[Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello

Fri Jul 27 08:41:13 CDT 2007

Hello again. As you all know, I sent a message about my neuropathy, and that 
I may have to go to a wheelchair soon especially if they have to put in a 
morafeen catheter in my leg. in anyone's experiences, how do most employers 
feel about having a blind worker in a wheelchair? Do a lot of safety 
questions come up. I am suppose to start a new job with Verizon Wireless 
call center in Irvine, CA on August 6th.

Thanks.

Rob Kaiser
PRESIDENT, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF CALIFORNIA ORANGE COUNTY 
CHAPTER
HOME PHONE (714)289-9114
CELL PHONE (714)323-5203
EMAIL ADDRESS: rkaiser4 at socal.rr.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "dmgina" <dmgina at qwest.net>
To: <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 8:58 PM
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello

> Dan,
> Didn't you get down on one knee to ask your wife for marriage?
> Ha, well now doing it again is romantic but don't work so hard at it 
> smile.
> Hehehehehe.
> Dar ----- source message -----
> from: Dan <JazzyDan at sbcglobal.net>
> to: Blind wheelchair users list <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
> date: thursday Jul 26 2007, 18:52:56
> subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>
>>
>>
>> Hey Dar,
>> I really would suggest that you walk as long as you can. Even when
>> I'm in my house, where I can follow the walls, I walk some every day.
>> But one time while doing this, I fell down, right in front of some
>> friends we had over for dinner. And you know what? They laughed with
>> me, not at me, even my Wife and Son got in on the act. They also
>> suggested that I might take my situation a little more seriously. I
>> guess they are right. But still, when I can, I try to walk some.
>> Dan
>> On Jul 26, 2007, at 6:24 PM, dmgina wrote:
>>
>> > Hi there,
>> > I think it is grate.
>> > I don't need a chair yet,
>> > and hope that I can walk for as long as I can.
>> > Good for you.
>> > I don't understand terms of a chair, so if I ask, don't feel you
>> > are doing
>> > something wrong.
>> >
>> > --Dar
>> > www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
>> > Every Saint has a past
>> > Every Sinner has a future
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "Kim & Sophie" <kim_and_sophie at yahoo.ca>
>> > To: "Blind wheelchair users list" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 5:04 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>> >
>> >
>> >> I knew through trial and error.  The first one I had didn't work
>> >> for me at
>> >> all!  It was too big, the seat was almost flat so I kept falling
>> >> forward
>> >> because I have no trunk control, and every part of it was just
>> >> wrong.  I
>> >> had worked with 5 "seating speacialists" when I had this chair.  I
>> >> got
>> >> measured by one and the other 4 tried to make things work for me
>> >> but they
>> >> never did.
>> >>
>> >>  The next chair I got was measured by myself and my boyfriend and
>> >> it fits
>> >> me perfectly.  I took 2 inches off of the seat width, had more
>> >> "dump" in
>> >> the seat so I could sit up without always having to lean on one
>> >> arm, and
>> >> changed every single measurement right down to the wheels.  I also
>> >> got
>> >> more camber on my wheels because I knew I would be more stable on
>> >> slanted
>> >> sidewalks and wouldn't get my fingers caught like I use to.
>> >>
>> >>  I guess it all comes down to finding out what works or don't work
>> >> for you
>> >> by trying things and making adjustments.  My first chair was a
>> >> Quickie GT
>> >> so everything on it was adjustable.  I kept tweaking it until I
>> >> knew what
>> >> I needed.  It still didn't work for me, but I knew from the things
>> >> that
>> >> didn't work what would work.
>> >>
>> >>  My new chair is a Invacare Top End Titanium and it has no
>> >> adjustments at
>> >> all besides the rear axle.  I love it because nothing comes loose
>> >> and it
>> >> takes a lot of weight off of the chair.  There are less things to
>> >> worry
>> >> about breaking and it only weighs 18fulbs including cushion, wheels,
>> >> backrest etc.
>> >>
>> >>  Try some differnt things out and don't let a "seating
>> >> speacialist" force
>> >> you into something without having a chance to test it out and see
>> >> if it
>> >> works for yourself.  If I had listened to everyone I would have
>> >> been in a
>> >> power chair in a nursing home with my guide dog taken away, but
>> >> instead
>> >> I'm living on my own half of the time (my boyfriend travels a lot for
