Over seven years, Ronnie became completely blind. When he lost his sight, he also lost his livelihood and independence.
“I’ve always taken pride in my ability to do things on my own, so when I lost my sight, I thought I would need to depend on other people for everything,” says Ronnie. “It was the worst time of my life.”
Around that time, Ronnie learned he was to going to be a father. He found the strength in his family to take charge of his life once more. He called Wayfinder Family Services’ Davidson Program for Independence.
Wayfinder’s campus was far from home, and he would be gone for six months. Enrolling in the program would be a sacrifice, but Ronnie and his family knew he had to do it.
At Wayfinder, Ronnie worked hard to learn Braille so that he could read again. He regained his ability to use computers by using assistive technology for the visually impaired.
Through training in independent living skills, Ronnie regained his ability to independently handle his daily needs, like shopping and cooking, tidying his home, doing laundry and choosing clothes to wear.
Most of all, Ronnie fell in love with his orientation and mobility class, where he learned how to travel safely using a white cane and to plan routes to get where he wanted to go. He was finally feeling like he could be independent again with this skill!
Being away from his family was difficult at first. Ronnie spent time with his new friends in the music room, connecting over their shared love of music. He even wrote a song about how much he learned in the program.
Ronnie was dedicated to his rehabilitation. He earned a spot in one of the program’s fully equipped training apartments, which more closely simulate a real-world experience.
“I lost my independence when I lost my vision, but thanks to the Davidson Program for Independence, I don’t have to rely on others to help me live my life,” Ronnie says.
December 26, 2017