[Blind-rollers] hello.

Thu Jul 26 23:24:14 CDT 2007

Hello,
One of the three companies that I spoke with wouldn't work with me  
because I'm blind. Guess what, they didn't get my business.
Dan
On Jul 26, 2007, at 7:09 PM, Jennifer Aberdeen wrote:

> Dan, when my physical Therapist called the wheelchair vender to  
> make an
> appointment, the scheduler on the other end asked her how I was  
> going to use
> the power chair if I'm blind, lol.
>
> I hope the person who comes to assess me doesn't ask me the same  
> thing.
>
> Jen
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dan" <JazzyDan at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "Blind wheelchair users list" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 9:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] hello.
>
>
>> Hello,
>> Have I ever fell over? In the wheelchair, no. In fact, honestly, I
>> feel so much safer when using the wheelchair than when I'm walking
>> when I can while inside the house. While I was sure the wheelchair
>> would help me, I must say that that is really an understatement. I
>> feel more like getting out now than I have for many years.
>> I don't regret having the wheelchair at all.
>> In terms of how I do it, I don't really know how to answer that. I
>> guess I decided that I was going to give it everything I could to
>> succeed with the chair. Other than the representative from the
>> company who put the chair together and explained it to me, I never
>> had any formal training. Even the nurse that came to approve my using
>> the chair said that he wouldn't know where to start with teaching a
>> blind person how to use a wheelchair. I just don't know how to
>> explain it to you. I guess that it's one of those things that is
>> understood at a visceral level, I don't know. Several people have
>> asked similar questions and I don't really know how to answer them,
>> other than this. Come along with me for a few blocks and see.
>> So Dar, I would really encourage you to look at the situation if you
>> need to. Several of the wheelchair manufacturers and dealers offer
>> free in-home test drives. This might be one way for you to see first
>> hand how you feel about it. Also, perhaps others on the list might be
>> willing to give you some other suggestions on how you might go about
>> looking into it. And I'm sure you're not the only person considering
>> a wheelchair as a possible solution to any problems you might be
>> having. It sure has improved my life!
>> HTH,
>> Dan
>> On Jul 26, 2007, at 6:21 PM, dmgina wrote:
>>
>>> Never take it personal,
>>> I just want to know how you do it.
>>> Have you ever fallen over yet?
>>> I hope it doesn't happen.
>>>
>>> --Dar
>>> www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
>>> Every Saint has a past
>>> Every Sinner has a future
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Dan" <JazzyDan at sbcglobal.net>
>>> To: "Blind wheelchair users list" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 5:26 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] hello.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>> Where I live we have bike paths, sidewalks with curb cuts, in most
>>>> places.
>>>> Where the bike paths exist, sometimes right along the road, I take
>>>> them. Sometimes I use the sidewalks. Other times I trail the  
>>>> edge of
>>>> the road in places where there are no walks.
>>>> Where I worked, the whole crazy campus was on nothing but hills  
>>>> and I
>>>> do mean hills. I was able to safely control the wheelchair both on
>>>> going up or down hills. This was also one of the reasons my doctor
>>>> thought a power chair would work better than a manual chair. The
>>>> biggest problem I faced there was all the new construction and
>>>> revamping of older buildings that was and is still going on. For at
>>>> least 5 more years.
>>>> As far as I'm concerned, I can safely use a chair just about  
>>>> anywhere
>>>> my dogs could have safely worked.
>>>> Later,
>>>> Dan
>>>> On Jul 26, 2007, at 2:01 PM, dmgina wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Dan,
>>>>> I want to learn as much as I can.
>>>>> I still don't know how you folks know what to do if you have an
>>>>> area that
>>>>> has a step down curb.
>>>>> You go up to the curb and back to the alley?
>>>>> am I correct on this one?
>>>>> but I would be afraid I would hit my face going on the side of the
>>>>> curb, and
>>>>> I would be afraid to be in the street.
