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Home  >  Connect   >  Inspiring Lives

Dejan

Hi my name is Dejan Pajevic. I am 24 years old and I am from Serbia. I am blind due to ROP. I attend MAB Community Services day program where I have orientation and mobility lessons with Bianca. We have worked together for four years.

When I first got to MAB I worked on navigating the inside of my new buildings. Bianca and I labeled rooms and used tactile markers to show me where to square off. I used a tactile map to understand the layout of the building. During the lessons I also worked on my cane skills.

Once I learned the inside of the MAB buildings I began working on outdoor routes. I work on aligning to traffic, finding landmarks, and problem solving. I pay attention to my mobility more now than in the past and I am willing to listen to constructive criticisms. I feel like I now have a plan for my O&M. Because of O&M I can travel around to all areas of the building independently and I have improved in my outdoor mobility. I now understand the skills it takes to cross an intersection with parallel traffic.

Because of orientation and mobility lessons I am aware of mistakes I am making and I know how to fix them. I don’t get scared and say I’m lost! I think about what I’m doing wrong and how I can fix it. I’m problem solving.

O&M makes me feel motivated to work on different forms of transportation. I would like to take the T, train, and bus independently. I used to be afraid of loud noises, but now I am not nervous around trains and cars. I feel confident because of O&M and I appreciate O&M. Ever since I moved to Quincy to my new house I have taken the skills that I learned during my O&M lessons and taught myself how to get around my new house. This has made me feel independent and proud.

For more information please contact: 
Lisa DiBonaventura,  M.A.,  COMS
Statewide Director Vision & Vision Loss Services
Department of Developmental Services  (DDS)
Email: Lisa.DiBonaventura@mass.gov
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"Focus" on Vision and Vision Loss: Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disability
  • MCB/DDS
    • About >
      • Site Accessibility & Download Policy
      • Vision Loss Terminology
    • APH Federal Quota Account >
      • APH Activity Ideas
    • DDS Collaborative Eye Care Clinics
    • Orientation & Mobility/Low Vision Services >
      • Areas Served
      • COMS Log In
    • Let's Walk Together
    • Vision Loss Support Groups
    • EOHHS Resources
  • Eye Care
    • Find an Eye Care Provider >
      • By Town >
        • Athol
        • Ayer
        • Beverly
        • Boston
        • Burlington
        • Cambridge
        • Chelmsford
        • Chelsea
        • East Bridgewater
        • East Harwich
        • Fairhaven
        • Fall River
        • Falmouth
        • Fitchburg
        • Framingham
        • Franklin
        • Gardner
        • Greenfield
        • Groveland
        • Holyoke
        • Lexington
        • Lowell
        • Marlborough
        • Melrose
        • New Bedford
        • Newton
        • North Dartmouth
        • North Reading
        • Plymouth
        • Quincy
        • Revere
        • Sagamore
        • Salem
        • Sandwich
        • Shelburne Falls
        • South Dennis
        • Spencer
        • Springfield
        • Sturbridge
        • Sudbury
        • Taunton
        • Tewksbury
        • Waltham
        • Wareham
        • Watertown
        • Wellesley
        • West Springfield
        • Winthrop
        • Worcester
    • NECO SEMA >
      • NECO Student Access
    • MCPHS Eye and Vision Center
    • DDS Vision Care Guidelines
    • Eye Health & Safety
    • Eye Conditions & Simulations >
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    • Orientation & Mobility >
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