quote:

ORIGINAL: Griswold
67,000 people in the United States will become "visually impaired" this year.

quote:

ORIGINAL: AxilX

I see your located in Arizona, i'm not sure what the laws are about recording phone converations there, but if you're not required to obtain consent (in NJ where i live, and in many states you do not) get a cheap tape recorder, and document them telling you the cost of the apartment is the same across all floors, then threaten to go to the better business bureau if they give you the run around.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Griswold

When did you become blind?

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ORIGINAL: pupofMoGa

<crawls up to Mistress with a guide harness on and sits quietly by Her side, listening to Her talk>

quote:

ORIGINAL: Level

quote:

ORIGINAL: MistressOfGa

As most of you know, I am blind. When searching for an apt. for the past several weeks, I ran into this:

Good lady, I didn't know that.... *warm hugsssssss*
 
I've always liked you, but my respect for you has grown quite a bit, reading this thread.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Griswold
This reminds me of a question I'm often asked; "Why the hell do they have Braille on Drive Thru bank machines?"

(Did it ever occur that while being driven to a bank....after hours....blind people may occasionally need money too?)

quote:

ORIGINAL: EvilGenie

I wonder what makes the, already laudable for who she is, MoGA so much more laudable here now. I have read from more than one along the lines of ............I didn't know you were blind and then all of the sudden she is automatically ''gutsy'' ''strong'' and many other adjectives. I would dare say MoGA you'd be exactly the same sort of woman that you are now, blind or not. See where this is going? Anyone? All of the sudden she has changed because she deals with blindness.

Many of us are disabled, ''gutsy'' and ''strong'' but it is not our disabilities that make us such. I have always been gutsy and strong long before the word disability came into my life and always will remain so. We are no more gutsy or strong because we are disabled than all of the other gutsy and strong folks who are not disabled. My disabilities are at times horrific and people often ask ''how do you do it??''  There are plenty of disabled couch potatoes as well just as there are plenty of non-disabled couch potatoes. It is a personality type, not a disability which sets some of us apart, disabled or not. Is life a bit more difficult with disabilities? In many cases, yes. Though those who perservere are those who want to not only those with disabilities.

Well peeps, we all have 2 options, disabled or not. Move forward, go on and live a life worth living or give up, sit in a corner and wait to die. I do not want to take up space waiting to die thanks. For every ONE thing that I am unable to do, there are a MILLION more that I can do.

MoGA as to your question of telling people. When I was actively seeking, I told those whom I felt a closeness with. When making friends it is much the same. When I met mine whom I am now married to I pretty much told him most of it right up front as I knew for certain this was going someplace. You see, my disabilities are 3 tiered and I think I have mentioned one of them in my journal here. I have always been one of those ''my life is an open book'' types so I tend not to even think to hide these facts about myself. In fact, at times, I believe it has helped people understand me and other disabled folks a bit better.

My disabilities are facts to me just like my eyes being green or my hair being blonde. They carry very little if any emotional weight to them anymore though I have my moments. So I am a bit like Joe Friday with a ''just the facts Ma'am'' attitude. They are part of what makes me who I am and I am proud of who I am and what I have contributed to those I love and care about and to the world through my chosen career paths.

Many may take exception to my post and that is your perogative though I tend to call things as I see them. To me, seeing someone as anything more special than you already thought that they were because they speak of their disability is just another form, though a bit more palitable, of discrimination. It discriminates against the very person who is disabled in a reverse sort of way and discriminates against those without disabilities. I live by this saying, ''I am not my disabilities. I am Hajar''

We aren't exceptional people, though we may be plain old folks doing exceptional things along with the millions of other plain old folks doing exceptional things. MoGA thank you for the compliments and I gratefully accept them as a fellow human being.

Best of All Things in Life!

quote:

ORIGINAL: MistressOfGa

quote:

ORIGINAL: TribeTziyon

I am jumping ahead here without finishing reading the thread but I may not make it through or back.

I lived in Phoenix for a a number of years in the 1990's. I have been gone 6 years now, so things have changed I suppose. There were some nice rentals in the Glendale that specialized in serving the handicapped. The ones I am referring to were on 59th Avenue. They were all ground floor and spacious. The accomodations were more tailored for those with mobility challenges but they might be an option. Renting in Phoenix was like renting in no other place I lived.

Good thoughts and wishes to you on your journey.

I use to live almost a stone's throw from the Arizona School for the Blind. Just reading your post brought it back so clearly.

I found a place in the Glendale area. It is very far from my school as you know, but I use dial-a-ride so fairly cheap to get there :)
 
MoGa

quote:

ORIGINAL: MistressOfGa

As most of you know, I am blind. When searching for an apt. for the past several weeks, I ran into this:
 
Me: I need a bottom floor, (As I am standing there with a red and white guide cane) because I can't see.
 
Manager: Oh we have those!
 
Me: Cool how much are your one bedrooms?
 
Manager: Well, if you were to move into a second floor one bedroom it would be 600.00 but since you are moving into a bottom floor, the rent will be 650.00
 
Me: You have got to be kidding, yes? I am expected to pay a higher price because I am handicapped?
 
Manager: Oh no, not because you are handicapped, everyone pays higher rent to live on the bottom floor.
 
Me: But I have no choice but to live on the bottom floor, since I can't see! So I am left with no option but to rent a bottom level floor and I am being forced to pay higher rent.
 
Manager: Pause..no answer
 
Me: OK, I am getting a guide dog soon. I understand from Arizona School for the Blind and Hearing Impaired, that they are considered service animals and as such you can not charge me pet fees. Is this correct?
 
Manager: Oh, let me just check something.
 
Manager leaves. Manager comes back.
 
Manager: Miss ___, I'm terribly sorry, but I seem to have made a mistake, there are no one bedroom first floor apts. available. But keep us in mind in the future.
 
<Sigh>
I have never been handicapped before, but I am finding out really fast how discriminatory people are being toward me. This is not a pity post. I would like some ideas on how to deal with apartment managers who act this way. (Other than knocking the shit out of them)
 
MoGa 

quote:

ORIGINAL: FangsNfeet

If you want to be treated as an equal, then you're going to have to pay as an equal.

When another floor cost more, it has to do with something special such as more floor space, a better balcony, or a nicer celing.

As for dealing with apartments, just call in advance and only ask what there rates are for first floor apartments. Don't ask about second and higher floor cost. That way, you'll never know if higher floors go for a cheaper rate.

No matter what, never expect to pay cheeper just because you're forced to choose something that's more expensive. Regardless of the circumstance, price is what it is.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MistressOfGa
 
What I am saying, is that I think that the extra cost was thrown on there because of my needing a bottom floor. I doubt that the other people on the bottom floor have to pay extra for living on the bottom.