[nabs-l] Wanted to share my experience living at Friedman Place, a supportive living community for blind adults in Chicago
justin williams
justin.williams2 at gmail.com
Tue Apr 9 19:06:23 UTC 2013
A lot of the stuff I saw you do is stuff I'm interested in. You are the writier right?
-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert William Kingett
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 3:02 PM
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
well said, feel free to write me off list, as well as look at the videos on youtube about friedman place.
On 4/10/2013 1:07 PM, Sam Nelson wrote:
> Hi Mauricio,
> From reading about some of the views of people in the NFB, it does
> sound like this happens at times. Like people feel they need to do
> absolutely everything completely on their own and not ask for help at all.
> As Robert pointed out last night, and I have been trying to say,
> independence is different for different people. My version of
> independence is just as valid, for me, as anyone else's. I'm not
> telling any of you who are happy living alone and have a different
> perspective than I do to come move here. So I wish people wouldn't
> keep continuing to say on the one hand that they're happy I'm here,
> but on the other hand that I should really go to a center that I've
> said several times I'm not interested in, and that my life would be
> so much better if I lived on my own. You don't know the ins and outs
> of my circumstances, and I don't feel like I need to tell you. But to
> keep up trying to get me to do things your way, even if it's in a subtle way, is just very overwhelming for me.
> When I wrote this list I did so with the good intention of just
> giving information about a place that has helped me and others so
> much. I know how hard the transition to being a young adult can be and
> all the factors that take considering. I just didn't want anyone to
> have to search as long and hard as I did to find Friedman, if they were looking for a place like this.
> I didn't think I'd get so much controversy in return, or be made to
> feel like my life will only be "at it's potential," if I live
> completely on my own as so many of you are. I appreciate this works
> for you, but don't appreciate being subtly pressured into adopting this lifestyle for myself.
> I think this conversation has run its course, and some of us are
> gonna have to agree to disagree on some things. Like I said, in
> putting this information out there I never thought this would happen.
> I will say that if anyone is interested in learning more about
> Friedman for either themselves or a friend or family member you're
> welcome to write me off list.
> Thanks so much.
> Sam
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mauricio
> Almeida
> Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 11:42 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
>
> what happens is that some blind people tend on having to have a sense
> of super independence in order to accept themselves, and so any
> solution which contradicts this sense of over acceptance is denied.
> I'm glad that it isn't the case within the federation, because i've
> seen way too many of this kind abroad.
> On Apr 9, 2013, at 6:57 AM, Joshua Lester <JLester8462 at pccua.edu> wrote:
>
>> Hi Sam!
>> First of all, welcome to the list!
>> I'm against these supportive living facilities, because it gives the
> notion that blind people can't get employment, take care of
> themselves, cook for themselves, etc.
>> I'm not hear to be offensive to you, but I'd like to share with you
>> the
> fact, that there is a better life!
>> Have you ever heard of the Louisiana Center for the Blind?
>> They'll teach you the independence skills, so that you can take care
>> of
> yourself, and get a job!
>> We aren't some charity ccase for the state!
>> I'm praying that you can get in this training center.
>> The only good a supportive living facility is only for those with
>> other
> disabilities.
>> Thanks, Joshua
>> ________________________________________
>> From: nabs-l [nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Sam Nelson
>> [samnelson1 at verizon.net]
>> Sent: Tuesday, April 09, 2013 5:43 AM
>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> 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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