[Blind-rollers] feeling the frustration

[Erica Cole]

Sincere hugs from me. I particularly feel you when yu talk about how you are now versus a year ago. I'd face that more if I lived in the same city as my family.  It's hard reconciling the differences myself sometimes. 
Take care, 
Erica
Twitter: @ladymunch 
Sent from my iPhone

On 21 Oct 2012, at 06:28, "Criminal Justice Major" <orleans24 at comcast.net> wrote:

> Hi, all,
> Yes, Sub says it all.
> Although I'm still continue to practice with my power chair and am also working on getting the hang of using my white cane in my hand, I'm starting to feel the frustration hit home.
> More of it happens when dealing with people who won't except that I'm challenged with more medical ailments and am not the same like I was a year or so a while back.
> Good example today.
> I'm apart ofthe Milehigh Blind Bowlers League here in denver, Colorado.
> It consists of many who are blind that use canes or guide dogs and an individual who is wheelchair bound, but she does have partial vision.
> I'll admit that despite I do the best that I can with my power chair, things are going to happen like cosmetic damage on the walls in my apartment complex, rolling off the sidewalk or more.
> While I was trying to exit the Crown Bowling and Sports Bar center today, I ended up being distracted while trying to process on how to be able to do a clean straight shot for the front door.
> As I held my white cane in my hand and was driving my chair with the left hand, the foot plate accidentally hit the window and so did my cane.
> The bar tender had a big fit over it for no reason, despite it was all accidental.
> Odie my retired guide/medical alert service dog still travels with me, but I have a regular flat nylon orange collared leash attached to the left hand arm rest of my chair.
> I have turned the leash shorter by doing at least three knots in it so he'll stay close.
> TThis is the next comment that came out of the bar tender's mouth which really pushed me.
> She rudely said I need to be more careful and claimed people were saying that I was intentionally running over my dog.
> Truth is my power chair has sensitive fail safe brakes.
> If the front costal wheel does accidentally bump Odie's foot, it will immediately stop and not roll and he is pretty good about moving away from it.
> If need be, I can have him come behind me in tight corridors or in front of me.
> No, the place isn't wheelchair accessible and because it is a private owned business, I'm not able to file any conplaints.
> However, the way I plan on resolving the matter is purchasing my own fold up ramp to have there when needed.
> There's no ramps that will me down to the lanes, so I leave my power chair upstairs and slowly make my way down the steps.
> I know that I'll run into people who are kind and many that are crule, but I can't let the cruelness stop me from doing what I need to do so I can remain independent.
> How do you handle them days of frustration and when it comes to people who are not nice and inconsiderate?
> It is also nerve racking when people behave in a paranoyd manner around me as well.
> i plan on talking to my counselor about my problem over the phone or something.
> I can't expect to have my husband with me all the time, helping me, especially at the bowling alley and nor am I able to afford a manual wheelchair for the time being either until I can speak with my primary medical doctor.
> He would have to be the one to put in a prescription for it to be paid for.
> I'll admit that yes, Odie does get in the way of the chair sometimes, but it happens when he is being stubron.
> If I did accidentally run over him though, he would certainly cry   out or yelp pretty loud.
> It takes a lot for him to cry or holler as he's a tough hybrid labrador.
> Due to him being nine-years-old soon, he's too old to retrain him to help me out with my power chair.
> However, he enjoys just coming along with me regardless, even when I've had to use my support cane or my walker.
> Normally, Odie would stay home while I'd go to bowling, but Dale isn't here for almost six hours and same runs with me.
> Since we've had two major apartments fires, floods or unknowns that can happen, I don't take the chance of leaving Odie at home in the apartment.
> Of course, Odie could go with his daddy to Men's Bible study, but another factor is that Pastor Burlson's wife has a severe allergy to dogs, so out of politeness, we try to avoid that.
> I really wouldn't want her to end up in the hospital, especially if Odie is close in range of her.
> When it comes time for my next dog, then yes, Odie will most definitely have to stick with my husband  Dale and my new partner will be beside me.
> If there were well-known friends living here in my apartment complex still, they would have not had a problem with watching Odie for the time being.
> Sadly however, many have moved out or passed on.
> I'm sorry for such a long, rambling message.
> I just needed to really bent and get this off my chest.
> Thank you for reading and listening.
> Bibi with my pair of wheels, husband Dale and son Odie retired guide/medical alert service dog
> the happy spirited bounty labra wolf
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