Walking and Clocking

Watching Billy and Amber on Thursday was interesting.  In effect, they were being drilled in their perspective areas (walking straight and clocking the intersection).  Though I think it was really important to practice those important skills, I can see why you would only do that sort of teaching sparingly.  Both Amber and Billy were noticeably anxious at times when they were working so hard.  I’m not sure if they were really frustrated or simply trying really hard to focus, but they were both really wanting to improve their techniques.  I think, though, it’s important to drill skills from time to time because, well, they both learned something, and they showed better skills by the end of their lessons.

I’m still not a big fan of going downhill, and I think I’ve really figured out why.  First, I’m still a little gun shy about falling from my stair adventures.  When I walk downhill, I’m getting the proprioceptive information that approximates danger signals, and I’m overreacting to that information.  My wrist is tilted down as the cane drops, I feel my calves tighten when the slope changes, and I generally feel off balance.  I think it just takes practice to help work out the “danger” signals from the “you’re just walking downhill” signals.  Ah!  There’s so much to practice and learn to make someone a really comfortable traveler.