Wheelchair Pathfinder--Hope & Independence for the visually Impaired Person with Mobility Impairment &/or Hearing loss

November 10, 1996, seemed like a typical Sunday morning. Yet, amidst the hustle & bustle of preparing for church, I could tell something was different--a buzzing sound in my right ear that seemed to occur only with certain frequencies. By the time I was able to see a doctor two-and-a-half weeks later, nausea, vertigo, loss of balance, & ringing in the ear had also set in. My nightmare had begun.

The diagnosis of Meniere's disease was made in April 1997, despite the fact that neither the audiogram nor the cochleogram are consistent with that finding. No matter what the diagnosis, however, one thing was becoming increasingly clear. Blindness had already disabled part of my balance mechanism--made up by both visual input & stimuli from nerves in the inner ear. Now that the inner ear was failing also, my balance was no longer sufficient to travel with only the aid of a long white cane, &, in April 1997, I acquired a walker. Candy apple red in color, I quickly dubbed it Johnny Walker Red, looking for whatever humor I could find in what was seemingly becoming a hopeless situation.

I was working at a computer training facility with an older gentleman, who asked me how I was able to get around with the walker. I told him very carefully & with great difficulty. He informed me that there were laser devices for them now, & he knew that to be true because he was an electronic technician prior to losing his eyesight. I vowed that if this man were right, I was going to find that device.

Looking in a catalog of aides for the visually impaired, I came across a "laser cane" & wondered if they might also make devices for walkers. I called the organization to ask if they would provide me with the name of the manufacturer of the Laser cane--the lady refused. But I would not take "no" for an answer--this was simply too important--& I asked to speak with a supervisor. I explained to him that organizations like his were supposed to make the lives of disabled people easier, not harder, & he eventually relented & provided me with the name.

When I contacted Nazier Alli (pronounced Nazeer Ali) of Nurion Industries, in Paeoli, PA, the manufacturer of both the laser cane & the wheelchair pathfinder, I learned that 30 miles from me a mobility instructor was working with a client who had a wheelchair pathfinder. No one at the Texas Commission for the Blind seemed to be aware of it. I'm not saying the oversight was deliberate, because I don't believe it was. What I am saying is that, if people are to be helped to maximize their potential, then awareness of the existence of tools that can aid in this process is an absolute necessity. It is one of the reasons I am writing this.

It took a little over 2 years for me to finally get the pathfinder. Because of my hearing loss, an additional tactile unit was also provided. Originally, the vibrating tactile unit was worn around my neck. I only had it a week when the walker rolled down a step, snapping the cable. I persuaded Mr. Alli that, while a necklace tactile unit made good sense for those in a wheelchair, it could in fact be dangerous to someone who was upright. To his credit, he listened--& he worked with me to implement a solution. He asked if I had any design ideas, which I did. He requested a diagram. I showed my driver/reader how I wanted the unit designed, & he drew it for me. I am certain Mr. Alli did not make any profit from my unit, but we both learned much & I sincerely hope that my solution of housing the tactile unit beneath the walker's handlebars may help others.

The device is a combination of ultrasound & laser. It provides 4-12 feet of protection in front of the user, a foot of protection to either side, & detects dropoffs > 2 inches. Forward protection can be adjusted by a switch on the right sonar unit, with near range being 4 feet & far range being 12 feet. This is very helpful when traversing a crowded mall or store.

In fact, my first mobility lesson with the pathfinder was in a shopping mall, where I learned to gauge the size of obstacles, navigate around them, etc. When the vertigo & nausea are not too severe, I travel pretty much wherever I want. My dream of once more traveling independently has been realized.

I hope reading this helps someone. I can only say that, for me, even when the circumstances seemed hopeless, I could never allow myself to give up, & that was what ultimately made it possible for me to realize my dream. I am grateful for my husband Karl & my daughter Amanda who supported me through all of this. If you are going through tough times & do not have supportive family members, find friends or others who will support you. Whatever you do, don't give up & don't give in. The Bible says that all who ask receive, all who seek find, & to all who knock, the door will be opened, provided you're asking for the right things & for the right reasons. It may take time, & it may at times seem hopeless, but again the Bible says that all things are possible with God, to those who believe.

To find out more about the wheelchair pathfinder or the laser cane, contact: