Ana,
40 years ago, before we had internet and email and all the wonderful stuff we have now, I had two jobs: teaching at one school in the morning that was 20 miles away, and at another in the afternoon that was 35 miles in the other direction.
I placed an add in a small paper. I did not say I was blind, but only that I needed a drive for x days and x hours per day. Just that and my phone number.
I didn't get a ton of calls, but enough to choose fairly wisely. And yes, I can stil remember the creepy woman who kept cackling with disbelief when I explained that the reason I couldn't drive was that I was blind. Oh,w well. There might always be one ike that.
In the end, I got a great driver. A woman in her 60s who needed cash, had time, could drive. We were together for about 15 months, when I took another turn in life and moved to another city.
Hope that helps.
Also, sometimes just mentioning it to people you know will turn someone up. And, I doubt that I have to say this, but be prepared to pay well enough to get a decent person. $15 an hour, or x dollars per trip, etc.
Good luck. My personal philosophy is don't ever turn down a job just because you can't drive. No matter where you live, there is always a way!
Deborah
-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List <[log in to unmask]> On Behalf Of Steve Hoad
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2018 4:53 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] OT -- Getting to Work
Brain Storming is the best way!
I live rurally, have worked in various places and found many different
types of transportation over 45 years of travelling to work. Right now
I'm lucky, I have an employee who drives by and I pay her extra off
the books for "mileage" each week. However, over the years I have
learned some things that may be usefull:
1. Buried in many state department of transportation are various ride
share affiliations and van pools etc. These are often subsidized and
it is worth a call to your state department to find out what's there.
I have often used places such as local bulletin boards being careful
how I worded my ask so I am not identifiable as "needy or a "mark"
quite successfully; in some cases I've found neighbors by figuring out
where they work and whether it is close to what I need. And, (don't
rule this one out) sometimes I was just plain lucky; took a job, asked
around and found a way. Perseverance pays, those are the two Ps of
transportation in a world where cars rule. Good luck Ana.
From Maine: Steve
On 7/22/18, Ana G <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
>
> This is off topic, but I'm hoping list moderators will indulge me
> because I'm not sure where to take this question.
>
>
> In a nutshell, I'd like to know how people get to work without spending
> a lot of money.
>
>
> Right now, I work in town, going to different job sites every day. I
> have a driver, who's actually a retired family member. I don't pay this
> person beyond lunch and other odds and ends, but I do cover car expenses.
>
>
> I'm thinking about applying for a regular nine-to-five job. It's in the
> next town over, thirty-five miles away. The location is outside my
> driver's comfort zone though she says she's willing to do it if I need
> her to. So I'm trying to figure out what else I can do.
>
>
> * public transportation isn't an option because the job is in the next
> town over.
>
>
> * I tried using fare calculators on ride services like Uber and Lift,
> but it sounds like I would be spending about forty percent of my
> take-home pay on transportation.
>
>
> * paratransit doesn't work because these services famously have a
> two-hour window for pick-ups and drop-offs, which is a bit broad for
> work. In this case, there are the added complications of needing to
> cross a county line and needing to have a qualifying income.
>
>
> * I know someone who worked a deal out with a Lift driver. Basically,
> the driver takes him to and from work everyday off the books for a lower
> price. I could do this, but it would take a little while to get to know
> the driver in order to approach the topic.
>
>
> * Ideally, I would find someone at work who lives in town and would
> drive me at least part way (e.g., we could meet at a corner that is on
> this person's way, even if I have to get there via public transportation
> or my driver). But again, it would take a while to develop enough of a
> relationship with my coworkers to make this happen.
>
>
> Any other suggestions or experiences that might help me brain-storm how
> to get to work on time without going broke?
>
>
> Thanks, and again, I apologize for being off topic.
>
>
> Ciao
>
>
> VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
> Archived on the World Wide Web at
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>
--
Steve Hoad
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
Archived on the World Wide Web at
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Signoff: [log in to unmask]
Subscribe: [log in to unmask]
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Subscribe: [log in to unmask]
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