(2) parallel park so I passed the on-the-road test to get my license back.
(3) Keys. Getting out keys is harder than it sounds. It is hard enough to dig through a purse with two hands. I am not going to dig for my keys with one hand. My house key is on a purple straight flexible coil that hooks on my purse. I pull on this coil to make my house key slip out of its pocket so I can lock the front door. My car key has its own compartment on the front of my purse. It is on a green wrist coil which makes it easy to retrieve quickly.
(4) Front Door. Stroke survivors need to handle the front door for when they are alone and want to drive. Multiple strategies help me get out of my house without falling. I open the door and reach behind me to place my cane on the porch so my sound hand is free. Then I take a step backwards onto my porch and pull the door shut. However, I must not trip over one inch high weather stripping (arrows on right).
The 2nd photo on the right shows another fall hazard. It is a shallow ledge at the bottom of the screen door. I have to keep the heel of my hemiplegic foot from getting stuck on that ledge as I step down onto my porch. Initially I used my butt to hold the screen door open as I stepped down because the door is heavy. I dented the screen so now I push against the storm window which I keep down all year long.
(5) Safety. It is easy for the seatbelt to get twisted when my sound left hand pushes the belt across my chest. So I make sure the seat belt is completely straight when I pull it out (see photo). Drivers who use their right hand have the unfair advantage of being able to pull the strap across their chest.
(6) Starting the car. To use my sound left hand I have to lean to see the key slot to the right of the steering wheel. I pull the key out through an opening in the steering wheel because this does not require as much precision.
(7) The Sun. (6) The spinner knob I use (see arrow) to control the steering wheel gets really hot. I cannot drive if I burn my hand. I found sunshades I can put up in 10 seconds with one hand.
10-11 are intermittent tasks that are easier for people to fit into their schedule if they want to help.
(10) Getting Gas. It is illegal for drivers in New Jersey and Washington state to pump their own gas. When I travel in the other 48 states, I must handle the gas pump. This task begins with getting out a credit card and putting it in my coat pocket.
(3) Keys. Getting out keys is harder than it sounds. It is hard enough to dig through a purse with two hands. I am not going to dig for my keys with one hand. My house key is on a purple straight flexible coil that hooks on my purse. I pull on this coil to make my house key slip out of its pocket so I can lock the front door. My car key has its own compartment on the front of my purse. It is on a green wrist coil which makes it easy to retrieve quickly. 
The 2nd photo on the right shows another fall hazard. It is a shallow ledge at the bottom of the screen door. I have to keep the heel of my hemiplegic foot from getting stuck on that ledge as I step down onto my porch. Initially I used my butt to hold the screen door open as I stepped down because the door is heavy. I dented the screen so now I push against the storm window which I keep down all year long. 
(5) Safety. It is easy for the seatbelt to get twisted when my sound left hand pushes the belt across my chest. So I make sure the seat belt is completely straight when I pull it out (see photo). Drivers who use their right hand have the unfair advantage of being able to pull the strap across their chest.
(6) Starting the car. To use my sound left hand I have to lean to see the key slot to the right of the steering wheel. I pull the key out through an opening in the steering wheel because this does not require as much precision.
(7) The Sun. (6) The spinner knob I use (see arrow) to control the steering wheel gets really hot. I cannot drive if I burn my hand. I found sunshades I can put up in 10 seconds with one hand.In winter I may have to (8) zip my coat and (9) don snow boots.
10-11 are intermittent tasks that are easier for people to fit into their schedule if they want to help.
(10) Getting Gas. It is illegal for drivers in New Jersey and Washington state to pump their own gas. When I travel in the other 48 states, I must handle the gas pump. This task begins with getting out a credit card and putting it in my coat pocket. My purse has a zippered compartment that holds only a credit card, driver's license, ATM card, and library card. Finally, pumping gas requires good balance while turning repeatedly.
(11) Car Maintenance. A dirty windshield obscures my vision, especially at night. Cleaning the gunk that accumulates on the inside of the windshield is difficult one-handed. A reacher called the Invisible Glass Cleaner allows me to clean all the way down to the dashboard.
Before a mechanic works on my car, he shoves the car seat back because I have short legs. Before I drive away I grab the steering wheel with my affected hand to pull the seat forward while my sound hand presses down on the release bar. My affected hand needs only a gross grasp. homeafterstroke.blogspot.com
(11) Car Maintenance. A dirty windshield obscures my vision, especially at night. Cleaning the gunk that accumulates on the inside of the windshield is difficult one-handed. A reacher called the Invisible Glass Cleaner allows me to clean all the way down to the dashboard. Before a mechanic works on my car, he shoves the car seat back because I have short legs. Before I drive away I grab the steering wheel with my affected hand to pull the seat forward while my sound hand presses down on the release bar. My affected hand needs only a gross grasp. homeafterstroke.blogspot.com
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