[Blind-rollers] power wheelchairs

[tribble]

Hello Diane -- I didn't see anyone replying to your mail, so I'll share a 
few thoughts.
First, since everyone is different with respect to degree and combination of 
disabilities, coping skills are different for every individual.  I held down 
a great job for 12 years after getting out of college, and was legally blind 
and used a manual chair -- but I could see enough to know where the hallway 
was and generally pick out large objects. I used my cane.  I then had an 
accident which took much of my vision, including the ability to read print 
on a cctv. This changed my whole way of doing things. I dove into the realm 
of screen readers and practiced up on my braille proficiency, which I am 
finding a challenge.
Because of this change in my vision and also some intermittant other medical 
problems I am on disability right now, but very much wishing I could go back 
to work.
Anyway, I still use my manual chair, but travel anywhere I am not familiar 
with is rather daunting and I always have someone with me when I leave home.
I have tried a power chair, but after destroying some furniture and scraping 
the plaster off some walls, I decided I preferred the manual chair. I did 
like the power chair for one feature -- the ability to elevate the seat to 
the height of kitchen counters. With the manual chair I have to stand up to 
reach anything, and since this is difficult and dangerous for me, I can't 
stand long and so leave the kitch chores to family members.

Now as for your daughter, if she has proven that she can get around safely 
with the power chair, she needs to offer to demonstrate this to her 
prospective employer.  Obviously getting around unfamiliar terrain is 
difficult and possibly dangerous. (My former employer was accommodating when 
I moved to locations containing open stairways -- the EO/AA office went and 
mapped out safe routes that I could take to get places, like the cafeteria, 
offices and conference rooms where I needed to go, and of course the 
accessible rest rooms. (Actually there was only one accessible restroom in 
the whole complex of buildings so I had to watch what I ate if I was going 
to be in a different building for a long space of time...))

In short, employment is a 2-way street -- they need to accommodate within 
reason, and your daughter needs to say her needs up front and possibly do a 
demonstration, such as travelling around with the interviewer.

I hope this jumble of advice/info is helpful. It's not a letter of 
recommendation as you asked for, but it is my experience.

I wish you and your daughter all the best of luck!!!
--le

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dianesapiro at bellsouth.net>
To: <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 9:03 AM
Subject: [Blind-rollers] power wheelchairs


Good Morning!

This letter is for the purpose of obtaining support letters for my daughter, 
Dani, to obtain a power wheelchair.

She has been in a manual chair her entire life.all 24 years!!  However she 
is now experiencing shoulder pain.

She is in a training program to work at a  local hospital and has promises 
of a REAL JOB!!

Please send me letters that show that blind persons can be safe in power 
chairs.she is good with her cane....and we hope that someday she will get a 
guide dog.

Thank you for your support........Diane Sapiro
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