Re: Re: Hello - new to group

[Guest guest]

I think most of us understand that particular frustration. Having to plan

activities around other people’s schedules or some transportation provider

is a pain in the you know what.

Becky

_____

From: blind-diabetics

[mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of vwatson222

Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 6:58 PM

To: blind-diabetics

Subject: Re: Hello - new to group

Thanks for the advice everyone! My mother is signed up with the

local transit system for the disabled, and uses those services to get

to and from work. Perhaps her biggest challenge will be accepting

that she can no longer just get in her car and go where she wants

whenever she wants. She lost her ability to drive over 10 years ago,

and felt like she lost all her independence. Our family provides

rides as well, but we will never be able to give her back the freedom

that she had while she was able to drive.

>

> Do you have a transit system for the disabled in your locale?

> If you do, she can sign up for service with them. I lived in an

area where such service was available, and all I had to do was

request transportation service at a specific time to a specific

location, then pay a nominal fee to the driver, who would pick me up

from the desired place to where I had been transported back to my

house at a specific time. They would just drive up to my residence,

toot the horn, and I would walk to the vehicle, then climb aboare to

be delivered to the place of my desire. If such service is available

in your area or her area, I am sure as a blind person, she would

qualify as being eligible for transportation service.

> Welcome aboard Vickie, and I look forward to hearing from you here.

> Hello - new to group

>

>

> Hello all,

> I am new to this group and would like to introduce myself. My

name is

> Vickie, and I joined this group because my mother lost her vision

to

> diabetic retinopathy, and has been legally blind for over ten

years

> now. She has had Type 1 diabetes since her early 20s. I hope that

I

> can offer some knowledge or support to others who may be

experiencing

> the same. In addition, I am very interested in the resources that

are

> posted on the page. Specifically, any suggestions that can help

with

> transportation issues would be great! My mom is still very afraid

to

> take the public bus, as she can not tell which bus she is getting

on,

> if the bus is still moving, etc.

> Thank you, and I look forward to participating in this group!

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Vicki

Unfortunately a lot of people have difficulty adjusting. But since it has

been over 10 years and she doesn’t seem to realize or care that her family

is doing the best they can but can’t do everything for her, maybe someone

from the outside needs to talk with her about what a strain she is putting

on all of you. Perhaps the therapist could try to help her understand this.

Becky

_____

From: blind-diabetics

[mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of vwatson222

Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 2:20 PM

To: blind-diabetics

Subject: Re: Hello - new to group

Hi ,

Nice to meet you! My mother is 58. She got type I diabetes when she

was 20, and went blind at about 40.

I should clarify. My mother has actually had mobility training with

both a cane and her seeing eye dog. She is signed up to use the

disability services transportation. She lives in Connecticut, and

actually does have many resources for mobility. Unfortunately,

refuses to use many of them. I think she may be embaressed to use

the cane (she still refuses to consider herself " disabled " , and I

feel like she will never be happy because she can no longer " just get

in her car and drive. "

It has been over 10 years since she went blind. Although she

regularly sees a therapist, she still seems very resistant to fully

accept that she is blind, and can not live her life the way she did

as a sighted person. For my part, I just try to be supportive in any

way I can, but her refusal to use the services available to her is

starting to tire me and the family. She sees it as the family's

responsibility to care for her, and although we try as much as we

can, we simply can't do it all on our own.

Thanks for listening, it's nice to be able to communicate with others

who share similar experiences.

-Vickie

>

> Vickie,

> Welcome to the list. I back up the other 2 answers you had from

people

> about transportation. The local Dept. ofRehabilitation can give you

> resources and perhaps she can become a client of the DOR. The

> counselor-teacher can give your mother mobility lessons as well as

> independent living skills training. What State do your live? Also,

most

> cities have a local para-transit system that will provide rides for

> people with disability. But, your mother needs mobility training

so

> she know s how to correctly use a white can. How old is your

mother? I

> have ben type 1 diabetic since the age of 22 months old; I ham now

going

> on 65 and I went blind when I was 34.

>

> Hello - new to group

>

> Hello all,

> I am new to this group and would like to introduce myself. My name

is

> Vickie, and I joined this group because my mother lost her vision

to

> diabetic retinopathy, and has been legally blind for over ten years

> now. She has had Type 1 diabetes since her early 20s. I hope that I

> can offer some knowledge or support to others who may be

experiencing

> the same. In addition, I am very interested in the resources that

are

> posted on the page. Specifically, any suggestions that can help

with

> transportation issues would be great! My mom is still very afraid

to

> take the public bus, as she can not tell which bus she is getting

on,

> if the bus is still moving, etc.

