Winter Woes
Growing up in Northern BC, I have had tons of experience with the struggles that come along with the winter weather conditions. Namely ice, plenty of snow, and temperatures ranging from minus 5 through minus 40. To most people living in the Lower Mainland, this way of living either sounds awful and they all think we’re crazy, or they would like to try it, but only for a day. For those of us living up North, this was simply how it is in winter and we make the best of it. However, my visual impairment made winter difficult for a few reasons starting with the most important issue - cane travel.
Because of my visual impairment, navigating around independently in the winter was at times very challenging due to the lack of people shovelling sidewalks. It made using my cane very difficult because it would get stuck with every movement and my landmarks were instantly gone. As many of us can understand, having our important landmarks disappear is completely scary and confusing, especially when it’s due to something that you can’t control like the weather. Having to pull your cane out of the snow almost every step you take is also very irritating. So I’ve compiled a few tips that might help those who are not used to winter conditions manage.
Tip 1: Always Shovel Sidewalks!
This is very important, whether it’s in front of your house, in front of a business, along paths, or on street crossings (especially curbs). Some of this is the responsibility of the owner of the building and some is on the City. But regardless, having a clear snow free sidewalk and curbs to walk on is much easier and more importantly safer for visually impaired people as well as everyone else.
Tip 2. Salt The Icy Spots!
Another major issue relating to traveling in winter is the ice. Naturally with snow also comes ice, and I was always that kid who slipped on the ice because I couldn’t see it. Falling on ice hurts equally as bad as falling on concrete, and can be more dangerous because it’s slippery. Nobody wants to fall on the ice, but when you literally can’t see the shiny spot on the ground there is more of a risk of stepping on the ice and falling. So again, whether it’s at your house or near a business, always salt the sidewalks and stairs leading to the building. It provides more traction when walking and therefore less chance of slipping.
Tip 3. Prepare Your Guide Dog!
A third situation in winter mainly for those with Guide Dogs is an added challenge for the dog as well as Guide Dog handler in these conditions. If your Guide Dog is like mine, all they want to do is go play in the snow, so there is another distraction to work through. Like cane travel, when the sidewalks and streets are covered in snow and ice it can make it more difficult for both you and your dog to work because landmarks are gone, and the dog might have a hard time seeing the edge of the sidewalk or curb. The salt which keeps us from slipping on the ice can actually hurt the dog’s paws if they are on it long enough. Depending on how short your dog’s fur is or how much it’s snowing, the dog might get extra cold and wet. You can get little booties for the dog’s feet and a raincoat or winter coat to help make your dog more comfortable. If you don’t have a lot of experience working your dog in the winter or simply aren’t comfortable with the idea, perhaps stay home until conditions clear up, or get assistance from family and friends. However, Guide Dogs are very smart and remember the places you have gone to before which might actually make it easier to travel in winter.
Tip 4. Protect Your Eyes In Winter!
A final issue for those with visual impairments in winter is the very bright, obnoxious, white sparkly snow. Many people with visual impairments tend to have light sensitivity that makes looking at any kind of bright light painful. In winter the snow is pure white and when the sun reflects off of it into your eyes, it can seriously hurt. The winter sky can take on a greyish white hue that blends with the snow, making everything look the same and is all simply too bright and difficult to look at. To help ease the painful light sensitivity you can wear sunglasses and even a hat with a brim to help keep your eyes protected from the harsh whiteness of winter.
I have experienced all of these situations and issues first hand, and all of these tips I have personally tried which have proven very useful. Especially since I went from low vision to fully blind, a cane user to a Guide Dog handler, and moved from my small northern town to the Lower Mainland. No matter where you are in winter in Canada, you will at one point in your life experience these issues, and possibly even more so if you’re visually impaired. I encourage you to be cautious and take these tips into consideration during the winter months, but also enjoy the opportunity of having a snowy winter. I believe it is important for visually impaired people to have the experiences and skills that come along with this kind of weather, and it honestly can actually be fun (just not at minus 40).
by Jill