Week #1

The first week at the center went very well. I started using the shades and white cane, met my fellow students and staff, moved into my room and started eating. The shades were a bit scary at first but I am getting used to wearing them. You can't see jack while you are wearing them. While in total darkness, the white cane is a must, a real life saver. I plan on using the cane at home especially when I'm somewhere that I've never been before or when I'm in a big crowd. The cane makes you more independent. I don't worry much about going up or down stairs with it. I feel real comfortable with my cane.

The students have a wide variety of eye conditions and visual acuity. I'm the only one with glaucoma. I've learned that there are more eye conditions than I knew existed. I knew about glaucoma (of course) and macular degeneration along with eye problems associated with diabetes. I never heard of Stargardt's Disease before. This is an eye disease which affects young people. I'll let you know about other conditions later. That was usually the first question I was asked, "What's your eye condition?" was asked several times the first day at the center. The student's vision acuity ranges from 20-200 to total blindness. There are two students who cannot see a thing. But, they get around very well and are quite independent.

My room is very nice and believe it or not not I keep it spotless. It is on the sixth floor and looks out east not far from the Des Moines River. I get into my room using a key card which I've locked in my room only once. We use a shared bathroom with laundry facilities and a couple of showers. Men only, the females are one floor beneath us. We are strictly forbidden from visiting them on their floor.

We get an allowance for meals and we use it everyday to visit the nearby andd not so nearby eating establishments. They do not have a cafeteria, so we must eat out most days. The public sees that blindness does not stop us from being independent. We get out as much as we can. More later.