#G4 ,?"\S & ,EXP]I;ES ON ,CANE ,TRAVEL

  ,H[ ,L;G ,DOES ,X ,TAKE 6,LE>N ,CANE
,TRAVEL8
  ,9 ORD] 6ANSW] ? "Q1 Y M/ 3SID] ?REE
MAJOR V>IA# FACTORS3 #A4 YR BACKGR.D2
#B4 YR APTITUDE2 & #C4 ! AM.T ( "T
AVAILA#4
  ,I W GIVE "S NUMB]S F MY EXP]I;E1 B N
UNTIL ,I EXP& ON ^! FACTORS4
  ,BACKGR.D3 ,>E Y FAMILI> )! >EA ": Y W
2 TRAVEL+8 ,D Y "K ": "S (! /REETS &
BUILD+S >E8 ,>E Y US$ 6! RO> (! C;Y1 !
HU% (! SUBURBS1 ! QUIET (! C.TRY8 ,D Y
"K T /REETS H "NS & NUMB]S1 & T BUILD+S
H NUMB]S1 B "S"TS H "NS8 ,D Y />T (F
FE>;L ( TRA6IC1 OR J UNFAMILI> ) X8 ,>E
Y FAMILI> ) TRA6IC &! WAY X MOVES S T Y
"K :AT 6EXPECT ( X8
  ,APTITUDE3 ,>E Y US$ 6F9D+ YR [N WAY1
OR H P ALW TAK5 Y PLACES & TOLD Y :5
6/OP & G8 ,LET ME M5;N ! TWO EXTREMES (
APTITUDE4
  ,! Y\? 0 NEWLY BL & 9 8 LATE TE5S4 ,HE
CAME F A RURAL SETT+ ": HE _H (T5 G"O ON
CROSS-C.TRY TREKS :5 HE 0 SI<T$4 ,"! 0 A
T\* ( Y\?;L REBELLION 9 HM4 ,X SEEM$ Z
?\< 8 NE$S WD 2 MET 0H&+ HM A CANE1 R1D+
HM ,RULE ,"O1 & GETT+ \ ( 8 WAY4 ,HE DID
G "? S"EAL LESSONS1 B HE N"E NE$$ 6REP1T
!M = PRACTICE4 ,HE 0 A NATURAL TRAVEL]4
  ,! LADY 0 NEWLY BL & MI4LE-AG$4 ,%E 0
F AN URBAN SETT+1 B 0 N US$ 6GETT+
PLACES AL"O4 ,%E 0 V -=TA# ) H] FRS 9 H]
LIV+ ROOM4 ,DUR+ LESSONS %E MADE !
N>R[E/ POSSI# 9T]PRET,N ( 9/RUC;NS & !N
PAUS$ 6ASK1 8,IS ? "R80 ,I CD N BR+ H]
6! RECOGNI;N ( H] [N RESPONSIBIL;Y
6JUDGE EA* SITU,N4 ,WE "P$ -PANY
4APPO9T$ ) EA* O!R4
  ,"! >E P :O WD ASSOCIATE "S ( ^!
"*I/ICS ) 2+ SI<T$ OR BL1 B ,I H MET P 9
BO? GR\PS ) ODD MIXTURES ( ^! "*I/ICS4
  ,! AM.T ( "T AVAILA#3 ,"T %D 2 M1SUR$
9 TWO WAYS3 ! NUMB] ( H\RS P] "D & WEEK1
&! NUMB] ( MON?S 6BE FILL$ ) ? S*$ULE4
,:5 ,I 2GAN Z A /UD5T 9 A RESID5TIAL
ORI5T,N C5T]1 ,I 0 SP5D+ FIFTE5 6TW5TY
H\RS A WEEK 9 GUID$ PRACTICE4 ,X "W$
WELL = ME4 ,I H "KN P :O MADE GD
PROGRESS ) F\R 6FIVE H\RS ( GUID$
PRACTICE 9 A WEEK4 ,X SEEMS 6ME T ANY?+
"U ?REE H\RS 9 A WEEK WD 2 GETT+ R ?94
,^! H\RS ,I AM TALK+ AB >E H\RS SP5T ON
SPECIFIC SKILL PRACTICE4 ,!Y _C 2 ! ONLY
"T SP5T US+ ! CANE4 ,AF ALL1 Y >E LE>N+
^! SKILLS 6USE !M 9 "EY"D LIFE1 S E "T Y
G \1 TAKE YR CANE & USE :AT Y H BE5
LE>N+4 ,Z ) ANY SKILL1 ! M Y USE X1 !
