The Keys to Successful Nondriving

27 years old, married, with 4 children Lost my vision when I was 18 due to a motorcycle accident Arizona State University computer science major My current transportation methods

What’s Finding Wheels and how might it help you explore nondriving as a teen or young adult What are the advantages and disadvantages of different forms of travel How do you plan for travel when you’re not the one driving What’s Reclaiming Independence and how might it help you explore nondriving as an older adult

Curriculum from Pro Ed by Corn and Rosenblum (2000) It’s a curriculum designed for TVIs, COMS & families. It’s not a cookbook, rather it is a guide. It provides suggested activities to assist young people in exploring their options. Young people who are VI can use the curriculum themselves without anyone else for support.

One: Meet Teens and Young Adults Who are Finding Wheels Two: The Realization of Nondriving and its Implications for Independence as an Adult Three: Transportation Options for Nondrivers Four : Strategies for Independence as a Nondriver

Unit 1: Understanding Visual Impairment and its Implication for Nondriving Unit 2: Facilitating Changing Directions: On the Road to Independent Wheels

Explaining your needs to family and friends Explaining your needs to the public Developing a functional needs statement Be specific in your request and give a “why”.

See what businesses and other amenities interest you in the community Explore public transit options Explore paratransit options Consider your budget Cost of different forms of transportation vs. cost of housing

Unit 3: Personal Wheels: Walking and Biking Unit 4: Public Wheels: Buses, Taxis and Subways Unit 5: Specialized Wheels: Paratransit, Charity Services and Volunteer Services Unit 6: Hired Wheels: Taxis and Drivers Unit 7: Bioptic Wheels: Low Vision Driving

Advantages of walking and bicycling Disadvantages of walking and bicycling Preparation is key to success!

 Advantages of public wheels  Disadvantages of public wheels  Skills you need to use public transit

 Advantages of specialized wheels  Disadvantages of specialized wheels  Do you qualify?  Planning for the “time window”

Advantages of hired wheels Disadvantages of hired wheels Finding a qualified driver Negotiating costs

Where to advertise? How to interview? What to pay the driver? Who pays for gas? Whose car do you use? Who plans the route? What does the driver do when a destination is reached? If it is a long period of time what do you do about meals? How do you “fire” a driver?

Unit 8: Funding Wheels: Budgeting, Funding, Exchanging, and Reciprocating Unit 9: Using Wheels Efficiently: Gathering Resources, Route Planning and Time Management Unit 10: Spinning Wheels: Coping with Nondriving, Interpersonal Relationships and Public Behaviors

Call/Web search the business to get information Call/Web search the transit system to get information Use GPS during travel Be prepared with gear (umbrella, cell phone, etc.) Have a back-up person/plan Let someone know your plan before you set out

Low Vision Nondrivers Using Optical Aids

Have your device readily available Use during travel Review schedules Read directions Use at destination Shopping Restaurants Museum displays

 The stronger the degree of magnification (e.g., power) the smaller the field.  It is more difficult to view a moving object than a stationary one.

 Telescopes mounted into prescription lenses.  Telescopes are positioned above or below the individual’s direct line of sight.  Users spot with the telescope and when driving primarily use the carrier lens. Simulated 12-degree field of view with 3x Keplerian Bioptic Simulated 5-degree field view with 3x Galilean bioptic Highway sign to normal viewer Images from

Work with eye care specialist to identify the appropriate aid(s). Before you are behind the wheel you need to learn skills including focusing, spotting, scanning, and tracking. Use your optical aids in many environments to learn to use them efficiently. Seek out others who use optical aids to find out what works for them. Have your optical aids available.

Reclaiming Independence: Video and Resource Guide

L. Penny Rosenblum, Ph.D. The University of Arizona Bryan Duarte