Keep strong.
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of
Kimberly Tarbox
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2021 3:49 PM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wsmac] Re: Monday walking downtown.
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
<mailto: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 <mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > On Behalf Of
Kimberly Tarbox
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2021 2:14 PM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto: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
<mailto: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 <mailto:wsmactarbox@xxxxxxxxx>
--
Kimberly Irish-Tarbox
(207)405-8243
Westbrook Safe Mobility and Access Committee
Chair 2021
wsmactarbox@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:wsmactarbox@xxxxxxxxx>
