Skip to main content

things that make me want to cartoon cuss

technology...

There's nothing more aggravating than upgrading your computer, only to find out that the new keyboard and mouse are absolutely not disability friendly. Our solution: keep using the old ones with the new hard-drive. Thank God for adaptors!

There's nothing more annoying than visiting FIVE different cell phone carriers and not A SINGLE ONE has a phone workable for moderately disabled fingers.  Sale clerks seem dumbfounded by the problem, and sympathetically shrug. Our solution: a cheap-o pay as you go phone from Wal-mart that we hot-glued an elastic strip to the back.

BUT, when "modern" technology on vehicles enters the scene, it's a whole new ballgame. Cell phones and mice are modified necessities.  A vehicle is an absolute necessity.  I really don't care that cars now have computer chip drives in them to make them safer.  I could care less that if the manufacturer grants permission to have things rewired they would be in major trouble with insurance companies, or attorneys or whomever else might have some freakish control thing going on. Just let us re-wire what needs to be done to make the vehicle safe for a disabled person to drive.  You think your stupid FOB is the way of the future?  All it does is make handicapped people struggle to enter buildings and vehicles.  Progress?  For WHOM?  And what companies consider "safe" more often than not means even more unnecessary work and produces potentially dangerous consequences for people who need every advantage they can get. And what REALLY gets my goat is when it's a medical adaptive equipment who is SUPPOSED to be HELPING people get around that makes some rule that actually HINDERS people from living as normal a life as possible. 

It's probably a very good thing that I don't have a phone number for Braun Enterprises tonight.  It's probably an even better thing that I don't know who the contact person is who has now twice denied a claim to modify "their" equipment. 

And Van Products of Raleigh...here's my shout out to you. THANK YOU for ALWAYS going the extra mile for us in trying to make things work IN OUR BEST INTEREST!!! I think it truly makes a difference when a company who sells disability products actually has people with disabilities working there.  They truly get it.  I'd be curious to know if Braun Enterprises has any disabled people working/selling their vehicles. I truly kind of doubt it.
Labels:

Comments

Lydia said…
We haven't gotten to this point yet, but I am already understanding your frustrations. And equipent dealers that fail to communicate properly or tell you multiple different stories are HAIRY ARMPITS!!! (that's cartoon cussin')
October 19, 2010 at 7:40 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

things we do for love

Saturday we had a baby shower for Bobby's niece. As I was making the mints, Bobby asked what else was on the menu. After I recited off the litany of items, he responded with "No peanut butter?! This shower is for Hannah! What's she going to eat?" (Hannah has had stomach problems over the years and has been unable to tolerate many foods, but peanut butter has been her staple.) Despite my assurances that she would enjoy the foods we were having, he was adamant that I needed to make peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for the shower. Even though I protested that NOBODY took that to a shower, he persisted, and informed me I could make them dainty with my little cutter. And so I did. To my surprise all but 3 were eaten. Who'd a thunk it?
9 comments
Read more

perspectives

A few years ago after a Bible study a lot of the group continued to sit and talk and simply relax. One of the ladies felt like she was being mistreated by her boss. She was always given extra tasks or asked to assume responsibilities that no one else was asked to do. She felt it was unfair. As she was listing off some of the extras (she worked in a cafe for a plant), I was in flashback mode. My last year of college I was a shift manager at a fast food place. One of my many duties was to ensure that certain cleaning jobs (extra duties) was assigned and done properly. We were inspected by company headquarters once a quarter, and 3 of their 4 visits was ALWAYS a surprise visit. When I handed out those extra assignments, I had three things in mind: Who will do this job without making a bigger mess? Who can quickly do this job so we don't impede serving customers? Who will do this without the most drama? In essence, I wanted the best person for the job. Use the teenager who griped and c...
Post a Comment
Read more

fun...funny houses

 We saw the above house in Pittsboro while on our way to the mountains. It was the strangest house I've ever seen. Evidently this isn't a modification, for Bobby remembers thinking it funny as a child. Evidently a governor lived here at one point. I think the sign said it's now a Masonic lodge. And if seeing one funny house wasn't enough, the latest issue of This Old House had a link to their website that had several galleries of funny (or strange houses). Here's my favorites from their collection:   Szymbark , Poland  This just makes me laugh, and I would love to visit this house in person. Created by a designer who wanted to demonstrate "wrong-doings against humanity".  Visitors have stood in line for as long as 6 hours to tour the house, and many come out feeling "sea-sick".     Kalambaka, Greece... This 1,000 foot cliff drop has housed monastaries since the 11th century. Six of them are open to the public, " assuming, of course, th...
1 comment
Read more