FA/] Y W IMPROVE4
  ,! NEXT "T Y S5D A LR1 GRAB YR CANE &
WALK D[N 6! CORN] MAILBOX4 ,F9D EXCUSES
6TAKE %ORT TRIPS "H & "!4 ,"! M/ 2 "S
PLACES Y WANT 6G1 S WALK "! ) YR CANE4
,TAKE ! CANE E "T Y G \4 ,X IS ? K9D (
3/ANT PURPOSE;L PRACTICE T LOCKS 9 !
LESSONS & SPE$S ! LE>N+ PROCESS4 ,IF !
ONLY "T Y USE YR CANE IS DUR+ ! ?REE
H\RS A WEEK Y H LESSONS1 & E O!R "T Y G
"S": X IS ON ! >M ( YR GUIDE1 Y >E N GO+
6LE>N H[ 6TRAVEL AL"O4
  ,"O ?+ T HELP$ ME A GRT D1L 0 2+ ) O!R
BL P :O TOOK %ORT TRIPS TGR4 ,WE WALK$
)9 ! BUILD+S1 ! GR.DS1 & \ = SNACKS4 ,"!
IS NO?+ L PE] PRESSURE1 SEE+ T !Y C D X
& HAV+ !M EXPECT Y 6JO9 !M4 ,>5'T Y J Z
SM>T Z !Y >E8 ,& IF Y >E / A 2G9N]1 Y
DON'T H 6BE 9 FRONT4
  ,I SP5T AN 9T5SIVE SIX WEEKS ON TRAVEL
& R1*$ A SATISFACTORY LEVEL ( SKILL4
,MO/ P ,I "K :O "W$ /1DILY = S"EAL H\RS
A WEEK1 PLUS \-(-CLASS 8J WALK+ >.D0
2CAME GD TRAVEL]S OR MADE Z M* PROGRESS
Z !Y 7 GO+ 6MAKE =A GD F.D,N 9 TRAVEL 9
TWO 6?REE MON?S4 ,T IS F />T+ Z A 2G9N]4
  ,C A ,BL ,P]SON ,T1* ,CANE ,TRAVEL8
  ,0! "T ,I TRI$ T1*+ O!R P1 ,I 0 A GD
TRAVEL]4 ,:]"E ,I LIV$1 ,I _H 6LE>N !
>EA1 B "! 0 LL DI6];E 9 DI6ICULTY F "O
PLACE 6! NEXT4 ,I CROSS$ N>R[ & WIDE
/REETS ) /RAI<T OR ANGL$ CROSS+S4 ,"! 7
TRA6IC ISL&S & MULTIPLE-PHASE TRA6IC
LI<TS ) M OR LESS TRA6IC4 ,I _H 6?9K AB
"S 9T]SEC;NS M ?AN O!RS1 B ,I W5T ": ,I
WANT$ 6G4
  ,:5 ,I PLANN$ LESSONS = 2G9N+ /UD5TS1
,I _H 63SID] ! DI6ICULTIES (! LESSON =
EA* "D1 & GRADU,Y 9CR1SE ! LEVEL (
*ALL5GE4 ,T 0 MY F/ SURPRISE Z A T1*]4
,I SC\T$ ! >EA ( EA* LESSON 6ID5TIFY
L&M>KS1 *ALL5GES1 & HAZ>DS4 ,HAV+ GIV5
R\TE 9/RUC;NS AT ! 2G9N+ (! WALK1 ,I !N
PREC$$ OR
FOLL[$ ! /UD5T4 ,"! 7 ALW C]TA9 PLACES
": ,I WANT$ 6BE NE>BY 6EVALUATE H[ !
/UD5T MET ! *ALL5GE (! "D4 ,! DI6ICULTY
= ANY T1*] IS "K+ :5 6LET ! /UD5T "W \ !
PRO#M AL"O1 & :5 6/EP 9 ) FUR!R 9/RUC;N4
,:AT WE DID 0 V BASIC4 ,AT F/ Y WALK UP
& D[N ! BLOCK1 !N >.D ! BLOCK4 ,Y CROSS
N>R[1 QUIET /REETS1 & !N BUSI] /REETS )
TRA6IC LI<TS4 ,Y "W ON %ORT R\TES !
