Transitioning Tuesday: Driving and Other Transportation Options

Hey, it's Transitioning Tuesday. Anyone else remember when I said this would be a regular thing? Fun times. Anyway, it's back!

Transitioning to Adulthood with a Disability: Driving & Exploring Your Other Options

 

When I was sixteen, I wanted to learn to drive. To make sure I could handle it with my disability, my parents set up an appointment with an occupational therapist at a rehab centre who specialised in driving tests.  My reaction time and knowledge of road signs was tested, and I was put in a simulator. I passed those tests then, later, tried a real car with the aid of an instructor who worked with disabled drivers. Again I passed and was cleared to take the regular driver’s test but, after practicing for a little while, I felt there were just too many things to focus on at once (other drivers, the pedals, wheel, etc.). I got nervous and gave up on driving.

This wasn’t the end though. I’ve found that there are plenty of alternatives to driving on your own.

It may not be the best option for making you feel independent, but one of the simpler alternatives to driving yourself somewhere is to ask a family member. My parents and, later on, my sister have always been willing to drive me somewhere if they are able to. I say “when they’re able to” because it’s important to be considerate and make sure the time and destination is convenient for them (something I can sometimes forget to do).

 When getting a ride from family, or even if I’m just going somewhere with them now, I will offer to pay for gas, coffee, snacks or, if it’s a longer trip, meals. A) It’s a good use of my disability pension, B) My family knows I’m appreciative, and C) It makes me feel like I’m contributing something and not just mooching off people (I’ve never been made to feel this way, but still).

 

Another (mostly) convenient driving alternative is accessible transit. I first got Para Transpo (Ottawa’s accessible transit service) about half-way through my first stint of college. The program I was in at the time required some travel within the city and regular public transit wasn’t much of a long-term option at the time, so I registered for Para Transpo. I got it, but just for the school year. It had its downsides, but overall it was a huge help, especially in winter.

 A couple years later, when I went back to college, I got Para Transpo again. This time I got it indefinitely, thanks to one of my doctors who helped me fill it out.  

 If you’re feeling brave and can handle it, regular transit is a great option too. I took the bus a few times in college, but never felt very comfortable. My parents were a little nervous about it also. So, I stuck with Para Transpo. One reason I said accessible transit was “mostly” convenient is because you may run into certain restrictions. Para Transpo has a few. For one, unless you’re booking a regular appointment, you have to schedule Para Transpo a day in advance and availability goes quick, so there’s usually only a small window for booking a trip. Furthermore, there is a half-hour grace period on either end for arrivals so you could be waiting a while. I’m used to this now and mostly okay with it, but it doesn’t leave much room for spontaneity.   

So one day when I wanted to go somewhere and Para Transpo was being exceptionally difficult, my father suggested I take the regular bus. At first I was nervous. Then, after going over route schedules and coordinating a pick-up from my parents, I got the bus on my own. It’s only a short walk to the nearest bus stop and the route I take most often goes right to downtown Ottawa, exactly where I want to be. I got so good at taking the bus one way, that I started going there and back on my own. The only thing I need to be aware of is that I’m able to get a seat since my poor balance won’t allow me to stand, but most times this isn’t a problem.

 

While driving on your own can offer lots of freedom, and I definitely recommend looking into it if you want, there are plenty of other ways of getting around if driving doesn’t pan out. It’s just a matter of trying different things then figuring out what fits you best and can give you the most independence.

Cheers

More Writing

I have the next couple weeks off from the treatment centre I'm volunteering at, so along with using this time to push forward with the job and apartment searches, I'll also be writing a lot more on here.

Expect more transitioning posts (remember those? Anyone?), a new project I'm working on, and other just random postings.

Cheers!

Words & Phrases *Longer post*

There are many ways to describe people with disabilities. Most are good, some are bad. A few can be pretty awful. Then there are terms that, while well-intentioned, can be kind of odd. I've got fairly strong opinions about all of them, and here the all are.


The R Word

Let's get the big, nasty one out of the way first. The "R word", used for retardation and any variation thereof. It's wrong and nobody, disabled or otherwise, should be called that but the truth is that mental retardation is a medically valid term and is used widely. So, while I absolutely support campaigns like Spread the Word to End the Word, I feel like we should look at the medical community to use different terminology before going after organizations like the music and television industries because, let's face it, not much else is going to change unless it changes in that official respect first.

