[Blindtlk] Hiring a Driver

Tue Dec 10 23:47:26 UTC 2013

Hi Desiree,

I suspect that hiring a driver to go places would be much cheaper than
taking a cab. Cab companies usually charge around $2 per mile. Even
with an hourly rate on top of gas, a driver that you hire for short
trips would be much cheaper especially since the person you  hire is
probably not a full-time professional driver. You could try looking on
Craigslist, or maybe advertising on an employment board at the
community college even if you don't attend? Could you go there one
time just to put in an ad? Or, is there anyone your parents work with,
who might know people (college students, or retired people) who might
be interested in driving?

I know that NFB chapters often get drivers for long distances like
going to NFB state conventions. If you have a driver you get to know
and trust, I don't see anything wrong with asking them to drive you
for a social meet-up. They could drop you off, hang out by themselves
in the city where they drove you to, then drive you back home when you
are ready. You would have to work out payment with them, but it would
still probably be cheaper than taking a cab.

Arielle

On 12/10/13, Desiree Oudinot <turtlepower17 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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/arielle71%40gmail.com
>