[humanser] newly blind

Tue Dec 16 14:15:05 UTC 2008

For the past 6 months my co-worker and I at the Rockland Independent Living 
Center have been trying to start a program for the newly physically 
disabled.  I am legally blind.  It took me six years to go from a depressed 
nobody to a person with self esteem, goals and pride.  It is a much needed 
direction when you are talking about the newly blind or people who are 
becoming blind.  One of the major problems is that a person who has never 
had to confront a physical challenge has no idea what is out there for 
people who are impaired.  I'll tell you from experience, it's an uphill 
battle.  One time I even had the head of a mental health department tell me 
that all the services that I thought necessary for the newly physically 
disabled were available in her Department of Mental Health.  I told her she 
didn't get it.  A person who couldn't see anymore didn't hav a    head 
problem, but an eye problem.  A pperson who became paralyzed and was 
whealchair bound didn't have a head problem, but a leg problem.  The world 
still doesn't get it.  Judith
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Julie Russell" <jar90880 at yahoo.com>
To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 6:56 AM
Subject: [humanser] newly blind


> Hello,
>
> This topic is so important and so rarely touched.  I can not imagine 
> losing a function of the body - any part without a grief / loss 
> adjustment. Hopefully Axis IV allows for this to be taken into just what 
> it is - without that in the first months it seems MDD and GAD could be on 
> the horizon.  This is a dream study of mine.  While being blind does not 
> mean one needs therapy likely the loss of a body function whether vision, 
> legs, or other is a huge part of identity.  To rebuild that identity in a 
> way that is meaningful and healthy is essential.  This may not mean 
> therapy but it may.
> To take the NFB attitudes means changing one's thought about blindness and 
> often one's thought about self if a period from onset to training has been 
> long in the making.
>
> I agree with Mary Ann.  I knew a man and after becoming blind he engaged 
> in therapy weekly by phone.  In LA this is not prohibited by the LPC 
> board. The reason was how hard it was for him to leave his house and get 
> to the office.  The rest I can only imagine.
>
> Do people have thoughts on this?
> What is up with phone therapy?  I am not talking a 900 number (LOL)
>
> Julie Russell, LCSW
> New Orleans
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mary Ann Rojek" <brightsmile1953 at comcast.net>
> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 9:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [humanser] the homeless blind
>
>
>> Hi JD and other list members,
>>
>> I couldn't agree more.  If clinicians who are providing therapy are
>> unfamiliar with the NFB philosophy or don't have a positive attitude 
>> about
>> the potential of blind individuals, vulnerable folks could be receiving
>> treatment that is detrimental or damaging.
>>
>> Mary Ann
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "JD Townsend" <43210 at bellsouth.net>
>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 9:57 PM
>> Subject: Re: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>
>>
>>>
>>> Hi Mary Ann and Human Service Division Members:
>>>
>>> I agree that therapy is not used in blind rehab - most frequently it is
>>> assumed that mental health issues are not involved, or that a positive 
>>> NFB
>>> attitude is sufficient.  We in the field know that the insult of 
>>> blindness
>>> adds to the multi-featured structure of our complex cognitive-emotional
>>> selves as does any other of our personal features.
>>>
>>> Frequently blindness rehab counselors feel that they are qualified to
>>> provide psychotherapy.
>>>
>>> In my own therapy blindness has been a minor part of therapy, but a
>>> significant minor part.  Newly blind folks, or those in rehab centers
>>> would
>>> benefit from a psychotherapy that encompassed the ideas of the NFB
>>> philosophy while working with the whole person.
>>>
>>> Just my little ideas.
>>>
>>>
>>> JD Townsend, LCSW
>>> Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
>>> Helping the light dependent to see.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Mary Ann Rojek" <brightsmile1953 at comcast.net>
>>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 8:49 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>>
>>>
>>>> Shalom David,
>>>>
>>>> I am a social worker in Michigan.  I've worked with some mentally ill
>>>> blind
>>>> folks, but one who were homeless.  I know of no system for tracking 
>>>> this
>>>> data.  It sounds like an area that warrants further exploration.
>>>>
>>>> To add to the mix, I also believe that folks who are losing their sight
>>>> may
>>>> not be getting adequate therapy for coping with vision loss.
>>>>
>>>> Mary Ann Rojek
>>>> LMSW, ACSW, CAAC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "David R. Stayer" <davidandloristayer at verizon.net>
>>>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 6:57 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Shalom.  As we make our recommendtions perhaps something will happen.
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "JD Townsend" <43210 at bellsouth.net>
>>>>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 10:39 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Shalom David:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I worked with homeless peoples in New York City for many years during
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> late 1980's and early 1990's, running programs to house homeless
>>>>>> mentally
>>>>>> ill and/or substance addicted populations.  I did work with some deaf
>>>>>> folks, some wheelchair folks, and with a variety of disabled homeless
>>>>>> folks;  but, never a blind person.  Until your message the lack of
>>>>>> blind
>>>>>> homeless never struck me.  Where were they?  I did know of many blind
>>>>>> folks who rented a room in someone's apartment, living off a SSI or 
>>>>>> SSD
>>>>>> check;  however they never seem to have made it to the homeless
>>>>>> shelters.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Now you've done it, given me something new to wonder about!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> JD Townsend, LCSW
>>>>>> Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
>>>>>> Helping the light dependent to see.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>> From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
>>>>>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 9:56 AM
>>>>>> Subject: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I don't think you can research a group of people based on disability 
>>>>>>>in
>>>>>>>New York State.  Judith
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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