Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
16
↓
Outdoors leisure while VI (self.Blind)
submitted by nonniemous
My sight has sharply deteriorated over the second half of 2020, and only now that we're getting out of the stricter lockdowns I've noticed how it's impacted my hobbies. I've always travelled with my family and gone on hikes and trails in gorgeous places, but I'm kind of afraid of taking it up again after this whole ordeal with untreated glaucoma. I've noticed I struggle moving around my city outside of routes I move in often, and being on a trail with little to no signs (that I probably would miss anyway, arrows on trees or small landmarks like piles of rocks) as well as rough terrain scares me so much... Still, I miss it and I'm seeing myself become resentful and depressed about the fact that some of my friends are going on similar routes as I used to and I can't really just pack up and climb on my own anymore.
I have an ID cane not very suitable for anything outside of urban environments (not that I've had access to O&M courses since low vision is legally tiered here and I barely hit the first one so I can't sign up for one), which kinda limits all my leisure options nowadays to relatively familiar and public transit-reliant routes. I'm not opposed to the idea of going to friends' houses often or just walking around but I'm generally quite sad about my loss of independence, and also I keep wondering if even bothering with trails is worth it anymore, my field of vision is garbage and the bits I do see are blurred and wobbly due to light nystagmus.
I've heard stories of some totally blind dude who climbed 8k mountains, but they're mostly kind of braggy and don't really get into the deets of *how* he does it. I was wondering if any folks on the sub have experience picking up hiking after sight loss (I do feel it's an entirely different story if one is born blind because the cues you learn when you're starting out are different) and just looking for comfort in general, I guess. I feel completely at loss about this particular issue and the worry and sadness keep growing. I don't know what to do.
I have an ID cane not very suitable for anything outside of urban environments (not that I've had access to O&M courses since low vision is legally tiered here and I barely hit the first one so I can't sign up for one), which kinda limits all my leisure options nowadays to relatively familiar and public transit-reliant routes. I'm not opposed to the idea of going to friends' houses often or just walking around but I'm generally quite sad about my loss of independence, and also I keep wondering if even bothering with trails is worth it anymore, my field of vision is garbage and the bits I do see are blurred and wobbly due to light nystagmus.
I've heard stories of some totally blind dude who climbed 8k mountains, but they're mostly kind of braggy and don't really get into the deets of *how* he does it. I was wondering if any folks on the sub have experience picking up hiking after sight loss (I do feel it's an entirely different story if one is born blind because the cues you learn when you're starting out are different) and just looking for comfort in general, I guess. I feel completely at loss about this particular issue and the worry and sadness keep growing. I don't know what to do.
KillerLag 6 points 2y ago
There is a tandem cycling club that a few of my clients enjoy.
https://trailblazerstandem.org/
My clients can go cycling with someone, and they've gone pretty far in some cases (although they usually stay within the city). One of my friends did 40K with them one time, but they were suppose to go even further for a different event.
https://trailblazerstandem.org/
My clients can go cycling with someone, and they've gone pretty far in some cases (although they usually stay within the city). One of my friends did 40K with them one time, but they were suppose to go even further for a different event.
OvateWolf 2 points 2y ago
If you want to go alone then you probably need to think about using more well populated trails just in case you do get lost and need help.
I think that with the right attachments for a long cane or a good walking pole you will do fine, but roots are probably going to take you longer than they would have before (especially if you’re on your own).
I’m in the UK and one of the issues I have is that a lot of our walking and hiking routes are intercepted by country roads (often with no pavements).
It’s these roads that put me offh and scare me.
Most of the other practical elements to consider like what do you do if you need to go for a P?
It’s probably a bit easier for guys, but you still have to find a spot that’s a bit secluded and ideally make sure you’re not accidentally exposing yourself to a family with a group of young kids.
It’s the low-level practical stuff like that that really does not get talked about enough when vision impaired people are writing their look I did this or something books and blog articles.
If other people are going to be inspired and do that as well then it’s dealing with the low-level practical stuff but they would need to know about not just the overarching hey I did a cool thing.
I’ve saved this post as well so I’m very interested to see what other people with more experience right.
I think that with the right attachments for a long cane or a good walking pole you will do fine, but roots are probably going to take you longer than they would have before (especially if you’re on your own).
I’m in the UK and one of the issues I have is that a lot of our walking and hiking routes are intercepted by country roads (often with no pavements).
It’s these roads that put me offh and scare me.
Most of the other practical elements to consider like what do you do if you need to go for a P?
It’s probably a bit easier for guys, but you still have to find a spot that’s a bit secluded and ideally make sure you’re not accidentally exposing yourself to a family with a group of young kids.
It’s the low-level practical stuff like that that really does not get talked about enough when vision impaired people are writing their look I did this or something books and blog articles.
If other people are going to be inspired and do that as well then it’s dealing with the low-level practical stuff but they would need to know about not just the overarching hey I did a cool thing.
I’ve saved this post as well so I’m very interested to see what other people with more experience right.
SqornshellousZ 1 points 2y ago
Rowing kayaking and dragonboating.
