We’re continuing with the topic of independence. In our first post, Sue wrote about what independence looks like for her. In the Facebook group, we talked about one aspect: how it is possible to be independent without being able to drive by using the many sources of transportation that are out there that most people don’t know about. I recommend that those in the US check out the Ride in Sight website even if you don’t yet need it. You enter your zip code and get a list of transportation options in your area. I was personally surprised to find 25 options not just for rides to medical appointments but for other reasons as well.
In one of Sue’s 2016 pages, she wrote about what it was like to not be able to drive while her husband was in the hospital. One of the issues was how she was going to get groceries. You can read about that in Out of Milk and Eggs. I asked her to revisit that page and update us on the latest options for…
Sue on Assignment: Getting Food to Come to You
What Independence Looks Like When You Can’t Drive
In the Facebook group, I listed several scenarios and asked this question: “This is what independence means to me now and what I agree would mean independence in the future with visual impairment.” Here are the top ones that were chosen:
- Asking a friend, neighbor, family member for a ride when needed
- Finding a transportation service and using it to go where I want and need to go (locally subsidized, Uber, Lyft, taxi, etc)
- Accepting the offer for a ride made by someone who really wants to help; you’ve done the same for others in the past
- Asking a friend, neighbor, family member for a ride when needed & bartering/exchanging services with them in exchange for transportation
Do YOU have a scenario to add to these?