Iowa Department for the Blind - Independent Living = Program 2008 Newsletter

Harlan's = Story

Written by Marcia Bauer, = Rehabilitation Teacher,=20 Iowa Department for the Blind

"You know, if I hadn't = become blind, I=20 probably never would have met you and would still be sitting in a = nursing home."=20 Harlan Mathes, independent living client of the Iowa Department for the = Blind,=20 spoke those words to me one morning as we chatted about his recent move = from a=20 local nursing home to his new residence.

Harlan was born and raised = in Iowa but=20 lived most of his adult life in the hills of Arkansas. He returned to = Iowa=20 during 1998 to visit friends and family members. Harlan developed health = problems; he contracted pneumonia during 2001 and was subsequently = diagnosed=20 with COPD. Harlan's doctors advised him that he would not be able to = return to=20 Arkansas and that he would require lifelong care in a nursing facility = because=20 of the deterioration of his lungs.

"I didn't realize," Harlan = explained,=20 "that I was also going blind. I'd been having trouble seeing to read, = but when I=20 noticed that fence lines looked wavy I decided to get my eyes checked." = Just a=20 few weeks after moving to the nursing facility, Harlan was diagnosed = with=20 macular degeneration and was referred to = the=20 Department for services. As a result of our first meeting, I helped = Harlan get=20 established with the Library of = Congress=20 talking book program.

A few years later Harlan was = again=20 referred to the Department. By now he had lost all his central acuity = and wanted=20 to learn how to use the long white cane and how to read and write = Braille.=20 Harlan applied for independent=20 living rehabilitation services, and I began working with him = on a=20 regular basis. I was struck by how much Harlan's general health had = improved. He=20 no longer used a walker and told me that he couldn't recall the last = time he=20 needed supplemental oxygen. As our meetings continued and the months = passed, I=20 wondered why Harlan continued to live in a nursing facility. I queried = him about=20 this. "I want to leave," Harlan responded. "Other than the nurses giving = me=20 medicine, I care for myself. I want to leave. I just don't know how to = go about=20 it." I offered to help Harlan, and so our journey began.

One of the initial steps was = finding=20 Harlan a place to live. Harlan preferred to remain in the Waterloo or = Cedar=20 Falls area. Through my professional contacts with the el= derly=20 waiver program service providers, we became aware of a vacancy at=20 Renaissance Park Apartments in Waterloo. Harlan's application for = residency was=20 accepted, and a flurry of activity resulted. Included were a trip to the = post=20 office to implement Harlan's address change, trips to the local Social = Security=20 office to initiate financial routing changes, the purchase of furniture, = trips=20 to purchase essentials for his new residence, the establishment of phone = service, and the selection of a pharmacy. Numerous phone calls and lots = of shoe=20 leather later, Harlan moved into his new apartment on Friday, September=20 28.

I continue to provide Harlan = with=20 independent living rehabilitation services. Harlan has nearly finished = his study=20 of grade two Braille and has marked several items in his apartment with = Braille=20 labels. He is learning how to write checks and use a debit card. He = continues=20 with cane travel instruction to become familiar with his new=20 neighborhood.

Harlan commented that the = whole experience=20 of moving to an independent living situation was "a little scary at = first. It=20 was a lot of freedom all at once. I had trouble believing such a good = thing was=20 happening to me. My biggest adjustment has been getting used to doing = everything=20 for myself again - nobody brings my medicine, I decide when and what to = eat. I=20 can make my own coffee and brew it as strong as I like. I have privacy = again=20 and, thanks to Marcia and the Department for the Blind, I have my life=20 back."

If you = know someone=20 with 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 = referral=20 form. Services are free, confidential, and available = statewide. Give=20 us a call today!

If you would like additional = information=20 on anything mentioned in this newsletter, please contact Barb=20 Weigel.

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.

Iowa Department = for the=20 Blind

Independent = Living=20 Program

Newsletter - = Vol. 2,=20 2008

Harlan's = Story