[Blindtlk] Hiring a Driver

Tue Dec 10 23:38:51 UTC 2013

Hi,
I, too, live in a rural area of PA, so your message really resonated 
with me. I have some questions and concerns that perhaps you can shed 
some light on.
I also don't get out of my house very often. There is no Paratransit 
service. My family is either working or, let's just say, not being 
supportive of me. If I wanted to go somewhere, I would have to call a 
cab, and we all know how expensive that can be, particularly when we're 
not just talking about riding down a few city blocks, but for several 
miles to get to the grocery store or what have you.
As for hiring a driver, I'll admit that I've never actually tried it, 
but because of the fact that things aren't exactly close at hand, I 
would think I would have to pay an arm and a leg to get any kind of 
services.
I disagree that taking a class at a community college is as easy as 
you're making it sound. When I was considering taking that route, my VR 
counselor told me flat out that transportation could not be provided to 
and from the college because it was too far away. they also wouldn't pay 
for the classes because you have to take at least 12 credits in order 
for the state to fund it. Community college courses may not be terribly 
expensive, but for folks like Michelle and myself who live on SSI, 
providing our own transportation, plus paying for the class would simply 
not be feasible.
I also have to ask this, and I'm not trying to start an argument, so 
please take it as a general query only. If I started calling around to 
local churches, wouldn't I have to be a member of their congregation 
before they would even think about providing rides? I consider myself to 
be a non-denominational Christian. I believe, but I do not want to be a 
part of an organized religion. I feel that I am entitled to this 
opinion, and that just because I'm blind, I shouldn't have to join an 
organization that I'll most likely be uncomfortable with just to be able 
to go places. I feel that's unfair both to myself and to the people who 
might provide transportation. They would expect a certain level of faith 
and involvement from me that I can't give, and I would expect them not 
to badger me about it. Either way you slice it, it doesn't seem right. 
It seems like it would cause a lot of strife and ill will.
I could be wrong about this, but I wish there were other places one 
could reach out to that didn't have that kind of burden attached to it.
Furthermore, how would payment be handled if you needed to travel a long 
distance? For example, many of my friends live at least an hour away. I 
haven't seen them in years. I wouldn't really expect someone to drive 
that far just to fulfill such a personal need. If I did, I would 
probably feel obligated to pay them as much money as a cab company would 
charge to go such a long distance. It's one thing if I need to go to the 
doctor or the store; things that adults do, in other words. But I would 
feel highly uncomfortable with expecting someone to chauffeur me for 
long distances just because I would like a social life. Is that really 
as juvenile as I think it is? Again, I'm asking this in all seriousness, 
because I don't know.

On 12/9/2013 3:19 PM, Ericka Short wrote:
> I usually refrain from taking sides but as a trained social worker I 
> have to agree with Dave.  The rest of the world doesn't know you exist 
> and they won't come to you so you have to make an effort.  I was 
> raised in a town of just over 10,000 which was the county seat.  There 
> was no transit available at all.  You either waked, rode with  family 
> or a friend, neighbor etc. Call any faith-based organization, share 
> your situation and they will help you.  Perhaps the county social 
> services needs to hear your story so they can help.  I hope the fact 
> you could be the instigator of change in you community for the better 
> motivates you to look into things more.  This is coming from someone 
> so shy nobody  heard me speak in public until I was in 7th grade. 
> College was very liberating and I dropped the shy person I was for the 
> most part and found my voice.
>
> If it is a college class you want to take, contact the disability 
> services program for ideas before signing up.  This is part of their 
> job.  They are there to help with more than just get your books in a 
> special format or help you find your way around. Contact the state 
> services for the blind or office of the  blind. In WI the office for 
> the blind works strictly with adults who are either not working or are 
> in retirement and need help doing daily living tasks.  No matter what 
> state, you are not alone Michelle. There are a lots of people in WI 
> stuck in rural areas with nothing but 300 residents, a bar, a church 
> and perhaps a convenience store.  Neighbors are miles away, not just 
> down the street.  Just keep looking.
>
> Ericka J. Short
> 262-697-0510
>
> "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Philippians 4:13
>
> "No hand is too small or too big to do good in this world." EJ. Short
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindtlk mailing list
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindtlk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindtlk_nfbnet.org/turtlepower17%40gmail.com 
>
> .
>

-- 
Desiree