Blind Navajo man sees hope with new home

Everett and Cynthia James (foreground) cut the ribbon to their new two-bedroom home in Burnside. The NHA Ganado housing management staff celebrated the family’s new home June, 15. The fully-accessible home was renovated to meet the needs of the disabled Navajo couple (Photo by Rick Abasta).

Everett and Cynthia James (foreground) cut the ribbon to their new two-bedroom home in Burnside. The NHA Ganado housing management staff celebrated the family’s new home June, 15. The fully-accessible home was renovated to meet the needs of the disabled Navajo couple (Photo by Rick Abasta).

BURNSIDE-For one blind Navajo man, it is clear to see how the Navajo Housing Authority (NHA) goes to great lengths to help house Navajo families. On June 8, Everett James moved into a fully accessible housing unit in accordance to Section 504 of the American Disabilities Act of 1973.

James, 54, moved in with his wife, Cynthia (who is also disabled) and their 18-year-old son Elijah. The NHA Ganado office held a cookout to celebrate the family's new home.

The conversion of the unit to meet Section 504 requirements was the culmination of efforts from the staff of the NHA Ganado housing management office. The staff worked with Navajo Nation Social Services, Ganado CHR, Behavioral Health Services and CHR to get the James family into adequate housing to meet the family's needs.

Prisilla Tsinigine, housing director for the Ganado housing management office said NHA has provided the family with a safe and accessible home, but there is still much more work to be done.

"The whole goal is to keep the family in compliance [with NHA policies]," Tsinigine said. "We want them to be self-sufficient and give them help in taking care of their unit. We could not evict them. We cannot make a disabled family homeless," she said.

Besides James' blindness, his wife is also mentally disabled. The family celebrated their son's graduation from Ganado High School on June 16 at the Cornfields Chapter House.

"I'm excited," he said when asked about moving into his new housing unit.

He said keeping their home clean has been a focus for his family. James became blind in 1986, when he was on the roof of his mobile home in Cornfields, trying to repair a TV antenna.

"I guess [it was] from the cold. It happened in November of 1986," James said. "I was on top of the mobile home with a friend. I was helping him and looking at the pole. All of a sudden, there was something that went up like this (raises hands up towards eyes), right in front of my eyes, like rolling up a car window," he said.

James didn't become completely blind right away, but things became blurrier and blurrier. He traveled to various hospitals and none could help, until he traveled to Yakama, Wash.

However, high medical costs and a lack of employment have put a damper on the opportunity of successfully treating his blindness. For now, he continues to make his appointments in Ft. Defiance and maintain optimism.

His days are filled sitting in complete darkness, often listening to music. A devout Christian, James even plays rhythm guitar for his Gospel band, Victory.

"I play guitar, an Ibanez," James said with a smile. "I know a lot of Gospel songs. It keeps me busy."

However, he is quick to say he still longs for his eyesight. He recalls his employment with the local community college in Ganado where he worked as a maintenance man.

Godova Begaye, resident services specialist for the Ganado housing office said she enjoys working with Navajo families, especially unique situations like the James family.

She said it was the first existing housing renovation to be fully accessible.

"I'm really happy and I think it was a big accomplishment. I guess we all just enjoy our jobs and working with families," she said.

Rolanda Todacheenie, a community health representative serving the Ganado Chapter, said she has been serving the community for the past seven years and knew firsthand the plight of the James family.

Todacheenie said James is her uncle through clan. Citing the traditional concept of Ke', she said it was her responsibility to help her uncle, especially since he was receiving very little help from outside organizations.

"I do a lot of advocacy," Todacheenie said. "I don't only go into the homes and do my assessments on individuals, but I go beyond that. I believe in collaborative services," she said.

Todacheenie added, "I did my best to try and help them. We can't solve everybody's problems, but there's always hope for us to make a difference."

Duane Keyonnie is also blind and said NHA has helped accommodate his disability tremendously. He is particularly thankful for the rails, which guide him inside and outside his home in Burnside.

"I originally became blind back in 2003," Keyonnie said. "I started to notice things were curving around backwards. Houses, bowls ... it was getting really bad in my eyes. The last vision I had was my Bible. I was reading it and all of a sudden it started going dim."

James and Keyonnie met at their church, the Assembly of God in Cornfields. Keyonnie received help and learned how to use a cane when traveling and how to read Braille.

Gaining a sense of independence is the goal he said, although people must show some compassion to the disabled.

"Try to understand people's disabilities. Ask questions, so they're more comfortable. Don't try to hesitate or hide," Keyonnie said.

Lavonne Tsosie, staff advocate for the NHA Legal Department said she saw the needs of the family as an opportunity for NHA to fulfill Section 504 standards. She said Matilda Claw, special projects coordinator for the NHA Housing Management Division played a crucial role in the project.

"I really want to thank Everett and Cynthia for giving us this opportunity. I come from the legal side and I look at the liabilities," Tsosie said.

She commended the joint effort of Navajo Nation Behavioral Health and NHA for helping Elijah to graduate from high school this year. NHA will continue to serve Navajo families, she said.

"That's the thing about NHA. We work with families. Sometimes, it gets to the point where you really have to get involved," Tsosie said.

The general public is encouraged to donate items to the family, who have no furnishings and only a few dishes. Donations can be dropped off at the NHA Ganado housing management office. For more information, call (928) 755-6450.

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