Me and VR

Hmmm... Just realized I haven't said anything about my hand-controls and lift for my van since I first said something about it A MONTH ago (Me, Myself and I: Where've I Been?)... Here's THAT situation from the beginning:

In Feb 2003, my job was "eliminated". I spent the next couple of weeks updating my resume, setting up my website, and hitting every free freakin' job board I could find, applying, re-adjusting my resumes for their formats, etc., and looking for a job for which I was qualified... My salary expectations dropped from what I had been being paid (mid-50K) to entry-level (30K) over the next few months. NOTHING! (See my site and online resumes for more, there.)

In July or so, 2003, I started talking with Voc Rehab about help finding a job. (My right foot has NO toes, anymore, and my left no big toe, and I have neuropathy 1/2 way up my calves.) This didn't keep me from walking, but I'd had enough surgeries and problems getting around while recovering, I had an old scooter and lift in my van. The scooter was way too small, and the lift was an old one my father bought from someone off their front porch... Both WORKED, but ...

From the beginning, one of the things noted by my counselor was that I needed a better/new scooter (bigger) and van modifications - A new lift, probably hand-controls, etc. to help me get around. I had a few meetings with Job Counselors, and nothing came of them (I was having foot problems - ulcers that kept coming back, etc., but made every meeting and could have made any interviews that came my way, even if were using crutches on my scooter.)

In November, 2003, I fell, tearing the quad tendon from my kneecap (completely), thus not being able to walk at all. After FINALLY getting into an orthopaedic surgeon, getting an MRI, getting back with him for him to "read" the MRI and tell me I needed surgery (why I had to go in is ANYBODY's guess... could have told me that over the phone, and we KNEW that already!), and being referred to another ortho surgeon in Indy, I had surgery to repair my knee. 5 days later, I was in a Rehab Center (read nursing home) for five weeks with a "towel rack" (external fixator - held my knee straight with bolts through my muscle into the bone) on my leg. Then they removed that, put me in a plastic, wrap-around splint set at 0 degree bending for another 5-6 weeks, then I was allowed 30 degree bending for another month or so. For that last month, I started on physical therapy. After 26 or so once- or twice-a-week visits, I could walk from my car into therapy, do the exercises, and walk back out with a cane, instead of a walker. So, most of 2004 was shot to hell as far as finding a job or being there so they could fit van mods.

Oh... While I was in the nursing home, my scooter was delivered. Nice... Problem was I couldn't ride it for some time afterward. BUT, at least I had a new scooter that would more closely fit me!. My Dad "lent" me a couple of aluminum fold-up ramps he'd had to get when my Mom had foot surgery, but with my feet, knee and new weakness/balance problems, I couldn't do much to help set them up. So, my wife, father, one of my sons, whomever was available, took me to any doctor appointments, and I occassionally went (and still go) shopping with my wife. The scooter is for the longer trips (like shopping), but I can't drive, so someone has to take me. My parents live in Lafayette half the year (about 45 minutes away), one son was going to Purdue (just graduated, looking for a job in his field), and working almost full-time, and the other lives in the Indy area with his mother (again, about 45 minutes away.)

Then, sometime late 2004 or so, I got a letter from Voc Rehab that I was being dropped, since there'd been no contact for some time. GEEZE! (I didn't hear from THEM...!) I got that straightened out, was "re-setup" for van mods, the "job" idea had turned into a "business idea", and I had to write up my proposal for VR. Meanwhile, I waited to hear from Crossroads, who evaluates and does the driver's training. I met with VR about my business idea, that would provide a possible business for me, and help for various agencies of the government dealing with these issues, and they kinda "poopoo'd" it, saying it wouldn't make any money. (It's genealogically/historically related... Ancestry has since added a database containing SOME of what I wanted to do, only it's under THEIR subscription. And very little from Indiana. Hmm... Can't make money on it? Ancestry thinks so, anyway!)

Since the attempted "drop", I kept in contact with VR via email at least once every couple of weeks. I kept reminding my counselor that I needed van mods, and couldn't do much, now, with my feet AND knee, without them.

Around May, 2005, I contacted my VR counselor to find out when I was going to hear from Crossroads, and she said she'd find out. She sent a referral in June, and I waited. For the next six weeks, I emailed her every other week or so, and every Friday or Monday (the only days she apparently reads her emails) after my emails, she MIGHT respond that she'd check on it. FINALLY, Mid-August, she contacted them and they said they'd called ME in January (I believe I had either just had or was just going in for a foot surgery), and were waiting to hear from ME.

Some time in there, all my benefits (Cobra, Severence Pay, Unemployment, and Extended Unemployment) from my prior job expired, I managed to get on Social Security Disability (which barely covers my house and bills) and Medicare (which barely covers... Well, you get the idea).

I got an appointment for a Driver Evaluation in late October, so had to wait until then. Meanwhile, I had ANOTHER surgery on my feet, and complications ensued. My podiatrist assured me that I'd be able to walk as needed for the appointment. My wife got a new job, working 3rd shift in a factory. This wasn't TOO much of a biggie, except for doctor's appointments... They needed to be early, so she could take me (I, obviously, still couldn't drive - and she wouldn't let me, anyway, and VR said the way I was driving before was probably illegal), get home, and get some sleep before waking up late afternoon/early evening.

The Crossroads appointment came, and because my walking was limited, we used a wheelchair to go in and talk with them. I FINALLY met with the Driver Evaluator, went out and she looked at how I fit in the van, and using THEIR van, had a quick test on my dexterity using hand-controls. (I did well!) She figured all the things I would need, and that was that.

So, NOW the ball's rolling the right direction, right? Huh!

In mid-November, one of the emails I sent to my VR counselor asked how things were going with my van mods. She replied that she needed to review the report, which she hadn't done YET. They FINALLY contacted NY (the people who verify the need, get the bids for the work, and make recommendations), who said the mods were not major, so would not REQUIRE us to get a new van, but I had to get mine (a 96 Gran Voyager) inspected for drivability. And, early December, they put out requests for bids.

I had questions (among them, who in Lebanon could do the type of inspection that VR would accept?), that weren't answered until late December. VR WOULD pay for the inpection, but needed an estimate. The only people in town that I knew of that could do it would charge $250 for it. GEEZE! I drove that thing to Carmel from Lebanon (30 miles) and back every weekday for years, and had very few problems. And had driven various other places (Lafayette, Indianapolis, Evansville, etc.) without a problem. Now someone would inspect it, I'm sure FIND problems that needed fixed, and I'd have to pay for them with my limited income. NICE. And if the inspection was $250, what would the "repairs" be?

Anyway, Mid January, 2006, I found that I had copies of the authorizations for Crossroads to do driver's training, but SHE (the Driving Trainer/Evaluator) had never gotten a copy. I sent them to her electronically, we set up times for her to come to Lebanon to do it, and I was "trained" using hand-controls (their van). (Most had to do with correcting the "bad habits" I'd picked up in 30+ years of driving! The idea was to "get me through the test" as well as remind me of those "errors". Within a week, my wife wanted to go van shopping. She wanted to sell her car to her daughter, whose car was in worse shape than the van (not that it was in THAT bad-a-shape, but it WAS 10 years old and over 100.000 miles on it). We went, found one (a story unto itself), I informed VR and Crossroads, it was close enough to the same that they wouldn't have to rebid the modifications, and I no longer needed the inspection.

Through February, I finally got my driver's training. In early March, I had my driver's test using hand-controls, and passed. My license was amended. This means I can't legally drive without hand-controls. (I haven't except for driving the old van home while my wife drove the new van, and it was a little scary! No... No close calls, only very nervous putting on the brakes with my partial foot after not having driven for some time!) I had understood that the bids would not have to be made again, but no one was sure until NY said the new van was close enough they didn't have to be.

In mid-April, everything was FINALLY set. All (2) bids were in, we knew who it would be, and it would be done quickly, right? Huh!

We talked to the low-bidders to verify they could do it, and things looked good. THEN, for the next few months, my VR counselor tried, I tried, even my father (closer to them) tried to get hold of them. All VR needed was a "completion date" and authorizations could be sent. NOTHING.

Voc Rehab FINALLY (mid-July) contacted the people they go through in NY to ask what to do when the "low bidder" (apparently required by the state, unless I can cough up the bucks to make up the difference which I can't) doesn't respond to them OR me, and my counselor, someone higher up in VR, and I all received copies (the next day) recommending we go with the higher bid. That was July 11th.

It's now July 23rd, and I haven't heard word one from VR for a while (again). I have no clue what's going on. I can't get my couselor to respond to email. She's only in the main office Monday and Friday (and apparently that's the ONLY time she even LOOKS at her email or anything to do with emails she's received.)

I've kept Crossroads "in the loop" and apparently, my VR counselor DOES respond when SHE asks a question, but not me (at least all the time).

My last email to her forwarded a copy of my July 14th email and follows:

From: Bill Sanders
To: [VR Counselor]
Cc: [Crossroads Trainer]
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2006 3:35 PM
Subject: Fw: Sanders [Counselor] - HELP, PLEASE!

[Counselor],

What's going on? It's been two weeks since I asked, three since [NY] said "use [High-bidder]".

I don't understand why I don't get answers to my questions ("Will THEY contact me to set up an appointment?" and "Let me know if I need to do anything.", and most especially "What's happening with this?".)

At this point, unless [High-bidder] can get on it right away, I guess there's NO CHANCE to get it done before Chris' daughter has her baby.

Please help us get this finished.

Bill

[That email refers to the prior email, sent July 14, that said:]

I kind of expected to hear from you today about this, since [NY] sent it last Tuesday...

So, what happens now? I assume you:

• probably have to get permission to use the higher bid
• contact Superior for a Completion Date
• (maybe forward them the package of work, again, since it's been so long)
• send (can you fax, it's faster) the authorization for them to do it under FSSA/VocRehab auspices
• and what...(?) Will THEY contact me to set up an appointment?

Let me know if I need to do anything. You know I have copies of all MY emails to and from you, me, [Crossroads] and [NY], if you need any of them.

Chris' [my wife's] daughter is going to have a baby in Fort Branch/Evansville area, and they were talking about around August 8th. Chris is "waiting for the call" to zip down there to be with her in the delivery room. She's afraid the old van won't make it, so will need to drive the new van then. I would LIKE to try to get it done before then, if at ALL possible.

Any chance?

It's been ALMOST THREE YEARS since I've driven (except that one time, training and testing) and with it so close I can taste it, I'm antsy. When all this started gas was HIGH at $1.40 or so per gallon. NOW it's $3.00 per gallon. I probably won't be able to do the business I'd thought of because of this. It would have required me to drive around the county. If I had been able to when I could, I MIGHT have actually been making enough money to cover the gas. Now...

And so I wait...