Finding the Right Direction

When you’re out for a stroll – or you’re traveling to an appointment or event – a good sense of direction makes it easier to get where you’re going. And if your internal compass gets turned around, don’t worry – it happens to everyone. We’ve got some tips to help you get oriented and reach your destination, without vision loss getting in your way.

Let’s say you’re heading out for an appointment at a doctor’s office you’ve never been to. If you’ve already checked out the workshops on finding the address and finding the room number, you’ve probably got the directions to get there. Now you just need a few tips and tools to follow them.

One familiar technique for knowing which way to go is to compare the direction you’re facing to the numbers on a clock. Twelve o’clock is straight ahead, 3 o’clock is 90 degrees to your right, and so on. This method is helpful for everything from turning a knob on the stove to finding food on your plate, avoiding objects in your path, and walking across the lobby.

When someone offers you directions, it can be helpful to ask them to use clock positions to make things clear. If they say, “In 20 feet, there’s a turn to the left,” you might ask whether it’s a turn to exactly nine o’clock.

Clock directions come in handy especially when the streets and hallways are not laid out in a 90-degree grid, or when you’re walking across a room or an open space. For example, someone might tell you the elevator is across the lobby, at 11 o’clock. Or when you reach the top of the stairs, the door will be at 2 o’clock. That helps you understand right where you’re headed.

Sometimes, knowing the compass direction is the best way to get clear, exact instructions. No matter how many twists and turns you take, north is still north. And if you know the front door of your doctor’s office is on the east side of the building, you can make sure you arrive at the reception desk and not a back hallway.

If compass directions don’t come naturally to you, don’t worry. There are easy-to-use devices and plenty of smartphone apps to help – and we’ll talk about those in a minute.

But you can also practice working with compass directions without any equipment, beginning with your own home or office. If you remember the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, you can figure out which way your building faces. When you head out the door, you know what direction you’re pointed – and once you start walking, you can keep track of what direction you’re turning.

And here’s a handy way to orient yourself when you’re inside: If you’re in the United States or anywhere in the northern hemisphere, remember, the sun shines into your south windows during the day.

To get familiar with the compass directions in your home or office, a simple map can help. Depending on your vision, you might prefer one with bold lines and large labels for north, south, east and west. Or you might prefer a map with tactile highlights, like yarn or straws, buttons or sandpaper – and even braille labels.

Another way to practice working with compass directions is to ask a friend or family member to write out the directions for a simple destination in large print or braille – using north, south, east and west. Going through the directions in your mind – and then walking the route – is a great way to improve your navigation skills. And if you say the direction out loud each time you make a turn, that can help anchor the thought in your mind.

Once you complete the route, going the opposite way to get back to your starting point – first in your mind, and then with your feet – is good practice, too.

It’s also handy to keep track of compass directions when you’re riding in a vehicle. That way, you know which direction you’re headed when you get out of the car or step off the bus or train. And for any type of trip, some handy technology can help.

If you’re used to using a maps app or GPS app on your smartphone, you know how handy they can be. They can let you know what direction you’re moving or facing, and they can give you turn-by-turn directions to reach an address or a point of interest. Some can even tell you where you are and what’s around you.

There are specialized apps for people who are vision-impaired, too. These apps provide even more helpful instructions, like how to navigate from the parking lot to the front of the building, and where the door is located.

With some, you can even create a beacon that uses sound to tell you when you’re getting closer to your destination. Check out the Resources section for information about a variety of helpful apps.

A digital talking compass is another way to use technology to get your bearings. You simply point the device and press the button to hear which direction you’re headed. You can find information about these in the Resources section, too.

Depending on who you ask, where you’re going, and how you’re traveling – directions can be described in many different ways. And they’re not always s simple as turning right and left. But with a little practice, knowing which way to go is a skill you can build and use every day – and these tools and techniques can help.

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