What can I do to make this move smoother?First things first, I have a temporary (hopefully!) visual impairment...I have almost zero peripheral vision and about 5-7 feet vision in front of me before the blur gets so bad it's not usable vision (cataracts).
I have an upcoming move in October, to grab an apartment that my husband and I really want (he's currently deployed to Iraq, will return in December/January). The apartment is in Spring Lake, North Carolina (my husband's post is Fort Bragg).
Where I am living now (Hampton, VA), I have been able to get places pretty well, because I lived here before my visual impairment, know this house and know the area pretty well, and kinda knew the buses, so it has not been -too- bad. But I do not know our new location at all...I lived there for two months before moving out again.
What should I do to prepare myself for the move, and what services/resources should I look for before I get there. Also, advice on how to orient myself with a new city and new apartment would be super helpful. I just don't know whwre to start, and want to make this move as stress-free as possible.
I do have a friend to help by driving, so that's taken care of, but everything else, I'm not sure.
Help?
A few answers to questins:
I can't have the cataracts removed until the defects in my eyes heal. The cataracts are just one of the problems, but they are what causes the most vision trouble. It will be another three-four months before the alkali burns in my eyes heal enough to be able to do the cataract surgery.
I do have some informal training with the white can and use it whenever I go out. I can use it well enough to walk around town on my own here, but part of that is that I know this area very well, and have been walking around here with my cane for the last month and a half (since I was feeling well enough to walk about). It was very difficult to walk about on my own, and I'm hoping to make it easier when I move.
I don't think I qualify for a guide dog, as this is a temporary condition (we hope...we're pretty certain I will heal up, and are optimistic about it). I think by the time I were to get a guide dog, I should be healed up enough for cataract surgery.
A few answers to questins:
I can't have the cataracts removed until the defects in my eyes heal. The cataracts are just one of the problems, but they are what causes the most vision trouble. It will be another three-four months before the alkali burns in my eyes heal enough to be able to do the cataract surgery.
I do have some informal training with the white can and use it whenever I go out. I can use it well enough to walk around town on my own here, but part of that is that I know this area very well, and have been walking around here with my cane for the last month and a half (since I was feeling well enough to walk about). It was very difficult to walk about on my own, and I'm hoping to make it easier when I move.
I don't think I qualify for a guide dog, as this is a temporary condition (we hope...we're pretty certain I will heal up, and are optimistic about it). I think by the time I were to get a guide dog, I should be healed up enough for cataract surgery.
Posted by Person With Disabilities
Look for an Independent Living Center (ILC) in Spring Lake, North Carolina.
Posted by kat
I think change is good for everyone. Can you get a seeing eye dog, so he can help you. They are great and you could get around alone. Maybe you could look in to it. Wish you the best!!!
Posted by druski
Contact The Institute for the Blind, they are best suited to answer and help you with your questions here. Also try The Braille Institute, I've not worked with seeing disabilities but have worked with quadrapaligic's ( paralized from the neck down),for quite sometime and have found both sources to be helpful as well as Independant Living Centers, Golden Umbrella, IHSS as well as The Dept of Healthcare Services, located in your states's capitol generally can direct your to where you need to be for this upcoming move =Goodluck and God Bless, you and your husband...druski
Posted by swimmergirl247
Okay coming from someone who lost there sight 4 months ago. first things first you *need* to get some O&M (orintation and mobility) training. you need to learn how to get around using a white cane so people know you can't see. If you do this already but don't actually use it you need this training. also if your ever planing to get a guide dog you have to have this skills and you have to prove you know how to use a cane properly. this will help you alot adapting to the new town. also when you get there you need to talk to the local chapter of the devision for the blind. or national federation of the blind offices they'll be able to help you, they'll will even help get you an O&M instructer. they can get adaptation for a job setting like adapted software on computers, mangafiers etc. there really a god send.
hope I helped.
Posted by ?
Are you not currently under the care of an eye specialist who can remove these cataracts? If not, or if this is an insurance problem, then please contact the institute for the blind. You do NOT need to just put up with this. These days, this surgery is very easy, very common, and almost always turns out wonderful. If it isn't possible to have the surgery to get them removed before you move, then I suggest that you contact the Dept. of Social Services in the town (or state) where you are moving to. Explain this problem to them, and ask if they provide services to orient an (almost blind) newcomer to the area. Most states do provide these services, as does Catholic Community Services & Jewish community Services, and many other volunteer organizations. You will not have to go this alone, I promise. Before becoming disabled myself, I worked in the nursing field with many of these different services, and they are a God Send. Best of luck to you, honey--I hope you can get these cataracts removed before you must make this move. God Bless.
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