Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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How do you find work when you don't have a car to get there? (self.Blind)
submitted by coffee4jesus16
Hey all.
I'm really struggling lately. I'm in a city that has poor public transportation and is mainly urban sprawl. The bus only really runs five miles from my house and uber passed that point is really expensive. I don't qualify for paratransit because I'm not legally blind (working on getting a license thanks to bioptics but it will be several more months). I have about a month of bills worth of money left in savings and cannot find work.
I have two bachelors degrees, was a national debater and captain of my college's team, I was president of another club. I interned in the state senate and single handedly ran a political party's office in my college town (it's the state minority party and they have absolutely no job openings in my current city), among a ton of other things. I did college right, but I still can't get a job and transportation is a huge issue.
For those of you who work and have vision loss, how do you do it? I'm desperate.
I also have pretty decent bipolar disorder so a handful of other jobs are out too because they contribute to stress and depression and therefore suicidal thoughts.
This is exhausting.
I'm really struggling lately. I'm in a city that has poor public transportation and is mainly urban sprawl. The bus only really runs five miles from my house and uber passed that point is really expensive. I don't qualify for paratransit because I'm not legally blind (working on getting a license thanks to bioptics but it will be several more months). I have about a month of bills worth of money left in savings and cannot find work.
I have two bachelors degrees, was a national debater and captain of my college's team, I was president of another club. I interned in the state senate and single handedly ran a political party's office in my college town (it's the state minority party and they have absolutely no job openings in my current city), among a ton of other things. I did college right, but I still can't get a job and transportation is a huge issue.
For those of you who work and have vision loss, how do you do it? I'm desperate.
I also have pretty decent bipolar disorder so a handful of other jobs are out too because they contribute to stress and depression and therefore suicidal thoughts.
This is exhausting.
alwaysoz 2 points 6y ago
The ebst option is to consider moving to a city with good transitt as it is a better long term investment
IHaveAFunnyName 2 points 6y ago
I don't have good advice, but I do feel concerned for your mental health because of this problem. Is there a social worker or someone who can help point you in a good direction for this situation? Do you qualify for or are receiving financial aid from social security? Some random ideas that might be good or bad: a ride share. I think there are websites maybe you can join a carpool for a small amount of money. Move to a town that has good public transportation and is walkable. Take a roommate for some extra cash. Tutor someone in English online or be a private tutor, if you know braille perhaps that is something? Look up food banks for your area, they are meant for this situation and when you are back on your feet you could donate to them to help them back out. Cut back on unneeded expenses for now.
And reach out to people as much as you need. I'm not a great help but I care. If suicidal thoughts continue please please contact your doctor, or any doctor, and a friend or a counsellor or someone who can help you. You sound like an awesome person in a difficult spot. It is temporary and will get better. I wish you the best!
And reach out to people as much as you need. I'm not a great help but I care. If suicidal thoughts continue please please contact your doctor, or any doctor, and a friend or a counsellor or someone who can help you. You sound like an awesome person in a difficult spot. It is temporary and will get better. I wish you the best!
coffee4jesus16 [OP] 3 points 6y ago
I'm currently in a mentally healthy (enough) position currently. I did have to quit a job a few months ago though because it made me feel suicidal and gave me panic attacks.
I'm newish to the area and my VRC is based in a different city so I'm going to get my case transferred so I have a VRC more familiar with local resources.
There is a chance I might be able to work for a company about 8 mi away. It's a two hour bus ride but I can do it I think. I need to get into better shape so I can bike it when the snow melts. (Ironically it's a company that helps people who are hearing impaired, so the visually impaired woman will be helping hear impaired individuals haha)
It's all just so exhausting though. It shouldn't have to take someone 2 hours to get to work. I feel stupid whining but it feels so unfair. It makes me so angry some days. I moved here because it's close to my mother and has WAY better public transportation than my last town so I thought it would be perfectly fine but apparently not.
I'm newish to the area and my VRC is based in a different city so I'm going to get my case transferred so I have a VRC more familiar with local resources.
There is a chance I might be able to work for a company about 8 mi away. It's a two hour bus ride but I can do it I think. I need to get into better shape so I can bike it when the snow melts. (Ironically it's a company that helps people who are hearing impaired, so the visually impaired woman will be helping hear impaired individuals haha)
It's all just so exhausting though. It shouldn't have to take someone 2 hours to get to work. I feel stupid whining but it feels so unfair. It makes me so angry some days. I moved here because it's close to my mother and has WAY better public transportation than my last town so I thought it would be perfectly fine but apparently not.
SpoilerAlert6 2 points 6y ago
My significant other is legally blind and we moved to Seattle for that reason. Better transportation. She's having trouble finding a job as well, but she's about to go through training with her Observational Training Center, which will be a few months long and preps her for not only every day living, but also finding a job. You can also look for accessible transportation. Up here we call it Access. It's a government ran transportation service for people with disabilities. It can at least get you closer hopefully before you have to jump on a bus, cutting a few miles off your travel.
Hope some of these help, and don't worry about sounding like you're whining. It's understandable to do so, and Reddit is a good place to vent.
Hope some of these help, and don't worry about sounding like you're whining. It's understandable to do so, and Reddit is a good place to vent.
Vaelian 1 points 6y ago
I was born legally blind (10% of sight, or 20/200 for Americans) and before losing my vision I worked as a programmer for a contractor which required me to constantly change workplaces, so in response to that I became a digital nomad, renting rooms as close as possible to the places where I was supposed to work. I also worked a lot from home.
Unuhi 1 points 6y ago
I live in a city with a public transport i can sort of work around if i can get a ride to the bus stop when i need.
Still a pain.
I don't miss driving, never liked it.
(Not working, difficult to get a job when you can't go for the mainstream jobs and thre are plenty of blid competition)
Still a pain.
I don't miss driving, never liked it.
(Not working, difficult to get a job when you can't go for the mainstream jobs and thre are plenty of blid competition)
WindupBot 1 points 6y ago
I work from home. If that wasn't an option, realistically I'd probably have to move somewhere that was more walkable or had better public transportation, since we live in a rural area.
You could check and see if there are any ride sharing programs in your area.
You could check and see if there are any ride sharing programs in your area.
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