[nabs-l] Wanted to share my experience living at Friedman Place, a supportive living community for blind adults in Chicago

Tue Apr 9 12:46:48 UTC 2013

Please remember that each of us have different needs and perspectives. What 
works for one does not always work for another. In saying this, I think 
respect should be given to those who's views may be different from yours, 
and no one should force their beliefs on another person.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joshua Lester" <JLester8462 at pccua.edu>
To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 7:39 AM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Wanted to share my experience living at Friedman 
Place, a supportive living community for blind adults in Chicago


> I'd like the ones in Maine better, because they give you the option to 
> cook for yourself, or eat in the dining room.
> They have more NFB-centered views!
> Blessings, Joshua
> ________________________________________
> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Hope Paulos 
> [hope.paulos at gmail.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 7:19 AM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Wanted to share my experience living at Friedman 
> Place,   a supportive living community  for blind adults in Chicago
>
> Hello Sam! I just watch one of your videos. I'm from Maine, Mount Desert 
> Island to be exact, and I know that there is a similar facility called 
> iris Park Apartments in Portland Maine. This is a subsidize housing for 
> individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Assistance is given with 
> shopping, nursing care, if need be orientation and mobility services, and 
> people can eat either in the dining room or in their own apartments. A 
> full kitchen is offered in each apartment. Vision rehabilitation services 
> are also provided if need be. I'm  quite surprised that nobody from Maine 
> mentioned this to you.
> Sincerely,
> Hope Paulos
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Apr 9, 2013, at 7:50 AM, "Sam Nelson" <samnelson1 at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi Mark and everyone,
>> Thank you for sending this. Yes I am aware of the training centers that
>> Joshua and others (when I sent info on this to a different list of blind
>> students) told me about. It's wonderful that so many of you have  found 
>> them
>> to be so helpful  and it's worked for you. I have looked at their 
>> websites
>> and  read about the NFB philosophy and at this moment, it's just not for 
>> me.
>>
>> I do appreciate your thoughts Joshua! I want to be clear  that to my
>> knowledge neither the staff here nor anyone else sees this as a 
>> "charity
>> case," kind of thing. For many that live here, there is a real sense of
>> family, and we give back in our own way to the community as much as we 
>> get
>> from it,  with our own  unique skills talents and personalitys.
>> Yes, several of the residents here do have other disabilities in addition
>> to being blind, but some don't. And honestly, I don't see how that really
>> matters. For example, a very good friend of mine, moved here in I believe
>> November. He is visually impaired, and has CP. But no one really  dwells 
>> on
>> that. He's  amazing at  computers, extremely intelligent and with a great
>> sense of humor, and very motivated and incouraging people to advocate 
>> with
>> and for others with  disabilities. That's what sticks in my mind, about 
>> him
>> not that he has CP in addition to being blind. (though I do sometimes 
>> tease
>> him that he should get one of those service monkeys LOL!)
>> Thanks again Mark for your kind words. And everyone for your perspective. 
>> I
>> hope to get to know you all better.
>> Sam (short for Samantha, that's  ok (smile))
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark J. 
>> Cadigan
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 6:09 AM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Wanted to share my experience living at Friedman
>> Place, a supportive living community for blind adults in Chicago
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm certain Sam knows about the wonderful training available at the three
>> NFB training centers, however, that's not what he is trying to tell us. 
>> Sam
>> is just telling us about a solution he has found that works for him. This
>> solution is not for everyone, but according to Sam it's his best option 
>> at
>> the moment. We don't know Sam's situation, and can't speak for him, so 
>> I'm
>> just asking everybody to be supportive of Sam and welcome him to the 
>> list,
>> instead of haranguing him for not being so called "independent enough."
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Sam Nelson" <samnelson1 at verizon.net>
>> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 6:43 AM
>> Subject: [nabs-l] Wanted to share my experience living at Friedman Place, 
>> a
>> supportive living community for blind adults in Chicago
>>
>>
>>> Hi Everyone,
>>>
>>> First I apologize if some of you have read about this already from me, 
>>> as
>>> I've posted it to the   Massachusetts and IL  student's mailing lists. I
>>> just really want to let everyone I can know about the wonderful place
>>> I call home, in case othersare in  a similar situation to me and could
>>> see it as an option for either short or long-term living.
>>>
>>> I'm24 years old and totally blind. I'm originally from MA, and moved
