[Blind-rollers] more brainstorming needed

Thu Sep 14 14:51:58 UTC 2017

Hi Lauren
Oh Lauren, I feel so bad that you haven't had some of the resources I've had 
to work on the chair/mobility.  I do use a long NFB carbon fiber cane.  You 
want to avoid any folding canes as when you hit something with the power 
chair the can can fold and that's a problem.  I can't lift a very heavy cane 
and I feel they are light enough to manage.  I slide it along the ground 
rather than lifting it and tapping it because I get too tired.  Someone 
suggested a long cane once with a marshmallow tip and wow! that was way way 
too heavy for me.
As far as the seating, I seriously would start doing research for any rehab 
centers near you that have PT and try and work with a therapist on the best 
seating for your chair and just practicing with someone.  Also see if there 
are any O&M instructors who could practice with you in your power chair 
getting to and from points A and B where you live.  If the administration 
and those worried about you can hear from you that you are equally as 
concerned and that you are going to be working with an O&M instructor or 
therapist it may help rather then them approaching you and you kind of 
saying "Give me time, I'll learn this." because it may look to them like you 
are fighting back when they are just concerned for your safety.
Give me your phone number, if you like,I'd be happy to brainstorm with you.
In Christ
Maureen

-----Original Message----- 
From: Lauren Merryfield via Blind-Rollers
Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2017 12:37 AM
To: 'Blind wheelchair users list'
Cc: Lauren Merryfield
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] more brainstorming needed

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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