[BlindTlk] You are a fall risk because you are blind

Ericka dotwriter1 at gmail.com
Sat Sep 2 19:44:10 UTC 2023 

Insurance companies are stupid and probably know nothing of blind folks. In your case it made sense. You’d have balance issues due to the surgery. 

Ericka Nelson


> On Sep 2, 2023, at 11:22 AM, Laz via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Actually it's not the fault of the doctors or nurses despite their
> unawareness or not; it's an insurance thing. I found this out the last time
> I was in the hospital a few years ago, having my toe amputated. The first
> time I tried to use the bathroom, I found myself standing on a very bouncy
> pad on the floor which covered quite a large area. I asked the nurses and
> doctors about it and found out it was because the insurance company has
> blind people on the list of fall risks and to cover their asses, the
> hospital has to do whatever it takes to limit their liability
> possibilities. They would not remove the pad. I told them that the pad
> irself increased my risk of falling as it made me very unstable when trying
> to walk, and they responded that I should just call the nurse if I needed
> to use the bathroom and she would help me get there safely. I told them
> that if I went down, there was no way she would be able to stop me and
> would likely result in two people being at risk of falling. It didn't make
> any difference. The pad remained and I just learned to balance on it even
> after my toe had been amputated and I had to be very careful how I walked
> to avoid hurting it.
> 
> Laz
> 
>> On Sat, Sep 2, 2023 at 12:07 PM Jody ianuzzi via BlindTlk <
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> This is my point exactly. We were all lumped together in one category They
>> never bother to get to know us as individuals I like the good old days when
>> a doctor spent more time talking with you than they did entering
>> information into the computer.
>> 
>> JODY
>> 
>> To Boldly Go  🖖🏻
>> 
>> 
>> thunderwalker321 at gmail.com
>> 
>> "What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."  NO BARRIERS
>> Erik Weihenmayer
>> 
>>> On Sep 2, 2023, at 11:55 AM, Jude DaShiell via BlindTlk <
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> In the southern states those hunting turkeys with shotguns get sent to
>>> Lions World International to rehabilitate once they join the blind club.
>>> These people have not yet adjusted to blindness and are at a higher fall
>>> risk.  Some elderly people loose their sight and do not go through
>>> adjustment to blindness programs and for as long as they're alive remain
>> a
>>> fall risk.  Medical and social workers having looked at you before
>> reading
>>> your chart react more toward safety for those in their care.  If the
>>> information on your chart with regard to blindness isn't accurate for
>>> whatever reason then even if those  workers look at your chart they'll
>> not
>>> be correctly informed either.  It wasn't until after 2013 and my
>>> retirement I learned what really caused my blindness and that I had never
>>> seen anything.  Doctors and parents earlier weren't completely truthful
>>> with themselves or me which is why I learned the real diagnosis as late
>> as
>>> I did.  By the way, I was able to give that information to 23andme which
>>> may help genetic research.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -- Jude <jdashiel at panix dot com> "There are four boxes to be used in
>>> defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that
>>> order." Ed Howdershelt 1940.
>>> 
>>>> On Sat, 2 Sep 2023, The Braille Cat via BlindTlk wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Man?? These folks with their total inability to think outside of the
>> Box really make me tired! I mean it's not like we went blind five minutes
>> ago now is it??
>>>> Jack and Bex
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPod
>>>> 
>>>> On Sep 2, 2023, at 8:58 AM, Pamela Dominguez via BlindTlk <
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> It might be different now, but the last time I was hospitalized in
>> 2012, I got up when I wanted to, and went and used the bathroom and
>> whatever.  I didn’t even know they didn’t want me to until I was almost
>> ready to go home.  But the reason I say it might be different now is, I go
>> to see my doctor in a hospital-type setting, and I complained that the
>> security guard didn’t want me to practically move, not to go out by myself
>> to get my ride, not to come down from the other floor myself, not anything,
>> and everybody I complained to said that he was doing the right thing,
>> because he was looking out for my safety because I can’t see.
>> Access-a-ride wants you outside ten minutes before the ride, and it didn’t
>> matter what I said, he would not let me.  He said they had to come in and
>> get me.  Pam.
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from Mail for Windows
>>>> 
>>>> From: Mama Otter via BlindTlk
>>>> Sent: Friday, September 1, 2023 8:03 PM
>>>> To: Judy Jones via BlindTlk
>>>> Cc: Mama Otter
>>>> Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] You are a fall risk because you are blind
>>>> 
>>>> Hello. I can attest to this. I have also been totally blind since birth.
>>>> I have been hospitalized 3 times this year and all 3 times was told I
>>>> could not get out of bed by myself because I was blind and I was a big
>>>> fall risk. This was infuriating and degrading to say the least. I
>>>> complained to various doctors and nurses with no result. So it is
>>>> definitely rampant among medical professionals which is wrong in my
>>>> opinion. I do have balance issues but they are not related to my sight
>>>> or lack thereof and I do know how to compensate for them and have not
>>>> fallen ever in my home. And believe me with 2 cats underfoot there are
>>>> enough fall risks.
>>>> 
>>>> Charlotte
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On 9/1/2023 6:35 PM, Judy Jones via BlindTlk wrote:
>>>>> Hi, Jody,
>>>>> 
>>>>> No, I haven't gotten that, at this point.
>>>>> 
>>>>> In fact, the PT for my torn meniscus stated that blindness doesn't
>> affect
>>>>> my balance, as it has been a life-long condition, but thought I might
>> have
>>>>> something vistibular going on since I also have been in Covid
>> long-haul.
>>>>> 
>>>>> His respect for you should have run up a notch when you mentioned your
>>>>> martial arts expertise hahahaha.
>>>>> 
>>>>> It may either be time to shop for a new doc, or start him on an
>> "education"
