[stylist] Transportation and help when needed

Sat Feb 1 20:35:25 UTC 2014

Atty,
Congratulations on finishing your book! For me, the editing was a much
longer process. *grin*
Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Atty Rose
Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 8:55 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed

I have both blind and sighted friends. I see the blind friends less, though
I have just started a health and fitness group in our comunity for the
blind, so that could change.

I belong to different groups that have mostly sighted folks in them.

I do remember having little ones and taking the bus, first with the baby in
the front carrier, the back carrier, the stroler and the wrist connector.
Time to put mommy on a leash. LOL

As a single parent I did a lot of hauling kids around.

Life is one huge adventure!

By the way, I finished my book I was working on and am now in re-write. Some
of it is brilliant and some of it well, just isn't. LOL  I can fix it all!

Write on,
Atty

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 10:52 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed

>I completely relate, Lynda.
>
> Most the friends I had before blindness are no longer friends, and the
> few I do, I no longer see on a regular basis. I've made very few new
> friends, and of these new friends, most are blind too.
>
> It's like the minute I lost my sight, I also lost the person I was.
> People just assume I will have nothing in common with them because
> blindness is such a vastly different experience. I still enjoy all the
> same things as before, many being so-called visual things, yet most
> can't get over the blindness.
>
> My family has never been close, at least not like some families. Ross
> and I are pretty independent and don't require much daily or even weekly
> assistance. We use various tools, methods and products to do things, at
> least when they are necessary. The biggest help I need most weeks is
> making sure Declan's clothes are all matched and no major stains. I
> safety pin outfits together, but every now and then items go missing.
> This, I've found, has been the biggest obstacle as a blind parent so
> far, grin. My family isn't always sensitive though to the times we could
> use some sighted help. And transportation is very difficult to come by
> in particular with them.
>
> As a blind person, I don't always know if people are outside unless they
> make obvious noise. When I hear neighbors, I say high, but my husband
> and I have been in our yard , knowing the neighbors we share a fence
> line with are also out, and they never are the first to say high. So
> this makes meeting neighbors difficult. Oddly enough, when Declan is
> with us, neighbors are more likely to initiate conversation than when we
> are alone. Funny that a 17-month-old acts as a buffer, LOL!
>
> I know some blind people who seem to have transportation available at a
> moments notice from family and friends, but this just isn't the case for
> us. In the warm months, taking the bus or walking isn't a problem, but
> this time of year, especially with the current weather, it's not always
> an option when I have baby. Ross takes a bus to work every day, and
> while in school, I took a bus, but I'm not comfortable dragging Declan
> out in the winter on a bus unless absolutely necessary. Cabs are pretty
> reliable here, but it can be costly depending on where you go.
>
> I think this is an issue most blind people deal with. Those of us who
> once could drive always lament about the loss of driving, and those who
> never could drive, wish they had had the opportunity. Like all other
> issue we deal with, because we are a small minority, not much is done to
> assist the situation.
>
> Bridgit
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda
> Lambert
> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 9:47 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>
>
> Transportation   is a problem most of us face.  When my husband
> collapsed
> and was unconscious last week, it really hit me when I realized I could
> not
> even get a mile away to the hospital by myself.  Most of the time I
> don't
> think a lot about my sight loss, but I just keep on going doing what I
> can
> do but when faced with anything that requires transportation, I would be
>
> helpless without hubby or my granddaughter who lives near me. Without
> them,
> I cannot even imagine what my life would be like. There would be nowhere
> I
> could walk to from  where I live. Everything requires a trip in the car.
>
> I can understand what Bridgit has said about making friends in the
> neighborhood - I think it would be very difficult to move into a new
> neighborhood and get to know people when you are blind.  Most sighted
> people
> would just not know what to do or how to be around blind people because
> most
> of them have never encountered blind people in a personal setting and
> they
> would not know how to deal with it.  I think they see us as nearly
> helpless,
> foreign, and that they would have nothing in common with us and they are
> not
> about to change their mind regardless of anything.
>
> I can relate to the comments that Peter has sent.  I lost my sight 6 1/2
>
> years ago. Along with the sight loss are the personal losses we all have
> (at
> least most of us). We lose family members, people we thought of as great
>
> friends, jobs, and ability to get from one place to another by
> ourselves.
> My sight loss became an enormous chasm between me and so many people in
> my
> world at that time. I would never have believed it had I not lived it.
> I
> lost my sight, but I did not lose "me." I am still the same person I was
>
> then, with all the same delights and passions but instantly when we
> become
> blind, we are not the same to everyone else around us. And, I think, we
> become their worst nightmare - that of being blind. We cannot be healed;
> we
> cannot be changed back to who we were before; and we cannot continue our
>
