Category: Daily Living
Hey
This is a really good topic. I don't think any of us can afford to be smug about what we know. I think places like this haven are one way we exchange information. I've learned a lot from others in my local area as well. national publications are good sources of information also. I'm not a member of any of them, but consumer organizations are also a great resource. Word of mouth is also a great resource. When I got out of high school, I had a really bad attitude about blind people, and wanted little to do with them. In hindsight, that was a mistake, because I probably would have learned lots more had I been more open-minded.
Lou
For example:
also, I would like to add that I do indeed have a half price TV licence, although I seem to think that the UK is the only place that has such a system. I wonder if I'm right?
I found about services in my area through word of mouth. I've been exposed to BSVI services since I was little.
Troy
I first received services from my local rehab agency the summer after I graduated from high school. My mom arranged for that to happen, and I'm not sure how she found out about the services. But now I work for that same agency. I found out about the free books on tape from the NLS through this agency. I also found out about free Directory Assistance and the radio reading service from someone at the agency. We sell a lot of adaptive products and have catalogs with products that we don't sell, so I found out about a lot of things the general public probably doesn't know about. I also found out about the paratransit system from someone at the agency. Word of mouth is also good, and I have found more information since learning to use the internet. I love getting catalogs on tape or online and seeing what sorts of talking and other adaptive products are out there.
I'm moving to London. That's all there is to it. You are so far ahead of the US it's down right depressing. Look out London, here I come. Well, just as soon as I figure out what skills and talents I might use to impress your government and thereby gain citizenship. I'm fed up with the political system in the states, and all of those available resources, especially regarding transpertation comprise the straw that is breaking the camel's back.
lol, that's funny.....
I agree about moving to London. It does sound like you have better services.
I forgot to mention magazines for the blind that feature articles about job hunting, technology, and products and services. I found out a lot from some of these magazines.
And of course, the zone and other similar sites are great for finding out what is available from other blind people.
Yeah, everyone else comes up with the best ideas. *smile* It sometimes makes me wish I had lots of money and was there just so I could easily order them. *smile*
My mom learned about different available services for me thru my first VR teacher and probably thru Easter Seals. We also learned a little from the Commision for the Blind and people we met at TSBVI as well as some individual people who were blind/worked with blind people. Aside from that, I learn about new things when I am specifically interested in something and look it up on the Internet. Usually, that leads to me finding out about other things I didn't know of as well. A favorite website to find information about various products for all kinds of disabilities is www.abledata.com.
I also find out about new things in magazines, particularly the Matilda Ziegler Magazine, Young and Alive (when CRS used to have it), and the NFB and ACB ones wich I sometimes skim thru online.
The only thing I can really think of that hasn't been mentioned here thus far is the fact that state parks in New York state, and in many other states offer significent discounts or free park passes to blind individuals. I'm an avid camper, so this appeals very much to me.
ah that's pretty cool... No, I've certainly not heard of that before.....
Hi, i found out about a lot of things when i first started to learn mobility at the age of 5, i heard about the r n i b through word of mouth. i look on the internet for products etc, and i'm also a member of rnib, and you get a magazine called vision, which, informs you of events, services and new products that are out. i receive 2 magazines, vision, and pure, which is a bit like a magazine a sighted person would read. word of mouth is another good thing.
I use mainly word of mouth. I've gotten involved in more of teh blind user groups which has helped with info. But still having friends that are blind helps other people with visual problems help.
Another couple of UK services for you!
There's Braille and some large print and audio books available from the National Library for the Blind (NLB) and they're merging with RNIB in the New Year to provide a bigger and better service. RNIB also do some textbooks on tape, talking book format and in Braille.
We also have the Calibre Cassette Library, which provides a free audioboook library. Most of them are on tape still, but the're hoping to move over to CD.
There is also TNAUK (The Talking Newspaper Association of the UK) which provides loads of newspapers and magazines on tape, daisy CD, email, floppy disc or CD-ROM for a small annual subscription. Really good!
Finally, someone mentioned the Disabled Persons' Coach card - with National Express (and maybe other companies, I don't know) you don't have to have one of those and you can still get a concessionary ticket.
I mainly find out about this from friends, Internet, RNIB, a few things from my local Social Services Sensory Impairment team and from Nottingham and Sheffield Royal Societies for the Blind, our local services.
As for the train assistance, it's more reliable at the bigger, busier stations, but it's usually quite good as long as you gie them all the information about your journey and why you need the assistance and you book at least 24 hours in advance.
I know where I'm moving later. lol