MRMeneer 1 points 2y ago
hI.
FIRSTLY TO SAY i EMPHASIZE AND APPRECIATE THE GREIVING YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. ITS WHAT i AM FACING AS WELL DUE TO THE SAME DIAGNOSIS.
YOU CAN USE YOUR LONG CANE AS A WALKING STICK SORT OF THING NOT TO LEAN ON BUT TO PROD AND POKE IF UNSURE. THE LONG CANE INTHE uK COMES WITH A VALL ATTHE BOTTOM THAT ALLOWS A BETTER SWEEPING AND FEEDBACK . iT IS GOOD FOR OFF ROAD . WHEN GOING WITH FRIENDS JUST ASK THEM TO POINT OUT ROOTS AND GAPS. tHIS IS PART OF LEARNING BOTH SIDES FRO YOU AND THEM.
tHEY WILL BE UNSURE OF HOW TO WGO ABOUT THINGS AND WILL WANT TO HELP.
tHIS GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO FEEL HELPFUL AND YOU SOMETHING TO SUPPORT WITH.
tHIS MIGHT BE A WAY OF GETTINGTO KNOWTHE ROUTE UNTIL YOU FEEL SURE ENOUGH OFTHE ROUTE TO GO ON YOUR OWN. OR AT LEAST GET SOME PART OF IT ALL IN A GROUP SETTING.
aLSO IT IS GOOD TO DO THESE THINGS INSTEAD OF WITHDRAWING FROM THE GROUP AS IT ENDS UP TEARING YOU APART FROM THE GROUP IN THE LONG RUN.
​
MAYBE GO WITH ONE OTHER PERSON AT TIMES ANDA GROUP AT TIMES TO DO CERTAIN ROUTES SO YOU CAN HAVE PART OFTHE EXPERIENCE OF BEING ALONE.
aDAPTING ISTHE HARDEST THING AND ITS WHAT WE AS vi PEOPLE GET GOOD AT THROUGH EXPERIENCE.
iM HAPPY TO CHAT AND OFFER ANY OTHER LISTENING EAR IF YOU WANT.
iTS A TOUGH TIME TO ADAPT AND TRANSITION.
FIRSTLY TO SAY i EMPHASIZE AND APPRECIATE THE GREIVING YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. ITS WHAT i AM FACING AS WELL DUE TO THE SAME DIAGNOSIS.
YOU CAN USE YOUR LONG CANE AS A WALKING STICK SORT OF THING NOT TO LEAN ON BUT TO PROD AND POKE IF UNSURE. THE LONG CANE INTHE uK COMES WITH A VALL ATTHE BOTTOM THAT ALLOWS A BETTER SWEEPING AND FEEDBACK . iT IS GOOD FOR OFF ROAD . WHEN GOING WITH FRIENDS JUST ASK THEM TO POINT OUT ROOTS AND GAPS. tHIS IS PART OF LEARNING BOTH SIDES FRO YOU AND THEM.
tHEY WILL BE UNSURE OF HOW TO WGO ABOUT THINGS AND WILL WANT TO HELP.
tHIS GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO FEEL HELPFUL AND YOU SOMETHING TO SUPPORT WITH.
tHIS MIGHT BE A WAY OF GETTINGTO KNOWTHE ROUTE UNTIL YOU FEEL SURE ENOUGH OFTHE ROUTE TO GO ON YOUR OWN. OR AT LEAST GET SOME PART OF IT ALL IN A GROUP SETTING.
aLSO IT IS GOOD TO DO THESE THINGS INSTEAD OF WITHDRAWING FROM THE GROUP AS IT ENDS UP TEARING YOU APART FROM THE GROUP IN THE LONG RUN.
​
MAYBE GO WITH ONE OTHER PERSON AT TIMES ANDA GROUP AT TIMES TO DO CERTAIN ROUTES SO YOU CAN HAVE PART OFTHE EXPERIENCE OF BEING ALONE.
aDAPTING ISTHE HARDEST THING AND ITS WHAT WE AS vi PEOPLE GET GOOD AT THROUGH EXPERIENCE.
iM HAPPY TO CHAT AND OFFER ANY OTHER LISTENING EAR IF YOU WANT.
iTS A TOUGH TIME TO ADAPT AND TRANSITION.
getthefacts 1 points 2y ago
Do you go by yourself or in a group?
nonniemous [OP] 1 points 2y ago
My friends group up; I'm used to hiking alone or separate from the group but I understand that right now it's inevitable to need help.
getthefacts 1 points 2y ago
I do not have a visual impairment, but my daughter does. I was talking to her TVI about liking to hike as a family. However, I am concerned about her tripping over tree roots and rocks. She said that there are white cane attachments that is a hook at the bottom to help with hiking and outdoor use.
This doesn't help if the trail is not clearly marked but may be useful. I was trying to find where to buy one, but I got stuck. I will ask her TVI if you're interested. Here is a link describing it: $1
This doesn't help if the trail is not clearly marked but may be useful. I was trying to find where to buy one, but I got stuck. I will ask her TVI if you're interested. Here is a link describing it: $1
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.