Going back the wrong way

Looking back now I am not very sure why this particular incident did take place or, I should say, why I did what I did on that day in the fall of 2014. Suffice it to say that this is what happened.

Mom and I approached the escalator and I decided to descend ahead of her. About a quarter of the way down I heard her say that she did not want to use the escalator. Not sure what got into me at that moment but I immediately turned and decided to walk back up the escalator. Keep in mind that I was now going backwards.

As it turns out, it was not as difficult as I thought. Maybe I did not have time to think as my one focus was to get back to Mom and help her. I barely felt the moving stairs beneath my feet as I jogged back to the top and there was a nice man who came down to help me. There was also a lady at the top who I believe just simply stood and watched as she could not believe her eyes.

Yes, someone going backwards on an escalator. I guess that when you can't really see what is going on, it is often easier for you to take matters into your own hands without any thought of a maybe pending danger.

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.
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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!"

Mom with my iPhone

I know that the iPhone could be a real technical challenge for those who did not grow up with technology but I have managed to introduce my mom to my iPhone. She loves to read the important news on it or look at photos. That is, whenever I have something to show her. So this is how it goes.

I tell her that I have something for her to see and I tell her what it is. If she wants to read or see it then I saunter over with my iPhone in hand. She takes it very gently and reads and/or looks at what is on the screen. She often reads it aloud so that we can both interact and comment at the same time. It is so much fun because whereas in the past it was she who had to bring things to me, now it is the opposite.

It is something like the blind leading the blind but in a much more meaningful way. Mom is getting more used to seeing me with my iPhone but I doubt that she would ever use one on her own.

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!"

When the pill fell

Looking back at this particular memory, I can laugh now but at the time it was no laughing matter. Yes, the pill was bound to slip off the counter and fall to the floor one day or the other and when it did I was not quite ready to go hunting for it.

I barely heard it when it came tumbling out of the bottle. It was a small round pill and one of those capsules. I heard it plop onto the counter but then and alas! It continued its journey and fell to the floor. The one good thing is that I knew that it did so now I had to put my senses to work and go looking for it.

First I descended gingerly to the floor keeping in mind that I did not want to step on this tiny thing and squash it because if I were to do so then I would have a mess to clean up. Very slowly I did this and then I put one hand at a time on the floor. Next my knees one at a time and then I went methodically inch by inch. Sure enough I found the tiny pill soon enough. It had rolled and lodged itself into a corner between the baseboard of the cupboard and the wall. I was very fortunate that it had done so because it could have stayed in the middle of the floor. This would have been a more difficult task for me.

All in a day's journey.

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!"

In an unfamiliar supermarket

No, I would never go to an unfamiliar supermarket on my own. I would definitely be looking for trouble that I do not need. However, there are times when I do need to go to one and now I do this with my friend Sue. It could be a daunting experience but at the same time it could be lots of fun.

With a pair of eyes to guide me, we go to a different Metro supermarket at the present time. It is bigger and there are many more aisles for us to travel up and down and more choices of products and produce for me to discover. Sue is simply super! She explains everything to me and she makes it look so easy! There is not anything that she cannot find. I can even expand my choices and look for new things. It is only as intimidating as I allow it to be.

All it means is that I now need to condition my mind to develop new images and new pictures for me in my mind. I have to get used to the new layout and where things are but it is all in a day's journey.

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!"

When the bottles got mixed up

And I can tell you that it was, indeed, a mix up! You see, I did not take the time to distinguish them as I almost always do and this time around I paid the price but luckily my senses of smell and feel saved the day for me.

I had put both bottles next to each other on my counter and for a split second my focus had left me and I soon found myself in trouble. The bottles had gotten mixed up.

You can guess it all right! It all had to do with pills. The bottles felt the same: same height, same size and shape. But at the bottom of each bottle, here is where I found the difference and this, indeed, saved me from getting into further trouble.

Both bottles were supposed to have contained vitamin pills. The pills had the same shape but as I stood there carrying out my examination, it dawned on me that they had to smell differently and so I put my sense of smell to work. Presto! The smells were indeed different and after confirming what I thought they should be I then went to work to check the bottom of each bottle. Sure enough, I found the difference. There were dots at the bottom of each bottle, sure enough, but the shapes were different.

So what have I learned? Just to be more careful the next time.

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!"

The voting access terminal

I'm just excited about this newest addition to my world: the voting access terminal. A gadget, or should I say a device, that will enable me to vote more independently in future elections.

This device will enable me, in future elections, to vote more independently. I'll be able to review lists of candidates, choose my candidate and verify it, and then finally submit my ballot without the least amount of sighted assistance.

