homeBOUND FOR ADVENTURE Tracy Spohn

Planning and performing money transactions is a great skill which helps cultivate independent living among visually impaired students. In this episode, we emphasize self-advocacy as one's biggest asset for engaging with their community and living a rich life. 

Knowledge of addresses systems/patterns is important for staying oriented during navigation. It's also useful when learning the layout of streets within a city. In today’s episode we talk about the “anatomy” of an address, breaking down its components to explore what it all means!

Today we explore how to identify and analyze traffic light intersections. We also wrap up our discussion on intersections in general. Traffic light intersections can be different sizes and shapes, and include different features/systems. Today we discuss APS's, as well as break down the differences between timed and actuated systems.

In this episode we discuss the importance of identifying, analyzing, and crossing stop sign intersections accurately and safely (focus is on +-shaped intersections with 2-way traffic flow). We discuss where stop sign intersections are usually found, based on various environmental cues.

Action step: After listening to this episode, listeners are encouraged to identify the type of neighborhood they live in (either residential, rural, or commercial) and locate any stop sign intersections near their homes.

There are many different types of transportation available to both sighted and visually impaired travelers. In this episode we talk about 3 popular types: buses, taxis, and ride-share services such as Uber. We also interview an Uber driver. DISCLAIMER: Passengers need to be at least 18 years old to ride Uber alone.

The white cane is an iconic symbol for O&M and can serve various purposes. In this episode we break down the main functions of a white cane, including increased community understanding, safety, walking speed, and landmark/clue recognition.