SMILE: You can do it

Mary Keegan has had multiple sclerosis (MS) for 19 years, and Dorothy Turnbloom has had it for 25 years. James Watson developed arterial arthritis two years ago, and Sharon Helmouth became legally blind at 37.

Yet, these four people do not deal with their disabilities alone. They have gained knowledge, support and hope through a program that has helped them to smile every week.

Called Services Maximizing Independent Living and Empowerment (SMILE), the program has been helping adults with disabilities for two years through the Independent Living Center in Yuma. It enhances people's lives with classes such as "Living Well with a Disability" and through committees and peer support groups, said program facilitator Turnbloom.

"Classes like this give us tools to educate people on how to get (through) things like depression," she said. It "helps us to overcome disability."

Keegan, Watson, Helmouth and their classmates graduated from the "Living Well with a Disability" class last month. It is a eight- to nine-week, goal-oriented course that improves: problem-solving skills, self-reliance, nutrition, physical activity, access to healthcare and community resources, and achieving personal goals.

And although these goals are valuable to the students, they said that the friendships and the psychological support they have gained have helped them immensely.

Watson, 53, has lived in Yuma for 13 years and used to race cars - at 170 mph - in the 1970s. He also used to walk up to five miles at a time.

But this changed two years ago when he found out he had arterial arthritis, which affects both his right and left hands and his neck and back.

"I'm trying to get my life together. It's been hard to not do the things I used to do. (But) you have to go on with what you have." This change in lifestyle has caused Watson to develop depression, but he says laughter keeps him going.

He makes people at SMILE laugh and said, "Being in this group is an inspiration to go on. I'm a better person for it if I can help anyone by laughing."

Keegan used to be a First Interstate Bank teller before she developed MS. Keegan now uses a wheelchair but says SMILE has helped her to be positive.

"It opened my eyes to other people who have disabilities. If I was blind I don't know what I'd do," she said.

Keegan says she is a stubborn person, who has grandchildren, and she needs to be around for them. "I'm not going to give in to it. It's not supposed to happen to me."

Helmouth, a winter visitor from Washington, has an eye disease that prevents her from forming tears.

She was a laboratory technician in a hospital before she was visually impaired. Being blind "took away my independence," said Helmouth.

However, she has learned to use other abilities, including her sense of smell, which has led her to where she needs to go. She also learned to use a cane that she calls "candy cane."

For the most part, Helmouth says, people have been kind and courteous to her, but they have also chosen to ignore her.

Helmouth tells the story of when she decided to go to McDonald's and walked to a bus stop using her cane. The McDonald's was located at an address she was unfamiliar with, and she was not sure if she was at the right bus stop.

She listened to the crowd gathered at the bus stop and decided to call out and ask if she was at the right place. Instantly the group got quiet and "no one said anything."

When "people are confronted by disability, they think it is catching," she said. But she also said "there is a lot of good people."

SMILE reminds Helmouth how to laugh and how lucky she is to be alive. "It opened my eyes, so to speak, that there are a lot of people worse off. Blindness is not the only disability in the world."

"Through the devastation, you can become a better person. You appreciate the people you love," said Turnbloom.

Leticia Perez, co-facilitator of the SMILE program, said, "The big thing (is) we learn to be positive - to see the brilliant future that we have."

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LAST MONTH'S GRADUATES:

Mary Keegan

Mary Nye

Sharon Helmouth

Jim Watson

Arlene Fambrough

Tonya Jarvis

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NEXT CLASS

SMILE's next "Living Well with a Disability" class will begin on April 3 and continue till May 29. The classes usually take place at the Center for Independent Living, 1929 S. Arizona Ave., Suite 12, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The classes teach people with disabilities how to reduce health problems and complications. It teaches how to improve access to healthcare services while minimizing costly procedures. The classes will also help increase social relationships and increase quality of life. Everyone is invited to attend, especially those with disabilities.

For more information call SMILE at 329-6681 or e-mail director@smile-az.org.