Finding the Right Address

Whether you’re heading out to an appointment or meeting up with a friend – it always feels great to know exactly how to get there. But sometimes you’re looking for a new address – and the street names and numbers aren’t always easy to find.

Let’s take a look at some useful tips and tricks that can help you get where you’re going, no matter your level of vision. We’ll talk about some new techniques – and work with some skills you already have.

Say you’re meeting up with a friend for coffee – at a place you’ve never been to. If you have a smart phone, you probably already know how handy it can be for giving directions. You can find out how to get somewhere just by asking a question. And your phone can respond with spoken instructions to guide you, turn by turn.

When you’re asking your smartphone for directions, you can say the street address, like 300 Lincoln Avenue, or an intersection, like Lincoln Avenue and Third Street. Or you can use a business name, like Java Joe’s Café. Keep in mind that it helps to use the complete address – including the zip code – whenever you can. That way you’ll avoid getting directions to the wrong Java Joe’s – or to Lincoln and Third in a nearby town.

Of course, even with a smart phone, sometimes the directions aren’t accurate enough. And in some places, buildings can block the signal. So let’s look at some other ways to get to the right address.

One great source of information is to call the place ahead of time, and ask for directions. If you tell the person on the phone you’re visually impaired, that can help you both focus on the details that’ll be most useful to you.

Besides the address, ask about the cross-streets nearby, and whether the building is near the corner or closer to the center of the block. And if it’s helpful to you, confirm whether it’s on the north, south, east or west side of the street.

If you have low vision, it’s also helpful to know what the building looks like from the sidewalk, and whether it looks different from the other buildings nearby. Is it a different color? Or set back further from the street? And ask about any landmarks or objects that stand out, like a bench near the entrance, or a big glass door.

While you’re on the phone, you might also tell the person when you’re arriving, so they can watch for you. This is especially helpful for a doctor’s appointment or a meeting.

Another way to plan your trip is to create a large print or tactile map to help you get familiar with the area. Start with a map you find online, and enlarge the section you need. You can print it out, and then highlight your route with high-contrast colors. Keep the map simple, and include only the details you need – like intersecting streets and helpful landmarks.

You could also ask a friend or family member to add some tactile highlights to the map with household items such as yarn or straws, buttons, or sandpaper – and even labels from a braille labeler.

Another great idea to get where you’re going is to ask a family member or friend to make a recording of directions to take on your trip.

Their voice will guide you along the way – and they can share any helpful reminders about landmarks you’ll pass – including those with distinctive sounds, like a fountain or a playground. If you’re not used to using sound as a location clue, you might be surprised how helpful it can be!

Now, let’s take look at finding the street address on the building.

If you understand the numbering system in your town, it’s easier to figure out where a specific address will be. Remember that numbers on one side of the street are even, and numbers on the other side are odd.

In many places, the odd addresses are on the north and west sides of the street, and the even addresses are on the south and east sides. If that’s how your town works, you can remember North-Odd-West, or N-O-W – and South-Even-East, or S-E-E. “Now” and “see.” Of course, if the numbers are different where you live, you can create your own little trick to remember.

Remember that street numbers advance as you walk in one direction – which helps you know when you’re getting close. And the hundreds usually change when you cross a street – which helps you understand how many blocks you still have to go.

These tips help you locate an address without having to look for every number along the way. But at some point, you still need to find a number, a sign, or a street name – and they’re not always in an obvious place.

Street names are usually posted on poles where the streets cross. But in some places, they may be attached to the building. The names are usually about 7 or 8 feet above ground level – but they may be higher. And the same system is often in place for an entire area or neighborhood – so you can look in the same general place at each intersection.

Numbers can be in a variety of places, so here are some tips on where to look. For a business, the street number might be included on a sign with the business name – or it might be on the front door, over the front door, or painted on a window.

If you’re looking for an address in a residential neighborhood, street numbers might be painted on curbs or located on mailboxes. Or they might be somewhere near the front entrance or the garage door.

When you want to read signs that might be far away, bringing a monocular with you is a great way to get a closer look. Check out our workshop on Monoculars and Telescopes in the Magnifiers series to learn more.

A compass is another handy tool to bring along – and there are digital compasses that have audio readout. These are great when you need to orient yourself to a map – or to get your bearings after you exit a bus or come out of a subway station. For more tips on using compass directions, check out the workshop on finding the right direction.

Sometimes, the easiest way to get directions is to ask someone nearby for a little guidance. Let them know what type of details would be helpful. For example, ask how many blocks away the building is, and what streets you’ll be crossing. If you use the name of the business, like Java Joe’s – or even Java Joe’s on Lincoln and Third – that makes it easier for people to help you arrive at exactly the right place.

When someone gives you directions, repeat them back. This gives you a chance to walk through them in your mind and ask about anything you might not understand. And saying things out loud is a great technique for remembering details, when writing them down isn’t practical.

You can also ask for landmarks they might not have thought about – like statues or fountains, or a bike rack near the door. For more information on using landmarks, check out Hadley’s Landmarks and Clues workshop.

With a few new skills and a little practice, finding that coffee shop – or a friend’s house, an office building, or any other address you need – is easier than you might think.

As always, contact a learning expert if you have questions or your own tips to share. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience, and practice and you'll get there.