[Blind-rollers] Power wheelchairs

[Jennifer Aberdeen]

Hi Deb and list,

Thank you for the tips. I do have a mobility instructor, but we'll see if 
she helps me. She hasn't been to helpful thus far.  I think things will be 
ok as far as getting out of the house with the chair; I just got a new ramp 
that is ADA approved. I will try holding the joy stick that way when I get 
it, I think it's worth a try. Hopefully Rehab services will agree to buy the 
chair for me.

Jen
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <AgapeDEW at aol.com>
To: <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 8:54 AM
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Power wheelchairs


>A mobility specialist is very effective to help teach a person in a
> wheelchair with visual challenges learn to scope out using a guided cane 
> with a  ball
> roller.  These are available here in Texas area contracted by the  blind
> association (free to blind or low vision clients) through a private 
> organization
> called Dallas Lighthouse for Blind.  She taught me how to use  my white 
> cane
> with a ball to establish my perimeters and keep track of the  surface and
> obstructions that may be placed in front of me.  She taught me  to rely on 
> "points"
> in which I can get my bearings on where I am on a campus or  store.  For
> example, my campus directions are all around an egress of a  ramp so I 
> know where
> all my campus buildings are.  She taught me to use the  area between thumb 
> and
> pointer finger at the base to hold the controller.   Never use the higher
> speeds in unfamiliar areas or highly populated areas.   She taught my 
> family to be
> "guides" in areas that the cane would not be  feasible.  I am even going
> through airport security and travel alone with  my guided cane. She taught 
> me how
> to load the chair forward on transit and turn  into the area in which to 
> get
> secured in by security straps.  This meant  riding along and networking 
> with
> the local transit service. I got my chair in  Nov 2007 and am now breezing 
> along
> any place I go.  The wheels are  different then the scooter I used before
> because they have to line up to work  correctly and be able to pivot like 
> they
> do.  I had problem with a small 2  inch lip on my doorstep.  We figured 
> out that
> two thick matted outdoor rugs  allowed me to transition into the house
> without expensive conversions.  I  also modified my house to allow free 
> access of
> the chair to pivot easily without  playing bumper cars with the furniture. 
> That
> was a denial on my part to  have everything status quo of before I lost
> vision and got MS.  My ramp was  built by my church and must have a lip on 
> both
> sides for the cane to be able to  feel the perimeters for the chair to 
> navigate.
> A arm rail on one side also  is great because at times the chair does have
> traction problems which can  be eliminated by non skid strips I can 
> purchase at
> home improvement  store.  A mobility specialist can show you in your house
> what barriers  are causing you difficulty and why.  She actually got into 
> my
> chair and  rode through my home and showed me...it was not me..it was the 
> floor
> surface in my home.  We are now replacing the floor with the help of 
> another
> state agency in which she was instrumental in advocating for  financial
> assistance for us to get this floor.  Our church is putting the  floor in. 
> REACH OUT
> and get the help you need.  That is how you gain  skill and 
> confidence....by
> using your resources available.  DEB aka  agapedew at aol.com
>
>
>
> **************Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.
> 
> (http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000016)
>


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