Teachers In Action � Volusia County Blind Population

Teachers In Action – Volusia County Blind Population – Deborah Schmit : 

Teachers In Action – Volusia County Blind Population – Deborah Schmit dschmit@knightsmail.ucf.edu December 5, 2010 EEX 4070 2010 Fall

Slide 2: 

Participant Demographics: Four adults (two male and two female) ranging in age from 35 – 65 years, all legally blind.

Slide 3: 

Preparation: I contacted a few Volusia County service agencies for the blind. I indicated that I would be willing to help individuals with housework, transportation or reading to them. I also indicated I would read books on tape if they had a need for that. After three weeks and no return calls, even though I left all my information, I tried something else.

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I called a few people I knew and asked them if they knew of anyone who had a disability in the area. After about three telephone calls, a friend’s mother had a local man, who has been blind since birth, call me. He indicated that he only needed about six hours worth of help but he knew numerous people that needed help. Within a few hours, I was contacted by a couple and a local woman who are all blind.

Misconceptions : 

Misconceptions I thought everyone would want me to help them with housework. None of the people wanted me to help them with housework. I though perhaps the people would want me to read to them, wrong again. None of the people wanted me to read to them. Everyone of the people I worked with wanted me to take them somewhere.

Service in Action : 

Service in Action I felt a bit like a taxi service. Between the four people I helped over the course of four days, I took people to: The bank, both people had to go inside. Walmart (four times). Sam’s . Computer repair store. Watch repair store in the mall.

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The public library. The Volusia Mall. To pay a cable bill. To pay rent at their rental office. To a church to order food for the month. To Radio Shack. To a shoe store. To a cash loan store to make a payment.

James Scranton : 

James Scranton The first person I worked with was Jim. He set me up with friends of his who could also use help. Jim lived in an apartment on the second floor. He wanted help with his computer which I tried to provide. We went to the library for help and eventually to a computer repair store. Originally, the computer repair store said it would cost $ 80.00 to look at the computer. After they looked at it and got it working, they said there would be “no charge.” It was extremely difficult to get the computer in and out of the metal cart to bring it to the store. James put it in the cart and brought the cart downstairs all by himself.

James S------- : 

James S------- Lives alone in a second floor apartment. No relatives in the area. No pets. Volunteers at a couple local organizations. His interests include the computer and electronic gadgets.

Jim taking his computer back upstairs after it was repaired. : 

Jim taking his computer back upstairs after it was repaired.

Candy B--- : 

Candy B--- Lives in a second floor apartment in Port Orange, Florida. Blind due to oxygen being used at her premature birth. Works full time for blind services. Has a (now semi retired) seeing eye dog. She has had Bo since he was two years old. He’s now 13. Bo and Candy were hit by a car within ½ mile of her apartment. Bo had his paw run over and a tooth knocked out. Candy was scraped and bruised.

Slide 12: 

Candy likes going to the movies, cooking and canning. Yes, I said canning. We went to Walmart and she bought 36 canning jars. When we were checking out the man in the store asked me about the canning, when I explained Candy would be doing the canning, he said nothing. Later Candy said she didn’t think people liked her because she was blind and that’s why they don’t talk to her.

Slide 13: 

I think perhaps people don’t know what to say such as “how can you can items since you can’t see, you could burn yourself or drop the jar and get cut.” I found Candy an inspiration. She takes transportation to work five days a week. She works from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. She maintains her own apartment, has a boyfriend and cares for her dog.

Candy needs new sneakers as hers all worn through. : 

Candy needs new sneakers as hers all worn through.

Minera and Danny A------ : 

Minera and Danny A------ Both are legally blind. They live in a first floor apartment in Daytona Beach. His family is from Rochester, New York, which they’ve visited by bus a few times in the last ten years. Minera has a father and sister in Miami. They have a long haired dachound named “Sugar.” They had me write out their checks, take them to pay bills and go shopping.

Danny and Sugar in their apartment. : 

Danny and Sugar in their apartment.

Minera and Sugar in the dining room. : 

Minera and Sugar in the dining room.

Danny and Minera’s apartment. : 

Danny and Minera’s apartment.