> relationship with them in the same way. So, they avoid us as much as
> possible. But, they watch us from a distance.
>
> My husband is doing ok, he has to go to the drs. for follow up from the
> testing that was done last week. He has always been the neighborhood
> "energizer bunny." He is a total workaholic. He forgets to eat, and I
> think
> that is what happened to him. He had not eaten since the afternoon
> before he
> collapsed - and that was at 1:30 pm, when I made him stop in the
> restaurant
> for a late lunch that day.  He is just the kind of person who has no
> interest in food or eating, and has to be reminded a lot that he needs
> to
> eat. He has always been like this - nothing new.  But at age 73 it's
> more
> important than ever to be eating regular meals - which he does NOT do.
> Thanks for asking.
>
> Today, I am sending some quarts of my homemade soup to two neighbors. I
> like
> to send little surprises to them now and then, and its very cold and
> been
> snowing for  days - they will enjoy this delicious Tomato Vegetable
> Soup.
> My husband had some last night, after it was made, and he told me he
> thinks
> it's the most delicious soup he has ever eaten. Wow! That was nice to
> hear.
> I hope the neighbors like it as well. One neighbor has an autistic son
> who
> has to be watched constantly - Bob helps them out as much as he can with
>
> their driveway, or parking, and today, some hot soup. This is a very old
>
> village and many of the people who live here, like us, go back
> generations,
> to the late 1700s in this village. So, that is why we all know each
> other.
> The town is 2 miles from here, and even there everyone knows who
> everyone
> else is even if they don't know them personally. When this happened to
> Bob
> last week, I heard someone say, "That is the Lambert's", and I turned
> around
> and said, "Yes, we are the Lamberts."  The city and all the surrounding
> areas would have only about 5,000 population. When you meet someone new
> here, they will say, "what year did you graduate?"  It is assumed you
> are
> from here, and knowing when you graduated places you in perspective with
>
> themselves. It is very funny!  My sister says, it is clanish! lol  It's
> very
> typical, rural, Pennsylvania.  Any blind services I received came from 2
>
> hours away.  And, I know Donna lives across the state which is in the
> mountains, and it would be pretty much the same there unless you are in
> one
> of the cities, and this is why I was not very happy to hear that
> university
> profs. would expect her to just show up to do a little presentation -
> there's a lot more involved with it than just doing that.
> It is so unrealistic, given the topography and the transportation
> issues. Lynda
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter Donahue" <pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com>
> To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: <braille at satx.rr.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 8:45 AM
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>
>
>> Good morning everyone,
>>
>>    We've had the same issues here. In a city as large as San Antonio
>> it's
>> inexcusable that there aren't organizations that operate pools of
>> individuals willing to assist blind and other disabled individuals
> with
>> such tasks as providing transportation particularly in to areas not
> served
>> by public transportation or serve as readers. We have snail mail here
>> that's a year and a half old. Some of the items may be checks which
> would
>> come in handy right now.
>>
>>    I have family members living near by but asking them for assistance
>
>> is
>> a kin to opening a nasty can of worms! My sister offered to take one
> of
>> Mary's watches in to have some links taken out of the band but
> wouldn't
>> commit to a time to return it to her. After an inflammatory
> conversation
>> she angrily drove in to town to return Mary's watch. We appreciate
> their
>> willingness to help when the spirit moves them but not the catfights
> that
>> often go along with it.
>>
>>    Even in situations when we've offered to pay someone to take us
>> somewhere we've received 0 response. There are services we could apply
> for
>> but must do it in person. Getting transportation to these providers
> has
>> become a thorn in our side and we're really getting tired of it!
> Perhaps
>> the NFB through the Jernigan Institute and working with our local
> chapters
>> could establish a national network comprised of individuals willing to
>
>> provide services to area blind persons on a paid or a volunteer basis.
> We
>> learned that two agencies in Cincinnati Ohio offer such services to
> blind
>> persons in that community. There is an organization in San Antonio
> that
>> reels in big bucks but does not offer such a program. One wonders what
>
>> they're doing with all the money they rake in besides throwing parties
> for
>> their members and benefactors.
>>
>>    Sorry I know this is a little off topic but it's a situation all
>> too
>> common and one this organization should address. All the best.
>>
>> Peter Donahue
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
>> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2014 9:40 PM
>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>>
>>
>>> Lynda,
>>>
>>> Firstly, my condolences to you and your husband; I hope he feels
>>> better, and you are able to get some answers.
>>>
>>> Unfortunately, in the city, you probably don't want to get in a car
>>> with a stranger. Omaha is a pretty big city, with about a million
>>> people living here, and saddly, we have a rather high crime rate, so
>>> I'm not comfortable getting into cars with strangers. Ross and I have
>
>>> had people randomly stop and offer rides, but we don't take them up
>>> on this offer. And I'm always surprised when women ask Ross because
>>> he's a big, tall, muscular guy; not someone I would offer a ride to
>>> if I were alone, grin. I've had people tell me they wouldn't want to
