BLIND, DISABLED RESIDENTS GETTING TENDER, LOVING CARE.Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer Imagine being blind. Now imagine being blind and suffering from other disabilities ranging from functional or mental retardation mental retardation, below average level of intellectual functioning, usually defined by an IQ of below 70 to 75, combined with limitations in the skills necessary for daily living. , epilepsy, autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. or Down syndrome Down syndrome, congenital disorder characterized by mild to severe mental retardation, slow physical development, and characteristic physical features. Down syndrome affects about 1 in every 730 live births and occurs in all populations equally. . Then imagine not having anywhere to turn to for help. Two decades ago Bernice and Seymour Pearlman asked themselves that question. Not satisfied with the answer, the Pearlmans decided to do something about it. Out of those humble beginnings Humble Beginnings was an American pop punk band from New Jersey. While never gaining large-scale success, many of the band's members went on to mainstream success with other outfits. , the Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind was created. The San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. Valley-based organization provides a living and learning environment for people who are blind and also suffer from other disabilities. The Therapeutic Living Centers, or TLC TLC total lung capacity; thin-layer chromatography. TLC abbr. 1. thin-layer chromatography 2. , organization is among the nonprofit charities participating in the Daily News' ninth annual Season of Sharing campaign. Readers can contribute directly to the charity, allowing it to help people during the holidays and throughout the year. The Daily News does not receive any of the money. Most of the people TLC serves have been excluded from other programs because of their complex problems, including cognitive deficits, autism and cerebral palsy cerebral palsy (sərē`brəl pôl`zē), disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination. . Money is tight at TLC, too tight to afford the computer and special talking software that would benefit the blind residents. The organization is seeking donations to help buy the equipment that would open new worlds to its patients. ``The common denominator common denominator n. 1. Mathematics A quantity into which all the denominators of a set of fractions may be divided without a remainder. 2. A commonly shared theme or trait. is blindness,'' said Executive Director Ford Neale. ``These are people that (TLC founders) discovered nobody wanted to care for. Their problems were so severe, there was nobody willing to take them on and care for them.'' Thanks to TLC, that no longer is a concern for the 60 patients who live in 11 six-room community homes throughout the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . The centers are staffed by professionals ranging from psychologists to occupational therapists. Among those patients is Judy Tompkins, who lives with five other women in TLC's Elkwood House. Tompkins has been involved with TLC since she was 18. Now 39, she isn't sure what her life would have been like had TLC not been there for her. ``I'm not sure I want to think about that,'' said Tompkins, who is blind and suffers a speech impairment. ``These people have been wonderful.'' Besides offering a secure environment for residents, TLC provides a number of support programs. The goal is to improve the residents' ability to care for themselves, although total independence is not a possibility. Still, residents take advantage of programs such as mobility training, communication and money management. In addition, occupational and physical therapy are available. Tompkins, who has a part-time job in the TLC workshop and is one of the more functional residents, especially appreciates the recreational options. She and her housemates attend dances, go horseback riding and visit museums. ``There's a lot of fun things to do, and we enjoy it quite a bit,'' Tompkins said. |
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