Can't Get Help With Transport - Help Please?

Pink_Eyes

I asked if I could get help with transport to & from college. I'm partially sighted and have various visual problems (am possibly dyslexic as well) and live about 3 miles away from college.

I've been told that I'm not disabled enough and don't live that far away and that my parents should help me out. They're either working, about to go to work or sleeping when I either go to college or am about to go home.

I've been told to use my DLA mobility, which covers half of my journey per week.

I have a bus pass, which they say I should use and I'll have no problems. Someone please tell me - how the hell does having a bus pass and 40% vision (with correction) help me see the buses in the dark?:rolleyes:

For now, it's not that much of a problem for me because it's light when I leave my house (around 7.30am) but soon it won't be.

I have been offered mobility training, but there's a waiting list for that.

My parents earn too much (cut off point is £21k-ish) for the learner support fund. And they can't really give me money every week to help me with the costs. (They've just given me £100 for my course costs)

I might be able to get some help from the council (need to pay £228 for it, which isn't a problem) but apparantely, that only goes up to year 14 and I'm 19 and a half.

silvercar

Could you take the bus in the mornings and use your DLA mobility for your journey home?

Although it may be dark in winter, in Summer it should be light enough to see the bus to and from college.

Oldernotwiser

Why are you leaving at 7.30 to travel 3 miles? You could walk it in less than an hour.

GlasweJen

if you know roughly what time the bus will be at your stop you can just ask the driver if it's the right bus and to tell you where to get off? You could also ask the bus company to tell the driver that a partially sighted person will board the bus at stop A at X am and ask if they can stop for you. You will get familiar with individual drivers anyway if you travel every morning at the same time.

Pink_Eyes

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Why are you leaving at 7.30 to travel 3 miles? You could walk it in less than an hour.

I need to catch 2 buses. I have walked it (because I couldn't be bothered to wait for a bus) and it took me nearly 2 hours.

Could you take the bus in the mornings and use your DLA mobility for your journey home?

In the winter, it's too dark in the mornings.

if you know roughly what time the bus will be at your stop you can just ask the driver if it's the right bus and to tell you where to get off?

I already know both of these things (there was some bus information given out with joining instructions) but I can't always see the buses coming.

silvercar

Once you start college you may find someone with a car living in your direction, you could offer petrol money.

I would imagine that you wouldn't be the only one at a bus stop outside a college; can you ask someone to hold bus number XX for you?

Use your Mobility payments for the winter and use bus there and back in the summer?

Does the college have any schemes that could help you?

Pink_Eyes

There's no-one at the first bus stop. (the one outside my house) I do not know of anyone that lives where I live and drives to college.

College only has scheme (that I know of) for people who have to come far away and there's not a bus stop where they live. They have a similar thing for disabled people, but apparantely, losing 60% vision (which will get worse the older I get) isn't good enough reason to have help with the cost of taxis. And they have loads of medical evidence from medical professionals that state this.

diamonds

DSA in Scotland covers this, you in effect could pay someone to drive you, check out DSA

Gemmzie

diamonds wrote: »

DSA in Scotland covers this, you in effect could pay someone to drive you, check out DSA

DSA is for university students only in England, the OP is at college

Oldernotwiser

I think I'm right in welcoming Titch 89 back to the board. I see you're just as negative as you used to be!

silvercar

Pink Eyes, I did suggest you use your allowance in the winter and catch the bus both ways in the summer. Any reason you can't do this?