Some inaccessible apps

I am always happy whenever I come upon or stumble across an app that is accessible to me as a blind person. There are so many to name and it is probably best for me not to single out any of them. However, there are those that are, indeed, still inaccessible and these are the ones that I'll focus on today.

What exactly is an inaccessible app? Well, an inaccessible app is one that I, as a blind person, am unable to use independently and, accordingly, I need sighted assistance to use it. It means that the menu options on the app's home screen are either too crowded or too busy for me to navigate in a meaningful manner. It is difficult to find what I seek because things are not well laid out and apps may not be well designed to enable me to hear all that is on the screen.

Things are definitely moving in the right direction as far as more accessible apps being made available to blind persons. Here's wishing for continuing trends in this arena.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at www.donnajodhan.com

This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan
"Each time we raise our voice at someone else we are engaging in bullying! Each time we raise our hands to slap or punch someone else we are also engaging in bullying and each time we engage in actions to either manipulate or force someone else to do what we want we are also engaging in bullying!

There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

Memories of happy birthdays

So many happy birthdays for me to remember. Especially so for the ones when my vision was good enough for me to see such things as the cake, candles, and all kinds of presents from my mom and dad, brothers, granny, and friends.

The beautiful flowers from my dear friend Debra. The surprises all wrapped in bright paper from my parents when I was a child, and then that special one from my beloved granny.

Those cards with the beautiful pictures from my aunts Norma and Margaret and Uncle Harold. The beautiful cards with lovely pictures and images from Debra and Gabriella, and on and on and on!

Now that I am no longer able to see those cards, flowers, and cake, I depend heavily on my imagination to help me out and I must say that it does, indeed, do a very fine job.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at www.donnajodhan.com

This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan
"Each time we raise our voice at someone else we are engaging in bullying! Each time we raise our hands to slap or punch someone else we are also engaging in bullying and each time we engage in actions to either manipulate or force someone else to do what we want we are also engaging in bullying!

There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

Voting time

I always tend to be a bit nervous whenever voting time comes around, and why? Because I hope and pray that when I enter the voting station I will be able to vote as independently as possible and in privacy.

What does all of this mean? It means that I will be able to vote without any sighted assistance; to choose my candidate of choice and mark my ballot, without any assistance, for returning officers.

Is this possible? I truly believe that it is and over the years I have seen the various levels of government striving to make this happen. At the Federal level, at the Provincial level, and now at the Municipal level. Everyone is trying their best and this after it has been recognized that a blind person does indeed need the independence and privacy that everyone else is afforded.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at
There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

The blind leading the blind?

This is what happened a few months ago when I met my friend Diane at the Southway Hotel in Ottawa for dinner followed by a swim in the lovely warm water of the hotel's swimming pool and then a soak in their hot tub.

There she was, Diane with no vision and me with not much more. Diane was the superb navigator as she and I entered the pool area. We used our canes to bang on the floor to let each other know where we were. Diane had had previous experiences with the pool area so she was quite familiar with the layout before we met. Nevertheless, we sure had fun.

We used our canes to help us find the wall, stairs, and chairs. Then we placed our slippers next to the chairs as a marker to where our clothes were. Funny, but at no time was I ever afraid of falling into the pool or hot tub. Diane was a marvellous guide and great sport on that day.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at www.donnajodhan.com

This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan
"Each time we raise our voice at someone else we are engaging in bullying! Each time we raise our hands to slap or punch someone else we are also engaging in bullying and each time we engage in actions to either manipulate or force someone else to do what we want we are also engaging in bullying!

There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

Zip lining with my friends

A few months ago my friend Gabriella and her friend Ala took me zip lining for my birthday and I have to tell you that it was probably one of the most fun days in my life. When you are unable to see around you and beneath or above you then it may either scare you or dare you!

It did not really scare me; it sure did dare me! I never knew until much later how high up we were among the trees on that day, about 75 feet according to Gabriella. We did three courses on that very memorable day. We completed a series of various types of walks among the trees. We walked on wires, in cargo nets, and on moving and stationary logs. I had the time of my life!

