudden insight came a few minutes after I ran into the corner of a door, banging my forehead. Yes, it was my bedroom door. Yes, it was on my mental map of my house. Yes, I knew the door was there, just where it always is. Yes, I wasn't paying attention to where I was and where I was going. And yes, I'm pretty good at getting up and around; and I'm not quite the master of that skill as I may have led you to believe. Nonetheless, I'll still be walking around, trying not to bump into things, even though I'm not yet a master at it.

In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested that learning Braille would likely be a useful skill for you. At least I didn't go on to say that you should become proficient at reading and writing Braille, at the level where you are easily writing long essays and reading books. Sure, if you want to do that, go for it. I left it at suggesting that learning a little Braille can be very useful. It comes in handy for me to label this and that, to read the labels on medicine bottles or when I need to tell someone what my credit card number is, when ordering something over the phone. Mastering Braille just doesn't interest me at this point in my life.

This is what I think the take-away is. For the most part, those of us who can't see should consider developing those skills we need to do what we want to do, at the level sufficient to get the job done for us. For example, developing mobility skills takes some level of time, effort and commitment. But we only need to progress enough to come and go where and when we want to come and go. We probably don't need to master mobility. There are a lot of skills we need, to do what we want to do, but we may not need to master any of them. "Good enough" is usually sufficient for our purposes.

Why am I bringing this up at this point in our journey? Think cell phones in general, and smart phones in particular. Yes, you can make phone calls on smart phones, but if that's the only reason for having one, an old-fashion land-line phone is easier and probably cheaper. But making phone calls is not the reason why you likely should have a smart phone, if you can't see. It's all the other things you can do with a smart phone that makes having one so useful.

Try this. Think of ten things you want to do that not being able to see prevents or makes especially difficult. I suspect that a smart phone can help with at least seven of those things. The key here is that you don't need to master the smart phone or become what they call a power user. You only need to have enough skill to get the smart phone to help with those things you want to do.

Since I'm not a smart phone power user,

What do you think the outcome will be if every child who thinks that playing baseball is fun, is told that his or her goal should be becoming a professional baseball player; or perhaps, any child who is interested in science is told that he or she will only be a success when awarded the Nobel Prize? "But no one would ever do that," you protest. Unfortunately, it happens; and any of us may be one of the guilty parties.

Putting the issue into the "can't see" context, all of us who can't see have been challenged in exactly this way. If you check out the previous episodes of Blind How, you will find a few examples of me doing it to you. How? I suggest a skill you might want to add to your personal skill set, and then I do it to you. I tell you that there are people who can't see who have mastered that particular skill. Either implicitly or sometimes explicitly, I suggest that you can and probably should develop the skill, getting as good at it as those who have mastered it.

Why would I do such a silly and maybe even cruel thing to you? Why would I imply that you will only be successful when you have mastered a particular skill? I don't have any excuse. I realized that an hour or so ago.

My sudden insight came a few minutes after I ran into the corner of a door, banging my forehead. Yes, it was my bedroom door. Yes, it was on my mental map of my house. Yes, I knew the door was there, just where it always is. Yes, I wasn't paying attention to where I was and where I was going. And yes, I'm pretty good at getting up and around; and I'm not quite the master of that skill as I may have led you to believe. Nonetheless, I'll still be walking around, trying not to bump into things, even though I'm not yet a master at it.

In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested that learning Braille would likely be a useful skill for you. At least I didn't go on to say that you should become proficient at reading and writing Braille, at the level where you are easily writing long essays and reading books. Sure, if you want to do that, go for it. I left it at suggesting that learning a little Braille can be very useful. It comes in handy for me to label this and that, to read the labels on medicine bottles or when I need to tell someone what my credit card number is, when ordering something over the phone. Mastering Braille just doesn't interest me at this point in my life.

This is what I think the take-away is. For the most part, those of us who can't see should consider developing those skills we need to do what we want to do, at the level sufficient to get the job done for us. For example, developing mobility skills takes some level of time, effort and commitment. But we only need to progress enough to come and go where and when we want to come and go. We probably don't need to master mobility. There are a lot of skills we need, to do what we want to do, but we may not need to master any of them. "Good enough" is usually sufficient for our purposes.

