[Blind-rollers] Blind-rollers Digest, Vol 77, Issue 5

[Marcy Ryan]

Hi, My name is Marcy, I am almost totally blind born with no optic nerves I have found it difficult to get around due to a number fo severe Physical disabilities. I know that for many of us balance has been an issue in the wheelchair but please be aware that if you carry an extreme amount of bags on the back and sides of the chair it WILL tip over. I use a Permobil C500 which is extremely stable but if I overload it of course its going to tip. I am always careful about how many things I put on the chair and especially if I am carrying a child on my lap. Be aware that all equipment is only allowed a certain amount of weight so check you equipment's limit and be aware of how much you are carrying. I know for many of us medical supply's and other needs are necessary for us but we always need to know how much we are carrying and try to be careful on uneven ground and hills. My business is that of recycling and rebuilding disability related equipment and loaning it out to those who need it free of charge, we have 4 offices and we are all disabled. So my experience is that of one who handles and learns about equipment of many kinds and realizes their limits. When you get a wheelchair be aware of its abilities and limits whether it be new or older it can be a real pain in the butt to use and make your life more difficult then a help if its not meant for the type of area you live in and have the weight cap you need. My wheelchair is a gift from a family to our company when a man died and every day I am grateful for it, the system will not but this type of chair. Most Medicaid/Medicare equipment is only made for INSIDE the home, not outside. It will have balance problems outside and if it gets wet it will short out, or have many problems over and over again if you are an active user like myself. Talk to those who  are purchasing your chair and be sure they understand your needs and see if you can get a grant to get and upgrade to a higher level chair meaning it can be capable of going outside and up and down hills with better capability then the lower level chairs. Some states will adopt an expensive wheelchair  if donated to you, check with your state, Vt. does this on a case by case basis. Your state may also recycle Medicaid equipment and there may be different equipment available to you when your needs change and your chair could be handed off to someone else who needs it. Help us fight for better equipment, go to different advocacy sites like those for Spinal Injury research, they are trying to work on getting higher level equipment to assist us in our needs. I am not saying they are the only one out there but look for places that will assist you in working with your peers with multiple disabilities so that you can learn from their mistakes and not have to add to your challenges. We must all work together to help each other, no one out there has just one disability, we are all there to help each other. I know that we are all facing life's daily challenges and for some of us it is harder then others. I am not trying to make life harder for any of you out there, I know the struggles of attendant care, equipment, housing, transportation, and social interactions. I know in Vermont every spring I need to relearn the sidewalks and roads for new frost heaves and holes. I usually go with someone the first time to be sure I do not end up in  a ditch due to our road problems. I am blessed with great mental mapping and good hearing so for me independent travel can hae its challenges, but don't make your chair an elephant when you travel you will make your world far more dangerous then it has to be, and then you are waiting months to get them repaired. Better several trips to a store then one and tip over due to overload. Be careful our there and if people want information and would like to talk to me via email at waywardwheelsinc at hotmail.com perhaps I can help some of us learn about equipment options and learn some things from each of you. Hang in there and Roll On!

Marcella Ryan, ED
Wayward Wheels, Inc
181 Franklin St. #1 
Winooski, Vt. 05404
waywardwheelsinc at hotmail.com 
1-802-655-2936