On that very sunny day, I felt the sun as I zip lined across the paths among the trees. The air was fresh and cool and thank God that Gabriella and Ala were so patient and encouraging to me. Then there was that marvelous staff member, Ali, who sure helped to make things a roaring success.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at www.donnajodhan.com

This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan
"Each time we raise our voice at someone else we are engaging in bullying! Each time we raise our hands to slap or punch someone else we are also engaging in bullying and each time we engage in actions to either manipulate or force someone else to do what we want we are also engaging in bullying!

There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

Describing the birthday cards

This is what happens now that I no longer have enough sight to see for myself. Since 2004 this is what happens each year as either my friend Gabriella or my mom do it for me. I still have lots of fun listening to them describe my birthday cards to me but just remember now, each person describes things differently and this is often the case with my birthday cards.

Some of the birthday cards come with raised images but truth be told, if I am not told what these images are then I am at a loss to know what they are. However, there are times when it is a bit easy to guess what they are.

So, how do I appreciate my birthday cards these days? I pay much more attention to the written words and whenever my birthday cards are described to me I can easily recall images from my memory bank and use these to help me remember.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at
There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

In the sound booth

I have to admit that working in a sound booth, either sitting on my own or with someone else, is quite an experience. I find it very interesting but at the same time it is also a wee bit uncomfortable.

I have been working in a sound booth on my own and with someone else for some time now and this takes place whenever I record blogs or interviews for Accessible Media Inc. It is a different type of experience for me. Everything is very compact and not much room for me to move around. I perceive the booth to be dark but I have no idea if my perception is accurate. For all I know, it probably is very bright.

The microphone is very close to my face and I have to be very precise when I speak and try not to make any unnecessary noise such as rustling my notes. All in all, a very different experience and a great learning one for me.

Not too many blind persons get this rare opportunity so I am extremely grateful to Accessible Media Inc. for giving me this opportunity.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at www.donnajodhan.com

This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan
"Each time we raise our voice at someone else we are engaging in bullying! Each time we raise our hands to slap or punch someone else we are also engaging in bullying and each time we engage in actions to either manipulate or force someone else to do what we want we are also engaging in bullying!

There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

Where did the flowers go?

As I always say to anyone who is helping me around my house, please let me know whenever you move anything around and this is precisely what happened a few months ago when my dear mom moved my flowers from one spot to another and forgot to let me know.

Mom is always so good at telling me whenever she moves something from one place to another but on this occasion she forgot to tell me and when I went looking for them I got my surprise.

On that day I was cleaning and polishing my furniture and when I did not find my flowers in the spot where I expected them to be, I began to think hard. I know that I did not move them so it had to be Mom. As I did not want to bug her I went looking for them myself and when I could not find them, then I had to ask.

Of course, my poor mom felt really bad but as I say, it's all in a day's work!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at www.donnajodhan.com

This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan
"Each time we raise our voice at someone else we are engaging in bullying! Each time we raise our hands to slap or punch someone else we are also engaging in bullying and each time we engage in actions to either manipulate or force someone else to do what we want we are also engaging in bullying!

There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

Martha's masterpiece

I have to admit that I was truly touched when a few months ago my niece, Martha, presented me with a drawing. This was no ordinary drawing; it was not just a drawing that she had decided to do for me at the whim of a fancy. No, it was much more than this and as I carefully placed it on my shelf after she had left us on that very cold fall day in mid November 2014, I stood for one moment in time thanking God that she was my niece and soon the tears came rolling down my cheeks.

You see, Martha had taken the time to draw and paint something very special for me and she ensured that I knew exactly what it was. For not only was it a drawing and a painting, it was done in a manner that I could feel exactly what it was. And, she had signed it in Braille! A painting of vines and my beloved Scottie standing on his purple perch!

Martha knows how very special my bird Scottie was to me and when she was but nine years old she had drawn him sitting on his perch. A beautiful orange canary sitting tall and proud and at that time I had enough vision to appreciate her work of art. However, when I told her that I had lost this precious picture, this beautiful young lady went to work in secret to replace it!

I could feel the vines, the perch, and yes! My beautiful Scottie! Magic under my fingers and perfect to the touch!

