I have not yet been declared legally blind yet by my doctor but I cannot see anything and I was wondering if there was anyone in the Portage, WI area who would be willing to help me learn how to properly use my cane and maybe teach me how to read and write braille. I am naturally right-handed but since the stroke happened, I have no movement in my right-hand and have to relearn how to do everything left-handed. It would be wonderful if someone would get back to me as soon as possible. Thank you very much
119145
I would contact VESID OR ANY PLACE THAT DEALS WITH DISABILITIES .THERE ARE LOTS OF FREE PROGRAMS.YOUR DOCTOR SHOULD KNOW THAT
25344
I Know What you mean my dad had a stroke 5yrs. ago and since then I've kinda become his personal assistant. There are a few companies that provide personal nursing care but these are usally expensive. There are also some assisted living places that help people when they need it but allow them freedom the wouldn't have in a nursing home. I know both these options are expensive. However, other than these all I really can suggest is for a family member to stay with him. I know I help my dad with a lot of things he used to do everyday I make sure he remembers to take meds and help him go to bed. Its a difficult job, and I'm still going to school, but if you or one of your family members wants to help him sometimes this is better than letting a stranger.
633074
look for someone who  is using a cane
43971
my dear this is pons area ,,i am very sorry to hear about your boy friend,,i would like to  say something about pons stroke,,this is as follows-\n\nThe pons is part of the brainstem, the lowest part of the brain that connects to the top end of the spinal cord. It's an important and densely packed area containing many bundles of nerves carrying movement and sensory messages between the brain and the body. It also acts as a junction box for all the nerves employed in coordinating movement and balance within the head and neck, as well as the body as a whole.\n\n\n\nBecause there are so many important structures within the brainstem one small area of damage due to stroke can have wide-ranging consequences. The exact symptoms depend on which biological ‘electrical circuits’ and junctions lose their blood supply and that in turn depends on which of the small blood vessels in the area (branches of the vertebrobasilar circulation) becomes blocked.\n\n\n\nThe symptoms can include difficulties with balance (ataxia), dizziness due to vertigo, uncoordinated eye movements, problems with swallowing and articulating words, and numbness and/ or weakness in one half of the body. It is not uncommon for victims of this sort of stroke to feel sick as part of the loss of balance.\n\n\n\nRecovery really depends on the extent and severity of the initial stroke. You need to discuss the outlook with the doctors who have investigated your mother's condition. I really hope she is only mildly affected and makes a reasonable recovery.\n     THANK YOU VERY MUCH
335489
http://www.wheelchairnet.org/WCN_WCU/SlideLectures/Sawatzky/WC_history.html\n\nhttp://www.wheelchairnet.org/WCN_ProdServ/Docs/WCHistory.html
522288
Hi Jerry, I'm in the middle of my cancer treatment.  I'll give you some information that helped me..if you want to talk to a cancer survivor who had the same kind of cancer as you do and is a trained volunteer to help you with your questions, call 1-800-ACS-2345, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  It is called Reach for Recovery.  You are never alone.  You can visit the website on line at www.cancer.org to gather information.  Let me know how it works out for you.  When I was in the Navy I learned that courage is fear that has said it's prayers.   We need to find a way to link you to us so you get our answers.
567601
Hi, I feel so so so sorry for you, personally if I was you I would sit down with your friends family and the 2 surgeons and just ask them what is the pros and cons.\n\nSurely they will be able to give you some advice on this, you can't go thru all of this without some help or advice.\n\nAlso, ask the neurosurgeon for his advice and just tell him that you don't want to do anything without his approval cos at the end of the day it is your life that will be wrecked not theirs and not your families.\n\nAlso, if your surgeon rings you up ask him to talk to you over the phone and ask him the questions and get him to answer them, if he can and just pour your heart out to him tell him you don't want him to do the 15hr operation.\n\nYour surgeon will do whats best for you he won't let you down over all of these years.\n\nIf he did operate what would happen would you get paralyasis permantely and the blindness will that be permant whatever way you go?\n\nTry asking for a shunt to be put in I know you mentioned it in the additional details but that could save you and does that stay in their for life?\n\nAnyway good luck for this upcoming operation but please really think about it and I hope you get all the answers you need for you to make your decision.\n\nTake your time in thinking about it, it is your life your talking about here not theirs, also I have one more point for you!!!!!!\n\nLets say you didn't have these operations would you go blind? \nAnd also if you had the operations what happens in later life?\nHave you got to have it done again or will the shunt keep the fluid away?\n\nPlease add additional information\n\nThanks and the very best of luck?
206551
My best friend was born legally blind. When we were 15 we went to a crusade and she was healed. The first thing she ever saw in her entire life was a stadium of thousands of people praising and worshiping God! It was awesome. When she went to the doctor's and specialists in the following days, they could not believe what had happened, one specialist she had been seeing since she was born. Since this, she has been part of lots of research and studies trying to fond how she regained her vision, yet no medical answer has been found. And oh yeah, how is this for you, 10 years later she is still eligible to receive the Blind Pension from the Government because once deemed legally blind.....always blind. They refuse to cancel her pension. So she donates it to different ministries.