> Thank you, and I look forward to participating in this group!

>

>

> __________ NOD32 2404 (20070717) Information __________

>

> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

> http://www.eset. <http://www.eset.com> com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Vicky

I have done a lot of counseling with newly blind people as I was a

counselor-teacher for many years and went blind at age 34. Your mother

needs to be told bluntly that her refusal to take charge of her self is

putting an unfair burdon her family. You all are enabling her by

“taking care” of her after all this time. Tough love is a hard thing to

d, but is sometimnees the only thing that might work. ))P.S. It is

n-o-t the family’s responsibility to take care of her-and this not mean

you don’t love her!)

Hello - new to group

>

> Hello all,

> I am new to this group and would like to introduce myself. My name

is

> Vickie, and I joined this group because my mother lost her vision

to

> diabetic retinopathy, and has been legally blind for over ten years

> now. She has had Type 1 diabetes since her early 20s. I hope that I

> can offer some knowledge or support to others who may be

experiencing

> the same. In addition, I am very interested in the resources that

are

> posted on the page. Specifically, any suggestions that can help

with

> transportation issues would be great! My mom is still very afraid

to

> take the public bus, as she can not tell which bus she is getting

on,

> if the bus is still moving, etc.

> Thank you, and I look forward to participating in this group!

>

>

> __________ NOD32 2404 (20070717) Information __________

>

> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

> http://www.eset. <http://www.eset.com> com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

vicky, i agree one hundred percent . i have only been blind for four years and i

would want someone to kick me in the butt if i wouldnt face up to it and do

something for myself. ten years is far too long to have a pitty party. karen

Hello - new to group

>

> Hello all,

> I am new to this group and would like to introduce myself. My name

is

> Vickie, and I joined this group because my mother lost her vision

to

> diabetic retinopathy, and has been legally blind for over ten years

> now. She has had Type 1 diabetes since her early 20s. I hope that I

> can offer some knowledge or support to others who may be

experiencing

> the same. In addition, I am very interested in the resources that

are

> posted on the page. Specifically, any suggestions that can help

with

> transportation issues would be great! My mom is still very afraid

to

> take the public bus, as she can not tell which bus she is getting

on,

> if the bus is still moving, etc.

> Thank you, and I look forward to participating in this group!

>

>

> __________ NOD32 2404 (20070717) Information __________

>

> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

> http://www.eset. <http://www.eset.com> com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Unfortunately you speak the truth my friend.

While it may sound harsh and uncaring it is what need to happen for the

welfare of Mom and family alike.

I lost all of my sight nearly 20 years ago and, Thank God, I had a wife who

had my best interest at heart and kicked me in the butt when I needed it.

Cy, the Ancient Okie...

_____

From: blind-diabetics

[mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of LaFrance-Wolf

Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 6:20 PM

To: blind-diabetics

Subject: RE: Re: Hello - new to group

Vicky

I have done a lot of counseling with newly blind people as I was a

counselor-teacher for many years and went blind at age 34. Your mother

needs to be told bluntly that her refusal to take charge of her self is

putting an unfair burdon her family. You all are enabling her by

“taking care” of her after all this time. Tough love is a hard thing to

d, but is sometimnees the only thing that might work. ))P.S. It is

n-o-t the family’s responsibility to take care of her-and this not mean

you don’t love her!)

Hello - new to group

>

> Hello all,

> I am new to this group and would like to introduce myself. My name

is

> Vickie, and I joined this group because my mother lost her vision

to

> diabetic retinopathy, and has been legally blind for over ten years

> now. She has had Type 1 diabetes since her early 20s. I hope that I

> can offer some knowledge or support to others who may be

experiencing

> the same. In addition, I am very interested in the resources that

are

> posted on the page. Specifically, any suggestions that can help

with

> transportation issues would be great! My mom is still very afraid

to

> take the public bus, as she can not tell which bus she is getting

on,

> if the bus is still moving, etc.

> Thank you, and I look forward to participating in this group!