Thank you, Martha, for having helped to light up my life! You are a very special person and always will be to me!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at
There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

Sorting my money bills

This is one thing that I am always very careful about when engaged in doing. Yes, sorting my money bills. In the normal scheme of things I am conscious of having to ensure that I place my bills in my wallet in such a way as to be able to quickly find what I am looking for, but this is not all. I also have to make sure that I know at all times how many of each denomination I have.

So, this is how I do it. Twenty dollar bills are carefully counted and placed in a specific section of my wallet. The same for the ten dollar bills and the five dollar bills. The one and two dollar denominations are coins so no problem here, and if I have bills that are in larger denominations than a twenty then each go into a specific section after having been counted. Now then, when I get change from purchases I make sure to know which denominations I have received before placing them in to their specific section of my wallet.

Easy you say? Yes, if I am conscientious to keep order in my wallet. But in the case of the Canadian dollar bills, they often stick to each other and I have to be even more careful. That is, the newer Canadian dollar bills. Thank God for those trusty Braille dots that have been placed on them.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at www.donnajodhan.com

This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan
"Each time we raise our voice at someone else we are engaging in bullying! Each time we raise our hands to slap or punch someone else we are also engaging in bullying and each time we engage in actions to either manipulate or force someone else to do what we want we are also engaging in bullying!

There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

What is this ornament?

This is the question that I ask each time someone places an object in my hands. True it is that I can often decipher what it is: shapes of some animals such as a dog, cat, horse, bird. However, it all depends on how they are made. I can also decipher the shapes of people but when it comes to determining the gender I am not always on the money there.

It is fun to try and decipher ornaments but at times it can also be a bit frustrating. I prefer the person with me to tell me. I, of course, cannot appreciate the color of said ornament but just running my hands up and down its structure is enough for my memory to come to my rescue.

I am presently attending pottery class and learning how to create my own ornaments and it sure brings home to me how much I am unable to decipher shapes. Especially so when I use cookie cutters to create Christmas ornaments, but nevertheless, it is lots of fun.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at www.donnajodhan.com

This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan
"Each time we raise our voice at someone else we are engaging in bullying! Each time we raise our hands to slap or punch someone else we are also engaging in bullying and each time we engage in actions to either manipulate or force someone else to do what we want we are also engaging in bullying!

There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"

Describing my birthday bouquet to me

This is what my dear friend, Gabriella, did for me on my latest birthday. I knew that it was from Mom but this was as much as I knew after I had felt each flower, each leaf, and then ran my hands along the plastic ornament that the florist had placed in my arrangement, and oh yes! I did not forget to smell the flowers; not the roses, as they often say.

Gabriella sure brought my arrangement to life! She described it all to me and she even took a picture with her digital camera so that Mom could see it. Then, like magic, my memory took over and I allowed it to go back to previous birthdays when I received bouquets from so many others.

The colors came dancing into my mind. The shapes came to life. The sizes appeared out of nowhere and everything else just fitted into place. Then, at the end of it all? My precious birthday bouquet was now in the right place, well implanted in my mind and will forever be there! Mom's precious birthday bouquet to me!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan.
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at www.donnajodhan.com

This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan
"Each time we raise our voice at someone else we are engaging in bullying! Each time we raise our hands to slap or punch someone else we are also engaging in bullying and each time we engage in actions to either manipulate or force someone else to do what we want we are also engaging in bullying!

There is no room in this world for bullying and each day we fail to take action against bullying it is another day that we allow others to bully us and our kids. Our heroes and role models are the ones who have made us proud; those brave young men and women who gave their lives for us in past wars and those who continue to do so. They are not the ones who choose to be racists and those who believe that their bad behaviour in public is acceptable.

I write and record audio mysteries that are being used at such events as murder mystery evenings as well as at public awareness and team building events. I promote understanding, tolerance, and problem solving and my audio mysteries continue to be broadcasted around the world and you can listen to them anywhere! On the plane or train! In the car or right there in your home! On your i device or computer!

Please join my campaign against bullying (CAB) by supporting my efforts to keep on writing and recording!
If you truly care then you will certainly dare!"