Feature Writer: Romeo Edmead
Get up and go!
By Romeo Edmead
When traveling long distance via bus, train, or plane, the blind are often told to sit and wait. Sometimes the very promise of assistance could be the exact reason you wind up missing your method of transportation. This harsh reality does not always derive from neglect, but many stations in major cities across the nation can not always respond in a timely fashion. For example, a couple of weeks ago I arrived at a major bus station in New York City and made my way to the information booth. After inquiring about purchasing a ticket, I was told I would have to go to another building. The gentleman also asked if I would like assistance getting there, and I accepted. He promptly made the call, but no one ever came. Eventually, I asked for directions and left on my own, easily making it to the gate just in time for the next departure. When speaking with others about travel philosophy, I discovered that the independent approach was the preferred method. Singer-song writer Selena Sang, who attends The Berklee College of Music, and travels for performance purposes, fashions herself as an aggressive traveler. Sang, a 24-year-old totally blind Boston resident, who also lived in California and New York, does not wait around. “I just go to the airport and start walking”, said Sang, “even if I am not familiar with it I don’t let that intimidate me.” She added that getting around the airport is not always the most difficult aspect, it is finding out her departure gate. If Ms. Sang took a little tactic from 26-year-old high partial Sarah Baebler, she may not have to ask for gate numbers anymore. According to Ms. Baebler, who is the Vice President of The Wisconsin Association of Blind Students (WABS), which is a division of the National Federation of the Blind, there is an easy way of finding gate numbers over the telephone. Baebler, a student at Madison College, who also organizes WABS tours said, “I just call 800-555-8355 and the automated system provides me with that information.” She continued by saying, “even if you don’t remember your flight number, you can find your gate number via your departure and arrival cities.” Certainly, there are a few things that can be done in order to facilitate traveling, but at the end of the day it comes down to courage. If you have some training and safety is not an issue, do not let fear dictate your life experiences. Sometimes you can get slightly lost, but of course that even happens to sighted people too. As always, share your knowledge with all of us, and maybe we can have a Readers Forum topic about travel tips. Difficult experiences are also important to mention, because it would be helpful to know how you overcame them. Finally, keep in mind that the public can be more helpful than we sometimes give them credit for. You don’t always have to depend on customer service, because I find that other passengers frequently ask me if I need help. When I am exiting plains and trains, they often offer assistance to baggage and or taxis if necessary.