668192
I'd learn Braille, because I love to read. I'd learn how to use a computer set up for blind people (all while I can still see, so I can memorize this stuff) I'd get any adaptations I'd need for my condo to help me adjust to my new condition so I can see what I'd be dealing with before I'm unable to do so. I'd prepare to keep my life as close to the level that it's at now as possible.\n\nI used to work with a blind man who was just amazing! He worked as a customer service rep. He had a computer that talked to him and read him everything on the screen. He'd be able to identify everyone in the office by their voice. While most people relied on the caller ID to tell them who they were talking to, he didn't have that luxery. He'd get up in the lunch room, walk to the vending machine, and know exactly what button to push to get his salted nut roll. He'd take the bus home with his seeing eye dog...I never quite grasped how he knew exactly where to go. He had an awesome web site that he was working on. ver colorful, too. I miss him!
618051
Good question, PL - I think Blunt, Jes, Army and  Multi   are all right. I used to live near a blind musician. If I was nearby I would stay and talk with him until his ride came. For walking and direction, his cane for the blind would be constantly in motion. Other times, he would ask what the noise was coming from the left. He told me several times that all his other senses were heightened when he lost his sight, and the signs in the elevator in Braille, or at an ATM or on the directory of a building were consistently placed. When a building was in the planning stages, the project director would be approached by a group of "physically challenged" people - a blind person, a quadriplegic, someone with multiple sclerosis, etc. - and they would suggest placement that would respond to the anticipated needs of other challenged people. Excellent question.
341703
Here is the link for the Lion's club http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/about_index.shtml\nOn the home page, go to VISION PROGRAMS.\n\nCall the St. Vincent de Paul society at your nearest Catholic Church. Not all of them are helpful, but some are.\n\nI believe that the Vision Works chain has some kind of program. I am not sure. \n\nAsk your caseworker for Medicaid/Medicare to tell you where EXACTLY you can find the rule that they do not help with glasses. You want the publication, page number and paragraph. Sometimes they don't know, sometimes they don't care. I too, am on disability. \n\nCall the Ministerial Associaton for your city. They may know of a source.\n\nI hope one, or a comination of these things helps you.
597314
Get to the hospital ASAP.  Many people lose their eyesight that way.  "You'll shoot your eye out kid!"\n\nNo, wait.  Post another question on Yahoo!  Yeah, that's the ticket.
146993
I don't know numbers, but the National Federation of the Blind has an association for blind lawyers, law students, and others in the legal profession:\n\nNational Association of Blind Lawyers\nPresident: Scott LaBarre\n1660 South Albion Street, Suite 918\nDenver, Colorado 80222-4046\nPhone: (303) 504-5979\nFax: (303) 757-3640\nEmail: slabarre@labarrelaw.com\nMembership organization of blind attorneys, law students, judges, and others in the law field. Provides support and information regarding employment, techniques used by the blind, advocacy, laws affecting the blind, current information about the American Bar Association, and other issues for blind lawyers. Interested? Join our mailing list\n\nAs far as being a judge, how to become a judge depends on where you live. In some places, it's done by voting; in others, by appointment. One thing I've heard if you want to be a judge, be nice to everyone -- at some point they'll go to people in your past and ask them how you work with others. (Most people do this already, but it's worth mentioning, just in case.) Find and talk with some local judges; you should find some who are willing to give you information and assistance towards your goal, and perhaps even act as a mentor.
138251
There are other places to cane people to. I think palm and bottom are easy accessible, that's why its the "place of choice".\nMy dad told me he had a teacher who used the tips of the fingers instead. The students had to push their fingertips together (somehow like to form paws) and then the teacher hit the fingertips with the cane! (Ouch!)\nMy dad said it hurt a lot!
87674
This site has devices for people who are wheelchairbound and drive.  Good luck.  Hope you find what youre looking for.\nhttp://www.discountramps.com/
514747
go to your local supermarket and ask everyone with a badge in the disabled parking bay ,\nif your`e patient at least one of them will point you in the right direction,\nfor a small fee of course !
122941
Let me first way that I am sorry you lost your parents at such an early age- that must have been very hard to deal with. Secondly how sweet of you to want to understand what your friends are going through.\nI am trying now to find out how I can get a wheelchair ramp built for my parents house so we csn get my dad in and out more easily. He uses a walker and a wheelchair, but my mom has trouble getting him in an out of the house (they have steep steps.) \nI just finally got around to getting ahospital bad for my dad downstairs and the wheelchair through medicare. Medicare could not provide me with any suppliers-- they gave me three dentist's phone numbers for a wheel cahair and hospital bed. I finally called Apria Heathcare supplies and they took care of all the paper work for me. All I had to do was get a prescription for the equipment from my Dad's doctor.\nSome hospitals give classes on elderly care and financial advice as well---check with your local hospital.