[nabs-l] Could someone lend me a hand, please? (Question about juggling multiple items)

[Jewel S.]

Well, because of the lack of equipment (don't even have JAWS now, nor
even Microsoft Word), I had to drop my classes. If I left right after
classes, I didn't get home until 6:30pm, so staying after school to do
homework was not possible with my chronic fatigue, and the trips back
and forth just to do homework were driving me crazy already, and it
was just the first week! I told DSB that if they were not going to get
my equipment until the end of the semester, I would have to drop my
classes until they *did* get my equipment. I've been told that I'll be
lucky if it comes in by December...totally ridiculous, isn't it? Four
months?? I've never heard of anyone having to wait four months to get
equipment for school.

Anyway, for the first week, I just carried a bag on my back (since I
only had my binder, paper, voice recorder, and slate and stylus). That
worked, though my shoulder hurt by the end of the day. Still not sure
what I'll do when I have the equipment I need...DSS just won't do it,
saying they don't have the resources.

~Jewel

On 8/26/10, Serena <serenacucco at verizon.net> wrote:
> I really don't see why the DSS office can't find a volunteer to carry your
> backpack for you.  After all, they don't have to spend anymore money to do
> that.  Since you have a mobility impairment, having someone carry your
> backpack is similar to using a reader, except maybe, the person won't get
> paid.  Other than that, I don't have any creative ideas myself.  However, I
> have a good friend with a mobility impairment who might have some ideas.
> I'll ask her ...
>
> Serena
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jewel S." <herekittykat2 at gmail.com>
> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 4:47 PM
> Subject: [nabs-l] Could someone lend me a hand,please? (Question about
> juggling multiple items)
>
>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> As the title suggests, I need a bit of help...some advice, really. But
>> I sure wish someone could literally lend me a hand. I need that third
>> hand something fierce!
>>
>> Here's my dilemma. I will be starting school at the local community
>> college in two weeks. I have a very nice High Sierra rolling backpack.
>> It has a retractable handle with a T-grip which makes it easy to pull.
>> However, I also have a long white cane and a T-grip support cane. One
>> hand for the white cane, one hand for the support cane (I have tried
>> carrying things in my right hand while using the support cane and I
>> simply can't put enough weight on the cane to use it properly if I'm
>> holding something...if it can hang on my wrist, and is not too heavy,
>> I can do that, but it must be very light, such as a bag of light
>> groceries {a bag of papertwoels, a bag with shampoo and conditiner,
>> some small grocery items, etc.}, and one hand for the rolling
>> backpack. That just doesn't add up to two!
>>
>> My primary doctor and my chiropractor have warned me several times not
>> to put anything more than a few pounds on my shoulders or back, and
>> definitely not a backpack full of books, so carrying the bag on my
>> back when I use my support cane is out of the question. I have several
>> slipped discs in my neck and severe misalignment in my back and hips,
>> so I have to be careful not to carry too much. I also have problems
>> with my arms and wrists; if I carry something heavy on my wrist or
>> forearm, it will start tingling and sending lightning bolts of pain up
>> and down my arm. Further, with my bad hips and knees, using a waist
>> harness of some sort to pull the backpack seems out of the question as
>> well.
>>
>> I brought this concern up to the Disability office at the college and
>> they and I together could not think of anything to solve my problem. I
>> suggested a volunteer pulling my bag from class to class, but they
>> said they do not have the means to find someone or schedule such a
>> volunteer's time. I am going to ask my VR counselor and my O&M
>> instructor about it tomorrow, but I wanted to ask here. Surely I'm not
>> the only one who has had this dilemma? Are there any of you out there
>> who use both a white cane and a support cane with no hands for rolling
>> backpack or other items?
>>
>> Any advice, suggestions, or ideas would be invaluable to me, as I'm
>> truly at a loss. I didn't even think of it until yesterday when I was
>> at the college and tried to do it and couldn't, and was in no
>> condition to walk without my support cane without stumbling and/or
>> falling often.
>>
>> ~Jewel
>> Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
>> Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com
>>
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>
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-- 
~Jewel
Check out my blog about accessibility for the blind!
Treasure Chest for the Blind: http://blindtreasurechest.blogspot.com