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

Sam Nelson samnelson1 at verizon.net
Tue Apr 9 13:55:19 UTC 2013 

Hi Mary, 
 Nice to meet you. Thanks for your thoughtful message. 
 You're welcome for the resource! They're often hard to find. 
 Sam 

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mary Fernandez
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 8:30 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

Dear Sam and all,
As moderator of the student list, I am simply writing to affirm some of the
messages already sent by others. Remember that this list-serv is for sharing
resources, and it is meant to be a safe, welcoming place for us to talk
about issues that directly impact blind students and young adults. That
includes technology, school, socializing, and yes housing among much much
more. So please, keep and open mind when others share with us their
experiences and their resources.
Thank you Sam for the information.
Thanks.
Mary Fernandez

On 4/9/13, Gloria G <gloria.graves at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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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>>>> m
>>>
>>>
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--
Mary Fernandez
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what
you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
-
Maya Angelou

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