Shelley Stewart and Fozzie
By Shelley Stewart
To go from being fully sighted to being totally blind can be devastating. And that is exactly what happened to me when I turned 27. My life turned dark, literally. I could have stayed shattered, if not for three very important factors: my personal inner strength, family support, and CNIB.
From that day forward CNIB played a vital role in my life. I used many of the services they offered to rehabilitate and orient myself with my new reality. To narrow down the service that was the most important is impossible. I was an independent and single personwho loved life, and I wanted to achieve the same quality of life (after losing my sight). Each service CNIB provided was important to me.
The daily living skills that I gained through Independent Living Skills training were invaluable. Learning to cook, organize my home, do laundry, use adapted consumer products and braille were a must. I was an avid reader and wanted to continue this pastime. CNIB library services made this possible. I could now continue a pastime I loved. And because I could continue to read, I also had the ability to talk about common books with my friends who were using print. All of these new skills were very important for my continued social life.
Orientation and Mobility was a must, although this was thescariest and most challenging. I refused to sit around the house all day waiting for people to take me places, so I had to learn to get around on my own. Thanks to Orientation and Mobility instruction throughout the past 17 years, I have moved, taken on many volunteer projects, travelled, gone to school and taken care of daily errands. This training also allowed me to achieve my ultimate goal - working with a dog guide. I can now do things (almost) independently. I now have my own personal dream team, Fozzie and me.
I like to think that I am walking proof that with the help of CNIB and personal determination one can achieve any goal and live a well-rounded, full and exciting life. Because CNIB helped me so much I wanted to give back as well. I am now a volunteer at CNIB as well as a client. As a volunteer, I have been involved in public speaking, information days and fundraising. This has allowed me to keep up my social skills, educate the public and help an agency that helped me.