[Blind-Rollers] NFB Member in Wheelchair Seeks Mobility Information

Sun Nov 10 02:18:44 UTC 2019

Hi Jo Ann
I am totally blind and have been a wheelchair user for over 20 years. When I was walking I used a dog guide.  I tried to use a dog guide with a chair and found that the dog guide schools were reluctant to issue any dogs to people who were not graduates of their respective schools.  Although I could have gotten a wheelchair dog guide from Guidedogs for the Blind where I had received dogs when I was walking there was a very long waiting list.  Ultimately I opted for a mobility assistance dog who picks things up for me, carries things, pushes buttons for opening doors, takes laundry from the washer and dryer and is a great help with physical things but doesn't guide.  I'd be glad to help your friend in any way I can.  
Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: Blind-Rollers <blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jo Ann Collins-Johnson via Blind-Rollers
Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2019 8:06 AM
To: blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
Cc: Jo Ann Collins-Johnson <joann369 at bellsouth.net>
Subject: [Blind-Rollers] NFB Member in Wheelchair Seeks Mobility Information

Dear Blind-Rollers, 

I  have a  new chapter member, a  blind gentleman, mid 40s   in a  wheelchair, has diabetes and other medical issues , on dialysis, blind for 3  years before reaching out, therefore  he  has never met another blind person until his mom learned of our chapter and brought him to the September chapter meeting.

Thanks to Ellen Ringlein, President, and Greater Baltimore Chapter who responded to my request via the NFB Chapter President’s List Serve with your information. 

This gentleman is interested in information concerning wheelchair usage with a guide dog and where he can go for guide dog training for someone that uses a wheelchair.  If there is a gentleman or anyone who is willing to contact this gentleman to discuss this matter, please contact me and I can pass on this gentleman’s phone number to that person.

This gentleman uses his one foot stuck out in front of him to navigate getting around and I have just ordered him an NFB cane. 

Since this gentleman is unable to work due to illnesses, therefore he is not eligible for blindness services until he reaches the age of 55 under the state senior blind program, has never had any blindness training, therefore cannot use a computer and uses an old cell phone and not aware of useful apps, I want to assist him with resources and blindness training as much as possible to regain his independence.

If there is any information that you feel would be helpful to this gentleman to listen to from the blind-rollers Archive, website, I would be happy to download any information or articles onto a thumb drive and we will be signing him up for the library service to obtain a player and he can use the player to listen to helpful information from your website.  I have also registered for the blind-rollers list serve so that I can educate myself to refer blind wheelchair users that may reach out to the chapter in the future. 

Thank you and your support is greatly needed.

Sincerely,

Jo Ann Johnson, President

Gwinnett Family Chapter

National Federation of the Blind of Georgia

Phone:  (678) 451-3975

E-mail:   <mailto:joann369 at bellsouth.net> joann369 at bellsouth.net

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