Melody - the food delivery is a great service - and delivery charge is only 9.95 - and they send coupons to frequent flyers like me so really free...

SS - 50 dollars is A LOT!!!!!!!!

We have a meals on wheels program here - I think they give people one hot meal a day that is prepared by staff earlier in the day - that would be awful to just toss them a frozen dinner.....

As for walking - the song "No One Walks In LA" (or thats a line from the song) - is very true - for a reason... the city is very spread out - rapid transit very rare except we are getting a rail system very slowly - the only places I've lived where one could walk were the the densesly populated financial districts or at the beach... with gas prices now more and more people are taking the rail system - a good thing - less smog maybe!

Jarrett - I feel the same way about my license! I do not want to loose it 'cause I fully intend to find a setup where I can drive again

k and j i don't blame you for not wanting to lose you lincense..

j he will only be 1 but he already love books,i would ratter see books
in there sweet hands then video's..i love books,and that's what i'm
getting...thamks love to all sue

When Alan had to stop driving (about 6 years ago), our lives literally took a nosedive. We could not visit friends or relatives and many people kept their distance because of what we were going through with our son.

I once asked them why, and they said "well, it makes us uncomfortable and we don' know what to say, so we say nothing".

So literally, Alan stopped driving, and we lost everybody. And because he could not work anymore, we couldn't even keep the car and get the hand brakes. Between the cost and the insurance, well it wasn't feasible.

So thank god for Access-a-ride (even though they rarely show up on time), they are the only game in town where you can go anyplace you want for $2.00.

You really can't beat that.

I had an idea once. Why can't the Access-A Ride, develop a service where it stops every few blocks (along a bus line), and it's only for people over 60 or with disability. Like the person would show their medicare card or if they have an obvious disability and could prove it.

Do you know how hard it is to get on a bus with 50 screaming school kids who push and shove?

A regular service line for the handicapped would be the most convenient thing for EVERYBODY CONCERNED.

Just imagine, you have to get from point A to Point B, and you simply wait on the bus line, and get on the access-a-ride and get off at your stop.

You just walk a few blocks (if you can walk, or you can use a wheelchair), and presto, there would be an Access-A-Ride bus stop, the vehicles would be stopping all day long, picking up and dropping off people.

I would welcome this like you would never believe.

People say this can't work, too much confusion. Why can't it work? It would only be for certain people, the kids can't get on, nobody gets shoved, they pay their $2.00. Imagine, a person could go to the mall, do their shopping. go to the grocery stores, do their shopping, THEY COULD LEAD A MORE NORMAL LIFE. without all these pre-teens and teens bumping them and hitting them with the backpacks.

Buses are murder on seniors. Absolute murder. and god forbid you are standing up, holding on to the bars (well, it wrenchs my shoulder), very painful.

They just have to add more access-a-rides.

I know this will never happen. Unless we start a petition. Even then, seniors and the disabled will never get their own bus line.

God, I would kill for an Access-a-ride Bus line.

Hey, I just thought of something. It wouldn't have to be an access-a-ride bus, it could be any old bus, (we have he new ones where you just step up), but they could have a handicapped bus line. Same route, but only for people over a certain age and people who are disabled. What a neat idea!!!

Mel,
My son is doing much better. He's always had feeling. His sense of touch wasn't affected. He just hasn't had much return of function, but is learning to function better & better with his hands and arms, utilizing what little he does have. Legs......well, that's a long shot.

Sue,
My mother-in-law lives in Columbia Mo. She doesn't drive (never has)
and is elderly- but stays independent & lives in her own condo, alone..
She calls for travel assistance and is picked up and taken to the stores or doc visits, and then is picked up from there and taken home.
They even help bring in the groceries.
(she tips- sometimes they refuse to accept the tip)
Sometimes its the local cab companies that specifically have handicap
or designated vehicles for that purpose. I think the fee is $2 or $3 per trip.
Check about it.
Here in MD, we have (in Balto and Balto Co) "Mobility" - a special arm of the MD transportation authority- that has special mini buses with lifts for wheelchairs, and seats for those who use walkers or canes. They pick up by appt., as well. Many of the buses on reg stops & routes are now equipped with lifts for wheelchairs, too.

Its so good to hear your son is doing better - he sounds like a real fighter and I cant even imagine what it is like for you to have to watch him struggle..... good thoughts and strength for both of you....

Bob:

I'm so happy for your son. May he continue to do better and better.

All the city buses in NYC, have wheelchair lifts. When 30 people are waiting to get on at the front of the bus, and there's a man in a wheelchair, well the bus driver, gets up, he tells the people sitting in those seats to "please get up, someone in a wheelchair needs to occupy this space".

What do you think their response usually is?? Not good, this I'll tell you.
And forget about when there are the other 30 people wanting to get on the bus. Do you think they give a darn about a guy in a wheelchair??

I have been on the bus when I see the bus driver (on purpose) pass up the guy in a wheelchair, when no one else in at the bus stop. One driver said "it takes too long to get it on the bus". I just looked at him. I could not believe it.

Bob,

Good to see your son is doing better. I do think that there are things on the horizon, but I am sure it is hard now, dreaming and hoping that those 'things' become reality, sooner rather than later. It sounds like he is doing what he needs to do.

Your son sounds to be a strong young man, physically and in character.

Mel

That bus idea sounds really good....there would be no confusion if they simply made them a different color, right? Maybe you should submit the suggestion to your local politicians or write an editorial for the paper. The idea makes perfect sense to me.

In.... and around.... Baltimore- if you call for a pick-up, its a special equipped smaller vehicle than a regular bus - kinda like a mini-bus or Jitney that only has 4 or 6 seats, a power lift on the side or (sometimes) the back, and room for 2 wheelchairs with tie-down gear. (Yes it does take a longer time to get a 350-400 lb. power wheelchair situated, so it won't careen across the vehicle when it makes turns or sudden stops. Hooks & straps are needed to secure it.)

About my son - a note.
He thinks he's Superman. He always did and that's why he tried to shallow dive in 3 feet of water when he broke his neck. He's a fighter, but sometimes too overconfident and too close mouthed. He won't say when he feels bad until its a trip to the ER time. (many of these) and he won't be realistic enough to be honest about his limitations. That's good in one respect- the paralysis doesn't hold him back from trying anything - but also causes him to be unrealistic and go over his abilities at any given moment.
He manages to get out of these constant minor hassles, but if he were more careful he shouldn't have gotten into the situations in the first place. 'Nuff said- don't want to hijack this thread, completely. PM me if you wanna get more stuff about his progress.

I'm going to do just that. And I shall suggest Silver Color.

Like Centrum Silver. For people of a certain age.

Excellent idea!!

Okay!!! Just wrote to the Letters to the Editor department of the New York Daily News. If they print my letter, I'll let you know. I did this once and they printed it.

What a neat idea, Thanks for suggesting it.