| 11/28/2008 2:43:47 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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midnightgambler
Memphis, TN
age: 32
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I haven't ever started driving because I have a vision problem I was born with. Technically I could if I wanted to badly enough since I can get my vision barely to the borderline limit. (still on the borderline of legally blind even then). But anyway I'm getting really sick of depending on others to take me places. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas to be more independant. A lot of people who are totally blind live independant lives and yet I can't ever figure out what to do to to get around and my vision isn't close to truly blind.
It's just driving me insane. I feel trapped and I have to do things on other people's schedule. I thought about riding the bus to some places, but Memphis is far from a "safe" city and so I would most likely be anxious riding public transportation. 
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| 11/28/2008 8:30:27 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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foxy_woman_49
Omaha, NE
age: 50
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I feel trapped as well not being a driver.
It sucks asking for help.
I cant get anywhere I need to be
just found out through social services they DO have a program where you CAN get rides.
Contact them
Its all out there just gotta know how to find help
Being disabled you are entitled rides
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| 11/28/2008 11:01:08 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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hiker42
Colorado Springs, CO
age: 56
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Some practical solutions. If you can move to an area of town where most things are accessable by walking. Have a friend ride the bus with you to familerize yourself with the system, discounts and passes. You may even meet people there, I did,even went out with one of the drivers. Sometimes things unknown tend to be maoe intimedating than they really are. When vision permits I bike the more quiet streets and get a free workout too whth the added benifirs of endorfins. Research vision impaired groups at your local library. I use a backpack and collapsibe cart to make grocery runs. Having a network of friends prevents relience on any ome person and by doing what you can in return a balanse is sturck wherein there is no negative feelings in asking for a hand. In angling on things sometimes I feel like a cross between Robinson Caruso and Da Vinchi but thats just a benifit in my book.
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| 11/28/2008 1:08:15 PM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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bigbadklondyke
Eaton, OH
age: 45
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depending where you are at you can get medical transport but that's all other things like going to the store , personal or things a long that nature you are on your own & this can really SUCK hang in there
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| 11/28/2008 8:00:29 PM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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midnightgambler
Memphis, TN
age: 32
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Thanks for the responses. Yeah, my mom always says I need to find a decent area of town that is within walking distance of a lot of things too. I guess in the long run that's what I need to be sure and do and then if I badly need to go further I guess I would have to pay whatever crazy prices taxi services now are.
And I have heard about transportation provided to disabled people also. I guess I should listen to my mom more because these are the main things she has said also. lol
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| 11/29/2008 1:39:51 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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forever4
Victoria
Australia
age: 48
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hey midnightgambler in replie to your post I have never drove either due to my lapse in concentration what if you use public transport during the day thats what I do I find I can get to most places I never go out at night and make sure Im home at a reasonable time its a real pain in the behind having to depend on other people so I would rather do it myself that way using transport Im in Australia so Im not sure what your public trasport is like have you got a freind that can go with you shopping do they deliver your groceries to your place let me know how you go take care Lorraine Also WELCOME TO THIS SITE ,
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| 11/29/2008 1:41:39 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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forever4
Victoria
Australia
age: 48
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Thanks for the responses. Yeah, my mom always says I need to find a decent area of town that is within walking distance of a lot of things too. I guess in the long run that's what I need to be sure and do and then if I badly need to go further I guess I would have to pay whatever crazy prices taxi services now are.
And I have heard about transportation provided to disabled people also. I guess I should l do you get a taxie card from the goverment where the cabbs are half price isten to my mom more because these are the main things she has said also. lol
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| 11/29/2008 1:43:20 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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forever4
Victoria
Australia
age: 48
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do you get taxie card over there where you can ride in taxies half price especialley iof your disabeled
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| 11/29/2008 5:42:38 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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midnightgambler
Memphis, TN
age: 32
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Not that I am aware of, but I should check into what services are available because maybe there is something like that.
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| 12/1/2008 10:43:00 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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foxy_woman_49
Omaha, NE
age: 50
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midnight as long as youre disabled the welfare ppl can get you free rides to the doctors and maybe even to the grocery store..Ask them
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| 12/1/2008 11:16:55 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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aquasoxfan
Everett, WA
age: 54
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Hi, In some areas you can get transportation services provided by a local city or regional service. Any public transportation service that receives either financial aid from either the state or federal government must provide these services for the disabled. Usually you have to get paperwork from your local agency to turn over to your doctor and have your doctor fill the paperwork out. The forms have a selection for temporary or permanent based on your situation. Check your local phone directory for DART (Some areas may call it "Dial A Ride"). Also, in some cases if you have a Medi-Care Card that will show that you are disabled. Ok, that may confuse some readers, to get the MediCare Card you have to be either Retired, or Disabled and be issued a card by SSA based on your disability.
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| 12/28/2008 3:37:51 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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midnightgambler
Memphis, TN
age: 32
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Yeah I can get transportation to a job if I need to, I think. But it's very depressing not being able to go places to socialize due to not having a way to. If I wanted badly enough to go to some certain place I'm sure someone would take me, but not always. I feel like I amw asting all of my positive attributes by sitting here and never using some of them. I never really date either and am very shy, which is driving me nuts because I am a really caring person, but I can't use it with anybody becuase I keep sitting here going nowhere!
I would say that my disability only holds me back in roundabout ways rather than direct ones. For one thing it's not obvious at all that I even have a vision problem. Someone would have to ask me to read something because that's the only way it's noticable for the most part. I don't have even the slightest issue with getting around walking, running, whatever else. So I can't claim I have been rejected due to my vision problem. But it keeps me from getting NEAR other people. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I've definitely got to make myself solve some of these issues soon because I am wasting away my good qualities and getting old. lol
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| 12/28/2008 6:00:42 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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smoothjazzster
Chattanooga, TN
age: 42
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It's just driving me insane. I feel trapped and I have to do things on other people's schedule. I thought about riding the bus to some places, but Memphis is far from a "safe" city and so I would most likely be anxious riding public transportation.
I've applied for a few positions at colleges/universities in the Memphis area the past few months (then again, I heard that Univ Memphis is on a hiring freeze right now). I knew from talking with someone in my graduate cohort in 2003 who graduated from there in undergrad that Memphis was not a safe place. He went on to say that most people live in the suburbs there, as the city itself is not a good place. I use public transporation, so the thought of working in Memphis has me somewhat concerned. But you gotta do what you gotta do.
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| 12/28/2008 5:39:12 PM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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lilmissala1957
Hartselle, AL
age: 51
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I can certainly relate to not being able to drive. A few years ago I couldn't drive for 6 months due to some medications I was on. Now about a month ago I was real sick and still can't drive yet. It hasn't been a big problem other than my son is always late. I really haven't wanted to go anywhere until today. I just wanted out of this house for a while. And there was no one to get me out. Oh well tomorrow is another day.
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| 12/29/2008 12:20:37 AM |
Not Being Able To Drive |
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midnightgambler
Memphis, TN
age: 32
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Yeah it's just so frustrating. And it's making my mood very bad to not get out enough.
smoothjazzster, yeah I live in a suburb. The city itself is always up near the top of violent crimes per population or w/e. Some people claim near university of memphis is an ok area, although someone did get stabbed near it not long ago.....
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