>> >> work), I still have my guide dog and I use a manual chair, and own
>> >> my own
>> >> buisness.  I've also started wheelchair racing.  All because I
>> >> made it
>> >> perfectly clear from the beginning that it's my life and I wasn't
>> >> about to
>> >> give in to whatever I was told before trying things out.
>> >>
>> >>  Kim & Sophie
>> >>
>> >> dmgina <dmgina at qwest.net> wrote:
>> >>  How did you know what to add to your chair to work for you?
>> >> Or did you get professional help?
>> >>
>> >> --Dar
>> >> www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
>> >> Every Saint has a past
>> >> Every Sinner has a future
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: "Kim & Sophie"
>> >> To: "Blind wheelchair users list"
>> >> Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 11:55 AM
>> >> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>> I had this problem with my old wheelchair because I only had 3
>> >>> degrees of
>> >>> camber on my wheels. I would get my hand caught between doorways
>> >>> a lot and
>> >>> because I have no feeling in my hands I wouldn't realize until I
>> >>> couldn't
>> >>> move forward, or I couldn't pull my arm away from my wheel. When
>> >>> I got my
>> >>> new wheelchair I got 9 degrees of camber on my wheels and this
>> >>> gives me
>> >>> enough room so my hands don't touch door frames etc. because the
>> >>> bottom of
>> >>> my wheels can only touch the door frame leaving room between the
>> >>> top of
>> >>> the
>> >>> wheel for my hand.
>> >>>
>> >>> If you decide to add more camber to your chair you really should
>> >>> consider
>> >>> the width yoru chair will be at the base though. You don't want
>> >>> to do it
>> >>> and be too wide to fit through some doorways! It also adds a lot of
>> >>> stability from side to side to your chair.
>> >>>
>> >>> Kim & Sophie
>> >>>
>> >>> Laura Eaves wrote:
>> >>> Hi Jen --
>> >>> I crash into things with the manual chair too, but I have control
>> >>> enough
>> >>> to
>> >>> stop. Perhaps with practice, the same would be true with a power
>> >>> chair.
>> >>> One annoying thing about using the manual chair is that I
>> >>> frequently --
>> >>> that
>> >>> is, ininv* frequently -- get my hand caught between the chair and
>> >>> the
>> >>> furniture and so my hands and fingers are constantly bruised and
>> >>> swollen
>> >>> from little injuries, not to mention painful as heck.
>> >>> Does anyone else have this problem?
>> >>> I am fortunate in that I have full use of my arms -- I suppose
>> >>> there are
>> >>> some on the list that are more limited. I am also able to stand and
>> >>> pivot,
>> >>> but not walk.
>> >>> As for how I stear, I just push with one arm and feel with my
>> >>> feet and
>> >>> the
>> >>> other arm. I only carry the cane strapped to my chair for
>> >>> identification
>> >>> so
>> >>> people know I'm blind. If I used a power chair I suppose I could
>> >>> use the
>> >>> cane for mobility more easily.
>> >>> Comments welcome.
>> >>> --le
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> ----- Original Message -----
>> >>> From: "Jennifer Aberdeen"
>> >>> To: "Blind wheelchair users list"
>> >>> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 10:12 AM
>> >>> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> Hi Laura,
>> >>>
>> >>> I know your question was to Dan, and I don't want to high-jack
>> >>> the email
>> >>> in
>> >>> any way, but I just wanted to ask you how you got around in your
>> >>> manual
>> >>> chair? I have a manual chair right now, and I have a really hard
>> >>> time
>> >>> getting around unfamiliar places, which is just about everywhere
>> >>> except
>> >>> my
>> >>> house. I have a one-armed gear manual chair, but I don't use it
>> >>> the way
>> >>> I'm
>> >>> supposed to because I almost broke my wrist trying to steer the
>> >>> chair
>> >>> when
>> >>> I
>> >>> was learning how to use it. I'm hoping that my mobility will be
>> >>> easier
>> >>> with
>> >>> the power chair, but if for some reason I can't drive it without
>> >>> crashing
>> >>> into things, I don't know what I'll do. I really need to be able
>> >>> to get
>> >>> around without people helping me.
>> >>>
>> >>> Jen
>> >>> ----- Original Message -----
>> >>> From: "Laura Eaves"
>> >>> To: "Blind wheelchair users list"
>> >>> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 2:42 AM
>> >>> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>> Hi Dan -- Welcome to the list!
>> >>>> I am blind and use a manual chair.
>> >>>> I tried a power chair at one point just to see how well it would
>> >>>> work,
>> >>>> but
>> >>>> I
