Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Frank.Whitney
From: Frank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Frank Whitney)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: electric mobility
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Date: 28 Feb 91 02:10:58 GMT
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>I cancelled out the doc appointment day but kept the trip to the college.
>Turned out that I was too sick the doc day to do much of anything.
>The trip to the college was a real MESS - they picked me up late, got me to
>the campus a half hour late (I was supposed to get there at 11) and I was
>supposed
>to be picked up at noon.  I requested my return be changed to 12:30 and
>they
>said okay.  I didn't get picked up until sometime after ONE.  I did not get
>home till just after TWO.  I was out of the house waiting at 10 A.M. - that
>is FOUR hours for something that I could have done with my car in (MAX) 1
>1/2
>hours.
It sounds like the transportation system for the disabled is similar
throughout the whole United States.  My wife who has MS had to give up
driving and it's very frustrating for her to have to wait on someone
or a bus to pick her up.  Her biggest grievance is when she has a half
an hour appointment with the doctor and she has to wait for all of the
elderly to get their shopping done.  I went with her one time and they
really abused the system.  Example, the driver had waited a half an
hour when she finally went into the store to find the person.  The
driver said that this type of occurrence happened all of the time.
Many of the people that really abused the system didn't need a ride in
the first place.  Now the bus is used mostly for transporting senior
citizens to and from places they want to go.  This was not the
original intended use for this vehicle!
>Yes, the cart is helping me but I am having a difficult time accepting the
>lose
>of my independence - I have been terrified of losing my ability to drive
>and
>now I have.
>On top of everything else, when I went outside to wait for VanTran, there
>was
>a college truck (plumbing department) that was parked in the blue area
>(which
>is the handicapped area and ramp) and it was parked on top of the ramp -
>the
>ONLY ramp to get on the sidewalk to wait for VanTran.  I went back into the
>security office and lodged a complaint.  An officer came out and proceeded
>to
>attempt to find the mental midget moron who was the driver of this campus
>vehicle
The driver of the vehicle should have been ticketed.  That's the way
it generally happens around here.  I couldn't believe when there was
an article in our local newspaper about a woman who wanted to have
her husband use her handicapped spot to free up a valuable non
handicapped spot for others to use.  I wrote a letter to the editor
explaining that I thought there should be pictures on the placards
that go into the window.  It was very difficult to write the letter
since I was so irritated.  I wanted to ask what her disability was
other then mental ability but I refrained since I wanted the letter to
be published.  You would be surprised at how many people supported my
point of view.
>call the campus and talk with someone else who can put some manners into
>this
>idiot or fire him.
Unfortunately, there are to many people who are just like the person
you described.  If I were physically able I would probably get a
valve stem remover and give him at least one flat tire.  I know that
it's against the law but it would be awfully tempting to do it.
>I did end the day a bit more pleasant - I got a haircut - found someone who
>was willing to come to the house and not too outrageous with price.
Yes, we have someone who comes to our house to cut our hair also.
She used to cut it at the mall but she said that if we ever needed her
to help she would be glad to help us out any way she could.  It sort
of restores your faith in human kindness.
>Yes, the cart helps me to get around outside the apartment - it is nice to
>not
>have to struggle so much and/or not be able to do things like get the mail.
>I have not attended classes since I had to drop out in fall of 1989. I am
>taking
>a lesser degree so voc rehab will say I am completing a part of my plan and
>not kick about paying for the cart.  I have no idea if I can attend classes
>come the fall - I am merely doing the footwork in case.
I'm not trying to push you where you don't want to go.  I'm just
trying to give you gentle encouragement.  If you can't attend classes
in the fall so be it.  The main thing is to be able to keep one step
ahead of the system.  So far it sounds like you've been able to do so
to a good extent.
Just last night Jeanne was laying in bed crying because she didn't
have her cart, she couldn't drive and she had to go to the doctors
today.  I feel for you and know pretty much what you are going
through.  I certainly wouldn't trade places that's for sure.  It
always seems like the progressive illnesses are always the hardest to
deal with because you are always in the midst of adjusting to new and
worse conditions.  You are in my prayers and I hope that you will have
an easier time of it.
Love and hugs to you.
Frank.

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