[visionrehabtherapist] Re: Adjustment To Blindness Question
- From: Leah Gerlach <lag324@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "'BJLejeune@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'" <BJLejeune@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 11:41:40 +0000
Great tho.
Leah Gerlach, M.S.
Rehabilitation Counselor and Assistive Technology Specialist
[Signature LOGO SILV]
Spectrios Institute for Low Vision
at Deicke House
219 East Cole Avenue
Wheaton, IL 60187
P: 1-630-690-7115
F: 1-630-690-9037
www.spectrios.org<http://www.spectrios.org/>
Spread the Joy of Vision! Please make a donation to help children and adults
with permanent vision loss. Call us or go to our website and click the Donate
Now button to make a donation. Thank you for your support!
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
This email and any files or attachments transmitted with it are confidential
and may be protected by legal privilege. This email is intended solely for the
use of the individual or entity to whom this email is addressed. If you are
not the intended recipient of this email, you are hereby notified that any use,
dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited.
If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately
by email and delete this email from your system.
From: visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of B.J. LeJeune
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 5:06 PM
To: visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] Re: Adjustment To Blindness Question
For many years it was felt that the key to adjustment was learning and mastery
of independent living skills, but I think it needs to be much more intentional
than that. We use Dean and Naomi Tuttle's book about Self-Esteem and Blindness
in our classes with rehabilitation counselors to address this very critical
issue. I have heard psychologists say it takes 2-7 years for someone to accept
the reality of blindness into their lives. We also distinguish between
adjustment and acceptance.
I think support groups can be very helpful, especially if they have skilled
counselors and positive role models as part of the process. It takes time and
it takes direct and intentional work. NFB has used positive psychology and
their support groups to address this issue and it has been pretty effective.
When we see returning consumers or consumers who still struggle with anger,
dependency, discouragement or self-esteem it is an indication that these issues
are not being adequately addressed. Mike Bullis wrote an interesting letter in
the Braille Monitor that I have used in my classes when we discuss this issue.
There are some critical decisions that people have to make early on about how
they are going to address their rehabilitation program and where they are in
accepting their blindness can impact the decisions they make.
Some states have psychologists on staff or at their rehabilitation centers to
assist with this very critical process.
BJ
B. J. LeJeune, M.Ed., CRC, CVRT
NRTC on Blindness and Low Vision
Mississippi State University
P. O. Box 6189
Mississippi State, Ms 39762
bjlejeune@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:bjlejeune@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
662-325-2694
FAX 662-325-8989
>>> "Shelley L. Rhodes"
>>> <guidinggolden@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:guidinggolden@xxxxxxxxx>> 8/25/2013 1:01 PM
>>> >>>
Hi Susan,
In our office we have social workers and vocational rehabiliation counselors
who help our customers with the adjustment.
I do on occassion also help with it, as I am usually one of the ones the
customers eee on a regular basis while we are working through the plan and
instruction.
Sometimes people are not read for Rehab that the adjustment hasn't come far
enough a long to be ready to embrace other ways of thinking and doing, even if
it might be safer, quicker or easier.
We do have some programs we call them "Jump start" I call it group class, and
this sometimes does help.
Sometimes seeing a psychiatrist is also helpful.
I have run into some customers who I have had to wait on for them to be ready
to try a new form of technique.
But good questions.
I also agree with the other people's comments that adjustment can take a short
ammount of time, or be repeated over and over depending on if it is a gradual
loss. Mine is a gradual loss from RP.
Shelley L. Rhodes, M.A. CVRT
and Ludden black Labrador Guide Dog.
The cure for anything is salt water -- sweat, tears, or the sea. -Isak Dinesen
(pen name of Karen Blixen), author (1885-1962)
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan-Marie<mailto:susanmarie9@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To:
visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2013 9:44 AM
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] Adjustment To Blindness Question
Hi Everyone!
Sorry for more questions out of left field. Can any of you tell me your
opinions regarding services for clients/consumers making the psychological and
emotional transition from being sighted to life as a partially-sighted or blind
person? I am aware of the mini-adjustments, (many lasting about 5 days and
varying from state to state), but can any of you give your opinions about how
you feel the transition is being addressed in general? Also, have you ever
felt that the individual is not quite ready for services because he/she may be
struggling with adjustments to the new lifestyle? If I am not clear in what
I'm asking, please let me know. Also, please feel free to answer me off-list.
Thanks so much in advance for your responses and have a great weekend!
Best,
Susan-Marie
Other related posts:
