[Blindtlk] Blind married to a sighted

Fri Mar 22 20:14:05 UTC 2013

Ericka. At the convention in Madison on April 12-14 we will have the head of the public transit organization speaking. Come and talk with him. Here in Janesville, we have busses six days a week. They run every half hours, most of them, from 6:15 a.m. until 6:15 p.m., and then once an hour. On Saturday, they start later and end earlier.

There have been efforts to cut service. Our local NFB chapter has worked to keep the service we have, and make them look at expanding it. Let's talk about what we can do in your community.

Finally Salem. Having lived there, I rode the busses a lot. I do not know if the transit system is open to discussing better service, but it is a good thing for the local chapter to work on. Talk to your state president, Carla for help. The only time I miss Salem is when the temperature is below zero here in Wisconsin.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kendra Schaber
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2013 1:45 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Rblind married to a sighted

I thought that Salem, Oregon had bad transportation! We still have busses that run every fifteen minutes. We have a number of routes that run on the half hour and hour. As I've said in my last E Mail, we don't have any bus service on weekends. The busses run from 5 something in the morning to 9:00 P.M. or so depending on the route. Some routes end at 7 o'clock P.M. which is unfortunent. West Salem has only one or two busses that travel anywhere around that side of town. Most cities in Oregon have just as bad of public transportation to no public transportation at all. Portland, Oregon has the very best in the whole state of Oregon. Eugene has the second best to my knowledge and Salem is as far as I know, the third best in Oregon. Everyone always complains about how bad the busses are here in Salem.
Kendra
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ericka J. Short" <ericka.short at att.net>
To: <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2013 11:51 AM
Subject: [Blindtlk] Rblind married to a sighted

> Thanks for all the great feedback and Mari, I'll be in touch with you!
>
> I do have transit available but thanks for the kudos!  We have a very
> inadequate bus system in Kenosha.  Since it's the fourth largest
> community in WI they would be dumb to not provide anything.  Along
> with the 6 am to
> 5 pm  bus hours on M-F and 9 am tyo 43 pm on Sat. we  have the buses
> inconsistently running either on the half hour or the hour.  The
> website where you can get information is a mess and they haven't
> changed the routes in almost 40 years.  We are more of a bedroom
> community for  those working in IL, so  when the community expanded
> over the years all the stores left to the suburbs.  Sad to have this
> happen to a community of almost 100,000 people.  paratransit and a
> volunteer transportation program .  Nothing is free and  the problem
> is  it's hard to qualify for the paratransit or the volunteer help.
> They cost more than the bus and have income /age /disability
> requirements for them.  The transit system is on the bottom of the
> priority list so they do not  advertise or really fund it.  The head
> of the  program thinks that a trolley on rails is the answer to all
> Kenosha's busing problems.  The fact that  their has been a strong
> history of car manufacturing here is a big obstacle we have.  Too many
> on council and voters remember or had worked for  American Motors in
> the past.  We just lost the  Chrysler engine plant a few years ago.
> No matter how many statistics I toss, suggestions trying to work with
> them  or stories of stranded disabled they still  really don't care
> much.  When the city's transit commission decided this month not to
> meet because they had no items for their agenda, I know they have
> little in touch with those who might use it and those who depend on it
> in the community.  The Good thing here is that I am not alone.  We
> have two groups of advocates trying to work for improvements.  One is
> a religious affiliated one and the other is a grassroots advocacy of various disabled  working together.  More people, stronger voice!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-request at nfbnet.org
> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2013 12:00 PM
> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: blindtlk Digest, Vol 81, Issue 19
>
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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: visually impaired married to a sighted (justin williams)
>   2. Re: visually impaired married to a sighted (justin williams)
>   3. Re: visually impaired married to a sighted (Julie J.)