>> >>>> pretty much demolished the furniture and took some paint off the
>> >>>> wall. I
>> >>>> suppose for a one-day trial with no experience that was to be
>> >>>> expected,
>> >>>> but
>> >>>> I decided that for various reasons I preferred the manual -- not
>> >>>> the
>> >>>> least
>> >>>> of which is that I don't need a van to travel, and if I need a ride
>> >>>> somewhere, my friend can throw my light weight folding chair in the
>> >>>> trunk
>> >>>> of
>> >>>> any car quite easily.
>> >>>> I have a question -- are you total or do you have some vision?
>> >>>> and if
>> >>>> so,
>> >>>> how much?
>> >>>> When I was working, when my vision was better, I could see
>> >>>> enough to
>> >>>> stear
>> >>>> in familiar territory. But now my vision is not good enough to
>> >>>> navigate
>> >>>> much at all. I do most all navigation by touch, or checking out the
>> >>>> light
>> >>>> fixtures in the room (I have light vision) to know where I am.
>> >>>> Take care.
>> >>>> --le
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> ----- Original Message -----
>> >>>> From: "Dan"
>> >>>> To:
>> >>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 12:26 AM
>> >>>> Subject: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Hello,
>> >>>> I am a totally blind person who has been successfully using an
>> >>>> electric wheelchair for over a year.
>> >>>> I have a Jazzy-610 with a PG VSI 50 Amp controller mounted on the
>> >>>> left arm rest. This is a Center-wheel drive with Active Track
>> >>>> Suspension and I absolutely love the Six-Wheels on the ground at
>> >>>> all
>> >>>> times. It really does give me tremendous stability.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I didn't need Rehab Seating. However I do have a High-Backed seat
>> >>>> with a Headrest and it also Reclines.
>> >>>> While I can still walk some, I feel much safer in the wheelchair.
>> >>>> For guidance I use an extremely lightweight carbon fiber folding
>> >>>> cane with a roller tip and it works great.
>> >>>> Dan
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
>> >>>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> >>>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>> >>>>
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
>> >>>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> >>>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> >>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> >>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> >>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>> >>>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> >>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> >>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> ---------------------------------
>> >>> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk
>> >>> email the
>> >>> boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
>> >> -----------
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>> _______________________________________________
>> >>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> >>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> >>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
>> >> -----------
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> >> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>> >> Version: 7.5.476 still Virus Database: 269.10.19/917 -- Release Date:
>> >> 7/25/2007
>> >> 1:16 AM
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> >> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> ---------------------------------
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Yahoo!         Canada Toolbar : Search from anywhere on
>> >> the web
>> >> and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now!
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
>> > ----------
>> >
>> >
>> >> _______________________________________________
>> >> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> >> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
>> > ----------
>> >
>> >
>> > No virus found in this incoming message.
>> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>> > Version: 7.5.476 still Virus Database: 269.10.19/917 -- Release Date:
>> > 7/25/2007
>> > 1:16 AM
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Blind-rollers mailing list
>> > Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>
>
> Dar
> www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
> every saint has a past
> every sinner has a future
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blind-rollers mailing list
> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
> 