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Subject: Iowa Department for the Blind - Independent Living Program 2008 Newsletter
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:44:25 -0500
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Iowa Department for the Blind - Independent Living =
Program 2008 Newsletter
Iowa Department=20
for the Blind
Independent=20
Living Program
Newsletter -=20
Vol. 1, 2008
A New=20
Beginning
When a =
person loses vision,=20
it can be hard for him or her to imagine functioning as independently as =
before.=20
Initial concerns may include how to read the oven dial or identify =
medications.=20
Because they cannot think of a solution, some start to give up daily =
activities.=20
They do not know that the solutions to many everyday problems are simple =
and=20
easy to implement.
At the Iowa =
Department for=20
the Blind, we believe it is "okay to be blind." The loss of vision alone =
does=20
not have to mean a loss of independence. It simply means doing things in =
a=20
different way. If given the opportunity to learn and implement simple=20
techniques, a person can be just as independent as before the loss of =
vision.=20
For many, learning that these simple solutions exist is like a new =
beginning.=20
Here are some examples of folks who didn't let vision loss stop =
them.
- At 79, Irma Lee is =
learning to read=20
and write Braille. Braille will allow her independently to manage =
phone=20
numbers and label items around her home. She has also learned =
non-visual=20
methods for dialing her telephone. As part of her learning process, =
Irma Lee=20
attended Senior Orientation. This week-long training =
opportunity is=20
offered by the independent living program at the Iowa Department for =
the=20
Blind. During the week, Irma Lee learned techniques for cooking meals, =
grocery=20
shopping, and using a long white cane for safe and independent travel. =
Most=20
importantly, Irma Lee learned that she can be as independent as she =
wants and=20
that taking a different approach to everyday tasks can lead to=20
independence.
- At 74, Lois substitute =
teaches and=20
manages her home using simple alternative techniques. With assistance =
from her=20
rehabilitation teacher, Lois labels her canned =
goods with=20
large print, converts recipes to large print for independent access, =
and uses=20
tactile markings to set her oven dial. She continues to do the =
majority of the=20
baking and cooking for the household. She has also started a support =
group in=20
her area to encourage others to implement simple techniques, assert =
their=20
independence, and have a more positive attitude toward their vision=20
loss.
- At age 83, Tommie has =
converted her=20
address book, created a card file of phone numbers, and transcribed =
several=20
favorite hymns into Braille. She has also used Braille to read novels. =
She=20
continues to pursue her love for games using tactile games and uses IRIS for =
daily access=20
to news. She continues to live alone on her farm.
- At 79, Yvonne wanted =
to work with=20
her rehabilitation teacher to be more independent. She didn't want to =
rely on=20
her husband so much. By attending community=20
based trainings and working one-on-one with her teacher, =
she has=20
learned to use a white cane to travel within her community. She no =
longer has=20
to watch her husband's white shoes to know where she is going. She =
uses=20
recorded recipes for meal preparation, sets her appliances using =
tactile=20
markings, and hems clothes. For leisure, she reads books on=20
tape and watches descriptive videos. She also uses free directory =
assistance=20
to obtain unknown phone numbers and IRIS to =
access the=20
newspaper.
- At age 86, Theda uses =
large print=20
labels to identify her frozen meals and remind her how to cook each of =
them=20
appropriately. She uses tactile markings on her appliances to set them =
and=20
prepares her meals independently using recipes on cassette. Theda =
continues to=20
read her Bible=20
using a large print version obtained through the Library for the=20
Blind and Physically Handicapped. She uses a talking watch =
to=20
manage her time, uses a large print thermostat to keep her home =
comfortable,=20
and uses directory assistance cost exemption to obtain phone numbers =
and keep=20
in touch with family and friends. Theda manages her own medications =
using a=20
pill organizer and an identification method she developed with the =
help of her=20
rehabilitation teacher. Theda uses nonvisual methods for identifying =
her=20
canned goods and clothing, uses writing guides to assist with =
communication=20
needs, and uses nonvisual methods to identify her money. This allows =
her to go=20
anywhere she chooses and pay her bills independently. All of these =
things have=20
helped Theda to realize her goal of staying active and in her own =
home.=20
- At 65, Harlan is =
living in his own=20
apartment. This is significant because when he was first referred to =
the Iowa=20
Department for the Blind, he was living in a care center and had been =
there=20
for seven years. Since beginning to work with his rehabilitation =
teacher,=20
Harlan has moved into his own apartment and is living on his own =
again! He is=20
managing his own affairs independently. He is using his white cane to =
get to=20
area attractions and businesses, learning Braille for daily =
communication=20
needs, and learning to write his own checks in order to manage his =
finances.=20
Harlan is thoroughly enjoying having his own space and learning to be=20
independent again.
As outlined =
above, each of=20
these individuals has their own needs and has addressed those needs in a =
way=20
appropriate for them. Each has implemented simple techniques that allow =
him or=20
her to function at the level of independence he or she =
chooses.
If you know =
someone with=20
vision loss who could benefit from services available through the Iowa=20
Department for the Blind, call 800-362-2587 or fill out an =
online=20
referral form. Services are free, confidential, and available =
statewide. Give us a call today!
Upcoming Events
To find out what is happening at the Department =
and in your=20
area, choose the Upcoming Events link.
Upcoming Events
Return to Newsletter =
page.=20
Iowa Department for the =
Blind=20
Home Page.
INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM NEWSLETTER is =
published by=20
the Iowa Department for the Blind. Please direct questions and =
suggestions to=20
the Iowa Department for the Blind, 524 Fourth Street, Des Moines, IA =
50309-2364,=20
515-281-1333.
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