CGSHB Program for Blind/Disabled Gets Extreme Home Makeover

Friday, 05 February 2010 15:44

CGSHB Executive Director John Frein (r.) with Sister Sean William O’Brien, O.Carm., a CGSHB Board Member (l.), and a West 23rd Street Residence consumer.

Seven consumers who are both blind and developmentally disabled celebrated their own “extreme home makeover” on Wednesday, February 3rd.   The total redesign of Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau’s West 23rd Street Residence was made possible through a $150,000 grant from The Lavelle Fund for the Blind.   The collaborative project also drew on the expertise of a team from the Architecture School of SUNY Buffalo and VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which operates Selis Manor where the program is located.

The renovation included state of the art modifications to the kitchen, bathrooms, living room and bedrooms, as well as creation of an additional recreation room.   The redesign was led by SUNY Buffalo’s Professor Edward Steinfeld, a pioneer in the principles of “universal design” which makes environments universally accessible to the disabled and non-disabled alike.

“The transformation of the residence has not only created a more beautiful and comfortable home but also provides the individuals a much greater opportunity to develop their independence and build their self esteem,” said   Timothy Carey, Assistant Executive Director for MRDD Services Two twin sisters, both blind and developmentally disabled, were recently reunited through the efforts of CGSHB staff. The two had been separated for more than 25 years following their discharge to separate agencies from the Willowbrook State School. They now share a bedroom at the West 23rd Street Residence.

Two twin sisters, both blind and developmentally disabled, were recently reunited through the efforts of CGSHB staff. The two had been separated for more than 25 years following their discharge to separate agencies from the Willowbrook State School. They now share a bedroom at the West 23rd Street Residence.

Andrew Fisher, President of the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, confirmed that the renovations were a “perfect fit” for the Fund’s commitment “to supporting programs that promote the spiritual, moral, intellectual, and physical development of blind and low-vision people of all ages.”

The SUNY Buffalo team not only made recommendations for the renovations themselves but evaluated and verified the measurable outcomes of the project, which also will serve as a case study for students in at SUNY Buffalo. “The collaborative project serves the interests of all involved: the individuals at West 23rd Street, the OMRDD Program at CGSHB, the philanthropic goals of the Lavelle Fund and, not least, the educational needs of SUNY architecture students now and in the years to come,” said Steinfeld.
Edward Short of CGSHB with Andrew Fisher and Daniel M. Callahan of The Lavelle Fund for the Blind
Staff from VISIONS contributed to the project’s success by providing assessments of the residents.

Among the consumers living at the West 23rd Street Residence are two sisters – both visually impaired and developmentally disabled – who were recently reunited through the efforts of CGSHB staff after being separated for more than 25-years following their discharge from Willowbrook State School. The two now share a newly renovated bedroom at the West 23rd Street Residence.