> From: blind-rollers-request at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Blind-rollers Digest, Vol 77, Issue 5
> To: blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
> Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 12:00:03 +0000
> 
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> Today's Topics:
> 
>    1. I Knew It Was Going To Happen
>       (Criminal Justice Major Extraordinaire)
>    2. Re: I Knew It Was Going To Happen (=?iso-8859-1?B?TWFybGFuYQ==?=)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 23:58:06 -0600
> From: "Criminal Justice Major Extraordinaire" <orleans24 at comcast.net>
> To: "Blind Rollers Mailing List" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: [Blind-rollers] I Knew It Was Going To Happen
> Message-ID: <BB41EDAB811740498B71F4AC712EC857 at bibi>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> hi, all,
> Subject says it all.
> Earlier this evening after I woke up from a much long needed rest, I decided I wanted to go to 7 11.
> Boy, I wished I had my regular power chair as I confess I feel more comfortable with that one than the loaner chair.
> I geared up Odie, attached his Kong nylon leash to the left hand side of my loaner chair and we left.
> I haven't attempted to use the chair to go to 7 11 the first time ad I wasn't so sure what would happen.
> So, I walked the two blocks with Odie on the left side and cart on the right.
> Tonight, I figured the need to come out of the comfort zone with the loaner chair and take the plunge.
> I had three tote bags draped over the head rest and my back pack with umbrella in the back pocket of the seat.
> The loaner chair I'm using for the time being is a Jazzy and I'm not sure of the model.
> All I know it has two front motor drive wheels and smaller wheels in the back with a couple tipper wheels on the front.
> The foot plate is flat and large and the chair as a whole doesn't have good stability as it can tip over easily.
> On my way back from 7 11, I had to stop a couple of times to figure out the task of having my white cane in my right hand, a hot cup of coffee and operating a power chair.
> I had the doffee cup sitting between my legs for a few minutes and it was definitely hot, so tried to juggle around some more.
> I definitely made sure the chair was on slow since I had three heavy bags on the back and a back pack.
> Next thing I knew was the back wheel slipped off the curb and my chair tipped over completely on its side.
> Thankfully, Odie nad enough time to get out of the way before it fell.
> I never expected the next part to happen, but apparently, Odie began moving around in a circle, signaling for help.
> Two men and two women immediately ran over to ask if I was okay, get me unsecured from the chair so it could be put back up on all four wheels.
> In the very beginning earlier the first day I had the loaner chair, I was afrai of what would happen to me if I used it.
> Would it tip over and I end up getting hurt?
> Happily, I'm very proud of myself for staying calm, composed and not panicking during the whole situation.
> I asked one of the gentlemen that helped me if my dog alerted them or figured out a way to get someone's attention.
> He let me know that he saw Odie move around in a circle and automatically knew that Odie was signaling for help.
> Needless to say, Odie and I made it home afterward and I gave him a special worker's reward.
> He earned two peanutbutter bones and a couple of milk bones as well. I forgot to mention that after the chair was put back into its correct position, I praised Odie for getting me help as quick as he did.
> He began wiggling and dancing around as he was very happy and proud of himself.
> This isn't the first time I had had a power chair tip over and it won't be the last either.
> My Quantum610 has tipped over a couple of times too, but not as severe as the loaner chair.
> Reason for me not having my original chair back yet was it turned out a technition that was on call had all the parts for it in his van.
> Have no reason why, but the receptionist I spoke with for Neu Motion told me the she would call me next week to let me know if I will have the chair back Monday afternoon or so.
> I'm sure some will ask if Odie was trained to do what he did.
> No, he was never taught that, but I figured he would have naturally learned on his own and he did it.
> Odie definitely saved me and he was a tremendous help.
> Bibi and proud MAR son Odie
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 02:10:01 -0700 (PDT)
> From: "=?iso-8859-1?B?TWFybGFuYQ==?=" <marlana.lyte at gmail.com>
> To: Criminal Justice Major Extraordinaire
> 	<orleans24 at comcast.net>,Blind wheelchair users list
> 	<blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] I Knew It Was Going To Happen
> Message-ID: <0B0A043E081002093B34001002 at Marlana-PC>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> I am so glad you guys are ok!
> 
> Marlana
> 
> 
> 
> Original message
> From: "Criminal Justice Major Extraordinaire via Blind-rollers;" <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
> To: blind-rollers at nfbnet.org; 
> Dated: 8/15/2014 10:58:06 PM
> Subject: [Blind-rollers] I Knew It Was Going To Happen
> 
> hi, all,
> Subject says it all.
> Earlier this evening after I woke up from a much long needed rest, I decided I wanted to go to 7 11.
> Boy, I wished I had my regular power chair as I confess I feel more comfortable with that one than the loaner chair.
> I geared up Odie, attached his Kong nylon leash to the left hand side of my loaner chair and we left.
> I haven't attempted to use the chair to go to 7 11 the first time ad I wasn't so sure what would happen.
> So, I walked the two blocks with Odie on the left side and cart on the right.
> Tonight, I figured the need to come out of the comfort zone with the loaner chair and take the plunge.
> I had three tote bags draped over the head rest and my back pack with umbrella in the back pocket of the seat.
> The loaner chair I'm using for the time being is a Jazzy and I'm not sure of the model.
> All I know it has two front motor drive wheels and smaller wheels in the back with a couple tipper wheels on the front.
> The foot plate is flat and large and the chair as a whole doesn't have good stability as it can tip over easily.
> On my way back from 7 11, I had to stop a couple of times to figure out the task of having my white cane in my right hand, a hot cup of coffee and operating a power chair.
> I had the doffee cup sitting between my legs for a few minutes and it was definitely hot, so tried to juggle around some more.
> I definitely made sure the chair was on slow since I had three heavy bags on the back and a back pack.
> Next thing I knew was the back wheel slipped off the curb and my chair tipped over completely on its side.
> Thankfully, Odie nad enough time to get out of the way before it fell.
> I never expected the next part to happen, but apparently, Odie began moving around in a circle, signaling for help.
> Two men and two women immediately ran over to ask if I was okay, get me unsecured from the chair so it could be put back up on all four wheels.
> In the very beginning earlier the first day I had the loaner chair, I was afrai of what would happen to me if I used it.
> Would it tip over and I end up getting hurt?
> Happily, I'm very proud of myself for staying calm, composed and not panicking during the whole situation.
> I asked one of the gentlemen that helped me if my dog alerted them or figured out a way to get someone's attention.
> He let me know that he saw Odie move around in a circle and automatically knew that Odie was signaling for help.
> Needless to say, Odie and I made it home afterward and I gave him a special worker's reward.
> He earned two peanutbutter bones and a couple of milk bones as well. I forgot to mention that after the chair was put back into its correct position, I praised Odie for getting me help as quick as he did.
> He began wiggling and dancing around as he was very happy and proud of himself.
> This isn't the first time I had had a power chair tip over and it won't be the last either.
> My Quantum610 has tipped over a couple of times too, but not as severe as the loaner chair.
> Reason for me not having my original chair back yet was it turned out a technition that was on call had all the parts for it in his van.
> Have no reason why, but the receptionist I spoke with for Neu Motion told me the she would call me next week to let me know if I will have the chair back Monday afternoon or so.
> I'm sure some will ask if Odie was trained to do what he did.
> No, he was never taught that, but I figured he would have naturally learned on his own and he did it.
> Odie definitely saved me and he was a tremendous help.
> Bibi and proud MAR son Odie
> _______________________________________________
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> ------------------------------
> 
> End of Blind-rollers Digest, Vol 77, Issue 5
> ********************************************