[Blind-rollers] Total independence

Thu Aug 30 16:38:27 CDT 2007

Well Dar, there is danger getting around in unfamiliar terrain with a chair 
and a cane -- sure it can be done but even walking blind people have been 
known to take a fall, and a less physically mobile person has that much more 
to worry about (and in my case, there are fragile bones and joints to worry 
about, making even otherwise simple falls much more dangerous.  I have 
broken bones just by stepping the wrong way when I was still walking, so it 
has been very dangerous)
And there are the usual blindness related challenges doing the chores around 
the house, that are exacerbated by other disabilities.  I don't think I need 
to elaborate. Is there a reason you are interested? I mean do you know 
someone who might benefit by the discussion on this list?
Just wondering. Comments welcome.
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "dmgina" <dmgina at qwest.net>
To: "Blind wheelchair users list" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 5:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Total independence

What do you say is Dangerous?
Then we can go from there.

--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 1:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Total independence

> Yes, the tendency to take the course of least resistance and let people
> around you do the chores as (1) it's easier and quicker for the disabled
> person, and (2) the able-bodied person actually has a hard time watching
> the
> disabled person try to do something him/herself, partly because it takes
> longer and partly becausae it looks dangerous -- and sometimes it is
> dangerous, depending on the activity.
> But given the proper training and practice and common sense, sometimes
> what
> looks dangerous to an AB person isn't really so.
>
> Comments?
> --le
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bettye Reeves" <birdree at yahoo.com>
> To: "Blind wheelchair users list" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 11:44 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Total independence
>
>
> Hi:  This is Birdie, Kassie's mom.  I am eager for her
> to read this and answer, then I might have more to
> add. We have really struggled with these issues, and I
> feel that the longer she lives with us the more
> dependent she becomes, even though it is not what she
> or her Dad and I want.  Many times it is just more
> convenient for us to do something rather than take the
> extra time for her to figure out how to do it. As she
> has written in previous e-mails, she is moving into a
> condo this week, and we have gone  htrough quite a
> process to get to this point. I'll ket her write what
> she wants to on this subject, and then I can fill in
> some from the family's perspective. I also could say a
> little about the mechanics of how we got various
> things authorized. Beleive me, Alabama is not a very
> progressive state when it comes to services, but we
> have gotten through alot of obstacles to set up a
> system that should allow her to live on her on. Best
> regards, Birdie.  P.S. I don't know if Kassie really
> wants me to read her e-mail contributions to this
> list. If she doesn't, I will unsubscribe to honor her
> privacy.  If I do that, rest assured I will remain
> interested in and supportive of this group.--- Laura
> Eaves <leaves1 at carolina.rr.com> wrote:
>
>> 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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>
>
> Bettye K. Reeves, MA, LPC
> birdree at yahoo.com
> 205-792-2898
>
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