>>>>> program.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Judy
>>>>> sent from my Samsung Galaxy phone
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Fri, Sep 1, 2023, 4:25 PM Jody ianuzzi via BlindTlk <
>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>>> The last time I went to see my doctor he really made me angry. He
>> told me
>>>>>> that he was concerned that I might fall because of my visual
>> impairment.  I
>>>>>> said that if I just lost my site that there would be a period of
>> adjustment
>>>>>> where I would have to learn alternative techniques to be more
>> confident.  I
>>>>>> told him that I have  been blind my entire life  I had no more chance
>> of
>>>>>> falling than he did and that since I started learning the martial
>> arts 52
>>>>>> years ago, I could probably teach him how to fall without getting
>> hurt!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Since this happened I have relayed the story to many people have told
>> me
>>>>>> that they are also considered a fall risk by medical professionals.
>> So is
>>>>>> this a new protocol? Are we all incompetent at walking without having
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Since this happened I have relayed the story to many people who have
>> told
>>>>>> me that they are also considered a fall risk by medical
>> professionals. So
>>>>>> is this a new protocol? Are we all incompetent at walking without
>> having to
>>>>>> worry about falling?  I think it is so much of a coincidence that I
>> have
>>>>>> heard the story from many places around the country. I think I think
>> we
>>>>>> really have to educate the medical profession as well as everyone
>> else!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> JODY
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> To Boldly Go  🖖🏻
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> thunderwalker321 at gmail.com
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> "What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."  NO BARRIERS
>>>>>> Erik Weihenmayer
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Sep 1, 2023, at 6:55 PM, Raul Gallegos - NAGDU via BlindTlk <
>>>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>>> Hello Mark. That’s a new one for sure.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On a different but slightly related note, I went on a cruise earlier
>>>>>> this year.
>>>>>>> Upon my re-entry back onboard the ship after indulging a nice and
>> long
>>>>>> day of sun and adult beverages, the security folks wanted to check my
>> cane
>>>>>> before letting me on the ship. I politely declined and told the nice
>>>>>> security person that my cane posed no threat and that I could just
>> walk
>>>>>> through the gate and that I have done this many times. He was rather
>>>>>> insistent, however. So, the compromise was to let me walk through,
>> then
>>>>>> they would check the cane anyway. Considering I was tired, and a
>> little,
>>>>>> well, happy, and I didn’t want my good mood to be ruined, I let the
>>>>>> security folks check my cane after I walked through. Here is where the
>>>>>> funny part comes in.
>>>>>>> As I am standing in front of the nice security person while my cane
>> is
>>>>>> getting checked for contraband, he puts his hands under mine and
>> tells me
>>>>>> that it is all going to be okay, and I can just lean forward on him,
>> and he
>>>>>> will make sure I do not fall. I instantly figured out that he honestly
>>>>>> thought my cane was for balance, not guiding. Instead of educating him
>>>>>> further, I grabbed his hands and started dancing with him. We twirled
>>>>>> around a few times, and as we danced, I educated him that my balance
>> was
>>>>>> better than fine, and that my cane made a great dance partner when my
>> wife
>>>>>> was not around and when my cane wasn’t doing its real job of guiding
>> me.
>>>>>>> In the end, it was a funny time, and hopefully, this nice security
>>>>>> cruise ship person received a little education in a positive way.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Raul Gallegos
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> From: nFB-Talk <nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Mark
>> Tardif
>>>>>> via nFB-Talk
>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, September 1, 2023 5:25 PM
>>>>>>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Cc: Mark Tardif <markspark at roadrunner.com>; NFB of Florida Internet
>>>>>> Mailing List <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; NFB Talk Mailing List <
>>>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Subject: [NFB-Talk] Strange Stuff
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Alright, friends.  I’m going to tell you something that will either
>>>>>> leave you laughing or crying, and it is to demonstrate that no matter
>> how
>>>>>> well educated you are, if you are not familiar with blindness, well,
>> you
>>>>>> can still come across as, to put it politely, not the brightest light
>> in
>>>>>> the room.  The other day I saw a doctor I had never met before.  He
>> had
>>>>>> never spoken with someone who was born blind, and I suspect he had
>> never
>>>>>> spoken with any blind person.  Anyway, he saw my long white cane and,
>> get
>>>>>> this, asked if this was my “eye stick.”  Yes, that was the term he
>> actually
>>>>>> used, “eye stick.”  I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or to just moan
>> with
>>>>>> sadness, but one does need to remember manners in this situation, so
>> I told
>>>>>> him that we call it a long white cane and told him what it was for.
>> He
>>>>>> actually asked a number of good questions about blindness, which I
>> thought
>>>>>> was good, but it was clear that he needed much educating.  He seemed
>>>>>> surprised I can actually walk around town independently.  I guess we
>> have a
>>>>>> lot of work to do, still, to put it mildly.  Also, I must say that
>> while
>>>>>> people up here are often extremely nice and courteous, they seem to
>> pride
>>>>>> themselves on being quite insular, even more than the rest of Maine,
>> which
>>>>>> is my state incidentally.  I say that because along with the term “eye
>>>>>> stick,” I’ve often heard some very strange and, frankly, primitive
>> ideas
>>>>>> that I won’t actually go into here, but I do often think that holds
>> us back
>>>>>> in a lot of ways.  Anyway, I just thought I would share that bit of
>>>>>> strangeness.
>>>>>>> Mark Tardif
>>>>>>> Nuclear arms will not hold you.
>>>>>>> 
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