[Blind-rollers] Total independence

[dmgina]

Oh being Independent is the best thing.
Then you can come and go as you wish.
Yes even I burn my hands on the pans at times.
But life goes on.
Can a rehab help you in any way?

--Dar
www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
Every Saint has a past
Every Sinner has a future

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Laura Eaves" <leaves1 at carolina.rr.com>
To: "Blind wheelchair users list" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 8:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Total independence


> Hi Jen --
> I have been wondering the same thing.  I know a disabled person has to
> choose his/her battles carefully as there are some things that will always
> require assistance of some kind, human or electronic or mechanical -- but 
> I
> think the person has to determine that for him/herself and not have an 
> able
> bodied person try and dictate what needs to be done, primarily because 
> they
> can't always imagine what it would be like to be in that situation, or 
> would
> think that the only solution would be the easiest in their mind.
>
> I have been having this little battle with my mother, who who believes 
> that
> in my current state I ould never be able to be independent again, and she
> makes some compelling arguments, and I know I depend on her probably
> over-much.  But on the other hand she refuses to help me become more
> independent by showing me how to set the dials on the washing machine (she
> insists on doing all the laundry) and she thinks that because of the
> wheelchair in addition to my vision, I should never again try to cook. 
> (But
> again, when I was young, I had to go away to school and take a cooking 
> class
> myself to learn to cook, as she always thought I would burn myself on the
> oven at home...)
>
> She always also rminds me of all that needs to be done for me as she 
> indeed
> does "pick up the slack" as she puts it quite a lot.  I have gotten quite 
> a
> bit more dependent than I would like to be, but that is a 2-way street.
>
> The clincher for me is that there is not a satisfactory plan B in the even
> she dies (she is a healthy 83, but her health is failing in little ways 
> even
> now), and I really want to be prepared for anything once she is no longer
> around. I think at some point, she will cease to be able-bodied and we may
> both be dependent on outside assistance.  Don't get me wrong -- Mom and I
> have always been a team, albeit we don't agree on many things -- but back 
> in
> college I went out of my way to live on my own for 8 years, and half of 
> that
> time I was chair bound.
> The times I had to hire a live-in aide were the worst.  And that might 
> well
> be what it will take again as time goes on -- or as Mom is thinking, I
> should be in a hospital -- which bothers me the most.
>
> Anyway, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the matter.
> I would like to live at home with roommates and depend on hired assistance
> if that is possible. We are moving soon and so I have no idea what we will
> find.
>
> Waiting eagerly for your thoughts...
> Have a good day!
> --le
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jennifer Aberdeen" <freespirit328 at gmail.com>
> To: "Blind wheelchair users list" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 9:59 PM
> Subject: [Blind-rollers] Total independence
>
>
> Hi list,
>
> My Grandmother and I were just having a discussion about my mobility
> expectations being a blind wheelchair user. She doesn't think I could ever
> be independent being in my situation, and I truly believe that while I may
> not be able to achieve total independence, I can strive to be as 
> independent
> as possible. I keep trying to tell her that it can be done if only my
> mobility instructor would work on a route with me for more than one
> day...perhaps once or twice a week for a couple months would work. I would
> like to be able to take a stroll down the street without having someone
> attached to my hip all the time. I know there are some situations where it
> would be necessary to have someone with me, but I don't believe I have to
> submit to a life of dependence. The thought of accepting that makes me 
> very
> depressed. I thought maybe I would start a discussion about this and hear
> your thoughts on this topic.
>
> Jen
>
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>
>
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