[il-talk] TROUBLE

[AZNOR99 at aol.com]

Laura,
 
We're really glad you wrote.  We've been thinking of you and searching  for 
you as well.  I know you're feeling really down right now, and this is  a 
difficult time for you.  I think you have an opportunity and a challenge  if 
you choose to accept it.  You are literally living in a world where  blind 
people are expected to sit in the corner and do nothing, and they're  
expected to be grateful they have a seat at all.  That's unacceptible, and  you 
know you can participate if they'll only make a few adjustments to the way  
they do things at your facility.  You mentioned Braille cards in your email  - 
that's one really simple solution.  Send me your mailing address off-list  
and I'll send you a couple sets of playing and UNO cards in Braille.   
Another idea is for you to introduce an activity that you're already good at and  
the rest of the residents can join in on.  That way, you'll demonstrate  
that you are competent at something, blindness or no, and the fact that you  
already know how to do it will help your confidence level when doing it with 
the  group.  
 
I don't quite understand the cane thing.  If many of the residents are  in 
wheelchairs, for example, and they have a history of rolling over your cane  
and crushing it, then perhaps there needs to be a seminar on  
conscientiousness.  They need to respect your needs just like you respect  theirs.  
Laura, we're long past the time when blind people are isolated and  segregated 
because of their disabilities.  That's just not acceptible, and  your 
Federation family will stand behind you to educate and advocate.
 
Call me (708-829-0523) or write me off list if you want to  talk.  I've 
missed you.
 
Ronza
 
 
 
In a message dated 6/18/2009 12:52:34 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
lmannon at comcast.net writes:

hello  all,
I hope that you are all doing well either at Convention or getting  ready
for it. But I ask for a favor you could please be thinking of me as I  an
having a hard time where I am living. I live in an assisted  housing
facility in Aurora. I am one of the only blind individuals in  the
building  and to make matters worse I am the only blind individual  with
a cane that does not fold. This has caused much trouble in the  dinning
room especially in the dining room. Even when I put it under the  table
like I have been taught to. Also I am often left out of  activities
because I can't see what is going on. They will play card games  like Uno
or Phase 10 but they are not Brailed. So I sit and watch them have  fun.
I finally decided not to do that anymore. I did start to learn  to
crochet but last week the director told me that she told me that  she
never thought that I would ever get any where with it  and that I  would
never get to make that blanket. TO this I just up and left. The idea  of
blindness around here is not one of you can do anything with the  right
training. I think they were shocked when I went to the store the  other
day and got a shopper assistant for myself and got what I needed at  the
store.  I feel like I have been beaten down here and I try to stay  in my
room then I am unaware of an activity that I can't participate  in
because I am blind. Also I think that the residents have a  trouble
acceptng my cane. I have to sit in a special spot in the dining  room in
order to accommodate my cane and too please the other residents.  Often
this leaves me eating by myself. if anyone has any suggestions to  help
me bring me out of this depression That I have been plunged into  that
would be of much help.thanks again. I hope that you all enjoy  convention
and wish I was there.
Laura Mannon  (630)561-6812
_______________________________________________
il-talk  mailing  list
il-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org
To  unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for  
il-talk:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/il-talk_nfbnet.org/aznor99%40aol.com


**************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your 
fingertips. 
(http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004)