>>>>> I want to learn as much as I can, so if I am with the same
>>>>> situation I know
>>>>> I can still travel.
>>>>> I also would like to see the list encourage the Medical.
>>>>> But to make sure you can control your chair down a hill.
>>>>> things like this.
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>> --Dar
>>>>> www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
>>>>> Every Saint has a past
>>>>> Every Sinner has a future
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Dan" <JazzyDan at sbcglobal.net>
>>>>> To: "Blind wheelchair users list" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 2:15 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] hello.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello Dar,
>>>>>> This is Dan.
>>>>>> I know that some people like going really fast and that's OK.
>>>>>> Personally, my chair does just under 4 MPH and that's about as  
>>>>>> fast
>>>>>> as I normally walked while using a cane before switching to the
>>>>>> wheelchair. I am happy at this speed. No it's not the 11 MPH that
>>>>>> some units can run at, but it works for me.
>>>>>> However, having said that, sometimes I wish it ran around 5 MPH
>>>>>> when
>>>>>> crossing streets. But even at that things have worked real well
>>>>>> for me.
>>>>>> You know, it's really interesting to read about and discuss  
>>>>>> all the
>>>>>> different things that those of us who use wheelchairs face every
>>>>>> day.
>>>>>> Also, in time, I hope this list will really prove to be a good
>>>>>> place
>>>>>> for tips and other worthwhile advice.
>>>>>> One other thing that I would like to say is this. Contrary to  
>>>>>> what
>>>>>> some might think, and that includes professionals in the field,
>>>>>> blind
>>>>>> people really can successfully use wheelchairs and it really
>>>>>> helps us
>>>>>> just as much as it'd help any other person needing a manual or
>>>>>> power
>>>>>> chair.
>>>>>> I bring this up because one professional told me in no uncertain
>>>>>> terms that a blind person should never be allowed to use a
>>>>>> wheelchair
>>>>>> without sighted assistance. Well, several times in the last year,
>>>>>> I've had occasion to be in the same building where this
>>>>>> professional
>>>>>> works. A few weeks ago, she finally said to me, "I guess it  
>>>>>> really
>>>>>> can be done."
>>>>>> That's enough of my rambling for now.
>>>>>> Dan
>>>>>> On Jul 26, 2007, at 10:18 AM, dmgina wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi this is Dar,
>>>>>>> I use a walking cane with my guide dog.
>>>>>>> Did this off and on for years.
>>>>>>> Now it is on again.
>>>>>>> Dealing with vertigo, as well as falling from time to time, I  
>>>>>>> felt
>>>>>>> it better
>>>>>>> to do the cane.
>>>>>>> I admire that you want to go this fast in your chair.
>>>>>>> Do you live in an area where you have only ramp curbs?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --Dar
>>>>>>> www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
>>>>>>> Every Saint has a past
>>>>>>> Every Sinner has a future
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>> From: "Carrie Ann Lucas" <clucas at disabilitypride.com>
>>>>>>> To: "'Blind wheelchair users list'" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 5:28 AM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] hello.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hello all,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Right now, about half the time, and when it is light, I have
>>>>>>>> enough vision
>>>>>>>> to navigate without my cane in familiar territory.  I use my
>>>>>>>> cane in
>>>>>>>> unfamiliar territory, and in the dark.  At times my vision is
>>>>>>>> little more
>>>>>>>> than light and movement perception, and I have a much harder
>>>>>>>> time in
>>>>>>>> unfamiliar territory during those times.  The rest of the  
>>>>>>>> time I
>>>>>>>> can see
>>>>>>>> some in good light.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I use a 21st Century Scientific Bounder chair, which is rear
>>>>>>>> wheel
>>>>>>>> drive
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> built like a tank.  I used to have my chair set VERY fast,  
>>>>>>>> 11 mph
>>>>>>>> or so.
>>>>>>>> Now I run at 6 - 6.5 mph top speed.  I use a telescoping cane
>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>> a metal
>>>>>>>> tip.  I stabbed myself in the stomach too many times with a
>>>>>>>> folding cane.
