[stylist] Transportation and help when needed

Mon Jan 27 18:27:06 UTC 2014

Ashley, you can consider yourself VERY LUCKY!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 11:49 AM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed

> Hi,
> that's too bad. here we have the lighthouse which provides volunteers to 
> drive people on errands; and of course the para transit, metro access, 
> goes most places too. Oh, and if you are a blind senior like age 60 plus, 
> the county and several nonprofits offer volunteer transportation.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Peter Donahue
> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 8:45 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Cc: braille at satx.rr.com
> 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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>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
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