A serious car accident resulting in traumatic brain injury left Susan Bower in a coma for an entire month. When she regained consciousness she was faced with a dire prognosis. The doctors predicted that she would never walk or speak again.

However, Susan resolved to try and achieve some measure of independence- whatever was possible for her. She wanted to live life to the best of her abilities. Susan started an intensive period of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. A series of operations left her with a metal plate in her leg and four screws in her ankle. Susan was facing another difficult time. "It was hardest for me to deal with the emotional issues that accompanied the entire process," she says as she recalls a long adjustment and reconciliation period.

Susan's Department of Rehabilitation Case Manager recommended that she consider SVILC services to aid her in the process of regaining her independence. "I was determined to try out what I could do on my own," says Susan, speaking of her motivation to enroll in SVILC's Transitional Living Center (TLC). During the eight-week training program at the agency, Susan had the opportunity to move out of her parents' home and explore the possibility of living on her own. The TLC helped Susan explore new ways of accomplishing household tasks, time management skills, and issues of mobility in the community.

The combination of independent living skills classes, the TLC, and exposure to the Vocational Program at SVILC gave Susan the skills she needed to reacquaint herself with the process of living independently. Susan now lives in New Orleans , shares an apartment with a friend, works full-time, and is looking forward to living entirely on her own while training for a better job.