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Community
Integration
by Marie McKinney, Rehabilitation Counselor, RCBVI |
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Two of the
most common pitfalls for people who have lost vision are isolation
and lack of exercise. Common reasons for isolation are lack of transportation,
former "friends" who are uncomfortable with the person's
blindness, and sometimes it is self-imposed. We all want to be as
independent as possible, and constantly requesting help can damage
one's self-esteem. We can also become fearful of the sighted world:
what will they think of me? Will anyone be there to help me? Will
someone take advantage of my lack of sight? Exercise becomes difficult because most forms of exercise, including sports, are fast-paced and typically require vision to participate. Floor exercises can be confusing due to the lack of verbal instruction– and the client is most often in a room full of sighted people saying, "Do this" without describing what is being done. We at the Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired believe that, while blindness skills and adaptive technology are essential to healthy independent living, we as humans require interaction and participation with other humans and we all have heard how important exercise is. But how can one find the courage to get out there? How does one even know what they'd like to do? Can their old interests and activities still be a part of their lives? To help find solutions to these questions, the RCBVI has begun Community Integration Classes, whereby clients are given the opportunity to actively participate in their choice of four community activities: ceramics classes, Pilates training, dance, or bowling. Classes are every Wednesday afternoon from 1:30 - 3:00. The clients are responsible for arranging their own transportation (paid by RCBVI) and bringing the necessary items such as work-out clothing. The clients have been dedicated and motivated to improve their self-image as well as the image they project to others. Getting involved in community activities stimulates interest in the environment and gives one a better sense of control of their own lives. New acquaintances are inevitable and friendships quite possible when one learns there is more to life than the TV and computer. Social skills learned are readily transferable to employability. |
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