Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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The lack of independence is really getting to me lately. (Rant/venting ahead) (self.Blind)
submitted by Neptune2284
Hey all,
I was born with bilateral ONH. Right eye is next to useless (20/400) and left eye has limited vision (20/50, 20/40 on a good day). I wear glasses but they don't help a whole lot just due to the nature of ONH.
I don't know why but recently I've been feeling down about just how little I can really do because of my condition. Most notably not having a driver's license. I know there's Uber and Lyft, but that's not always an option. For example, I love the outdoors. I grew up hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, etc. All that was possible because my parents were into the same things and they were able to take me with them. That's not the case now. Uber won't take you up into the backwoods for a week in the mountains. Yes, I do have friends that *might* be willing to drive, but not all the time, and I just feel like a burden asking.
And God forbid there's something in the next town/city over that I want to go to; that's pretty much out the window unless the stars align. Even just going to the store can sometimes be an adventure in and of itself if there's no Uber available (our town only has a couple).
It honestly feels like I'm trapped sometimes. I'd do anything to be truly independent and drive myself places and not be reliant on others. I did get a pair of bioptic glasses back when I was 16 or so, when my parents thought driving might have been an option, but now they're just sitting in my closet. There's a very, VERY slim chance that I could possibly qualify for a driver's license with restrictions, but I'm even hesitant to try. Getting rejected again might be even worse than just not having a license.
If you have any advice I'd appreciate it, but honestly I just really needed to vent. Been feeling really crappy about things lately I guess.
I was born with bilateral ONH. Right eye is next to useless (20/400) and left eye has limited vision (20/50, 20/40 on a good day). I wear glasses but they don't help a whole lot just due to the nature of ONH.
I don't know why but recently I've been feeling down about just how little I can really do because of my condition. Most notably not having a driver's license. I know there's Uber and Lyft, but that's not always an option. For example, I love the outdoors. I grew up hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, etc. All that was possible because my parents were into the same things and they were able to take me with them. That's not the case now. Uber won't take you up into the backwoods for a week in the mountains. Yes, I do have friends that *might* be willing to drive, but not all the time, and I just feel like a burden asking.
And God forbid there's something in the next town/city over that I want to go to; that's pretty much out the window unless the stars align. Even just going to the store can sometimes be an adventure in and of itself if there's no Uber available (our town only has a couple).
It honestly feels like I'm trapped sometimes. I'd do anything to be truly independent and drive myself places and not be reliant on others. I did get a pair of bioptic glasses back when I was 16 or so, when my parents thought driving might have been an option, but now they're just sitting in my closet. There's a very, VERY slim chance that I could possibly qualify for a driver's license with restrictions, but I'm even hesitant to try. Getting rejected again might be even worse than just not having a license.
If you have any advice I'd appreciate it, but honestly I just really needed to vent. Been feeling really crappy about things lately I guess.
ENTJ351 2 points 4y ago
Is there no public transit? It’s actually really easy to get uber and lyft especially here. I was just thinking about icecream, Let’s see if it actually happens. Maybe you need to move in to a bigger city?
Neptune2284 [OP] 3 points 4y ago
We do have a bus system, but it really only caters to around the university campus and the service is spotty at best. And while I do intend to move eventually, the fact that I'm basically stuck within city limits feels very confining.
ENTJ351 2 points 4y ago
In small towns I think you tend to be.
Maybe try asking friends and return favors or pay them?
Maybe try asking friends and return favors or pay them?
Neptune2284 [OP] 2 points 4y ago
The issue isn't that I can't pay my friends back for rides and stuff like that; it's that I can't do anything I WANT to do without relying on them. I hate not being able to go places or do things just because it hinges on someone else taking me.
8toomanyhotwings 3 points 4y ago
This, a 1000 times. You'll get several replies to move to a bigger city, which is still probably a good idea (except having to pay higher rents) but you'll still be stuck in that city too. You can live in a huge city but it doesn't matter if you're stuck in the city because no public transit or rideshares go outside of the city where you want to go. The US is just not designed for non-drivers, period. So many people just do not understand this issue. I use transit, Lyft/Uber and get rides from relatives/friends all the time but it will never be anything like throwing some stuff into your car/truck and heading out somewhere for the weekend or whatever. Sorry, don't have any good advice for you. I'm in exactly the same situation as you and it constantly gets me down too.
Drunken_Idaho 1 points 4y ago
I get this. I grew up in a small town and after giving city life a fair shake, I've come to realize its not for me at all. Hang in there man.
cae_jones 1 points 4y ago
Same. There's a state park on the southeast edge of town, which is so far from the nearest bus stop that it'd be most of the day getting there and back on foot. And it's not all that great compared to places about 2-4 hours away by car.
HotCheetosHoe 1 points 4y ago
I agree with moving to a bigger city. I’m in the same boat (useless left eye, somewhat shitty right eye - living in a small town with no Uber) and I’m moving to the city very soon because it’s MISERABLE! I hate having to ask for a ride to Starbucks, the grocery store, etc but I do every day. When I lived in the city I could Uber to Taco Bell whenever I wanted lol. It was nice.
Even public transit in the city is easily navigated because it’s very auditory. There’s a loudspeaker on the train that announces the stops, what train is coming (would need a dog when my right eye goes to shit so I don’t get too close but y’know), etc.
I think it’s a really good idea for any blind person to live in a city unless they want a handler. I refuse to unless I absolutely needed it but I’d probably still be kicking and screaming for independence at that point lol.
Even public transit in the city is easily navigated because it’s very auditory. There’s a loudspeaker on the train that announces the stops, what train is coming (would need a dog when my right eye goes to shit so I don’t get too close but y’know), etc.
I think it’s a really good idea for any blind person to live in a city unless they want a handler. I refuse to unless I absolutely needed it but I’d probably still be kicking and screaming for independence at that point lol.
Neptune2284 [OP] 3 points 4y ago
I agree 100% on living in the city. The only thing that bugs me about it is still being away from the outdoors. One of the few good things about where I currently live is that I'm about 20 minutes away from beautiful hiking, hunting, fishing, etc.
Amonwilde 2 points 4y ago
If you live here in New York you can be up in Storm King hiking around in a little over an hour on the train. Plus huge parks you could get lost in no problem. New York is pretty underrated for parks. My partner is a naturalist who works within city limits and has done electrofishing, gardening, and hikes all within city limits, and it's not too hard to get up the Hudson Valley without driving.
HotCheetosHoe 1 points 4y ago
Yeah that’s definitely true. There’s a great hiking spot by a river that’s just a short walk away from me. But there are cities with decent outdoor activities! The Bay Area is a great example but it’s expensive as hell. I believe Seattle is the same way. Colorado and Oregon may have good options? I don’t know much about the east coast if you’re over there but I’m sure you can find something with enough research. Not all cities are just industrial.
AxeBlue1 1 points 4y ago
Made myself a Reddit just to find moral support, going trough the same, atleast someone knows how i feel. Can't wait for self driving cars to be commercialized
[deleted] 1 points 4y ago
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