This afternoon, we were in the midst of a massive wind storm and the rain just didn’t stop.( 2 degrees with the wind chill factor it sure felt like -15). While I was waiting outside my kids school (and ofcourse cursing the weather), I noticed this mother standing in the cold rain and getting wet.
I have seen her every single day, waiting by the side of her child’s class, holding on to her guide dog.
I just couldn’t understand why she was not using an umbrella or even the hood of her jacket. I couldn’t bear to see her getting wet, so I walked up to her and asked her, if I could hold my umbrella over her head and she nodded her head. As we talked, I found out that she can’t use an umbrella or a hat or even the hood because the sound of the rain falling on the hat/umbrella makes her disoriented. Being blind, she needs to hear the sounds to be able to walk back home.
Does any of you know any material that is water proof and sound proof?Thanks
Sarah
Daughters of Tomorrow
I tried googling on navigating during rains/snow for blind people, but I haven’t come up with anything useful yet… will keep looking.
Just throwing it out there – might or might not make sense. Would a waterproof bandana work? Something that leaves the ears exposed but covers most of the head, so that her sense of hearing is not as compromised?
Goretex (PTFE) is a material that comes close to it as far as properties are concerned.. But awfully expensive, used as biocompatible material in surgery.. I can’t imagine a hat or umbrella made of this!!
pixelchick: we have tried the plastic bandana.. but the pitter-patter of the rain falling on the bandana is making her even more disoriented..
Madhavan Kutty: Called the company that makes goretex jackets(500$ for one jacket)..But unfortunatly, though the jacket is water proof and breathable, the rain will make a sound when it falls on the jacket. so no luck there either.