[humanser] newly blind

James Brown jbrown321 at comcast.net
Wed Dec 17 22:38:25 UTC 2008 

Judith,

Those were some great thoughts straight out of the Behavioral philosophy. 
If the person can gain physical independence, then, they can more easily get 
back their piece of mind.

However, they still may need some cognitive therapy, such as the NFB 
preaches to heal up some old wounds and create more positive experiences for 
the future.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 8:15 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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