Molly – Do you live independently?

I do live independently.  I just graduated from college, I went to Stanford.  And this past year, I lived in a house.  It was University housing, but it was an accessible bathroom and bedroom on the first floor.  I do all my own dressing, and transferring, and bathing and all that.  I had someone come in once a week to help me do my laundry and clean my room, which is kind of just a time issue more than anything.  Other than that, I don’t really need any help.  I did and I do everything myself.  I do all my own bowel and bladder program, my own transfers in and out of the shower chair, and dressing and everything.  If I need help with something little, I can ask my friends.  I had some friends living in the house, and that was easy, but it was usually nothing more than, “Can you get stuff off the shelf or the floor,” maybe like that.  So, I drive, I have a wheelchair adaptive minivan with hand controls.  So, it’s not necessarily the slickest car but it gets me around.  Driving has been great; it gives me a lot more freedom.  I have had my car out in school in California, but especially living in the suburbs and having to drive almost everywhere, it’s really nice.