A Blind Japanese Riding a Bicycle Using Echolocation - 全盲でもエコーロケーションを使って、自転車に乗れた！

I wound never, ever thought I would ride a bicycle again! Since I started learning echolocation in 2011, I dreamed about riding a bicycle like I used to be able to. I've kept telling my dream to my instructors, Juan Ruiz, Brian Bushway and Daniel Kish, and finally the time has come!After a little bit of practise, I managed to ride a bike for about a block, with echolocation! Oh damn, I felt great! It was all possible after Brian gave me a training that I keep walking straight while turning my head around, searching for objects on my right or left, constantly scanning, and Daniel who helped me strengthening my tongue clicks by mirror exercising, brushing up echolocation skills! Now I'm one-step closer to the normal people! 全盲になってから夢見ていたこと、それは、一人で自転車に乗ること。それをエコーロケーションがかなえてくれました！ アメリカの住宅街を、車をぬうようにして走れたのは、前方と横をスキャンするテクニックを教えてくれたブライアンと、クリック音をチューニングしてくれたダニエルのおかげで、エコロケーションにさらに磨きをかけることができました。 絶対日本ではできないことだけど、これで健常者の世界に、一歩近づくことができたような気がします。

Mirror Exercise

Along the regular echolocation training, Daniel give me a special training, noticing my tongue click can be keener and sharper. This is so-called Mirror Exercise, finding a surface, like a house, that gives good echo, then I click and walk backwards, walking away from the object. If I don't hear the echo, reposition myself and find the echo then keep backing up until I can't hear my click anymore, realising how far I could go.
Here's the photo of us clicking and backing up.

今度のトレーニングは、ダニエルが担当します。舌打ちエコーロケーションで重要なのは、鋭く、遠くに聞こえるクリック音です。それで、この訓練。建物の近く煮立ち、クリックしながら、後ろに下がります。反響音が聞こえなくなったら、角度をかけて、反響を探します。本当に聞こえなくなったら、かなり遠くまで離れている事に気づきました。
この写真は、３人でクリックしながら、建物から放れるように、バックしているところです。

Panel Exercizing

Brian is giving the panel exercise to me, holding something around me, letting me where it is, what kind of material it is, and what it is!

エコーロケーションの練習です。頭の回りに何かをかざして、どこにあるのか、どんな質感か、どんな形かを想像し、答える練習です。

Daniel Brian and Me

The echolocation training with Brian and Daniel.
今回は、全会費引き続き、ダニエルとブライアンに教えてもらいます。

Reuniting with Daniel Kish

I managed to get to Daniel's house by myself! He and other coaches will work with me for follow-up echolocation and perceptual mobility training, and thank Daniel for hosting me for my stay in Long Beach!

Sleeping in Full Flat Seat in ANA Business Class Cabin

I'm not in a coffin, I'm just sleeping in a new ANA's business class Staggard seat with a large pillow and a pad! 今回は、ANAのビジネスクラスでロサンゼルスへ。スタッガードシートは千鳥配列で、全席窓側、全席通路側はいいのですが、ライフライフラットになると、必然的に後ろの人の足が、横のサイドテーブルの下に来る訳で。

Beef Steak Dinner in the Air

Cabin attendants gladly explained what's on table, so a full course meal in ANA Business Class is not difficult for a blind passenger.

ANA First Suite Lounge

I'm ready for an another Echolocation training in Long Beach this summer! Flying to Los Angeles with involuntarily upgrade to ANA business class.

Firefly Live in Akizuki ほたるライブ in 秋月

Darrell came to my hometown Akizuki to play some songs. A bunch of fireflies complimented the gig. Thanks for your wonderful music Darrell, and hope you'll come back again!

ダリルが、私の地元秋月で、ライブ演奏をしてくれました。ほたるが舞う中での演奏、とてもすばらしかったです。またこのような機会があると言いな。こんな田舎に来て演奏してくれて、ありがとう、ダリル。

Me At Oceanside Pier, Oceanside California

The loooong, world-famous(?) Oceanside Pier!

Me with Apple Pancake

It's huge!

ロスで出会ったアップルパンケーキ、とにかくでかい。でも、全部食べましたよ。

Douglas College

This is where I started 20 years ago.

２０年前は、ここの留学生でした。

Me at Oceanside Pier

Visiting the world famous Oceanside pier before leaving.
友達の家族を訪ねて、カリフォルニア州南部のOceansideへ。それにしてもこの桟橋、長いなら。

Garrett's Popcorn

Since I could not get some in Harajuku, I went to Chicago to get some!
原宿では長蛇の列で練習ができなかったので、本場シカゴに行ってゲットしました。

Inviting Darrell to Akizuki Project

Darrell came to Akizuki, and we visited Mizunone Tsuchinone. Does anyone smell the sound of the gig here?
ダリルが秋月に来ました。皆そして水の音土の音でお話ししました。さん、何か臭いませんか？

Farewell!

Thank Brian for echolocation and perceptual mobility training, and thank Daniel for hosting me for a few nights! My 4th echolocation brush-up training is over, and I shall start rolling!
I'm releaved to hear my echolocation skill has improved over time, and I walk much faster than the first time 3 years ago!

無事4回目のエコーロケーションの訓練が終了しました。回を重ねるたびにエコーロケーションも上達し、、動きが早くなってきたと、Danielに褒められました。
さて、これからどこに行こうかなぁ。

Taking a Break, Having Lunch with Brian

Since it's past lunchtime while we are passing by Johnny Rebs, we decided to change our goal to "finding Johnny Rebs" instead of "Finding a Park" We went through how to find the entrance, feeling the surface while clicking my tongue and observe the echo, and finding the surface and echo change if I pass that place. The training with Brian involves more on cane technique, combined with echolocation, and he was great describing how totell what's around!

