[nabs-l] Wanted to share my experience living at Friedman Place, a supportive living community for blind adults in Chicago
wmodnl wmodnl
wmodnl at hotmail.com
Wed Apr 10 17:28:45 UTC 2013
Sorry for the confusion:
My name is William O'Donnell. I shortened it in the email address as:
wmodnl
One of these days, I will fix the outgoing name to have my name properly listed. I also use this address for other lists, where I do not want my real name circulating. Have a good day.
Sent from my iPad
On Apr 9, 2013, at 9:41 AM, "Sam Nelson" <samnelson1 at verizon.net> wrote:
> Hi Lmad,
> (Sorry if y I spelled your name wrong!)
> It does sound nice. I'm glad your friends are happy there.
> Yes, that's exactly like it is here too, everyone gets treated with
> respect and there's such a sense of family. For example, the activity
> director teases me that I'm his adopted daughter. LOL! He's a little nuts
> but we love him anyway! Seriously, he's probably one of the most friendly
> energetic staff we have.
> A CAN from Africa says she's my "Friedman Mother." It's all very sweet.
> Sam
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of wmodnl wmodnl
> Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 7:50 AM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> Cc: 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
>
> They probably did not mention it since they are full. The wait-list is
> closed. That is a nice place, I have a few friends who live there. I agree
> that, from what I seen, you are treated with respect. In fact, many of the
> staff treat the residents as one of there own. The point is, the whole
> group-home mentality does not exist. Many including my friends will tell
> you, they function like a family. Good luck, have a good day.
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Apr 9, 2013, at 8:30 AM, "Hope Paulos" <hope.paulos at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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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