>>> meet him in a dark alley, ha-ha! He's a big teddy bear, but he
>>> doesn't look it.
>>>
>>> They didn't let you ride in the ambulance? Usually one person can
>>> ride along. Nonetheless, that's nice you live in a community like
>>> that.
>>>
>>> My husband and I are both blind, and if we didn't have public
>>> transportation, I'm not sure what we would do. We do have family and
>>> friends around, but they are not frequently available to provide
>>> transportation. My parents and siblings all live here, but my son
>>> goes days and even weeks without seeing any of them. We've lived in
>>> our house for almost two years, and we've only met two neighbors, and
>
>>> they only speak to us when we initiate conversation. We've spoke with
>
>>> neighbors and try to be welcoming and cordial, but I don't know if
>>> it's the blindness or what, but no one in our neighborhood seems
>>> interested in getting to know us any better. And we are involved in
>>> the NFB here, but again, outside of Federation activities, most of
>>> our fellow Federationist are not people we see socially. And most our
>
>>> personal friends are not married and certainly don't have children.
>>> It's difficult to find a babysitter, even in advance, so we don't
>>> often get out unless we can bring our son.
>>>
>>> So my point being, we would be stuck in our house without public
>>> transit, grin.
>>>
>>> Bridgit
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda
>>> Lambert
>>> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 1:07 PM
>>> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>>>
>>>
>>> Pennsylvania is a very rural state overall. There are no cabs
>>> anywhere here other than in the bigger cities, which are few and far
>>> between.  Most towns
>>> in PA are quite small and old - with no public transportation at all.
>>> Even
>>> getting the access fan can only take me to a very few places. Without
> a
>>> person to drive, most blind folks in PA would be sitting at home all
>>> day,
>>> every day.  This state is not only predominately rural, it is
> mountanous
>>>
>>> with long distances between the major cities.  Thank God for my
>>> wonderful husband who patiently takes me to where I need to be. I am
>>> so blessed.
>>>
>>> On that note, I have to say on Monday when we were having lunch Bob
>>> collapsed in the restaurant and was unconscious. He was taken by the
>>> anbulance to the hospital - and I am so very thankful I live in a
>>> very small community where we are known, and where people jump up and
>
>>> begin helping in
>>> an emergency.  When they put him into the ambulance, I was so
> frightened
>>> as
>>> I knew I had no way of even getting to the hospital.  I said to them
> "I
>>> am
>>> visually impaired, and I have no way of getting to the hospital."
>>> Immediately, a man stepped out from behind me and told me who he is -
> as
>>> it
>>> turns out he is a local pastor, who sees us every morning at the gym.
> He
>>>
>>> said, "Don't worry, Lynda," I am taking you to the hospital and I
>>> will stay with you until family can come."  He did just that - but,
>>> when things like
>>> this happen in our life, we become so acutely aware of how different
> our
>>>
>>> life would be without someone to help us.  Bob is recovering, and we
>>> do not yet know what happened to him. He has been at the hospital and
>
>>> drs. office
>>> three times this past week for tests. Things like this make me so
>>> thankful
>>> for living in a very small town that is so close to the residents and
>>> that
>>> step in quickly to assist each other in a crises.
>>>
>>> Lynda
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
>>> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 1:42 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Here's my attempt at being tactile to
>>> thefolkswhowant
>>> everything for nothing
>>>
>>>
>>>> If the university is willing to pay, a cab is an option, and this
>>>> way no person has to take a day or afternoon to drive. Just throwing
>
>>>> out options. A bus may be another option, though a bus certainly
>>>> isn't the
>>>
>>>> most convenient option.
>>>>
>>>> Bridgit
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lynda
>
>>>> Lambert
>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 7:38 AM
>>>> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Here's my attempt at being tactile to the
>>>> folkswhowant everything for nothing
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yes, this is very important. People just do not realize at all that
>>>> it
>>>
>>>> takes something more than just getting in our car and leaving home
>>>> so that we can be somewhere. Not only is it our time, it is someone
>>>> else's time.
>>> When
>>>> I go
>>>> to the pottery studio to work, it is an hour long dive each way.
>>>> Then,
>>> I
>>>> am
>>>> there 3-4 hours working. That is a six hour day for TWO people, plus
>>> all
>>>> the
>>>> expenses involved that April listed.  Not only is it very
>>>> inconvenient for the person who is taking us places, it is
>>>> expensive, too.  This is our reality and one that a sighted person
>>>> would never even think about for
>>> a
>>>>
>>>> second.
>>>> Lynda
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "April Brown" <aprilbrownshade at gmail.com>
>>>> To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 6:53 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [stylist] Here's my attempt at being tactile to the
>>>> folks whowant everything for nothing
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Donna,
>>>>>
>>>>>     I think it's great.  I'd emphasize one line though.
>>>>>
>>>>> "I have to get someone else to drive."  Emphasize that you have to
>>>>> pay them out of pocket for time, gas, and wear and tear on the car.
>>>>>
>>>>> Congrats!
>>>>>
>>>>> April Brown
>>>>>
>>>>> Writing dramatic adventure novels uncovering the myths we hide
>>>>> behind.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> rnet.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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