[Blind-rollers] Blind-Rollers Digest, Vol 96, Issue 5

Tue Oct 25 13:19:45 UTC 2016

Hi Sarah
Excellent post, I agree 100%.  Though I use the power chair and cane I am 
careful about where I go, generally take paratransit to places where I am 
dropped off at the door.  Except for in my quiet neighborhood where I can 
wheel along using the curb as a guide while in the street I don't go myself 
on sidewalks or cross streets which are busy.  I also tend to shoreline on 
the parimeter of buildings such as malls because being in an open area it's 
pretty impossible to go straight without any vision and unless there is a 
good audio landmark I find it difficult and sometimes have even turned 
around in my chair and not realized it.  I love my treker breeze and find it 
useful in the neighborhood for walking.
Maureen

-----Original Message----- 
From: Sarah Martin via Blind-Rollers
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 8:06 AM
To: blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
Cc: Sarah Martin
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Blind-Rollers Digest, Vol 96, Issue 5

Hi I went from a walker to manual chair to power then lost sight completely 
eight years ago . I use a white cane most of the time I also use a ultra 
cane some of the time which is good as I get the cane on the ground while 
the sensors tell me what a cane won't overhangs ect . I would not go 
straight sensors as drop offs are even more dangerous in a chair and a power 
one with all that weight behind you is not what I want to end up under . I 
would use the ultra more often but I tire very quickly and it is not a light 
cane . For me even the lightest white canes can sometimes be just to much if 
this is not an issue then I recommend it or some other combination of sensor 
and cane that works for you .
As for control of chair it self it is something that takes practice but I 
honestly don't know how anyone manages with a manual and a cane the times my 
chair is needed to be repaired I can't even get round my unit without 
crashing into everything and become totally dependant on being pushed . 
Something I'm not fond of with my power chair I can catch buses trains taxis 
go to shopping centres and conferences provided I have learnt my way around 
.
Ask to trial equipment see if you can visit some expos find a good Oand M 
instructor and Ot who is happy to think outside the square . Don't be 
bullied into something that's not right for you the majority of consumers of 
disability equipment are given or buy the first thing that some dealer has 
recommended not becouse it's the most suitable but becouse they don't have 
enough info , don't want to make a fuss it's easier on time poor staff ect . 
I recommend being really choosy and doing your own research . The other sad 
thing that is happening is blind people are being told they can not have 
power chairs that it's not safe now in some cases that's true but it's also 
true of the power chair users who can see . Give it a go if you decide your 
not safe ok but don't let some one tell you simply because your blind you 
automatically are not safe . I would however caution learn away from busy 
areas and take it slow as you can hurt someone badly with that much power if 
you hit them .
Yes most power chairs are very heavy scooters are not practical with a cane 
there are some chairs and scooters that can be folded and some that can be 
broken into parts but are still pretty heavy another alternative is a 
combination manual / power chair that can be folded pushed and has a small 
power add on with joystick .
Battery's are all heavy and for most chairs except the folding stay in chair 
and you are supplied with a charger that is simply plugged in wall I plug 
mine overnight next to bed that way should I need to get up I simply unplug 
and plug back in .
Side drop offs are the most dangerous and apparently there is a new 
blindness that's caused by mobile phones can also cause people to go deaf 
and chase imaginary creatures while the rest of us have to duck and we've to 
get out of there way but apparently I'm not safe because I go out on my own 
with a vision impairment hope this is a help keep on rolling Sarah

Sent from my iPad

> On 25 Oct 2016, at 10:00 PM, blind-rollers-request at nfbnet.org wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. Re: Power Wheelchairs and Blind People (Joshua Gregory)
>
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2016 08:31:34 -0400
> From: Joshua Gregory <joshtgreg at gmail.com>
> To: Blind wheelchair users list <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Power Wheelchairs and Blind People
> Message-ID:
>    <CAPHsUDYO976a_ewL6i026pgLw=VVtgxeYPwEA7AvD6J8M7FhfQ at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
> Awesome, so it could be done with a lot of patience/practice. Thanks!
>
> On 10/23/16, Maureen Pranghofer via Blind-Rollers
> <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hi Joshua
>> I have been using a power wheelchair since the mid 1990's.  I am also
>> totally blind.  I can't imagine life without it.  For me a mannual chair
>> would be most difficult because I have difficulty pushing it.  I handle 
>> the
>>
>> joy stick with my right hand and hold and use the white cane with my left
>> hand.  My chair does have attendant control on the back so a sighted 
>> helper
>>
>> can drive it.  I also use a service dog, he's brand new and wonderful. 
>> He
>> doesn't do any guiding but picks things up for me, helps me off wit me 
>> coat
>>
>> and carries things.  It is especially having him because he picks up my 
>> cane
>>
>> which drops frequently.
>> Maureen
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Joshua Gregory via Blind-Rollers
>> Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 12:49 PM
>> To: blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Joshua Gregory
>> Subject: [Blind-rollers] Power Wheelchairs and Blind People
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> My name is Joshua Gregory. I am blind and have Cerebral Palsy, so am
>> in a wheelchair. I currently use a manual chair, however am probably
>> going to need a new one soon, so I'm wondering about the efficiency of
>> a power chair for a blind person? If any blind people here use one,
>> what benefits do you see, what challenges do you encounter as compared
>> to a manual setup? Is any special equipment needed to navigate, such
>> as a cane?
>>
>> Thanks very much, I greatly appreciate it.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Joshua
>>
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> End of Blind-Rollers Digest, Vol 96, Issue 5
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