First consider meeting with an Orientation and Mobility Specialist . This vision professional is trained to teach you safe techniques for walking in your community. These may require the use of a long white cane or using the sighted guide techniques for safe travel with friends and family members.

Once you have been safely cleared by an Orientation and Mobility specialist for independent travel in your community, try some of these tips:

1. Create a routine or route that you will consistently follow, so you can learn the particulars of the route such as sudden drop-offs, protruding foliage or interfering animals and even neighbors!
2. Try using a field track or even an indoor shopping plaza for your routine.? Many malls have 'mall walking' groups that meet before the stores open.
3. Walk with a sighted friend or family member who will help point out unusual safety issues along your route, such as construction sites, temporary objects in your path, or even other careless walkers.
4. Try joining a walking club or creating a walking group. Studies have shown that walking with others increases motivation and adds incentives for longer walks which obviously adds health benefits.
5. For hiking, it's a good idea to travel with another person to increase safety in case of an emergency.
6. Try a sensory walk or hike where the focus is on enjoying the environment through your senses and not on the distance to be traveled.

Websites with Walking and Hiking Information : [all links open in a new window]

• Senior Walking Clubs, such as the those listed with the Office of Healthy Aging under the Massachusetts Department of Public Health may also be available through your own state department on health or aging, or State Parks and Recreation
• American Volkssport Association: walking clubs and walking events
• Walking About website: Information on Walking Clubs
• The Walking Site
• Ramblers.org in the UK: Information about walking clubs in the United Kingdom and general information about walking