[Blindtlk] traveling

Mon Sep 18 16:54:11 CDT 2006

The Rhode Island chapter of the NFB is already aware of my situation. I will 
be calling the DDD tomorrow as well. It is all very overwhelming though, I 
will admit.

Jen
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 4:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] traveling

> IMO while everything that has been said here is valid, I believe that we
> must be a bit cautious. We may not know the whole story here. Rather
> than immediately pushing for Jen to go to one of our centers or having a
> knock-down-drag-out with her parents, it seems to me far more preferable
> to put her in touch with local NFB members in her area who will be in a
> better position to judge what needs to be done and who can encourage her
> and also show her parents by example that blind folks can be
> independent.
>
> For instance, Jen says she is a client of a DD agency. Why? Is she a c
> client of the New York Commission for the Blind? If not, why not?
>
> Mike Freeman, President
>  NFB of Washington
>
> On Mon, 18 Sep 2006, Alan Wheeler wrote:
>
>> I hate to say it, but Peter has a valid point.  What he describes is a
>> frighteningly real possibility.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: "Bonnie Ainsworth" <cedarwoman1965 at neb.rr.com>; "NFBnet Blind Talk
>> Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 2:07 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] traveling
>>
>>
>>> Hello Jenn, Bonnie and listers,
>>>
>>>    There's possibly a more sinister reason for her parents wanting to 
>>> keep
>>> her under their thumb besides her blindness. If Jen's parents receive
>>> Social
>>> Security benefits for providing her a place to live they know that if 
>>> she
>>> moves out they'll lose that income. All I have to say about that blarney
>>> is
>>> tough! It's unfair, and is an illegal form of exploitation of the worst
>>> kind!When my dad retired I became eligible for SSDI Benefits. In 
>>> addition
>>> mom and dad also received a monthly check when I lived at home.
>>> Fortunately
>>> mom realized that while the income helped out with expenses it wasn't in
>>> her
>>> best interest to control my life by keeping  me at home and under her
>>> thumb
>>> and strongly encouraged me to move out in to a place of my own and 
>>> gladly
>>> excepted the consequences of doing so I.E. the loss of those Dependent's
>>> Benefits. By the time I finally moved out for good dad had passed away 
>>> so
>>> he
>>> was not able to stop her from doing this. I know other blind individuals
>>> who
>>> were manipulated and controlled by their parents the same way and 
>>> suspect
>>> that the loss of Social Security Dependents Benefits in addition to 
>>> their
>>> fears about blindness being a motivating factor for their behavior.
>>>
>>>    Jenn I don't know all the particulars of your situation, but wanted 
>>> to
>>> throw that out as another possible reason for your parent's treating you
>>> that way. But if you're of age you have every right to up and leave
>>> whenever
>>> you want, and no one can stop you from going. Sometimes situations like
>>> this
>>> can only be remedied with a little tough love. Mary and I have had to 
>>> deal
>>> with similar treatment of us particularly by her parents, but they know 
>>> we
>>> don't hesitate to call them out whenever we feel they've over-stepped
>>> their
>>> bounds and have meddled in matters which are really none of their
>>> business.
>>> Know also that you have a federation family that stands ready to help 
>>> you
>>> in
>>> whatever way we can to ensure that your future will be filled with
>>> promise,
>>> and free of your parents over-protection, and control of your life for
>>> their
>>> benefit. Yours in federationism.
>>>
>>> Peter Donahue
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Bonnie Ainsworth" <cedarwoman1965 at neb.rr.com>
>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 1:12 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] traveling
>>>
>>>
>>> Jen,
>>>
>>> How old are you?  Once you're over eighteen, you're legally an adult and
>>> they can't try to stop you from living your life.  Sounds like they're
>>> afraid to let you out of the house because of your blindness?
>>>
>>> Bonnie Ainsworth
>>> Lincoln, NE USA
>>>
>>> Access denied ... nah nah na nah nah !
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: <jaber37837 at cox.net>
>>> To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>; <community at nfbri.com>
>>> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 12:52 PM
>>> Subject: [Blindtlk] traveling
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> I have a question or perhaps many questions...maybe even issues.
>>>
>>> Here's the situation:
>>>
>>> I would like to take a trip to New York; around the Syracuse area. I 
>>> could
>>> sneak out of the house, take the Ride bus to the airport and fly there,
>>> but
>>> then I would get my parents all upset, and they would never trust me
>>> again.
>>> Plus, once I got there I could take a cab to the hotel, but then what? 
>>> The
>>> only way I can go anywhere is if I go with a friend...I mean that's the
>>> only
>>> way I could go without causing an up-roar, but I don't have any friends
>>> who
>>> I can travel with, and even if I did, that's a really lousy reason to
>>> invite
>>> them to come along.
>>>
>>> Is there any way I can get out of my parents' control over me? Is there
>>> any
>>> way to do it legally without causing hurt feelings etc? I can't talk to
>>> them. They don't want to hear it. I've tried.
>>>
>>> I just feel like I have to do something different, and I can't do
>>> anything;
>>> not as long as I'm here.
>>>
>>> Jen
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>> Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.4/449 - Release Date: 
>>> 9/15/2006
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> blindtlk mailing list
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk
>>
> _______________________________________________
> blindtlk mailing list
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk 