by Michael Smitherman
In May of 2001, I started down a road filled with many uncertainties to forge a new and exciting way of life for my family and me. I began the long process of learning how to drive with the aid of a bioptic lens, and, as of March 28, 2002, I was granted a Mississippi driver’s license.
First, I would like to thank a few people who were instrumental in helping me achieve the goal of obtaining yet another milestone in the fight for more independence: Alison, my wife, who believed in me all along and was always there when I was down, to lift me up and say, “Hey, you can do this thing;” Connie Fitzhugh, my rehab counselor, who, through the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services, made sure that everything was being done on their end; Dr. Glen Stribling, my optometrist, who said I qualified and that I could obtain a driver’s license if I worked hard and wanted it badly enough; last, and certainly not least, Nancy Prusik, my driving instructor, who was hard on me but made sure that I learned the rules of the road, and the responsibilities of having a driver’s license. To all of you, I want to say thanks for your help in achieving this goal.
Last May, I was referred to Connie Fitzhugh, a rehab counselor, to see if my case could be opened for the purpose of obtaining a Mississippi driver’s license with the use of a bioptic lens. She set me up an appointment to see Dr. Glen Stribling, one of two eye doctors in Mississippi who can test to see if one might qualify for the bioptic driving program. Dr. Stribling said I would make a good candidate for this program. Then he wrote the prescription for the bioptic lens. After several visits to Dr. Stribling, in which he taught me the proper use of the bioptic lens, he signed off on me and said it was time for the next step. I purchased a state driver’s manual and studied so that I could get my learner’s permit. After weeks, or so it seemed, I was granted a learner’s permit on December 17, 2001. Here, I would like to thank my sister, Sarah Roberson, who helped me by letting me drive whenever possible. She let me drive and gave me lots of tips that would help me later in this process for getting my driver’s license.
In January of this year, Nancy Prusik of On the Road Evaluations and Training came to Mississippi for the official training that I had to have in order to receive my driver’s license. Nancy was tough in her approach to people driving with the use of a bioptic lens. She made me read all signs, tell the color of the stop light ahead, practice lane changes, enter the interstate at high speed, park left and right, turn left and right, and last, but not least, she made me parallel park before I could pass her training, and, of course, I did. Then she came back to Jackson the first week of March for a final testing before signing off on me. After 23 hours of rigorous training with Nancy, she signed off on me and said I was ready for the road test, the driving part of the test for a driver’s license.
On March 21, I went for my road test with the Mississippi Department of Highway Safety Patrol. I felt confident in my ability to pass this test, yet I was quite nervous. I made a couple of mistakes, one of which I don’t think was my fault, but the master sergeant who gave the test felt that I needed more practice behind the wheel. Now, let me thank my niece, Brandi Gaugh, who worked with me every day of the next week in order for me to get more time behind the wheel. On March 28, 2002, I went back to take the road test again, and, yes, I passed it without any problems. Then the master sergeant gave me instructions about when I could drive and some safety tips for driving. Around 2:55 p.m., I received my Mississippi driver’s license. That same afternoon, I drove to Madison and picked my wife up from work for the very first time, without being accompanied by a licensed driver. That was an exciting time for both of us!
Alison and I have bought a car, a 2002 Saturn SL1 series. As of this day, we have put over 1,700 miles on it and are enjoying the independence that being able to drive has provided us. One of our goals is to make sure that anyone who is blind or visually impaired does not have to miss an MCB function because they have no ride, as long as the function is during the day.
This new freedom allows us to go to church, go shopping, visit friends, and so many other things we enjoy doing, without having to plan everything out or having to bother others for rides. If there is a drawback, I can’t think of it except that with the bioptic lens, I am not able to drive at night. What a shame (grin).
Although bioptic driving might not be for everyone, I would say to anyone who has 20/200 vision: Get yourself checked out to see if you can qualify for bioptic driving. It has changed our lives in two ways: We can now do more for ourselves, and we can then do more for others. Sure, owning a car is more expensive when you count the cost of the car note, gas, and insurance, but there is nothing like the freedom of having transportation for those of us who are blind or visually impaired. Think about it: The cost is worth it, and who minds being home at night? For sure, not I!