Why am I bringing this up at this point in our journey? Think cell phones in general, and smart phones in particular. Yes, you can make phone calls on smart phones, but if that's the only reason for having one, an old-fashion land-line phone is easier and probably cheaper. But making phone calls is not the reason why you likely should have a smart phone, if you can't see. It's all the other things you can do with a smart phone that makes having one so useful.

Try this. Think of ten things you want to do that not being able to see prevents or makes especially difficult. I suspect that a smart phone can help with at least seven of those things. The key here is that you don't need to master the smart phone or become what they call a power user. You only need to have enough skill to get the smart phone to help with those things you want to do.

Since I'm not a smart phone power user, I'm not going to try to teach you how to use a smart phone, but I am going to suggest resources you may want to con...

I think most everyone has a notion about Braille and what it is. It's raised bumps or dots in specific patterns that people who can't see use to read. If you are a proficient Braille user, you have a skill set that most people who can't see don't have.

Does that surprise you? You're not alone. The belief is common enough that I am often offered a Braille menu when I go to a restaurant, and even my bank and the gas company send me a Braille version of my current account monthly. I have never requested this service. They just assume that, since I can't see, I know Braille well enough to read Braille documents. That is definitely not true for me.

I can use Braille well enough to do quite a lot though, and you can likely learn enough Braille to make some things in your day-to-day world easier and more convenient. If you are motivated to learn to be a proficient Braille user, please go for it. Your new skill set will serve you well. If you are responsible for a school-age youngster who can't see or who is likely to lose his or her vision, make learning Braille a priority for the young person. But if you are older and simply not up to the journey to Braille proficiency, I do have a suggestion for you.

Take a few hours to learn a little Braille.

The Hadley School is an easy way to get started: https://hadley.edu or Call 800-323-4238. Just tell them that you want to learn a little Braille. They will take it from there, and sooner than you may think, you will be labeling things and making quick notes for this and that.

The helpful folks at Hadley will register you in their starter Braille class, help you get everything you need to succeed and then set up a few classes that you complete at home. And it's free. Can it get any easier than that?

I can't read a book or even a page of Braille, but I can read the Braille labels on my medication from the pharmacy, the card I carry with me that has the number and other info for my credit card, the labels I've made for stuff around the house and notes I make when talking to a group or when I want to remember a number or other little piece of information. Knowing more Braille might be useful; but even with the little I know, it definitely comes in handy most every day.

Here's the deal. Just like a little exercise is better than no exercise, and a little patience is better than no patience, and a little independence is better than no independence, a little Braille is way better than no Braille. Start with Hadley or someone else who can teach you and then give it fifteen minutes a day for four weeks. If after that, you still think it's a waste of your time, you're probably right. Until then though, give learning a little Braille a chance.

I think most everyone has a notion about Braille and what it is. It's raised bumps or dots in specific patterns that people who can't see use to read. If you are a proficient Braille user, you have a skill set that most people who can't see don't have.

Does that surprise you? You're not alone. The belief is common enough that I am often offered a Braille menu when I go to a restaurant, and even my bank and the gas company send me a Braille version of my current account monthly. I have never requested this service. They just assume that, since I can't see, I know Braille well enough to read Braille documents. That is definitely not true for me.

I can use Braille well enough to do quite a lot though, and you can likely learn enough Braille to make some things in your day-to-day world easier and more convenient. If you are motivated to learn to be a proficient Braille user, please go for it. Your new skill set will serve you well. If you are responsible for a school-age youngster who can't see or who is likely to lose his or her vision, make learning Braille a priority for the young person. But if you are older and simply not up to the journey to Braille proficiency, I do have a suggestion for you.

Take a few hours to learn a little Braille.

The Hadley School is an easy way to get started: https://hadley.edu or Call 800-323-4238. Just tell them that you want to learn a little Braille. They will take it from there, and sooner than you may think, you will be labeling things and making quick notes for this and that.

The helpful folks at Hadley will register you in their starter Braille class, help you get everything you need to succeed and then set up a few classes that you complete at home. And it's free. Can it get any easier than that?

I can't read a book or even a page of Braille, but I can read the Braille labels on my medication from the pharmacy, the card I carry with me that has the number and other info for my credit card, the labels I've made for stuff around the house and notes I make when talking to a group or when I want to remember a number or other little piece of information. Knowing more Braille might be useful; but even with the little I know, it definitely comes in handy most every day.