>   4. Re: visually impaired married to a sighted (Bryan Schulz)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:15:59 -0400
> From: "justin williams" <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
> To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] visually impaired married to a sighted
> Message-ID: <006f01ce213c$2edef0c0$8c9cd240$@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Wow.  I don't know how you do that.  I have simply decided that I am
> not living anywhere where there isn't a city that has at least desent
> transportation around me.  I am not downing what you did, but that is not
> for me.  I hope you can do a few things you like to do.   I think you
> really
> persevered through that.  Great job.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mari
> Hunziker
> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2013 11:00 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] visually impaired married to a sighted
>
> HI Ericka,
>
> I can totally relate. I am legally blind, low to high partical
> depending on the day as well married to a sighted man. We have been
> married for 15 and a half years and it has taken us a very long time
> to figure it out. I'd even say we are still learning how to deal with
> it each day. I too live in a small town in Texas with no
> transportation. I must rely on neighbors, friends, church members or
> my husband. He was in school fro the last 8 years
> - gone from 7am till about 11pm. I had to find the courage to ask
> someone for a ride. He just graduated in December and he is available
> a little more to help drive me around to get errands done. I've
> learned that I don't ever get to do what I want to do. Now that we
> have kids their needs come first.
> Grocery shopping, clothes, shoe, school supply shopping and then
> anything else that needs to get done. I have learned to plan and that
> actually took a while to develop since I am not a very organized
> person when it comes to meal planning. But my friends from church
> turned me onto a great monthly planner that does all the work for you.
> You just follow the steps and viola a sensational meal is ready in
> minutes.  I have attached it here for you and anyone on the list to
> take and copy. Take a look I think its great. It provides a great
> example of what to do if you want to change up the recipes to. Its
> called Month of Menus!. About the blind and sighted thing. There is a
> Department of Blind Services in your state.
> http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/blind/ There are several links with
> information on Adjustment skills, Adaptive Equipment, Blindness
> Education, Rehabilitation Teaching Services, Resources and
> Information, etc. Take a look at the link above and call to get some
> assistance. It will make a huge difference. Also, I am happy to talk
> or email off list. Let me know if you'd like my info and if you'd like
> to chat off line. Good luck and God Bless.
> Life is challenging, but we are all here to help each other through it.
>
> Thanks,
> Mari Hunziker
>
> On Fri, Mar 15, 2013 at 8:07 PM, Ericka J. Short
> <ericka.short at att.net>wrote:
>
>> I know we usually talk about computers, or philosophy here, but I
>> think this is an important topic. I just wondered what kind of things
>> people have done to make their sighted spouse understand the
>> disability thing.  The biggest part of things for us is that we have
>> horrible transit here in Kenosha and  so it's difficult to
>> independently travel alone.  My husband  just doesn't know what to
>> do about this. I take rides with  friends or people from church at
>> times, but some things I want to ride with my husband to together.
>> He either feels like he should be my only transportation  or not at
>> all.  It's driving me batty!  Another really big issue is the fact I
>> need things organized (not necessarily good at that however) to be
>> more independent.  If he's going to be all male and dump everything
>> in piles all over the house for me to trip over every once in a
>> while, then he can't get mad at me for a bill not getting paid, a
>> lost check or
> his the credit card.  Mine you there is no may to read a  credit card
> number on a cctv.
>>  I just can't do it.  He seems to think he  should "know" how to
>> handle it and  dosent realize that  some people have vision that
>> doesn't stay stable.  Being a partial it is really difficult to
>> explain.  Some days I can see better than others for example.
>>
>> I use my cane lots of the time outside the house and sometimes at church.
>>  Once I learn the set up of a place I don['t have to ask any more
>> questions usually than the average sighted person.  I can't read
>> print or use a monocular for a lot of outside things or indoors
>> either for that matter.  I do use strong reading  glasses a lot.  I
>> am learning braille but I"ve been a print user all l my life with
>> minimal computer skills and even less income  Help!  I feel like I'm
>> in the twilight zone of sight as it is and can see why he'd be frustrated.  I am too!
>>
>> Ericka
>> _______________________________________________
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>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindtlk_nfbnet.org
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>> blindtlk:
>>
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>> g
>> mail.com
>>
>
>
>
> --
> *Have A Blessed Day!
