After I first came to Northeast Center I became determined to set goals each day and those goals have to be met. Dominick, another staff member as well as Jim taught me self-advocacy. I started to perceive things and make my goals materialize. I learned a lot of things here: I learned how to follow-up and I learned how to advocate for myself. I also learned how to say no. Being around other people like me has been important. I watched other people my age in wheelchairs and I saw how they moved, how they moved in their wheelchair, I got better at maneuvering my arms which helped in turning my wheelchair. While at Northeast Center I have acquired and memorized - despite a brain injury, a daily routine that completely meets my needs beauty wise, and health wise.  I do my own laundry and I can even take care of my finances. I go out in the community a lot. I shop for myself, I even go to the gym every week. I work out on the upper-body machines and barbells. I also realized that I am impulsive, I've gotten a lot better. I know now that even when everything goes wrong that I can still be positive.

I've worked with some good people here. I really like Jennifer who is a nurse I enjoy her presence and attitude. I had a great physical therapist named Lucas. One time we were in session and I said "I just can't do this." Lucas said "Eileen, you know when you go home (to the community) you can't call me," I knew what he meant so I did it in therapy because I understood I would have to do those things for myself when I lived in the community. He was very good like that. Another staff member who helped me is Carolyn Corbett, who does the writing group, she helped me realize that despite a brain injury I can still think. I've written a number of poems in that group.

There isn't enough accessible housing in the community for people with disabilities. I was on housing lists for a long time and Michelle, my community reentry person at Northeast Center visited a lot of apartments. The section-8 list closed, then it opened again. It was heartbreaking sometimes to know you're ready to leave and there is nothing to go to. But then you find something and it's over in a snap! Michelle has helped me with my discharge and with getting funding and services. She has helped me to keep a positive attitude. I was turned down by the TBI Waiver but Northeast Center continued to pursue and pursue and now I have a place to live and the support services I need.

I am ecstatic because I am going home. I am going to an accessible apartment in a great neighborhood which is very nice that is surrounded with boutiques, coffee shops, stores with ladies accoutrements. It's just nice. They have a Japanese restaurant there too. I love rice and sushi and I know all the dishes: tekamaki, sukiyaki, wasabi! That will be the first restaurant to check out when I get home. The first thing I am going to do when I get to my new apartment is adjust. Then I'm going to explore the neighborhood. When I go to my new apartment I want to volunteer somewhere. I like using computers so I am going to look to volunteer maybe doing data entry. I want to try that first and eventually I would like to go back to work.

Within reason, take advantage of everything that you can do especially in a rehab, it's to your advantage. I believe in God and he gives me the energy. I pray and I pray and I wake up everyday and have new goals. I am a woman, just because I am in a wheelchair does not make me less of a woman. I take care of myself.