Here's the deal. Just like a little exercise is better than no exercise, and a little patience is better than no patience, and a little independence is better than no independence, a little Braille is way better than no Braille. Start with Hadley or someone else who can teach you and then give it fifteen minutes a day for four weeks. If after that, you still think it's a waste of your time, you're probably right. Until then though, give learning a little Braille a chance.

There is a point about Blind How that some visitors may find confusing. Question: "Who is Blind How for?"

If you can't see and already have an extensive skill set for doing whatever you want to do, Blind How may be somewhat interesting, but isn't for you. At the same time, I hope you will take the time to share what you've already figured out with those who haven't. Send your tip or strategy to [email protected]. Please give others the benefit of your learning and experience.

Let me share an anecdote that speaks to who Blind How is for. I was listening to a podcast called iBUG Buzz. It's produced by the folks at http://www.iBugToday.org. iBUG is a Blind Users Group for people who use or want to use iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs and everything related. The website and the iBUG program has been around for more than ten years, but I just found out about it this week. I'm going to spend more time exploring its resources and options, and definitely recommend that you spend some time with it too.

Back to the anecdote. An individual (I'm calling her Sue, but I have no idea what her name actually is.) commented that she has been unable to see all of her life. As a child and on to being a young adult, Sue's parents and others in her family were very supportive and also quite protective. With the best of intentions, they developed a pattern of doing most everything for her that children and adults who can see do without much thought. They obviously wanted to do everything they could do to make Sue's life frustration and friction free. Their love was strong and heart-felt.

To her surprise and that of her family, Sue discovered that there are lots of people who can't see who have learned to do most things they want to do without needing someone to help or to do them for them. Many people who can't see have developed a skill set that neither she nor her family knew was possible.

Sure, Sue had developed her own skill set, but limited by others doing for her instead of her learning to do for herself. Her new awareness was that she could learn to use iPhones, computers and a range of other tech-toys that could open a world of experiences and opportunities that had been hidden from her. "Thanks, but I'll do it for myself," was a new and freeing experience. In addition to the tech-toys, she discovered a growing range of resources for people who can't see that range from how to do most anything, to how others have adjusted to not being able to see, to techniques and strategies for managing more or less independently when she had things to do, places to go and people to see.

Is all of this easy peasy, a piece of cake, as they say? Definitely not. Is it doable with time and effort? It is, to the extent you can develop the skills and so long as you are willing to manage the frustration and hard work. Developing the know-how and skills is tedious. Having the knowledge and skills is totally terrific.

For this episode of Blind How, let's start our tech journey with rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. In the kitchen, put one rubber band around the cans of beans, and two for corn. In your closet, put one small safety pin inside the black pants, and two for the brown. Put a paper clip on the mail you want to keep, and none for the junk mail. I'll bet you get the idea. Use something to designate which type of thing is which. Doing for yourself starts with being able to tell this from that. If you could see, it would be easy. When you can't see, you need a system.

There are better ways of labeling your stuff, and we will get to them in time. For now though, get a good supply of rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. Pro tip: You can also use big ones and little ones to add to your labeling options. Just be consistent, and – the most important tip – remember your system.

There is a point about Blind How that some visitors may find confusing. Question: "Who is Blind How for?"

If you can't see and already have an extensive skill set for doing whatever you want to do, Blind How may be somewhat interesting, but isn't for you. At the same time, I hope you will take the time to share what you've already figured out with those who haven't. Send your tip or strategy to [email protected]. Please give others the benefit of your learning and experience.

Let me share an anecdote that speaks to who Blind How is for. I was listening to a podcast called iBUG Buzz. It's produced by the folks at http://www.iBugToday.org. iBUG is a Blind Users Group for people who use or want to use iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs and everything related. The website and the iBUG program has been around for more than ten years, but I just found out about it this week. I'm going to spend more time exploring its resources and options, and definitely recommend that you spend some time with it too.

Back to the anecdote. An individual (I'm calling her Sue, but I have no idea what her name actually is.) commented that she has been unable to see all of her life. As a child and on to being a young adult, Sue's parents and others in her family were very supportive and also quite protective. With the best of intentions, they developed a pattern of doing most everything for her that children and adults who can see do without much thought. They obviously wanted to do everything they could do to make Sue's life frustration and friction free. Their love was strong and heart-felt.

To her surprise and that of her family, Sue discovered that there are lots of people who can't see who have learned to do most things they want to do without needing someone to help or to do them for them. Many people who can't see have developed a skill set that neither she nor her family knew was possible.