> Mari Hunziker
> 512-670-9950 home
> 512-587-1463  cell
> *
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:22:37 -0400
> From: "justin williams" <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
> To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] visually impaired married to a sighted
> Message-ID: <007101ce213d$1bb45d90$531d18b0$@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> I don't understand why he would think he shouldn't be your
> transportation, or be the only transportation you have.  Cuts down on flexibility.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ericka J.
> Short
> Sent: Friday, March 15, 2013 9:08 PM
> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Blindtlk] visually impaired married to a sighted
>
> I know we usually talk about computers, or philosophy here, but I
> think this is an important topic. I just wondered what kind of things
> people have done to make their sighted spouse understand the disability thing.
> The biggest part of things for us is that we have horrible transit
> here in Kenosha and so it?s difficult to independently travel alone.
> My husband just doesn?t know what to  do about this. I take rides with
> friends or people from church at times, but some things I want to ride
> with my husband to together. He either feels like he should be my only
> transportation  or not at all. It?s driving me batty!  Another really
> big issue is the fact I need things organized (not necessarily good at
> that
> however) to be more independent.  If he?s going to be all male and
> dump everything in  piles all over the house for me to trip over every
> once in a while, then he can?t get mad at me for a bill not getting
> paid, a lost check or his the credit card.  Mine you there is no may
> to read a  credit card  number on a cctv.  I just can?t do it.  He
> seems to think he  should ?know? how to  handle it and  dosent realize
> that some people have vision that  doesn?t stay stable.  Being a
> partial it is really difficult to explain.  Some days I can see better than others for example.
>
> I use my cane lots of the time outside the house and sometimes at church.
> Once I learn the set up of a place I don[?t have to ask any more
> questions usually than the average sighted person.  I can?t read print
> or use a monocular for a lot of outside things or indoors either for that matter.
> I do use strong reading  glasses a lot.  I am learning braille but
> I?ve been a print user all l my life with minimal computer skills and
> even less income Help!  I feel like I?m in the twilight zone of sight
> as it is and can see why he?d be frustrated.  I am too!
>
> Ericka
> _______________________________________________
> 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/justin.williams2
> %40gmail.com
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2013 08:30:47 -0500
> From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] visually impaired married to a sighted
> Message-ID: <51447407.3080103 at neb.rr.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>
> Ericka,
>
> My husband is sighted.  Before me he knew one other blind person and
> she had only been blind for a short time before he met me.  So his firsthand
> experience with blindness was extremely limited.   I think this actually
> turned out to be a good thing because he  hadn't come to a lot of odd
> assumptions about what I could and couldn't do.
>
> We have been married for 8 years now.  Anyway from the beginning I
> would just explain what would be helpful and what wouldn't as things
> came up in everyday life.  When we went to a restaurant and he tried
> to steer me from behind pressing on my shoulders, what is
> affectionately called the wheelbarrow method, I asked him to please
> never do that again.  I explained that I find it extremely
> disconcerting and awkward.  Instead I asked that he give me verbal directions or offer his arm for me to
> take.    I absolutely insist that whatever mobility method I use at any
> given moment, cane, guide dog, sighted guide or nothing, that it is
> always my choice.
>
> Our method for the mail and bills is this.  Whomever comes home first
> grabs the mail out of the box.  It goes on the end of the dining room
> table for sorting.  My husband sorts through the mail, putting my
> letters in a pile on the designated corner of my desk where I have
> asked him to put them.  I go through my mail myself using a CCTV.  We
> have split up our household bills so that we are each responsible or specific
> bills.   We have separate checking accounts.
>
> I too live in a small town.  There is limited public transportation.
> There is a door to door van service, a town to town van service, one
> taxi and shuttles that will take you to nearby larger cities that the
> local vans don't go to.  Mostly though, I walk.  The cool thing about
> little towns is that they are small enough that you can walk to most
> everything.  I can get to the bank, post office, courthouse, shopping,
> grocery stores, farmers market etc.  I cannot walk to WalMart, the
> hospital and one school where I have periodic meetings.  When I need a
> ride someplace I ask him.  If he is able to take me he'll let me know.
> If he can't I ask someone else.