>>> this past June to Friedman Place,  a residential community for blind
>>> adults ages 22-elderly in Chicago.
>>>
>>> Friedman Place is one of two supportive living communities in the
>>> country, the other being Mary Bryant in Springfield.
>>>
>>> Since moving to Friedman my life has dramatically changed in a
>>> positive way.  Here everyone has their own apartment, yet there is
>>> staff available 24/7if needed. Laundry and housekeeping services are
>>> optional. There are microwaves in our apartments, but beyond that we
>>> can't cook for ourselves as we eat in the dining room.
>>>
>>> Certified Nursing assistants help with daily things such as medication
>>> reminders, doing our nails, going for walks, or just hanging out and
>>> talking
>>> with us. There are a variety of activities provided including:    bingo,
>>> other card games, a movement class, line dancing, a support group, e
>>> exercise classes, and others. I feel as more younger people move to
>>> the facility, the types of activitys will reflect that.
>>>
>>> The nursing services are available daily, though not 24 hours. This is
>>> not a nursing home, so people with severe medical issues probably
>>> wouldn't be a good fit. I think the best fit for Friedman is someone
>>> who feels they want or need to live in a community environment, with a
>>> caring group of peers, and security and support from staff.  This
>>> could be someone who's
>>> transitioning from a school   for the blind or really any school and
>>> trying
>>> to figure out what they want to do after. It could be someone who just
>>> wants to get out of their parent's house, for whatever reason doesn't
>>> have or want
>>> to live with relatives   other  friends, or want a roommate. It could be
>>> someone who has mild emotional/ cognitive challenges, and so  would
>>> would do
>>> well in an   environment where there was independence but also a feeling
>>> of
>>> support, and where they couldn't isolate as easily and fall through
>>> the cracks in a way they could if living alone or just with a
>>> roommate.  Or, someone  could want to move here purely for  security
>>> reasons, as many low-income disability housing apartments are in really
>> bad neighborhoods.
>>>
>>> Staff are very client centered, in that residents plan how they want
>>> their lives to go. It's a great place to come and have a solid
>>> homebase  to grow from. There are many oppurtunities in the city for
>>> volunteer or payed work, education, and socialization. Each resident
>>> is assigned a care advocate, who they meet with regularly to discuss
>>> issues going on either at Friedman and also talking about what they'd
>>> like to do out in the community. I feel the social worker in
>>> particular, is a very caring, friendly person who's very knowledgable
>>> about  resources in the community.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I also want to be clear that this is not a foster care, group home, or
>>> nursing  home situation. As long as residents  sign in and out, for
>>> safety reasons of course, they can come and go as they please. They
>>> can have guests over til midnight without the guest having to get a
>>> background  check. If they want guests to spend the night, all the
>>> person needs  to do is fill out a quick background check form for
>>> safety.
>>>
>>> I feel that with the mix of older and younger residents, it really is
>>> like a family. I'm a sensitive person who in the past has isolated a
>>> lot. Here I feel I have a purpose and have solid friendships for the
>>> first time in my life.
>>>
>>> There are only two other people in their 20s currently at Friedman,
>>> I'm really hoping we can get  more.  The cost of living here is
>>> covered by medicade, as well as a portion of one's social security 
>>> check.
>>>
>>> There's no requirement on how long you need to stay. Some people stay
>>> for six  months, and  consider it a stepping stone to living
>>> completely on one's own. . Others have been here for years and
>>> consider it home. It's all up to the person.
>>>
>>> I just know that if I had known at 15 or 16 that there was a safe
>>> supportive place I could go when I was 22, I would  have been way less
>>> stressed about the future.
>>>
>>> At the end of this  message I'll post the links to my videos to learn
>>> more.
>>>
>>> Lastly, in addition to letting others know of my positive experience
>>> here at Friedman, my second mission is  to advocate for similar
>>> facilities to be opened in other states. Doing the research  I have
>>> and hearing from many people, it's obvious that the need  is there,
>>> particularly for those from
>>> 18
>>> to 22, of which there seems to be very little services. I wish the age
>>> requirement were  18, but right now it isn't.   (Don't give up if you're
>>> in
>>> that age group and interested in Friedman!  Just be patient, and maybe
>>> soon things will change for the better!) So * if any of you want to
>>> discuss this other project I'd  really appreciate it.
>>>
>>> Thanks for  reading, and I look forward to getting to know more of you.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sam
>>>
>>> Video links:
>>>
>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG4SWYVxqA4
>>>
>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQTBKEnPup8
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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