[nabs-l] Living by NFB's Philosophy questions

[Ashley Bramlett]

Hi Gerardo,
How you get around is a personal preference.
As Joe said, be motivated for independence  to pursue for yourself, not due 
to an organizational philosophy.
Nfb philosophy says blindness is an inconvenience and one such inconvenience 
is transportation to work around.
I see you are working on that.  Hiring a driver is a good solution if you 
have the means.
Blindness shouldn't stop you from living a full life.  But keep in mind 
sighted people also cancel appointments due to inclement weather such as 
hard rain.
So I wouldn't put yourself down for not living by the philosophy because you 
backed out of an appointment.
You had a reason for cancelling.
For instance my mother hates driving in storms too and sounds like your 
parents do as well.  Its slippery and they can't see as well  and there's 
increased likelyhood of a reck.  If my mom can't reschedule she'll  go 
earlier and drive cautiously otherwise she postpones anything she can until 
the storm and rain ends.


Transportation is a struggle for all of us.  Even with good transit like in 
the DC area, buses don't run all the time and more limited service on 
weekends.  Public transit may not go everywhere you need to go either.
Many areas are lacking in good transit.  Do you live in or near a city? 
Typically cities have a public transportation system.  Many areas have a 
door to door service for people with disabilities called paratransit.  Where 
I live this is called Metro Access.
Are there other options in your area?
Is there a church you belong to that you could recruit volunteers from?  How 
about asking the lions club or  civic group such as the Rottery club?
If you are going to an event maybe you could ask someone else going to the 
event to give you a ride?   If you ask for rides regularly, offer something 
in exchange; its just polite, something like paying for a meal, gas, or some 
helpful favor.

I hope you were able to reschedule or go to a similar appointment so you got 
whatever you needed accomplished.

Ashley


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gerardo Corripio" <gera1027 at gmail.com>
To: "BlindStudents" <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 5:31 PM
Subject: [nabs-l] Living by NFB's Philosophy questions


> Hi listers: this week something happened I'd like to share which brings me
> to some questions about trying to live via NFB's philosophy.
> this week I had an appointment and unfortunately because of circumstances
> hard to explain depend on my parents to take me to places but an working 
> on
> getting a driver hired to whom I can contact when wanting to go places. Is
> this what it means when you guys talk about drivers?
> Anyway the weather outside was terrible! raining very hard thus my parents
> asked my oppinion on if I should cancel which when my parents told me that
> it was black outside and the weather didn't want to seem to clear I 
> accepted
> but have had a nagging feeling that I should have done something more but
> can't put my finger on what! if I would have had a driver would I still 
> have
> had to cancel? If I would have lived by NFB philosophy would I have 
> reacted
> being stubborn and went anyway? because making things worse two hours 
> later
> the weather began to clear! and I felt very (I don't know the word)
> impotence? I mean that lately when things happen and I may have a way to
> solve them I feel desperate like I want to do it but am afraid to go 
> forth!
> I have lots of plans and ideas which I've kept to myself in all the things 
> I
> can do but haven't had a chance to try! Is this the right path in getting 
> to
> live via NFB Philosophy? Would I have resolved the situation better had I
> had the tools such as informed choice and other concepts I've learned in
> reading the Braille Monitor and on the list?
> Gerardo
>
>
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