Category: Let's talk
Part of a QN conversation from earlier this week has been eating at me. The subject of paratransit came up, and somebody asked why any blind person wouldn't take the regular bus if blindness was their only disability. that kind of hit close to home for me, because right now paratransit is my primary mode of transportation. I have reasons for not currently taking fixed-route busses, personal reasons that I consider very valid. I have always been of the opinion that whatever gets you from Point A to Point B works. But I know that paratransit regulations across the country are very inconsistent where people who are blind are concerned. There are some areas in the country, as I understand it, where blindness won't qualify anyone for paratransit in and of itself. There are some people who are blind who simply don't have a good sense of direction. There are others who don't have good spatial hearing. There are any number of variations, and to just say that those who are just blind shouldn't be qualified for it is not right, imo. I have to admit to a certain degree of shame for taking paratransit, mainly because of what other blind people may think. I know, I shouldn't worry so much about what others think. That is a rather unfortunate byproduct of my upbringing. Does the fact that I use paratransit as my main source of transportation make me a bad blind person? I really don't know, I don't feel bad doing it, and I guess that's what matters, but I'd kind of like to get other opinions on this. I'm not cklosed-minded on it.
I take it as wel, but don't really like it. It is my only option that is economical right now, though. I don't live on a bus line and cabs don't work in my budget for the number of places I need to go.
it doesn't make you a bad person. I don't use the busses in my town only becauseI just moved, and the busses here are not to reliable. hey, what ever works. As long as you get to where you have to go.
Like others have said, it's all about what works for you. I think there are some blind people who need to find more to do and get over themselves instead of criticizing somebody because they don't or won't use the normal bus. There isn't just one way to be independent, and there's no one technique or set of skills that will make you magically blend in so all sighted people see you as totally self-sufficient. If people criticize you, don't even give them the time of day.
It's a matter of independence, and, as I see it, independence is a will-of-the-wisp, a ghost, a figment of someone's imagination. A hot word that nfb loves to throw in everyone's face.
In reality, if it works do it. If it doesn't work, then find something that works.
Bob
Hi again Kl, well, as you have stated some blind people have problems with a sense of directions, I myself have a sense of shame because I don't take the buses, but I have a mind-freezing fear of crossing a street. I believe it is due to an accident I was in when I was 8 and almost was killed.
But as others have said, what ever works for you.
Lelia
No it doesn't make you a bad person. I don't use the public buses. But on the 15 of November I might have to. I haven't used them for over ten years. I prefer private buses that's what I use to get to college.
Why the heck would it make you a bad blind person? Take it from me, a person who uses public transportation, you're better off using paratransit. As I've said in another post, the public buses can be very discouraging for disabled passengers. I've heard how people grumble when wheelchairs are rolled aboard, I've heard people murmur when the driver asks someone to give up a seat for me. The environment in these buses isn't very safe either, and at times the odors just become too much to bear. I don't want to discourage you from using public transportation, though, because in many ways I think it works better than paratransit, but in the end it's up to you to use whatever form of transportation you're the most comfortable with.
Like a couple others have said, some blind people have nothing better to do than sit around and judge other blind people. I personally know a couple very gifted blind people who think every other blind person should be just like them. I hate people like that. Take whatever type of transportation assistance you need, and don't worry about what others think.
I agree with everyone that has posted, that whatever works is good. I don't take the regular bus either, even though it would be free of charge for me,, because I honestly don't know if I could remember all the routes to get to and from bus stops, say if I wanted to go litterally anywhere. In other words, I'd have to get each route down before I feel comfortable traveling it alone. Besides not knowing a route, I get nervous being in an unfamiliar place that can sometimes not be easily close to a building, incase anything happens to or around me where I can't get help right away. Nor do I take taxis, because since they travel by time or distance, I would not be able to know ahead of time how much I might need to pay, and I don't feel comfortable with that either. So I either take paratransit, or I get a ride from a family member if they are going somewhere I need to go to or close to it. Whether or not I go alone on paratransit depends on if I know how to get from the bus/van to the door/entrance and from there to the sign-designated area (if at a nonresidential place) or to the bus/van (if at an apartment). So, because I don't have many places that I would travel to regularly enough, I don't get out alone much. Except for the fact that I need to learn more places to get out more when I want to, I don't mind too much, and consider myself to be pretty independent since I can get to and around most of the places I need to go to alone. *smile* It does feel weird though when I think about other blind people who are what seems like more independent because my nephews and niece are picking up that I can't go to many places alone, and so I feel weird telling them that there are blind people that do go a lot of places and do a lot of things. And it even felt a little sad as one of my nephews said that that would be one of the reasons he would not want to be blind, because he couldn't go anywhere. In a way, I would want to do more just to prove to them that a blind person can do it, but at the same time, I know that I would be most confident knowing what I'm doing rather than getting out there and not. So, (like others above have said of themselves) I don't judge anyone else either when it comes to ways of doing things. I do sometimes think that some who rely on others' help more could try to learn more independent ways of doing things when possible (such as learning the routes or scanning vs having a reader), in case people aren't there to help them, but I don't consider these people bad or anything because that's what's working for them.
At least you actually leave the house! Its more than some blind people do.
I agree with what everyone else has said, in that whether or not one uses paratransit is not a measure of your worth as a blind person. KL, in your initial post, you said something that troubles me. This is one of thos illusive terms I've heard before. What constitutes a "good blind person?" I'm not asking for a definition, but raise the question for each of us to ponder. A follow-up question is Is there such a thing?
