[stylist] Linda

Mon Jan 27 19:37:32 UTC 2014

Sending you the best Linda and thank goodness for randem acts of kindness.

Hope your hubby is better! Keep us informed, please.

Hugs,
Atty

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jacobson, Shawn D" <Shawn.D.Jacobson at hud.gov>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 12:44 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed

> Yes
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley 
> Bramlett
> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 1:37 PM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>
> Hi,
> Can I use this email address for off list stuff shawn?
>
> I do agree we need much improvement. I'm just saying that  in some areas 
> there is more help than in other places. For instance columbia lighthouse 
> for the blind. You're right some further out places do not have buses; and 
> even in parts of vienna and mclean which is not far from me, you would not 
> have public transit. But overall we have much more transit than much of 
> the country and I think it might get better with extension of metro rail.
>
> Ashley
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jacobson, Shawn D
> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 12:12 PM
> To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>
> Ashley
>
> I agree that transit for blind folk in DC is better than in most parts of 
> the country.  Even so, we still have some issues.
>
> I know that for one of our NFB BELL programs the last two years, we found 
> a good spot, but it was outside the metro access area.  We ended up 
> spending better than three grand on drivers to get the students, and 
> volunteers, to and from the site.
>
> Part of the problem is that the DC area is extremely spread out; we've got 
> urban sprawl to the max.  Where I live in Olney MD (on the ragged edge of 
> mass transit) I am two hours (by bus and metrorail) from my office.  I've 
> had to go to a couple of county council meetings to advocate for my bus 
> route.  Fortunately I was successful; had I not been, I would be two miles 
> from the nearest bus stop.  There was a time when this would not have been 
> a problem, but I am getting older and less willing to walk long distances.
>
> The moral of the story is that even where there is good mass transit, 
> there are still difficulties to overcome.
>
> Shawn
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley 
> Bramlett
> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 11:49 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> 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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