>

>

> __________ NOD32 2404 (20070717) Information __________

>

> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

> HYPERLINK " http://www.eset. " http://www.eset. <HYPERLINK

" http://www.eset.com " http://www.eset.-com> com

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think we all went through a tough time initially when losing our

vision. I was 34, married to a not very compassionate person and 2

small children. There went my working as an RN, driving and initially

going to school. I also lived out in the country where there no

transportation services (this wasn’t ’77). It was tough, so I have

always been sympathy to people who lose their vision-but one needs to

get over that and move on for ones own sake as well as the sake of those

who love us. It becomes selfish after while to dwell on only ones

misfortunes!

Hello - new to group

> >

> > Hello all,

> > I am new to this group and would like to introduce myself. My

name

> is

> > Vickie, and I joined this group because my mother lost her vision

> to

> > diabetic retinopathy, and has been legally blind for over ten

years

> > now. She has had Type 1 diabetes since her early 20s. I hope that

I

> > can offer some knowledge or support to others who may be

> experiencing

> > the same. In addition, I am very interested in the resources that

> are

> > posted on the page. Specifically, any suggestions that can help

> with

> > transportation issues would be great! My mom is still very afraid

> to

> > take the public bus, as she can not tell which bus she is getting

> on,

> > if the bus is still moving, etc.

> > Thank you, and I look forward to participating in this group!

> >

> >

> > __________ NOD32 2404 (20070717) Information __________

> >

> > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

> > HYPERLINK " http://www.eset. " http://www.eset. <HYPERLINK

> " http://www.eset. <http://www.eset.com> com " http://www.eset.

<http://www.eset.-com> -com> com

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Vickie,

could you check in her area for a person who may have been blind a little longer

then she has? who may be more adjusted to their blindness and diabetes? I'm

only making this suggestion because well, I've been blind all my life. When I

was in pre-school and early elementary school before they started mainstreaming

blind children and children with other disabilities into schools with the non

disabled. the parents who were having a hard time adjusting to a blind child

were pared with parents who were more adjusted to their blind child. In my case,

Mom and Dad were the ones who needed support from my friend 's parents. So

not only did the parents receive support but I gained a new friend as well. So

if or I had something blindness related we were trying to adjust to we

could go to one another for support. Hope this helps.

Connie

Hello - new to group

> >

> > Hello all,

> > I am new to this group and would like to introduce myself. My

name

> is

> > Vickie, and I joined this group because my mother lost her vision

> to

> > diabetic retinopathy, and has been legally blind for over ten

years

> > now. She has had Type 1 diabetes since her early 20s. I hope that

I

> > can offer some knowledge or support to others who may be

> experiencing

> > the same. In addition, I am very interested in the resources that

> are

> > posted on the page. Specifically, any suggestions that can help

> with

> > transportation issues would be great! My mom is still very afraid

> to

> > take the public bus, as she can not tell which bus she is getting

> on,

> > if the bus is still moving, etc.

> > Thank you, and I look forward to participating in this group!

> >

> >

> > __________ NOD32 2404 (20070717) Information __________

> >

> > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

> > HYPERLINK " http://www.eset. " http://www.eset. <HYPERLINK

> " http://www.eset.com " http://www.eset.-com> com

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Vickie,

I just had a couple of other thoughts.

First of all, if your Mom doesn't feel comfortable taking busses she might be

able to take advantage of a parra transit bus. Which is a van or small bus that

takes disabled people from door to door.

Or the busses here in Kalamazoo have intercoms on them. So when the door opens

you might hear route 11 stadium drive. At each stop the bus announces where it

stops. Such as Western Michigan University.

My third and final thought is a Seeing Eye dog knows better then to try to board

a bus if it is not completely stopped.

Hope this helps.

Connie

Hello - new to group

> >

> > Hello all,

> > I am new to this group and would like to introduce myself. My

name

> is

> > Vickie, and I joined this group because my mother lost her vision

> to

> > diabetic retinopathy, and has been legally blind for over ten

years

> > now. She has had Type 1 diabetes since her early 20s. I hope that

I

> > can offer some knowledge or support to others who may be

> experiencing

> > the same. In addition, I am very interested in the resources that

> are

> > posted on the page. Specifically, any suggestions that can help

> with

> > transportation issues would be great! My mom is still very afraid

> to

> > take the public bus, as she can not tell which bus she is getting

> on,

> > if the bus is still moving, etc.

> > Thank you, and I look forward to participating in this group!

> >

> >

> > __________ NOD32 2404 (20070717) Information __________

> >

> > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

> > HYPERLINK " http://www.eset. " http://www.eset. <HYPERLINK

> " http://www.eset.com " http://www.eset.-com> com

> >

> >

> >