Congrats to the one who first thought of this machine and it is my hope that this effort will be duplicated elsewhere. This is a huge step in the right direction.

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!"

Finding the right pair of slippers

Yes, this is always a very interesting time for me, to find the right pair of slippers that belong to me. However, I am here to tell you that at the end of it all I do end up with the right pair of slippers.

So, how do I determine and decipher that it is indeed my pair of slippers? This entails using my sense of touch to determine. I have to be aware of how my own pair of slippers feels: length, width, style, etc. Then I have to ensure that I find both sides to the pair. Difficult you say? Not as difficult as you may think.

Now, if someone else has the same type of slippers as I, then I have to use other mechanisms. I have to make sure the lengths and thickness match and that if there is someone else with the same type of slippers, that I know whether or not theirs are either smaller or larger than mine. This often happens with Mom and me, when we both have the same types of slippers.

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!"

My first pottery lesson

In the fall of 2014 I decided to bite the dust, so to speak, and sign up for pottery lessons and I can tell you that I am not sorry that I did. Of course I had some reservations as a blind person; could a blind person learn to do pottery? I have friends who have done it, but for me, I was definitely hesitant.

Everything has turned out just right for me. My teacher, Joan, is a wonderful teacher and shows no inhibitions when working with a blind person.

In my first lesson I learned to make a mug. I learned to be patient, persistent, and become a better listener. Everything was a slow and purposeful step. Everything had its order. That is, one step followed the next and you could not go onto the next step until the present one was completed.

Joan was very patient with me, explaining things as she went along and at the end of three hours I had made my first mug. No more thinking that a blind person could not do it.

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!"

Continuing problems at Toronto's International Airport

I can only hope that sooner than later those nagging problems at Toronto's Pearson International Airport would somehow disappear or at least become less of a problem. I do not think that these problems are just confined to this airport alone; it may be a common set of problems at many other airports around the world. At least at those larger international airports.

What kinds of problems? Security agents not telling you what they are doing with the items in your carry-on as they proceed to remove them, placing them on the counter and not telling you where they have placed them. Then they do not even offer to help you replace them in your carry-on. Some special needs agents do not provide you with proper guiding techniques, choosing to take your arm rather than allowing you to take their arm. No way for a cab driver to find help for you when you arrive at the sidewalk outside the terminal doors and you are forced to put up with some rude and impolite agents who tell you to move along and when you ask for help they turn their backs on you. Agents often insisting that you need to sit in a wheelchair despite the fact that you keep telling them that you prefer to walk rather than take a wheelchair.

I, as a blind person, choose to walk and take the arm of an agent rather than be pushed in a wheelchair. I believe that many of my fellow blind community prefer the same. So how do you overcome these types of problems? Through persistence and more persistence.

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!"

Getting to know the brand new carpet

I still remember when my brand new carpet was laid down about a year ago. It smelled new and it felt new but there was one thing that I had to get used to and it was this: Its thickness was not quite the same as the old carpet so that everything in my bedroom and den was not quite in the same position.

At first it threw me off a bit but I soon got used to it and I compared it to being in a new space with everything not quite in the same position. For the most part we probably never think of it like this because the sense of sight helps those with sight to adjust without too much difficulty. But when things do not quite feel the same after brand new carpet is laid down then it is a different set of circumstances to deal with.

As long as I keep this in mind then things will be okay.

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!"

My beloved almond tree

When I had enough vision to do it, I took a picture of my beloved almond tree and what a picture it was! I had leaned through the window of
my mom's living room and with the utmost of care and purpose I took this photo in 2003 with my old fashioned camera. Then I developed the photo at a photo store and carefully placed it in my photo album.

This photo is still in my photo album but I can no longer see it. However, it does not prevent me from remembering it in the finest of detail. My beloved almond tree was in full bloom at that time. So green and so lush. Her branches loaded with such beautiful leaves and there were so many branches. Too many for me to count.

My beloved almond tree was tall and stately. Huge and spread right out for everyone to admire her beauty. I am told that she is still a very beautiful tree to behold, and why not? She is the crowning beauty of mom's yard. She plays host to so many beautiful singing birds and she is the place where so many go to sit under the shade of her branches on a warm day.

My beloved almond tree is the pride and joy of so many! She is ageless; we estimate that she is well over 50 years old but we are not quite sure exactly how old she is. She sheds her leaves twice yearly and it does not take very long for her to regain new lush leaves. She is also loaded with fat juicy almonds that fall heavily to the ground when they are ripe.

Ah, yes! That's my beautiful almond tree!

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!"