[Blind-rollers] New Member

Tue Jun 16 20:20:56 UTC 2009

The part of the message I can speak to since I am not a power chair user, is
transportation.  Don't you ever let anyone, dear Holly, hugs,  talk you into
moving somewhere again where you are a prisoner.  Ok if you are moving in
town where you can get out and shop, fabulous then you do not need
paratransit or transit.  I can't tell you how many sighted people out there
who make all kinds of false promises to us.  We are prisoners again in our
homes with no where to go without good transportation, good sidewalks, easy
to get to stores of all sorts, doctors etc.  

The Lions clubs build ramps as they can on homes. The builder associations
have volunteer projects where they build ramps or do some remodeling of the
homes. 
On your home loan, you can get back end loans for making a home accessible. 

But please please don't let anyone talk you into moving somewhere that you
can't easily get around in your power chair. You need to go before you move
and really have the area described to you in detail keeping in mind your
power chair.  So you need O and M by a professional or someone who has their
ducks in order from a Center for independent living in that town.  

Also for busses and  paratransit you and your power chair can't be over six
hundred pounds   with a wheel base of forty two long and twenty nine wide.
If you want the exact dimensions I can get you them.  This is just from
memory.

Blessings on the move.  I just want you empowered to ask the right questions
and not be talked into a move that is not helpful for you or your child.  I
mean no offense.

Big hugs,
Becky and my joy wheels 

-----Original Message-----
From: blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Holly Alonzo
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:06 PM
To: blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blind-rollers] New Member

Hello everyone.  I was on this list once before, but got off of it for
whatever reason.  Now I am back with more questions and needing support.

I am totally blind and while I was pregnant with my son 2 years ago I
started losing my hearing.  Now I have lost one hear completely and the
other ear mostly.  Since the tuor that I have is an acoustic neuroma on
the 8th nerve which controls not only hearing, but also balance, well
I'm vertually drunk all day every day.  

With each day that passes my balance get worse and worse.  I have fallen
countless times.  I am afraid that oone of these day I'm going to fall
and break my nec or something very very dangerous.  Right now I live in
Asheville, NC which is in the mountains.  That is like even worse with
the balance.  Right now I use a walker, but it still can't make me catch
myself whenever I'm already falling.  My vistibular system is wack.

So I'm leaning more to a power chair.  I have tumors in my spine and
don't think I would be strong enough to push myself, especially up all
these sloping sidewalks, driveways, etc of the mountains of Asheville.
I am going to be moving back to Arkansas, flat land, soon though  just
because these mountains are killing me.  I'm afraid to go out of my
house alone afraid of falling.  I always feel like crying when I go out.
It's so hard and I have to concentrate so intently not to lose my
balance and thinking about it only make the balance worse and I have to
go sooooo slow.

So I think really a chair would be best for me.  I just am suck because
balance is terrible now, but being in a chair, will that make it worse?
My right leg is already weak.  The quads are basically non existant and
PT never could get it back.  There's nerve damage and really not way to
get it back.  I have nothing to lock my knees so it can buckle very
easily.  And since that leg is not strong I have trouble keepingthe
balance, then throw in all the other vistibular problems.

How does mobility in a chair work?  Is it hard?  One thing I was
thinkingabout, I know I'm paranoid.  I know there are seat belts, but
what if the chair tips overand you're strapped in then that heavy chairs
falls on you.  What would you do?  How likely is it to tip?  Have any of
you tipped it?

Also what would be the best type of chair to get considering I'm blind
and don't have my own car to adapt and also won't have public
transportation in Arkansas to call a Van and make surethey have a lift
and those little wheel locks like paratranset.  Would a folding
powerchair be good?  Do any of you have one of those?

Help, I'm full of question.  Smiles.

Holly

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