After successfully finding the entrance of Johnny Rebs, we deserve for some lunch!

本当は公園まで9年後しに行くはずだったのに、お腹が空いてきたので、行き先を変更して、いつものレストランへ。そこにたどり着くまでに、エコーロケーションと白状を使って通り道にある色々な物を確認しながら歩いていきました。下を鳴らして音を聞き、足と杖で地面の状態を探りながら歩きます。エコーロケーションで建物や街路樹などを調べ、杖で触って確認します。もし目的地を通り過ぎたとしても、エコーロケーションと触覚でそれにいち早く気づき、すぐ戻る訓練もしました。
無事レストランにたどり着いたので、Brianと昼食。この後、帰りの訓練が待っています。

Let's Go!

After ample amount of lecture, rather, talking, we started to head out. Brian is such an easy-going coach, and he repeatedly tells me to do the same task until I get better. After going through drills, my confidence builds up fairly quickly!

一通りの説明が終わったところで、いざ、出発！Brianは、何度も繰り返し教えてくれるので、すごく勉強になり、道路の方向にかなり自信がつきました。

Brian Drawing a Map

What Daniel and Brian does and Juan doesn't do is drawing a map on my hand or on my back when describing the direction of streets and intersection. My mobility coach in Japan does the same, so this is pretty much a de facto standard for mobility coaches around the world to use this method.


BrianとDanielは、方向を示すときに、絵合中に地図を書いてくれます。日本での歩行訓練の時も、訓練士の方は同じことをしてくれます。でも、Juanは、これを一同もしてくれなかったなあ。

Confused?

Wonder what he's thinking... Wondering whether he successfully made me understand, or he was wondering how many photos I was taking while he was giving me a lecture??? I gave him a warning that I would take many pictures, though!

Perceptual Mobility and Echolocation Training with Brian

Brian is giving me an instruction of how to position myself on the street. He explained most paved streets have so-called "Street camber" that has elevated center and gradually goes down towards the edge of the street, which is useful for the blinds to keep on mind where on the street we are and how to straighten out way towards the curb.

Brianとの歩行訓練は,、道路の構想についての確認から始まりました。道路はかまぼこ形をしていて真ん中は盛り上がって、道路の端は下がっています。これを使って。道路での立ち位置や。道路の横断するときの方向の確認が取れます。さて、日本でも通用するんでしょうか？

A Blind Selfy Photo with Daniel and Brian

I'm back in Long Beach for Spring 2014 for an another follow-up echolocation training! Since Juan is out of the country, I met up with an another echolocation and perceptual mobility coach at World Access for the Blind, Brian Bushway for the first time!

今回ロサンゼルスでのエコーロケーションのトレーニングは、Brian Bushwayに習うことになりました

Age Ice Matcha at Japadog in Vancouver

It's a dessert with green tea flavour ice cream on top of fried hot dog bun!
バンクーバーで見つけた変な食べ物、Japadog! これは年とったアイスではなく、油であげたトドック万のバンズに、抹茶アイスクリームを載せたものです。

Reuniting with a Visually Impaired Friend in Vancouver

Reuniting with a visually impaired friend in Vancouver. It has been 2 years since we hang out last time! 春のバンクーバー、視覚障害者の友達、フランス系カナダ人のフィリップと再会。お互い目の症状が悪化したなあ。

A Wonderful Company at Daniel's House

A photo with Juan Daniel and Daniel's friend, Jules. It was so wonderful to spend some time together, for echolocation and MacOSX migration!
Looking forward to meeting again in future!

The Blind MacBook Pro User Trio

After a couple of days of echolocation brush-up training, I was showing how to use MacOSX with VoiceOver. Setting up the blind-unfriendly Mail app as well as finder settings. Still, they feel more comfortable with Windows 7 and JAWS, but their transition have just begun!

Dinner at Los Eduardos

Our favourite Mexican restaurant, to celebrate the echolocation training day is over!

Taking a Break at Johnny Rebbs

After some good tongue-clicking echolocation exercise, we went to Johnny Rebbs for a hearty breakfast!

Echolocation Training with Daniel and Juan

The echolocation Master, Daniel and Juan offered me a brush-up training. Right here, I was told to click at a building's alcove and walk backwards until I don't hear my click sound. I guess I was as far as 250 yards until I can't hear my click sound. Not too bad, but not strong and keen enough!

After this, we walked around the neighbourhood and they told me my perceptual mobility and echolocation has improved since I received my first training 2 years ago!

Daniel Juan and Me with MacBook in a Patio

Daniel Kish and Juan Ruiz exploring with Apple MacOS, I am help them make a transition. Though Windows and screen reader solution is good, I prefer MacOS X and its VoiceOver. Since Apple supports visually impaired and the blind with accessibility features. like VoiceOver, built right into MacOS, the environment for the blind computer users has improved dramatically!We hope Apple won't drop support for VoiceOver and many other accessibility features, even if Apple shareholders push Apple to pursuit the profitability over accessibility.

Juan Ruiz and Me

Juan is an another echolocation instructor of mine.
I tried to shoot our selfy shot with my iPhone's front camera. Did I get us in a frame?

Visiting Daniel Kish the Echolocationist

A Photo with Daniel Kish, one of my echolocation instructors in December 2013.
A couple of years ago, I visited him for echolocation training. This time, one day of echolocation brush-up training nad have fun for the rest of days. Thank Daniel for hosting me for several days!