[humanser] newly blind

Diane dianefilipe at peoplepc.com
Tue Dec 16 15:32:43 UTC 2008 

Judith,
Are you in Rockland Maine or Rockland Mass?
Diane
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 7:15 AM
Subject: Re: [humanser] newly blind


> 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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>> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
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>
>
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