Sure, Sue had developed her own skill set, but limited by others doing for her instead of her learning to do for herself. Her new awareness was that she could learn to use iPhones, computers and a range of other tech-toys that could open a world of experiences and opportunities that had been hidden from her. "Thanks, but I'll do it for myself," was a new and freeing experience. In addition to the tech-toys, she discovered a growing range of resources for people who can't see that range from how to do most anything, to how others have adjusted to not being able to see, to techniques and strategies for managing more or less independently when she had things to do, places to go and people to see.

Is all of this easy peasy, a piece of cake, as they say? Definitely not. Is it doable with time and effort? It is, to the extent you can develop the skills and so long as you are willing to manage the frustration and hard work. Developing the know-how and skills is tedious. Having the knowledge and skills is totally terrific.

For this episode of Blind How, let's start our tech journey with rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. In the kitchen, put one rubber band around the cans of beans, and two for corn. In your closet, put one small safety pin inside the black pants, and two for the brown. Put a paper clip on the mail you want to keep, and none for the junk mail. I'll bet you get the idea. Use something to designate which type of thing is which. Doing for yourself starts with being able to tell this from that. If you could see, it would be easy. When you can't see, you need a system.

There are better ways of labeling your stuff, and we will get to them in time. For now though, get a good supply of rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. Pro tip: You can also use big ones and little ones to add to your labeling options. Just be consistent, and – the most important tip – remember your system.

Let me start this episode of Blind How with a heads-up. I will be talking some about walking outside and in unfamiliar inside places. The tips I include will be minor and only intended to suggest a few things to keep in mind.

Walking from place to place outside and in new places without a helper who can see, requires a skill set that all of us who can't see need, but should only develop with the assistance of a qualified mobility professional. Additionally, I don't know any way to develop those skills without learning how to use a white cane or guide dog.

Where you live and spend most of your time likely is doable, whether you live in an apartment or on a farm. The key is that you have a good mental map of the area and are aware of any risky areas or hazards. Also, when you become disoriented – and you will – there is minimal risk of getting hurt.

I mentioned in an earlier episode of Blind How that I don't know how to use a white cane. I'm a guide dog user. My current guide dog is my seventh, so I have been trusting my mobility to a dog for a long time. Like most other strategies for doing what we want to do without seeing, getting out and about by ourselves requires high motivation, determination and practice and then more practice. On any given day, it's easier to just stay home. The important thing to know is that going wherever you want to go is possible; and there are people who can't see who have already been there and done that.

That's it for the heads-up. Let's get back to moving around in our personal living space. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested leaving a radio or TV playing as an orientation device. The sound is a known landmark on our mental map. But it gets even better. Here's where the fun starts. Those of us who can't see have what sometimes seems like unlimited technology out there to help us do what we want to do.

Does thinking about all that technology get you excited, or does it cause you to shrug and turn away? If technology is something that interests you, you are ready to ramp up your skill set for doing what you want to do. If instead, you aren't interested and don't think technology is for you, you have made a life altering decision, although you may not know you are making it. You have decided to be satisfied with the status quo. You already have all the help you need or want, to do what you do, and things as they are is sufficient for you. – No problem. It really is your choice.

Sure, I'll be getting to cell phones and computers; but for starters, I'm very impressed with the Amazon Echo and the Google wireless speaker. You need the little speaker for either. I suspect you already have one or the other. The cool part isn't so much the gadget, but rather the assistant that talks to us. For Amazon's Echo, she is Alexa, and for the Google gadget, I call him the Google Guy.

We'll come back to both devices from time to time, but for now, let's get back to walking around our living areas. Alexa and the Google Guy are great orientation helpers. Since I know where they are located in my living space, I can just ask anything – It doesn't matter what I ask. – I get a response and immediately am oriented to where I am in relation to the voice. It's better for me than a radio or TV, especially when I don't want them on all day.

You are undoubtedly getting the idea. Listening is, for those of us who can't see, our most important orientation device. If you can't see and also can't hear, you have two serious issues; and I don't know how to help with the can't hear issue. But there are people who can help. The first step is to identify someone who can't hear or knows how to help people who can't hear. They likely can head you in the right direction to get some assistance.

