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

RJ Sandefur joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com
Wed Apr 10 00:06:35 UTC 2013 

When you say supported living could you please xplaine Sam? Do you have a 
secondary disability? RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sam Nelson" <samnelson1 at verizon.net>
To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'" 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 7:48 PM
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Wanted to share my experience living at Friedman 
Place, a supportive living community for blind adults in Chicago


> Hi Suzanne,
>  I've been blind since birth. I was born with ROP.
> That program you went to sounds like it was good for you.
> I'm glad.
> Sam
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Suzanne 
> Germano
> Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 10:23 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
>
> Sam, I was just wondering if you are newly blind or congenital or 
> somewhere
> in between? I have been elgally blind sicne birth and San Diego City 
> School
> District offered summer school called daily living skills for blind and
> visually impaired. I started going when I was in first grade. My regular
> school year was mainstream. Anyway, the program taught cooking we each 
> went
> to the store, bought the items needed and then cooked whatever recipe it 
> was
> that week. We were also taught housekeeping, personal grooming, and a
> variety of other things to be independent. Some children needed to be 
> taught
> more than others based on how independent they were at home and how their
> parents encouraged independence.  We also went on numerous field trips to 
> be
> exposed to all kinds of things. We even flew to Los Angeles and took the
> train home to experience both kinds of travel. There were addition things
> like sewing...
>
> Many of the children who had never been allowed to cook or anything at 
> home
> became extremely proficient in food preparation and cooking.
>
> this was back in the 1970s I am not sure what is offered now if anything.
>
> Suzanne
>
>
> On Tue, Apr 9, 2013 at 6:03 AM, Sam Nelson <samnelson1 at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>>  Hi Gloria,
>>  I agree thank you The place in Maine does sound good. Too bad it's full!
>> Maybe one day another will be built, or there will be openings.
>>  Sam
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gloria G
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 7:47 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
>>
>> 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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