Life gives each and every one of us all sorts of simple pleasures. From going for a mindful stroll to dropping by the local shopping centre for a window shop and a good coffee. Or feeling the warmth of the sun on your shoulders as you hike through a local national park, wildflowers abundant.
For Butler resident, Diane, these simple pleasures are cherished more now than ever before.
Image description: Photo of Perth Wildflowers
In October 2014 life changed dramatically for Diane. A fiercely determined individual who never let anything get in the way of living life to the full, she suddenly fell ill. After baffling medical professionals, five days later a diagnosis was reached and her symptoms were attributed to suffering from a stroke. Diane lost 20% of her hearing, and now experiences severe dizziness and nausea when focusing on objects, particularly those that are moving. Overnight she became highly dependent on the assistance of her family and was no longer able to do the things she loved to do.
It quickly became apparent to Diane that this was one of the greatest challenges she was ever going to have to overcome in life, and she was determined to face the challenge head on.
Life needed to be lived.
After initially working with Occupational Therapists in hospital, Diane was put in touch with VisAbility. And she was clear-cut in her goals. Diane wanted to be able to venture out and about without aid, without having to rely on others. She wanted her independence back.
VisAbility Orientation & Mobility specialists worked with Diane to overcome some specific issues unique to her experience. Choosing the right mobile device (with an app that alerts her when to get off the bus) was important. This meant that she could wear a pair of bespoke sunglasses when she travelled. Designed to block out most of her vision – a tiny pinhole gives her enough vision to be mobile whilst ensuring her dizziness and nausea are not triggered by the movement of the bus. Keeping on top of her social life was also a priority and made easier with a voice-recognition messaging system, allowing her to speak her texts to family and friends.
For Diane, this has been life changing.
The simple pleasures are starting to return. And now, with her glasses, assistive technology and the help of a walker for balance, Diane is becoming more and more confident and independent. She no longer worries about what people think of her and is determined to continue living life to the fullest, no matter what daily obstacles she has to overcome.
The next challenge on the horizon for Diane is embracing the outdoors! Keep an eye out for her in our national parks this Summer as she returns to her love of hiking – remastering the skill with the physical and emotional support of her partner.
Approximately 160,000 Australians of all ages are living with some form of acquired brain injury, and more than half experience problems with their vision.
Our Acquired Brain Injury Vision Service is a dedicated acquired brain injury visual assessment and rehabilitation. Call our friendly Gateway Services team on 1800 847 466 for more information.