There are a lot of sounds in our environments and ways to add sounds. Radios and TVs are good,

Let me start this episode of Blind How with a heads-up. I will be talking some about walking outside and in unfamiliar inside places. The tips I include will be minor and only intended to suggest a few things to keep in mind.

Walking from place to place outside and in new places without a helper who can see, requires a skill set that all of us who can't see need, but should only develop with the assistance of a qualified mobility professional. Additionally, I don't know any way to develop those skills without learning how to use a white cane or guide dog.

Where you live and spend most of your time likely is doable, whether you live in an apartment or on a farm. The key is that you have a good mental map of the area and are aware of any risky areas or hazards. Also, when you become disoriented – and you will – there is minimal risk of getting hurt.

I mentioned in an earlier episode of Blind How that I don't know how to use a white cane. I'm a guide dog user. My current guide dog is my seventh, so I have been trusting my mobility to a dog for a long time. Like most other strategies for doing what we want to do without seeing, getting out and about by ourselves requires high motivation, determination and practice and then more practice. On any given day, it's easier to just stay home. The important thing to know is that going wherever you want to go is possible; and there are people who can't see who have already been there and done that.

That's it for the heads-up. Let's get back to moving around in our personal living space. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested leaving a radio or TV playing as an orientation device. The sound is a known landmark on our mental map. But it gets even better. Here's where the fun starts. Those of us who can't see have what sometimes seems like unlimited technology out there to help us do what we want to do.

Does thinking about all that technology get you excited, or does it cause you to shrug and turn away? If technology is something that interests you, you are ready to ramp up your skill set for doing what you want to do. If instead, you aren't interested and don't think technology is for you, you have made a life altering decision, although you may not know you are making it. You have decided to be satisfied with the status quo. You already have all the help you need or want, to do what you do, and things as they are is sufficient for you. – No problem. It really is your choice.

Sure, I'll be getting to cell phones and computers; but for starters, I'm very impressed with the Amazon Echo and the Google wireless speaker. You need the little speaker for either. I suspect you already have one or the other. The cool part isn't so much the gadget, but rather the assistant that talks to us. For Amazon's Echo, she is Alexa, and for the Google gadget, I call him the Google Guy.

We'll come back to both devices from time to time, but for now, let's get back to walking around our living areas. Alexa and the Google Guy are great orientation helpers. Since I know where they are located in my living space, I can just ask anything – It doesn't matter what I ask. – I get a response and immediately am oriented to where I am in relation to the voice. It's better for me than a radio or TV, especially when I don't want them on all day.

You are undoubtedly getting the idea. Listening is, for those of us who can't see, our most important orientation device. If you can't see and also can't hear, you have two serious issues; and I don't know how to help with the can't hear issue. But there are people who can help. The first step is to identify someone who can't hear or knows how to help people who can't hear. They likely can head you in the right direction to get some assistance.

There are a lot of sounds in our environments and ways to add sounds. Radios and TVs are good, but adding Alexa or the Google Guy may be even better.

There is a small fact of life that is frequently overlooked. Here it is. Just because doing something isn't complicated, doesn't mean that doing it is easy or simple. This important point definitely applies to doing without seeing.

The tips and strategies for doing without seeing that I have discussed so far on Blind How have not been particularly complicated. Nonetheless, adding each tip or strategy to our personal skill set is far from easy or simple. They require a degree of attention, concentration and practice that can seem to be unreasonable and hardly worth the effort. On any given occasion, they are hardly worth the bother – and they are a lot of bother at times.

Here is the issue. Those of us who can't see have limited options. Either we go to the bother of incorporating the tips and strategies into our skill set, or we are permanently disabled, unable to do what we want to do, when we want to do it. The things we want to do are either off the table or left to the discretion and good will of people who can see.

We each get to choose; and I'm assuming that you are choosing to do for yourself, whenever you can, as much as you can.

In the last episode of Blind How, I focused on walking around our homes or living areas. The strategy is to start with our mental map of our area. It's not a one and done kind of thing. We continue to improve our mental map by adding and correcting the details. The more time we spend in the area, the more detailed and the more accurate our mental map gets.

I also pointed out that a good strategy for moving around is to get into the habit of walking from known point to known point. I call those points "landmarks." The idea is to take a moment to make sure you are facing the next landmark before starting to walk. Now walk directly toward that landmark. In your home, this strategy is important, but once you go outside, it becomes critical. Practicing at home is your best bet for safely mastering the technique.

