[Blind-rollers] needing instruction

[Penny Stevenson]

You can have your chair controls adjusted to make them fit your driving style and you can also get a cut out template to get a better feel for forward, left, right etc.
Currently your controller can be thought of as a circle, if you wanted just 4 directions you could have a cross, 8 directions looks a bit like a flower for example.

Sent from my iPad

> On 10 Feb 2017, at 6:26 pm, Lauren Merryfield via Blind-Rollers <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Well, I was not able to just sit down and propel myself where I wanted to in
> my new power chair. Right now, I need much more practice and possibly some
> suggestions/instruction. 
> 
> 
> 
> In my first attempt to go to dinner this evening driving my new "car", I
> stood and manipulated the joy stick to get the chair out of my apt. It just
> barely fit through the door. 
> 
> 
> 
> Then I sat down and began my trek to dinner. I noticed that sometimes when
> you have turned to the left or right, and then want to go straight, you
> don't necessarily go straight, because the wheels are still in turning
> position. How do you deal with that issue? 
> 
> 
> 
> I did go straight a small amount of the time but mostly zigged and zagged
> left and right like some kind of drunk, down the hall. 
> 
> 
> 
> I ran over my feet a couple times, trapped my hand against the wall one
> time, and, in general, was on a ride that was like a roller coaster on a
> level surface. 
> 
> 
> 
> The important fact is that I made it to dinner! But I'm sure anyone watching
> me was worried for the walls. 
> 
> 
> 
> I didn't use my cane tonight. I mostly used my feet. I will try next time
> with my cane and see if that works better. Tonight I feared getting the cane
> caught somewhere and bending or breaking it and it's the only cane I have,
> my BartholoMEW, a catly name. 
> 
> 
> 
> How do you hold steady on the joy stick so that you do actually go straight
> forward or backward. It moves almost too easily. Is there a correct way to
> position your fingers/thumb on the joystick that gives you more control over
> it? 
> 
> 
> 
> I'm filling out paperwork for paratransit in the city I'm moving to in a
> couple weeks. One question they had is "is your power chair oversize?" I
> don't know that. I am guessing it might be because I am. 
> 
> 
> 
> When you take something as heavy as a power chair on the plane, where do
> they put it? Are they careful with it? They were not careful with my manual
> chair a couple years ago and I ended up with a better one from them for
> their error. 
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks for now,
> 
> Lauren
> 
> Blessings in Jesus' name. "But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each
> morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my
> refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress."
> 
>   --Psalm 59:16, NLT
> 
> Advice from my cats:"meow when you feel like it." 
> 
> 
> 
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