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Achieving Independence

What is independence to a person who is blind or visually impaired?

In general being independent means having the freedom and ability to accomplish  things for oneself without  having to continuously ask for assistance from family members, friends or colleagues .    Independence enhances self esteem and consequently improves the quality of ones life.

It is important to discuss and examine what constitutes independence for a person who deals with visual loss.  Independence is a direct result of acceptance or coming to terms with vision  loss, i. e. it is  a new way of coping with life’s changes as a person who must learn to  adapt to every aspect of life in order to function as a productive and contributing member of society.

However, independence means different things to different people! It is not a one size fits all concept.  It is of course dependent upon  each person’s preferences, roles etc.

 For example totally Blind and visually impaired people who have a strong desire to be gainfully employed  and/or  to travel independently will not have the same expectations as a blind Senior citizen or housewife who only wishes to be able to function in the home environment.  

The process of gaining independence as one with visual impairment   is directly affected by one’s ability to come to terms with and accept visual impairment as a permanent part of life. The newly blinded individual who is consumed with fear due to visual loss may not desire the same level of independence as the person who has worked through  the adjustment process In fact an individual who is more or less stuck in a stage of adjustment may not have a desire to be independent at all.    A stronger desire for independence may change and become evident as the person transitions through the stages of this  process and gains self confidence. The person must be ready to move forward at his own pace and own level He will with perhaps some coaching be able to decide what he wishes to accomplish with regard to gaining independence. Example: figuring out a way to label canned goods and or identify clothing etc. .  The solution  to making a decision about a comfortable level of independence  is deciding what you need and want out of life and determining  how you will obtain it. 

If you are not sure  what would  be an appropriate level of  independence and self satisfaction that would meet your needs and lifestyle  or you are struggling to figure  out how to set realistic goals to become more independent, you have come to the right place!

If you are a friend or family member of someone who is coping with visual loss, and you want to encourage them to be independent in a positive supportive way, you have arrived as well.  Together with God’s help we can make this possible! Dreams can become a reality!

 
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