If options were limited to following our mental maps, walking around would be difficult but doable. The good news is that we can do better than simply relying on our mental maps. In the last episode of Blind How, I mentioned paying attention to the floor. Notice when you step on a rug or when the floor changes from carpet to wood. The idea is that changes in the floor surface become additional landmarks on our mental maps. The same notion will apply outside when the surface where we are walking changes.

I also mentioned touching things. Keeping our hands up helps us touch things before banging into them, but also helps us identify landmarks in our environments such as chairs, walls and appliances.

The added tip for this episode of Blind How is listening. Along with touching and feeling, your home or living area makes sounds. Where I live, the furnace just turned on. I also hear the ice maker in the refrigerator. Different areas make different sounds, letting me know a little more about where I am at any particular time. The traffic sounds are outside in front of the house, the birds are chirping outside the back door, and on and on. My living environment is not loud but is noisy, and yours likely is too. Again, listening becomes even more important when we leave our familiar environments and venture into unfamiliar outside and inside spaces.

Here's what I think is an especially useful tip. Leave a radio or TV playing whenever you are at home and awake. Along with being auditory company, the sound is a consistent and continuous landmark that you can use from most anywhere in your living area. I've done this for a long time and am still surprised at times by how helpful the sound is, particularly when I become momentarily disoriented now and then. If you don't already do this, give it a try.

Do you have a tip for other Blind How listeners?

There is a small fact of life that is frequently overlooked. Here it is. Just because doing something isn't complicated, doesn't mean that doing it is easy or simple. This important point definitely applies to doing without seeing.

The tips and strategies for doing without seeing that I have discussed so far on Blind How have not been particularly complicated. Nonetheless, adding each tip or strategy to our personal skill set is far from easy or simple. They require a degree of attention, concentration and practice that can seem to be unreasonable and hardly worth the effort. On any given occasion, they are hardly worth the bother – and they are a lot of bother at times.

Here is the issue. Those of us who can't see have limited options. Either we go to the bother of incorporating the tips and strategies into our skill set, or we are permanently disabled, unable to do what we want to do, when we want to do it. The things we want to do are either off the table or left to the discretion and good will of people who can see.

We each get to choose; and I'm assuming that you are choosing to do for yourself, whenever you can, as much as you can.

In the last episode of Blind How, I focused on walking around our homes or living areas. The strategy is to start with our mental map of our area. It's not a one and done kind of thing. We continue to improve our mental map by adding and correcting the details. The more time we spend in the area, the more detailed and the more accurate our mental map gets.

I also pointed out that a good strategy for moving around is to get into the habit of walking from known point to known point. I call those points "landmarks." The idea is to take a moment to make sure you are facing the next landmark before starting to walk. Now walk directly toward that landmark. In your home, this strategy is important, but once you go outside, it becomes critical. Practicing at home is your best bet for safely mastering the technique.

If options were limited to following our mental maps, walking around would be difficult but doable. The good news is that we can do better than simply relying on our mental maps. In the last episode of Blind How, I mentioned paying attention to the floor. Notice when you step on a rug or when the floor changes from carpet to wood. The idea is that changes in the floor surface become additional landmarks on our mental maps. The same notion will apply outside when the surface where we are walking changes.

I also mentioned touching things. Keeping our hands up helps us touch things before banging into them, but also helps us identify landmarks in our environments such as chairs, walls and appliances.

The added tip for this episode of Blind How is listening. Along with touching and feeling, your home or living area makes sounds. Where I live, the furnace just turned on. I also hear the ice maker in the refrigerator. Different areas make different sounds, letting me know a little more about where I am at any particular time. The traffic sounds are outside in front of the house, the birds are chirping outside the back door, and on and on. My living environment is not loud but is noisy, and yours likely is too. Again, listening becomes even more important when we leave our familiar environments and venture into unfamiliar outside and inside spaces.

Here's what I think is an especially useful tip. Leave a radio or TV playing whenever you are at home and awake. Along with being auditory company, the sound is a consistent and continuous landmark that you can use from most anywhere in your living area. I've done this for a long time and am still surprised at times by how helpful the sound is, particularly when I become momentarily disoriented now and then. If you don't already do this, give it a try.

Do you have a tip for other Blind How listeners? Do you have a question needing an answer? Get in touch at [email protected].