>
> I agree organization is important.  Fortunately both my husband and
> myself are pretty organized.  We do have our individual messy spaces
> though.  His desk drives me nuts.  It's piles and piles of papers
> everywhere.   My craft supplies tend to be a bit wild too.  However the
> common living spaces are kept neat and organized.  It works for us.
>
> Could you have him read the credit card number to you so you could put
> it into a format that allows you independent access?  Maybe write it in
> bold black marker, Braille or audio?   Then you could use it to pay on
> line bills or internet shopping or whatever you needed.
>
> I agree with the suggestion to check out what services are available
> in your state.  I think when you feel more comfortable and confident
> in yourself that it will ease your husband's mind.
>
> Julie
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 16 Mar 2013 09:30:59 -0500
> From: "Bryan Schulz" <b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] visually impaired married to a sighted
> Message-ID: <6D0A92B241944E84A37FB1F045B9DD84 at HP8730notebook>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=response
>
> hi,
>
> if you are decent with your computer, you can use openbook even in
> demo mode if you can't afford it for 40 minutes then you have to
> restart it and you could scan your bill.
> Bryan Schulz
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Julie J." <julielj at neb.rr.com>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2013 8:30 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] visually impaired married to a sighted
>
>
>> Ericka,
>>
>> My husband is sighted.  Before me he knew one other blind person and
>> she had only been blind for a short time before he met me.  So his firsthand
>> experience with blindness was extremely limited.   I think this actually
>> turned out to be a good thing because he  hadn't come to a lot of odd
>> assumptions about what I could and couldn't do.
>>
>> We have been married for 8 years now.  Anyway from the beginning I
>> would just explain what would be helpful and what wouldn't as things
>> came up in everyday life.  When we went to a restaurant and he tried
>> to steer me from behind pressing on my shoulders, what is
>> affectionately called the wheelbarrow method, I asked him to please
>> never do that again.  I explained that I find it extremely
>> disconcerting and awkward.  Instead I asked that he give me verbal
>> directions or offer his arm for me to take.
>> I absolutely insist that whatever mobility method I use at any given
>> moment, cane, guide dog, sighted guide or nothing, that it is always
>> my choice.
>>
>> Our method for the mail and bills is this.  Whomever comes home first
>> grabs the mail out of the box.  It goes on the end of the dining room
>> table for sorting.  My husband sorts through the mail, putting my
>> letters in a pile on the designated corner of my desk where I have
>> asked him to put them.  I go through my mail myself using a CCTV.  We
>> have split up our
>> household bills so that we are each responsible or specific bills.   We
>> have separate checking accounts.
>>
>> I too live in a small town.  There is limited public transportation.
>> There is a door to door van service, a town to town van service, one
>> taxi and shuttles that will take you to nearby larger cities that the
>> local vans don't go to.  Mostly though, I walk.  The cool thing about
>> little towns is that they are small enough that you can walk to most everything.
>> I can get to the bank, post office, courthouse, shopping, grocery
>> stores, farmers market etc.  I cannot walk to WalMart, the hospital
>> and one school where I have periodic meetings.  When I need a ride
>> someplace I ask him.
>> If he is able to take me he'll let me know.  If he can't I ask
>> someone else.
>>
>> I agree organization is important.  Fortunately both my husband and
>> myself are pretty organized.  We do have our individual messy spaces
>> though.
>> His
>> desk drives me nuts.  It's piles and piles of papers everywhere.   My
>> craft supplies tend to be a bit wild too.  However the common living
>> spaces are kept neat and organized.  It works for us.
>>
>> Could you have him read the credit card number to you so you could
>> put it into a format that allows you independent access?  Maybe write it in bold
>> black marker, Braille or audio?   Then you could use it to pay on line
>> bills or internet shopping or whatever you needed.
>>
>> I agree with the suggestion to check out what services are available
>> in your state.  I think when you feel more comfortable and confident
>> in yourself that it will ease your husband's mind.
>>
>> Julie
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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/b.schulz%40sbcg
>> lobal.net
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Subject: Digest Footer
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> ------------------------------
>
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