>>>>>>>> If the cane catches and I can't stop in time, this one just
>>>>>>>> telescopes
>>>>>>>> onto
>>>>>>>> itself, rather than stabbing me or breaking.  My problem is
>>>>>>>> that a
>>>>>>>> lot of
>>>>>>>> times I then drop my cane, and I can't always find it.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> As for how I navigate, I just use my cane.  I do rely a great
>>>>>>>> deal
>>>>>>>> on my
>>>>>>>> residual vision, especially for crossing streets, except in  
>>>>>>>> those
>>>>>>>> areas
>>>>>>>> where I am lucky enough to have vibrotactle pedestrian signals.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I have a progressive neuromuscular disease, and don't have the
>>>>>>>> arm
>>>>>>>> function
>>>>>>>> to use a manual chair.  My vision, hearing and mobility issues
>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>> all
>>>>>>>> unrelated, I just hit some weird genetic jackpot, but all my  
>>>>>>>> kids
>>>>>>>> were
>>>>>>>> adopted, so their disabilities are also unrelated (the oldest
>>>>>>>> has a
>>>>>>>> genetic
>>>>>>>> syndrome, one was a micro-preemie and now has cerebral palsy,
>>>>>>>> and the
>>>>>>>> other's disabilities are the result of abuse and neglect).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Carrie
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> Hi Carrie --
>>>>>>>> Wow, you do have the load of challenges!  I am not deaf but do
>>>>>>>> need
>>>>>>>> hearing
>>>>>>>> aids as my hearing is 50% without them, but my vision is  
>>>>>>>> down to
>>>>>>>> light and
>>>>>>>> color perception nowadays.  I ask you the same question I asked
>>>>>>>> Dan -- how
>>>>>>>> on earth do you use a power chair to navigate, especially in
>>>>>>>> unfamiliar
>>>>>>>> territory? Or do you avoid unfamiliar terrain without a travel
>>>>>>>> companion?
>>>>>>>> Great that you're working.  Sorry to hear your children have to
>>>>>>>> battle
>>>>>>>> some
>>>>>>>> of the same challenges.  That is one reason I never had kids --
>>>>>>>> not that I
>>>>>>>> judge anyone who does have them, but I was afraid of passing
>>>>>>>> along
>>>>>>>> those
>>>>>>>> annoying little genes that have caused me so much trouble...
>>>>>>>> But I'm a very proud and doting aunt...
>>>>>>>> I should probably introduce myself -- I am a computer
>>>>>>>> programmer --
>>>>>>>> degrees
>>>>>>>> in math and computer science -- who worked 12 years after grad
>>>>>>>> school and
>>>>>>>> then had to go on disability due to a "perfect storm" of
>>>>>>>> setbacks.
>>>>>>>> I have been home now for about 10 years but keeping busy with
>>>>>>>> various
>>>>>>>> things
>>>>>>>> and trying to find useful ways of spending my time.
>>>>>>>> My employer's disability insurance made it possible to get by
>>>>>>>> without
>>>>>>>> working for a while -- I live with Mom. We are a team.  She  
>>>>>>>> takes
>>>>>>>> care of
>>>>>>>> the house, and when I was working I paid all the bills, but now
>>>>>>>> she and I
>>>>>>>> share the finances.  She is 83. I will be 50 this year.
>>>>>>>> I keep my ear to the job opportunities out there, but have been
>>>>>>>> spending
>>>>>>>> my
>>>>>>>> time in volunteer activities and projects for the time being.
>>>>>>>> Well, hope to hear more from you as it sounds like you'd have a
>>>>>>>> lot of
>>>>>>>> interesting things to share.
>>>>>>>> Take care.
>>>>>>>> --le
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>>>>>>>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>> Date:
>>>>>>>> 7/25/2007
>>>>>>>> 1:16 AM
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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>>>>>> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.19/917 - Release Date:
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>>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.19/917 - Release Date:
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>>>
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