Mobility and orientation training has continued for the past two weeks. It is getting better, but this is the hardest thing I've ever tried to do in my life. We've tried several different approaches. First, I used my wheelchair, and felt my way along with my elbows or hands on the wall. Then, we tried me using a power chair and a cane to feel my way along. With the power chair, I also used a guide some. The therapist walked along beside the chair and I held onto her arm. She explained this can also be done with a guide dog. I have to say using the power chair with the guide was the easiest, but I don't want to be stuck using a power chair! As we talked thru that delima, she said she had another idea. Next week, she's having a manual chair brought in for me to try that has two push rims on the same side. That way I can push the chair using my right arm for example, and hold the guides arm or cane in the left hand. I'm anxious to see about that. For now, the manual chair and feeling my way along seems to be the most likely outcome for me.
Braille has continued as well, and I continue to make strides there. My reading is improving and I feel pretty good about the alphabet and other things on the braille charts. I am reading much better, though still not quick at all. And, I still stumble through some of the words and phrases. In many ways it's like being a child all over again. Having to learn to read and do everything for myself, well, everything that I can do for myself.
I also get physical therapy 3 days a week. Stretching, mostly, but also some time in a standing frame which is nice in a way, even though I cannot see anything or anyone, it is nice to speak face to face with them, rather than always being below the person I'm talking to.
Yesterday afternoon we started something else new. The therapist took me to the computer room and introduced me to screen readers. These are programs that read out loud whatever is on the screen. That way, the blind person can hear the screen. There are certain commands that have to be remembered to navigate. For example, CTRL V on one of them took you to the internet address bar so you could type in a new web address. I can see how this will be a huge benefit once I learn to use it, but it's just one more thing I have to learn and memorize. My mind is already so full!!!
Being a blind paraplegic is so much harder than I could ever have imagined. And those of you who've followed my story know that I have only myself to blame for this situation. Now there is nothing I can do about it. Doctors have repeatedly told me both the blindness and paralysis are permanent, there is no hope of recovery.
This weekend I get to go home again. I am looking forward to that so much. I am learning a lot here, and I have to learn it, but sometimes I just need a break.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Blind School
Well this morning was my first morning at the blind school. We went last week for orientation and information. Cathy dropped me off here yesterday. I'll be here Monday thru Friday for 6 weeks learning to deal with my blindness.
This morning the counselor explained how much more complicated it was for me since I am in the chair. The two disabilities together make this a very difficult task, but she assured me I can do much more than I imagine. Though she cautioned me to understand that because I was both blind and paralyzed, I'd be somewhat dependent on others for the rest of my life.
The first part of my training is mobility and orientation training. They had me in a gym setting in my wheelchair, learning to get around in it. She discussed the many options we would explore, but said today would be a couple of very simple techniques. First, I was put beside a wall, and wheeled along the wall. I tried this, using both hands on the rims, and bumping the wall with my elbow as a feeler, as well as using one hand on the rim, and the other on the wall. It is very difficult to determine where I am in relation to anything else around me. After several trips up and down the wall, I was taken to an area where there were turns into other halls and worked up and down those halls as well. Next, the counselor explained that we were going to work on a technique called a trailing technique. She explained that is what you see when you see the blind person holding someone's arm. She had me grasp her arm with one hand and wheel with the other to keep pace as she walked and pulled the side I was holding. She also discussed that we might look at a wheelchair with both rims on one side. I have never heard of anything like that, but it could be a good idea in my case, freeing up one hand to feel where I am.
After a couple hours of that therapy, I was taken to my room to rest a little, then to the lunch room for lunch. I felt very embarassed struggling to eat, but then realized most everyone around me was not seeing my struggles. I got a lot on me, but I am doing pretty well all things considered.
This afternoon, a braille teacher came by and quizzed me on my braille, and began the next phase of my learning that. I now have 3 full lines of braille down, and she began showing me some words and combinations that I have to learn to really be proficient with it. And, I need to be proficient, knowing I will never see again.
Sometimes, I regret so badly what has happened to me. Loss of my sight and use of my legs. I had so dreamt of using a wheelchair and being a quadriplegic, now I am definintely using a wheelchair but in such a much harder way in many ways. Sometimes I just don't know if I can do this!
This morning the counselor explained how much more complicated it was for me since I am in the chair. The two disabilities together make this a very difficult task, but she assured me I can do much more than I imagine. Though she cautioned me to understand that because I was both blind and paralyzed, I'd be somewhat dependent on others for the rest of my life.
The first part of my training is mobility and orientation training. They had me in a gym setting in my wheelchair, learning to get around in it. She discussed the many options we would explore, but said today would be a couple of very simple techniques. First, I was put beside a wall, and wheeled along the wall. I tried this, using both hands on the rims, and bumping the wall with my elbow as a feeler, as well as using one hand on the rim, and the other on the wall. It is very difficult to determine where I am in relation to anything else around me. After several trips up and down the wall, I was taken to an area where there were turns into other halls and worked up and down those halls as well. Next, the counselor explained that we were going to work on a technique called a trailing technique. She explained that is what you see when you see the blind person holding someone's arm. She had me grasp her arm with one hand and wheel with the other to keep pace as she walked and pulled the side I was holding. She also discussed that we might look at a wheelchair with both rims on one side. I have never heard of anything like that, but it could be a good idea in my case, freeing up one hand to feel where I am.
After a couple hours of that therapy, I was taken to my room to rest a little, then to the lunch room for lunch. I felt very embarassed struggling to eat, but then realized most everyone around me was not seeing my struggles. I got a lot on me, but I am doing pretty well all things considered.
This afternoon, a braille teacher came by and quizzed me on my braille, and began the next phase of my learning that. I now have 3 full lines of braille down, and she began showing me some words and combinations that I have to learn to really be proficient with it. And, I need to be proficient, knowing I will never see again.
Sometimes, I regret so badly what has happened to me. Loss of my sight and use of my legs. I had so dreamt of using a wheelchair and being a quadriplegic, now I am definintely using a wheelchair but in such a much harder way in many ways. Sometimes I just don't know if I can do this!
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