Thank you for sharing Carson. You give me hope as it won't be long before
the tumors completely strangle my optic nerves and take the rest of my
vision. Take care,
On Tue, May 18, 2021 at 2:29 PM Carson Wood <carsonlwood@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Good Afternoon.--
I’m a person who started out having normal vision when I was very
young, slowly losing it along the way. I was told at 12 years old I’d be
blind at about age 50. I’m 60 now. The Doctor’s were correct.
There is a big difference between having enough sight to guide
direction and not having it.
I feel fortunate to have been able to do so many things while I had my
sight.
My life is far from over. I’m not bitter. This being said, I have my
days.
These experiences I write about are stepping stones I need to walk in
order to regain my cane skills and to re engage with the world.
I also write about such things to express what problems I encounter to
help others and to bring them to light.
*From:* wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> *On
Behalf Of *Kimberly Tarbox
*Sent:* Tuesday, May 18, 2021 2:14 PM
*To:* wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [wsmac] Re: Monday walking downtown.
Thank you for sharing this with us Carson. I have noticed that many of the
usual pedestrian pathways are now far less reliable than they used to be. I
still have some vision left for now, kudos to you for making your journey
safely despite these obstacles.
On Tue, May 18, 2021 at 1:54 PM Carson Wood <carsonlwood@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Yesterday, Monday, I walked downtown to the West end of Main Street to
get a haircut.
Mind you, the middle of this walk was reconfigured along with new
sidewalks being added, audible walk signals and truncated domes. I’m
assuming truncated dome is what the dots at curb cuts are called.
In Westbrook, the audible signals are not close to the curb cut unless
there happened to be a structure to attach them to. By what I can tell, the
arrows where the signal is activated do not point in the direction exactly
or sometimes even nearly to where the pedestrian needs to walk to cross the
street safely.
For a person like me who is totally reliant on the cane without being
able to use landmarks, this is a problem especially when the walk is a new,
unfamiliar walk. Also, when the signal is a distance from the curb cut as
many of these are, by the time the pedestrian gets back to the curb cut,
tried to line up with the direction they need to walk, sometimes, the
ability to cross has timed out as well as there not being a good way to
line up with the crosswalk. I’m told the truncated dome is not reliable to
line up to the crosswalk. It is just for the purpose of indicating an end
to the sidewalk.
The new reconfigured sidewalk is very cluttered next to the curb. There
wasn’t clear markings on the inside of the sidewalk that was constant
either to be depended on. For me this left me in no man’s land. I did the
best I could to follow the curb and listen to traffic to guide me. Due to
the clutter next to the curb, this was quite a task. I found myself veering
away from the traffic many times. One of these times I got messed up
smelling corn chips from the outdorr tables near the Frog & turtle at
Valley Square. Thankfully I didn’t upend anyone’s lunch!
There were quite a few people trying to help me along the way. I was
polite thanking them but telling them I needed to do this myself.
This walk was very challenging especially because I don’t believe I
have walked down to that end of town by myself since the days I still had
sight.
It was a beautiful day, I got my haircut, and, I made it home unscaved
and in good cheer.
This was only the third or fourth walk I’ve done solo since sometime in
2020.
The only way to get better at this business is to do it.
--
Kimberly Irish-Tarbox
(207)405-8243
Westbrook Safe Mobility and Access Committee
Chair 2021
wsmactarbox@xxxxxxxxx