In the meantime, it's still a negative word and shouldn't be said, especially casually. Seriously, this "that's retarded" stuff is starting to get annoying. If you think something's dumb, just say it's dumb. Not offensive, just as effective and, hey, fewer syllables.

Cripple

To me, cripple is a word that's not really offensive, it's just out-dated and old fashioned. When I hear the word cripple I don't think of myself or others I know who are disabled, I think of Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol. It was a common term when many disability organizations were founded. Easter Seals started out as The Society for Crippled Children, but that was in the 1920's. Like I said, old fashioned.

Gimp

Again, another word I don't find totally offensive, it's just that to me "gimp" has always stood for something that has nothing to do with disabilities and can be kind of risky.

See, I'm a Quentin Tarantino fan, so when I hear the word gimp, my mind goes to Pulp Fiction and the gimp character associated with S&M, which is something I NEVER want to think about when I'm talking about disabilities.

Additionally, there's the matter of disabled people calling each other gimps. I've always found this weird. I think it's partly because it sounds like pimp, so people think they're cool, but I also think there's an element of "it's our word, and we're claiming it" which, in my opinion, is kind of ridiculous and needs to stop. (This goes for "cripple"/"crip" as well.)


Person-first Language

In my opinion, person-first language is something that is better in theory than in practice. In theory, I completely support it, but in practice I find that whether you say "Person with a disability" versus "Disabled person" (or any variation of this) doesn't really matter much. It certainly doesn't change the condition of the person who's being talked to or about.

Also, I find ideas like "See the person, not the disability" kind of troublesome. Again, I get the idea, it's just that I think this way of thinking can ignore the disability outright, which is wrong. A) Sometimes you can't help but see a person's disability, B) Acknowledging the disability first can go a long way toward understanding the individual and being able to communicate with them better, and C) It's my opinion that not seeing the disability ignores a fundamental part of the person, and is sort of disrespectful to them.

So, instead of deciding whether to acknowledge the person or disability first, we should just start talking.


Differently-abled, Handi-capable, and Political Correctness 

Now, this stuff really irks me.

Everyone is differently-abled. I am differently abled when compared to people like Kobe Bryant, Brad Pitt, and Eric Clapton. It has nothing to do with my disability, but my lack of prowess in basketball, acting, and music. I get that people wanted to make a more positive version of "disabled" but differently-abled is a general term and should be forgotten in connection to people with disabilities.

Finally, "handi-capable". I would rather be called any of the first three words I brought up in this post a million times than be called handi-capable even once. Handi-capable is a good example of people trying to be polite but, unfortunately, coming up with a word that sounds more ridiculous than the ones they were trying to avoid.


So that's my two-cents about disability-related language. While I think that it's important to be conscientious of how we talk to each other whether disabled or not, and finding better ways to do so is always good, I think that it's more important to just talk, plain and simple. Sure there might be complications, but you'll never know unless you try.

Cheers!

Housing Updates

I have housing updates. Good ones even!

A couple days ago, my mom got some information about a housing co-op in Ottawa. She e-mailed the place for some info, which she passed on to me.

The place is right downtown close to everything. There's a bachelor apartment that becomes available in August, and the rent is pretty decent! I need to fill out an application to go on a wait list and see if I can get any rent subsidized.

Admittedly, the application form is kind of intimidating at first glance, and the thought of going on yet another wait list for housing is a little annoying. However, unlike previous times, this information has come from someone specific and I already know quite a bit about the place I'm applying for, rather than filling something out with little to no extra info.

So, this week I'm going for it and getting the application process started. Fingers crossed!

Cheers 

Spontaneity

The thrills of just being able to go get on a bus!

Today was one of those days when motivation, good weather, money, and new comic books all collided to make a really nice afternoon.

It might sound insignificant and maybe a little dorky to some, but when your concept of short-range travel usually means seeing if a family member can drive you somewhere or tempting fate to book Para Transpo a day or two in advance of your desired trip, just being able to get up and spontaneously decide to hop on a bus to get a couple comic books can be the absolute greatest experience!

May not be actual bus

Cheers!