As best as I can remember, with my creeping memory loss and sporadic exaggerations, we operated for the first 18 months with a staff of two cramped in one small room. It's been ten years of ups and downs - more ups than downs, thank goodness. One of our first ups was when we moved into a 700 square feet store building and Karen joined the staff. Another was acquiring Deaf Services in 1999 and moving to the Hollywood facility in 2003. The biggest ups of all during our first decade were our consumers exemplified by Ms Green when she wheeled down her new ramp for the first time singing "free at last." We've heard other consumers say.....
Independent Living means to be able to be self-supportive and not have to go to others or have to be dependent on anyone else for my needs.
It’s Fantastic – there is no better feeling.
I know I’ll never do what I used to be able to do, but being able to get around the way I used to. Having a wonderful ramp built by JCIL makes life so much easier. I was literally a prisoner to my home. At least now I can get outside and sit on the landing and enjoy the weather. My other ramp was way too steep and totally not feasible.
THANK YOU FOR SUCH WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION!!!
Being able to do the things I used to do.
It’s a state of mind. If I feel that I’m living independently, then I am. I don’t expect to be able to do everything as able-bodied citizens but I want to have the same options as everybody. That’s independent living to me.
It could mean that I can do everything by myself, but that’s not going to happen for a wheelchair user. So it’s a relative definition. It has different meanings for different disabilities.
It’s a sense of purpose and being useful to others. You have to have a reason to get up everyday & have something to do to occupy your time & keep your mind on something useful. It is very important to feel needed. I am an artist / craftsman so I do manage to keep busy & provide a service for others.
I like to go shopping. I like to buy clothes, movies & DVD’s. I like to buy CD’s & tapes. I like to buy angel books, paradise books, heaven books, food and angels. I like to go to the mall. I like to go to CD warehouse. I like to go to Wal-Mart Super Center. I like to go to Best Buy & Bonworth. I like to eat at Waffle House, Chinese, Huddle House & Mexican Restaurants. I like to get on rides. My favorite states are: New York City, New Jersey, North Carolina, Louisvile, Kentucky & Michigan. My favorite cities in Tennessee are: Franklin & Paris. My favorite groups are Acapella & Straight Company.
What else can I say? That pretty much says it all and those ups certainly outweight all the downs we have encountered.
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