[stylist] Transportation and help when needed

Wed Jan 29 18:07:00 UTC 2014

Mic? Not sure who that is. They must not be part of the NFB Omaha
chapter. Are they members of the affiliate or a division?

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Atty Rose
Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2014 8:23 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed

Mic is in the NFB and is also hed of the transportation committee in the

OAB, so every voice helps.
Here's to getting around!
Atty
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2014 12:03 AM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed

> Agree. It depends on where you live in Omaha. And our ever-expanding 
> city never accomodates for the growth where transportation is 
> concerned.
>
> Our NFB chapter has discussed sending members to represent us during 
> the MAT meetings and other transportation meetings, but as you know, 
> it can be difficult encouraging our chapter members to do anything 
> outside attending chapter meetings. Although, often these committee 
> meetings meet in unbusable locations or happen at times when buses 
> aren't running, which always seems to defeat the purpose to me.
>
> Our Omaha chapter has a new member though, and he's already involved 
> with Mode Shift, the transit advocacy group I've been speaking about. 
> So hopefully he will continue to be a connection with them. I think 
> educating the public about an issue often does more than showing up to

> meetings, though I believe every little bit helps.
>
> Des Moines was far worse with their transit than Omaha, and this 
> includes the cabs. Ross and I were so happy to leave their because of 
> the transportation. Omaha definitely needs to be better, especially 
> the bus system though.
>
> Bridgit
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Atty 
> Rose
> Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 7:48 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>
>
> We have a transportation committee that meets every week in the OAB. 
> They also go to all the public meetings that MAT, our gbus system, 
> has.
>
> Omaha isn't the stone ages but it is not the best ever, transportation

> wise.
>
> Snugs,
> 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 10:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Transportation and help when needed
>
>
>> What about a task force operating within the Federation specifically 
>> dedicated to advocating for better public transit? In Omaha, we have 
>> a
>
>> similar organization, made up mostly of sighted people, who are 
>> working to advocate for better public transit. With more options and 
>> better time-tables, not to mention better routes, they are doing a 
>> lot
>
>> to bring awareness to the issue, which also includes pedestrian 
>> traffic. Our Omaha NFB chapter has done a few things with them. As 
>> blind people, we often want private transportation for free or 
>> nominal
>
>> fees, but public transit can be a great thing when you live in a city

>> that understands the importance of it. Omaha has a growing number of 
>> transit users, but we are still nowhere near where it should be. But 
>> if you are fortunate enough to live near a high-traffic area like 
>> Ross
>
>> and I do, taking the bus or calling a cab or even walking to some 
>> locations isn't too bad. Being a blind couple, we've always chosen 
>> places to live that are near a bus line. The organization here, 
>> called
>
>> Mode Shift, advocates for any public transit, which here includes 
>> horse and carriage vehicles, pull cabs, bus and taxis along with 
>> pedestrian traffic. A similar initiative could be adopted by the 
>> Federation.
>>
>> Bridgit
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Peter 
>> Donahue
>> Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 7:46 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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