[Blind-rollers] more brainstorming needed

[Maureen Pranghofer]

Hi Lauren
All of the methods you describe sound cumbersome and unsafe to me.  It is 
possible to do a long cane and drive a power chair with a joy stick with the 
other hand, but you'd need to move slowly and check the sides on the narrow 
sidewalk.  Actually sometimes I purposely go in the street where I can 
shoreline along the curb because I know then my chair can't go off the side 
of the curb.  Most people don't believe a blind person can use a power 
chair, it is is tricky but possible.
Maureen


-----Original Message----- 
From: Lauren Merryfield via Blind-Rollers
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2017 8:09 PM
To: 'Blind wheelchair users list'
Cc: Lauren Merryfield
Subject: [Blind-rollers] more brainstorming needed

Hi,

I am sorry I keep bugging you guys about my getting around, but I walked 
most of my life. Just in the last two years, I’ve needed to change how I get 
around.



I just moved to this apt complex and the clubhouse, where everything 
happens, is quite a ways from me. There are cars parked too far over the 
sidewalk, a couple rosebushes in the middle of the sidewalk, at least 
overgrown there, and a driveway for me to cross straight. Straight is the 
operative word; I rarely walk straight.



Today one of the residents showed me a different way by going through 
tunnels or breezeways and no driveway or parking lot. (I got lost in the 
parking lot the other night and it spooked staff and residents.)



I am not comfortable walking. I’ve used a blind cane and a support cane, a 
blind cane and a hemiwalker that is too short, my wheelchair but it was too 
heavy to rescue easily from going off of curbs etc, and I have a rollator I 
could try.



I would prefer sitting. I don’t seem to be strong enough to propel my manual 
chair. I’m very leary of trying to drive my power chair on these narrow 
sidewalks where that extremely heavy chair could go off the curbs. I’m still 
not sure how to steer with one hand and use a looooooong cane in the other. 
If that works, I may need to learn how to do it. I’m not able to pull my 
manual chair behind me or that’s another preferred way. I would need a bar 
between the two handles. I can’t steer well with the soft back of the chair.



I heard  today that some residents are taken by golf cart over and back. So 
why didn’t they offer that to me?



Last Wednesday, the staff called my daughter and a good friend; the two 
emergency contacts on my lease.

They said to them:”she needs assisted living and we don’t offer that here. 
She can’t get around by herself (even though I got to the clubhouse okay). 
She can’t walk very well. We’re afraid she is going to fall,” and so on. 
Today the community manager took me into her office and said that people 
were concerned about my having trouble getting around and some residents had 
even approached the staff saying I shouldn’t live here. Yikes. I know it is 
not pretty but I get from Point A to Point B.



I am still working on alternatives to convey myself there and alternative 
routes. I explained that to this woman who is afraid for my safety, as she 
put it. Safety issues seem to come up a lot when you are multidisabled 
blind.

Thanks,

Lauren

Blessings in Jesus’ name! 

Philippians 2:9-11

<http://bibleapps.com/philippians/2-9.htm> 9Why God also has highly exalted 
him, and given him a name which is above every name: 
<http://bibleapps.com/philippians/2-10.htm> 10That at the name of Jesus 
every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things 
under the earth;  <http://bibleapps.com/philippians/2-11.htm> 11And that 
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God 
the Father.



Advice from my cats:"Meow when you feel like it."













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