/UD5T WANTS 6A3OMPLI%1 !N L;G] TRIPS4
,"S LESSONS >E J = PRACTICE1 B LAT] !Y
>E M & M 6MEET ! /UD5T'S NE$S4 ,Y "W
9DOORS1 \TDOORS1 & TAKE BUSES4 ,AF A
:ILE1 Y DON'T H 6REP1T LESSONS =
PRACTICE4 ,J 2 SURE T ! 9/RUC;NS >E
"U/OOD1 & S5D !M ON _! WAY4 ,MY T1*] 5D$
! C\RSE 0"W+ U "? A #C-A/B MILE HIKE >.D
A SEC;N (! C;Y4 ,X GAVE U /UD5TS A TRUE
S5SE ( A3OMPLI%;T 6BE A# 6MANAGE T TRIP
& :AT X _H 6(F]4 ,? SEEMS L ! "T =! T1*]
6SAY1 8,Y DON'T NE$ ME ANY M4
,3GRATUL,NS1 & GDBYE40
,NO ,"O ,HAS 6,D ,"EY?+ ,P]FECTLY

  ,"O (! ?+S WE ALL NE$ 6D IS 6F9D A
DOORWAY Z WE WALK 2S A WALL4 ,_M ( U
SLIDE ! CANE AL;G AT ! ANGLE (! FLOOR &
WALL UNTIL ! CANE HITS ! DOOR FRAME4 ,T
ME?OD "WS1 B ,I WANT 6PO9T \ XS W1K;SES4
,TRA6IC PATT]NS PUT U ON ! "R SIDE (!
PA?2 ! WALL IS (T5 ON \R "R2 & MO/ ( U
>E "R-H&$4 ,ALL T M1NS T WE >E N COV]+ !
BODY )! CANE1 ?US L1V+ U OP5 6A COLLI.N4
,I %IFT ! CANE 6! H& OPPOSITE ! WALL
6GIVE MYF AT L1/ "S COV]AGE1 9 CASE "!
IS "S?+ OR "S"O 9 ! WAY4 ,( C\RSE1 ,RULE
,"O SAYS ,I %D 3T9UE TAPP+ ! CANE F SIDE
6SIDE 6CLE> ! SPACE 9 FRONT ( ME1 B ) MY
/RIDE ( TWO-&-A-HALF FEET ,I W ONLY T\*
! WALL E FIVE FEET & MISS A N>R[ DOOR4
,"S"TS ,I SW+ ! CANE 9 ! H& AWAY F !
WALL & SLIDE ! NE> H& LI<TLY AL;G !
WALL4 ,? LA/ ME?OD MAY 2 ! BE/ -PROMISE4
  ,:5 ,I LOSE TRACK ( ": ,I AM :5 ,I AM
WALK+ >.D1 & ,I F9D "S"O ( :OM ,I C ASK
DIREC;NS1 MY F/ "Q IS1 8,:AT'S ! "N ( ?
/REET80 ,I MAY "K 5 6F9D MY [N WAY ) T
9=M,N4 ,IF ,I H N LE>N$ 5\<1 ,I ASK1
8,H[ D ,I GET TO '''80 ,IF ,I H 6ASK
ANO!R P]SON LAT]1 ,I ASK4
  ,I AM A POOR JUDGE (! 4T.E AH1D ( MY
CANE4 ,I T5D 6TAP ANKLES & TRIP P4 ,IF
,I WANT 6BE SURE1 ,I H 6GIVE MYF F> M
SPACE ?AN ,I RE,Y NE$4 ,X IS EV5 WORSE
IF ! P]SON AH1D IS US+ A CANE1 & ,I HE>
! TAP : IS FIVE FEET AH1D ( ": !Y >E4
  ,:5 ,I AM WALK+ DIRECTLY 2H A GUIDE Z
WE PASS "? A N>R[ SPACE1 ,I (T5 /EP ON !
HEELS ( MY GUIDE4 ,I "K Y >E SUPPOS$ 6BE
A# 6TELL : FOOT IS =W>D 0! SW+ (!
%\LD]S1 B ,I DON'T ALW COORD9ATE WELL4
,I H 6TAKE V %ORT /EPS 6KEEP F /EPP+ ON
!M4 ,X KEEPS ME \ ( /EP1 B X AL KEEPS MY
FEET (F ( _!S4
  ,I (T5 H ! BAD HABIT ( LETT+ MY H1D
NOD =W>D4 ,DIDN'T WE ALL H A "M :O SD3
8,KEEP YR H1D UP4 ,/& UP /RAI<T60 ,!
