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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Hi Kathy,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>First of all I congratulate you for having the desire to be independence. You can do this! As others have said, you’ve come to the right place. The NFB is built on the cornerstone of independence for the blind. That being said, I agree with the others that you should definitely look into training. The McDowell Center has a good program and you’ll learn a lot there. I’d also recommend you look into the three training centers that the NFB manages in Louisiana, Colorado and Minnesota. The center in Louisiana is located in a more rural area I believe and therefore students are taught a lot about getting around by walking. Tressie Smith, a board member of the NFB of Greater Louisville has been through that program and she can provide you with more detailed information. I also wanted to make sure you know about our NFB of Kentucky State Convention which is being held in Louisville on October 4-6. This would be a wonderful opportunity for you to meet and network with other blind people who can give you ideas and suggestions about ways you can begin to find independence within your own home. We would absolutely love to have you join us. If you have questions or if I can help in any way please feel free to call me at 502-262-1403.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><br>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Melanie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Nfbk [mailto:nfbk-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Kathy Pingstock<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, September 23, 2013 12:18 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Kentucky Internet Mailing List'<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbk] need some suggestion and guidance<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Good evening,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I was not sure who to write to or ask, what better group than the nfb.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>My name is Kathy, I have posted a few times, I moved here to Ky beginning of this year. I live in mount eden ky, about 20 minutes from Taylorsville ky, that is Spencer County. I lost my husband last year to cancer, to give you a little more info on me, I lost my sight in my early twenties, my late husband was very protective over me and sheltered me, I had some cane training, but he would never really let me go on my own, maybe a little walk in front of the apartment, but nothing extensive, I even went to get a guide dog thinking that would help but it did not, so I made a decision to send him back to the school. I have been totally blind now for over twenty years, because of me being sheltered, to be honest I a scared of the world, not sure how to go about being independent in this crazy world. I live in a part of ky that has not public transportation, everywhere I go my sister has to take me. Two of my sisters have it in their minds that I can not live on my own, due to being afraid, and when I filled out an app for volunteer at a nursing home to get me out a little, I was not sue how to answer the questions so I ask my sis what she thought and try to get some opinions from her, she was a little abrupt and said this is your app not mine, and I told her I have never done this before. I have a hunger for independence, not sure if I have enough income to support myself, any comments or suggestions will be helpful to get me started.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I know that I need retrining and update trainging as well.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kathy<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>