Tamara's outing with Cici

Even before I came to KSU and decided to major in Human Services I had a friend named Clennell Anthony, Cici for short.  Cici was born with severe low vision to the point of being legally blind. She grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and attended a school for the blind so that she could learn to adapt to the environment of a sight based world. Over the decade and a half that I’ve known Cici she has proven to be very suborn and resists help; however her vision has decreased over time because of macular degeneration, thus on our outing she accepted my help on our most recent outing graciously.

With me as her guide, Cici left her white cane at home and allowed me to see how difficult life could be for a person with a visional impairment.  Now I must tell you Cici and I have gone out tons of times over the years and I’m not unfamiliar to her plight, but for the sake of this assignment we were going back to basics and not relying on her normal visual aids (Cici no longer has her seeing- eye dog because of her limited income.) The first leg of our outing was just getting from her zero-step doorway to my little car. With her hand on my elbow and my voice commands to guide her, Cici maneuvered with little difficulty down the sidewalk and to the parking lot to my car. The lowness of my Honda’s seat was awkward for her, and I made sure she didn’t hit her head getting in. I actually put my hand on top of her head so that she wouldn’t accidentally smack it-which is what I do with my elderly mom. Cici laughed when I told her that one and said she appreciated that, as my car does sit low to the ground. Once all tucked in I handed her the seat belt so she could buckle herself in as I shut the car door. Thus far accessibility hasn’t been a factor and her comfort level is still high. Without much trouble Cici can find the buckle on the seatbelt and with one or two attempts manages to buckle herself safely in the car. Like with my mom, who has arthritis and needs my assistance in latching the seatbelt, I did offer to help but it was unnecessary. Cici, is a trusting friend who has ridden with me in the past and isn’t scared of my driving.  Once at Panera Bread the reverse happens and I assist her in getting out of the car without a head wound and through the parking lot to the restaurant.  I count the steps up and pause with each step, allowing her hand on my elbow and the other on the hand rail to guide her way   upstairs.  The doorway is awkward and the place is busy. While in line I describe the food I see and talk to her about food choices. Although Panera has a basic menu online I could print out, I end up reading aloud the choices from their large overhead menu boards and assist her in the ordering.  Once our orders have placed I walk her down the aisle to the soda machine and hand her a cup. She hands guide her on how much soda to put in the cup, and I hand her the lid so it doesn’t spill.  I help her find a sit outside on the patio, which means we must navigate through a doorway once again on our way out, as crowding is an issue during the lunch hour, as is the sensory stimulation that is on overload with everyone talking at once, both of which limit our own sociality. The sun is shining brightly and the air, although a little chilly, is pleasant. We comfortably chat over our meal. Cici, who is heavily endowed, inevitably ends up with food on her shirt and I tease her about needing a bib. She chuckles at that barb, knowing full well I need one, too. Once we are through I take the tray of dishes back inside and return to the table to assist her back across the parking lot and into my car.

After lunch we go back to my place and watch Downton Abby. Cici loves the whole romantic stuff and class conflict as much as I do. I parked under the carport and help Cici out of the car and across the concrete floor to the steps of the back door. Two steps up and through the doorway, while managing to keep the little dog from flinging himself at Cici or escaping the house, poses to be another awkward moment for us- one I didn’t think through beforehand. At this point Cici’s control of her environment is low and so is her legibility. Once through the doorway and the screen door is closed the issue of the possible dog escape no longer exists. I assist Cici to a rolling chair that I had set up near the television, so that she can alter how close or far she needs to be to the see the big screen television. Once she is seated comfortably, Al settles down to be pet, then I let the larger dog in from the porch where I placed him out of harm’s way. Cici is good natured and affectionate to both dogs and the cat, who quickly jumps onto Cici’s lap, while I turn on the television and set the close captioning on the show. I get our drinks, which I place on a t.v. tray next to her chair for easy accessibility, and we watch two hours of our favorite show. Occasionally she loses the thread of the show and asks me to pause it while we discuss it.  Once we are done watching I lead her to the back of the house after I put Bear outside so not to trip her on the way to the bathroom (he is part setter and tries to round his humans up all the time).  I point out where everything she’ll need is located in our bathroom so she can navigate easily and quickly. Soon afterwards we do everything in reverse, back down the steps and into my car. Cici can find the latch and buckles herself into the seatbelt on her first try. At her apartment she easily follows my lead from the parking lot and back to her apartment. Once inside her place I find her clutter of papers, textbooks (she attends online courses getting her MA in Psychology) and dirty dishes both strange and a reassuring reminder that time hasn’t changed my friend, even if her disability has caused her to adapt to her outside environment differently, I know she feels comfortable, meaning and in control within her own home.