[humanser] newly blind

Wed Dec 17 03:59:20 UTC 2008

Hi All:

I have worked as a consultant in a state adjustment center for blind folks 
and participated in one other.  I have also presented in two other state 
centers.  What I have found are people who had mental health issues prior to 
the advent of blindness whose mental health issues became exasperated by 
their vision losses.  Severe anxiety, severe depression, rage, serious 
substance abuse and acting out behaviors were the results and these 
conditions make the adjustment to blindness almost impossible.  Mental 
health services can be a great adjunct to rehabilitation and adjustment.

Melissa makes a great point, that bad mental health services are destructive 
and can create problems - much like working with the person coming out of an 
abusive relationship and focusing on the abuse rather than on the client's 
strengths, abilities and independence skills.

I do not see a conflict;   but, I do see a need for greater acceptance of a 
mental health component in rehabilitation of the blind.  In mental health 
with substance abusers my training identifies some clients with addictive 
disorders with no mental health problems.  Some where the chemical addiction 
is the dominant feature (CAMI) and some where the mental health issue is 
dominant (MICA).  In blindness rehab I feel that the same three groups are 
represented.

JD Townsend, LCSW
Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
Helping the light dependent to see.
>> Melissa
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Julie Russell
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 6:56 AM
>> To: Human Services Mailing List
>> Subject: [humanser] newly blind
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> This topic is so important and so rarely touched.  I can not imagine
>> losing
>> a function of the body - any part without a grief / loss adjustment.
>> Hopefully Axis IV allows for this to be taken into just what it is -
>> without
>>
>> that in the first months it seems MDD and GAD could be on the horizon.
>> This
>>
>> is a dream study of mine.  While being blind does not mean one needs
>> therapy
>>
>> likely the loss of a body function whether vision, legs, or other is a
>> huge
>> part of identity.  To rebuild that identity in a way that is meaningful
>> and
>> healthy is essential.  This may not mean therapy but it may.
>> To take the NFB attitudes means changing one's thought about blindness 
>> and
>> often one's thought about self if a period from onset to training has 
>> been
>> long in the making.
>>
>> I agree with Mary Ann.  I knew a man and after becoming blind he engaged
>> in
>> therapy weekly by phone.  In LA this is not prohibited by the LPC board.
>> The reason was how hard it was for him to leave his house and get to the
>> office.  The rest I can only imagine.
>>
>> Do people have thoughts on this?
>> What is up with phone therapy?  I am not talking a 900 number (LOL)
>>
>> Julie Russell, LCSW
>> New Orleans
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Mary Ann Rojek" <brightsmile1953 at comcast.net>
>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 9:44 PM
>> Subject: Re: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>
>>
>>> Hi JD and other list members,
>>>
>>> I couldn't agree more.  If clinicians who are providing therapy are
>>> unfamiliar with the NFB philosophy or don't have a positive attitude
>>> about
>>> the potential of blind individuals, vulnerable folks could be receiving
>>> treatment that is detrimental or damaging.
>>>
>>> Mary Ann
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "JD Townsend" <43210 at bellsouth.net>
>>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 9:57 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi Mary Ann and Human Service Division Members:
>>>>
>>>> I agree that therapy is not used in blind rehab - most frequently it is
>>>> assumed that mental health issues are not involved, or that a positive
>>>> NFB
>>>> attitude is sufficient.  We in the field know that the insult of
>>>> blindness
>>>> adds to the multi-featured structure of our complex cognitive-emotional
>>>> selves as does any other of our personal features.
>>>>
>>>> Frequently blindness rehab counselors feel that they are qualified to
>>>> provide psychotherapy.
>>>>
>>>> In my own therapy blindness has been a minor part of therapy, but a
>>>> significant minor part.  Newly blind folks, or those in rehab centers
>>>> would
>>>> benefit from a psychotherapy that encompassed the ideas of the NFB
>>>> philosophy while working with the whole person.
>>>>
>>>> Just my little ideas.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> JD Townsend, LCSW
>>>> Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
>>>> Helping the light dependent to see.
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "Mary Ann Rojek" <brightsmile1953 at comcast.net>
>>>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, December 15, 2008 8:49 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Shalom David,
>>>>>
>>>>> I am a social worker in Michigan.  I've worked with some mentally ill
>>>>> blind
>>>>> folks, but one who were homeless.  I know of no system for tracking
>>>>> this
>>>>> data.  It sounds like an area that warrants further exploration.
>>>>>
>>>>> To add to the mix, I also believe that folks who are losing their 
>>>>> sight
>>>>> may
>>>>> not be getting adequate therapy for coping with vision loss.
>>>>>
>>>>> Mary Ann Rojek
>>>>> LMSW, ACSW, CAAC
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "David R. Stayer" <davidandloristayer at verizon.net>
>>>>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 6:57 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Shalom.  As we make our recommendtions perhaps something will happen.
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>> From: "JD Townsend" <43210 at bellsouth.net>
>>>>>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2008 10:39 AM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Shalom David:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I worked with homeless peoples in New York City for many years 
>>>>>>> during
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> late 1980's and early 1990's, running programs to house homeless
>>>>>>> mentally
>>>>>>> ill and/or substance addicted populations.  I did work with some 
>>>>>>> deaf
>>>>>>> folks, some wheelchair folks, and with a variety of disabled 
>>>>>>> homeless
>>>>>>> folks;  but, never a blind person.  Until your message the lack of
>>>>>>> blind
>>>>>>> homeless never struck me.  Where were they?  I did know of many 
>>>>>>> blind
>>>>>>> folks who rented a room in someone's apartment, living off a SSI or
>>>>>>> SSD
>>>>>>> check;  however they never seem to have made it to the homeless
>>>>>>> shelters.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Now you've done it, given me something new to wonder about!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> JD Townsend, LCSW
>>>>>>> Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
>>>>>>> Helping the light dependent to see.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>>> From: "Judith Bron" <jbron at optonline.net>
>>>>>>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2008 9:56 AM
>>>>>>> Subject: [humanser] the homeless blind
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I don't think you can research a group of people based on disability
>>>>>>>>in
>>>>>>>>New York State.  Judith
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6:11 PM