[Blind-rollers] more brainstorming needed

Thu Sep 14 05:37:04 UTC 2017

Hi,
Thanks. I remember your saying that you were able to maneuver okay. That's what I've kept going on. I've thought that if you could do it, I ought to be able to. I am feeling so overwhelmed about this now that my stomach and intestines are all messed up and I dread going over there. I do pray a lot about it every day and even while I am on my way to or from the clubhouse. If I had better stamina, or wasn't so dizzy, I wouldn't have so much trouble walking, but, like you said, all of the methods I have been trying are cumbersome and they probably are unsafe. no wonder the people watching me are unnerved. I hope they will back off in time, but I hope also that I learn to use my power chair reasonably. 

When I get to the clubhouse, their chairs are terribly uncomfortable, too. The seat of my manual wheelchair is the most comfortable for me. The power chair seat is somewhat hard, but I could put a pillow or blanket on it if I were going to sit a long time. 

The most frustrating things right now are the peoples' lack of confidence in me on the part of some staff and residents, and my just not really knowing how to do this. The last time I had a regular apt and walked, I could still walk sort of okay with a hemi walker or a support cane. 

I was so exhausted when I got back home today that I felt like I'd just curl up and hibernate here. But that isn't like me. I'm always wanting to get out and have some adventure or another. 

When the people from the Society for the blind come, I'm going to ask them to bring me a really long cane. Do you use a carbon fiber cane or a heavier, stronger kind?
Thanks,
Lauren
Blessings in Jesus’ name!  
Philippians 2:9-11
9Why God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 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." 

-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-Rollers [mailto:blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Maureen Pranghofer via Blind-Rollers
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2017 6:29 PM
To: Blind wheelchair users list <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Maureen Pranghofer <maureensmusic at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] more brainstorming needed

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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