PRACTICAL R1SON = KEEP+ MY H1D UP IS
6AVOID US+ X Z A BUMP]4 ,! CANE IS
SUPPOS$ 6BE ! BUMP]4 ,X IS SUPPOS$ 6BE 9
FRONT ALL ! "T4 ,BETT] ! CANE %D GET
SC>S1 N ! BODY4
  ,"! >E "S "DS ,I ALW DRIFT 6! "R & O!R
"DS ,I DRIFT 6! LEFT4 ,IF PAY+ M ATT5;N
6! L9E ( TRA6IC OR 6! %OREL9E DOESN'T
HELP1 ,I BR+ MY CANE H& BACK 6! MI4LE (
MY BODY & 3C5TRATE ON KEEP+ ! SW+ (!
CANE EV5 F SIDE 6SIDE4 8,BACK 6BASICS0
/RAI<T5S ME \4
  ,! F/ TRIP 6ALM ANY PLACE USU,Y
9CLUDES LOTS ( EXPLOR,N & FALSE />TS4
,"S"TS T 3T9UES = S"EAL TRIPS UNTIL ,I
LE>N ! LOCAL GEOGRAPHY4 ,IF Y C LE>N
FA/] ?AN ,I C1 M P[] 6Y4
  ,"! IS "O SITU,N :5 ,I LE>N$ 6LOOK LO/
ON PURPOSE4 ,X IS A CR[D$ !AT] LO2Y DUR+
9T]MIS.N :5 ,I AM TRY+ 6F9D ! M5'S ROOM4
,I TAKE A FEW /EPS ? WAY & T WAY1 !N
PAUSE & LOOK >.D )A 3FUS$ EXPRES.N ON MY
FACE4 ,PRETTY SOON "S"O W (F] HELP1 AT :
PO9T ,I SU45LY REGA9 ALL MY TRAVEL
SKILLS4
  ,:AT ,AB ,O!R ,TRAVEL ,AIDS1 ,DOGS &
,ELECTRONICS8
  ,I T5D 6BE A PRACTICAL P]SON4 ,! RULE
IS3 8,IF X "WS = Y1 USE X40 ,I 0
9TRODUC$ F/ 6! CANE1 & 0 =TUNATE 9 T ,I
_H A GD T1*]4 ,I LE>N$ 6TRAVEL
9DEP5D5TLY1 & X HAS S]V$ ME V WELL4
  ,"! >E BL P :O TRAVEL WELL )A CANE &
^? :O TRAVEL POORLY )A CANE4 ,"! >E BL P
:O TRAVEL WELL )A GUIDE DOG & ^? :O
TRAVEL POORLY )A GUIDE DOG4 ,I W TELL Y
:AT ,I "K AB DOGS4
  ,ANY REPUTA# GUIDE DOG S*OOL 9SI/S ON
GIV+ TRAVEL TRA9+ AL;G )! DOG1 & T IS AN
ADVANTAGE4 ,CANES D N -E ) TRA9+ ATTA*$4
,A DOG C (F] -PANION%IP4 ,A DOG HAS
"S MEMORY ( XS [N & MAY HELP 9 3FUS+ OR
DANG]\S SITU,NS4 ,DOGS AL MAKE MISTAKES1
J L _! MA/]S4 ,"! IS TRU? 9 ALL ( ^!
PO9TS4 ,I L O!R P'S DOGS1 B ,I D N WANT
! RESPONSIBILITIES ( FE$+1 GROOM+1
CURB+1 & H1L? C>E T G ) [N+ A DOG4 ,IF X
IS "R = Y1 D X4 ,I ?9K X IS M IMPORTANT
T Y GET PLACES 3V5I5TLY & SAFELY ?AN H[
Y GET "!4 ,X IS ! HUMAN T MAKES !
DI6];E1 N ! CANE OR ! DOG4
  ,OV] ! PA/ S"EAL DECADES1 ,I H HE>D (
ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AIDS T 7 ATTA*$ 6!
CANE1 ATTA*$ 6! =EH1D1 OR HELD 9 ! H&4
,EA* "O GAVE (F XS [N S.D OR VIBR,N4
,EA* "O _H ADVANTAGES3 LOCAT+ OBJECTS AT
A 4T.E )\T T\*+ !M1 LOCAT+ OB/ACLES ABV
CANE LEVEL1 2+ LESS 8OBVI\S01 N ALW AN
ADVANTAGE4 ,!Y H -E1 & !Y H G"O1 &! CANE
&! DOG REMA94 ,I D N M1N 6SAY T "! W N"E
2 AN ELECTRONIC TRAVEL DEVICE T LA/S1 B
X SEEMS 6BE OV] ! HORIZON4 ,! CANE &!
DOG H BE5 "H = _M YE>S & >E / "H4