Having said that, as I've gotten older, my hearing has decreased somewhat. My confidence in my own skills ahs decreased, but I still use regular public transit. The time is comming when I won't be able to do so. I won't be happy about that, but I hope I can do it gracefully. KL, don't beat up on yourself. You have the honesty to ask yourself the question, and that probably says more about your worth than the worth of those who detract from your opinion of yourself.
Lou
I use Paritransit as well, and I have to admit that as dissatisfied as I am with it at times, like just about everyone else, it's the only option I have at this point, and it gets me to where I need to be. Honestly, for any disabled person who uses any form of public transportation, I'd have to say be proud of yourself and don't put yourself, because at least you're making an effort.
I had someone tell me the same thing once and just ignored them and continued to use the paratransit service anyways. What I do is use paratransit more in the winter and the regular busses more in the summer. This ame person also told me that having friends carpull you was a bad thing too. I too ignored that statement.
Troy
I use oats here at college or campus safety or a cab here because there isnt any buses in maryville, but when i go home I use family or paratransit and cabs. There isnt a bus line near my house so what else can i do. and no there isnt a "good blind person" and not all of the nfb is that way someone mentioned yes we believe in independence but independence is not a set way of doing stuff trust me I know
Why haven't we heard any arguments from the other side yet? Why hasn't one of these people come out to defend their position yet, because I want to know how they can justify their point of view.
I honestly don't pin such an attitude on one organization or another, even though, unfortunately, the NFB has a reputation for being militant.
Hi, aren't you lucky that you have a bus service to take you around be it a private one or a public one? The fact that you are getting out shows that you are independent and like it or not you will always come up against drawbacks from being blind. It shouldn't be an issue what kind of service you take. If you are happy and are getting out of the house either to work or to socialise then that is the main thing.
Hmmm well I don't like taking public transportation, it really just makes me uncomfortable, and well, paratransit will take you from door to door, so if you don't know exactly where the place is, you don't have to spend all that time walking around that block trying to figure it out... But that's just my oppinion, I use the publuc bus when I have to but other than that, it's not something I would really like using more than paratransit.
Hi, all! Bobby, and others, yes, I know the NFB does have a reputation for bing militant. But don't judge us all by one standard. I am a Federationist, and have been since 1999. However, I don't stand in judgment on KL, or any blind person who chooses to use paratransit. I choose not to, but that is my choice. Independence is a hot-button word, that gets thrown around by all organizations, and even unaffiliated blind people. But I think what defines independent for each blind person is different. Do I have my own ideas about it? Yes, of course I do. But they are mine, and I'm not about to go forcing them on others. If someone wants my opinion, I will give it, but only as my opinion, not as the gospel truth. So, those of you who claim not to judge other blind folks, think about that before you bash the NFB. It is not perfect, but nor is any organization or person.
I take the short bus as well and actually find that putting some humor in about it helps. So far so good around here, I've only been late to class once. but I'll use what ever works!
*applauds SisterDawn*
Though I am from Canada and don't know a thing about the NFB, the point is, use what works. I'm pretty blessed to live two blocks from one of the best bus routes in the city, and have only lived in this new place for two months. I've never been in a situation here where I've needed Paratransit (though back home I used it fairly frequently due to the fact that there was no bus service to my area).
Think about it like this: is a sighted person made fun of for taking the bus? Driving a car? Walking? Biking? They do what works for them, whether it's convenience or economics. We're just under a microscope because we're seen as "different."
Kate, you made me think of something that a co-worker of mine once pointed out to me. How many times does a sighted person ask for a ride from another? Now think about that for a second. The other sighted person probably almost always said "sure, no problem." How many of us, on the other hand as ablind people have asked for rides and the response was something like "ou keep that up, and you'll loose your mobility skills." I doubt that anyone has ever said to the sighted person in need of a ride: "You keep that up, and you'll loose your driving skills." Just something else to throw into the mix.
Lou
well, i think that what works is best. if you use paratransit or not, its ok. forexample, I applied for accesslink because the busses in our town are at a very inexessible bos stop. for example the light changes every minute and because of that cars are allways turning in other directions. and somtimes, the busstops are situated in the unsafe spots like a highway or somthing.
What works for you works, so don't worry about what others think. If they don't like it, too bad, so sad. Perhaps a violin will soothe their troubled souls.
I hate it when other blind people get on their soap box and go on and on about stuff, when they don't do things all that grandly themselves. It's rather stupid, if you ask me. (Wait a minute... Is grandly even a word? If not, then it is now. )
Just my two cents worth. take it or leave it. smiles
The Sassiest of Kitties
I agree with everybody, whatever works for you that's what you follow. Follow your own instincts, the hell with what other people think. They're not in your shoes so they can't tell you which bus to take. I myself use access link because I don't know where the bus stop is in my area. I'll take the regular bus sometimes when I'm with my friends and sometimes access link can be kind of naughty at times but hell whatever works for me I care less what people say to me.
People have said it on here, and I'll say it again. Whatever works for you, just do it.
first, I have to give sister Dawn her props, cause I'm also a federationest. i've only been so for about six months, but coming across the nfb's by-far the best thing i've ever done. however, in saying that, i'd never force my beliefs on others.
absolutely not. I totally agree with the point a to point b thing. it is sooooo true. whatever works.
don't stress about what other people think I cood think of alot better things to stress about
No its definitely not bad. If it works continue it. Although I use it, I want to use the public busses because You have to call 24 houers in advance in order to get a reservation and I don't always know ahead of Time.
David.
As a sighted person I do not belive it is wrong to use the transportation that is avalible to you! If it was wrong to use it, you wouldn't be able to use it. They even have where you can have a passenger with you if you are in need of it. I have ridden on the dial-a-ride (paratransit) with a blind person. It would be wrong if you used it for a cheap taxi ride. Don't let anyone let you feel bad about something you have no control of.