Mom's cell phone

Most of the time technology is very good but then there are times when it likes to frustrate me.  This was the case not too long ago when I offered to help Mom with her cell phone.

Of course, her cell phone does not have voice over.  It is an old cell phone with tiny keys as opposed to a screen where you need to tap and swipe. However, the options menu was well designed with audio prompts.

So, off I went to help out my mom.  With a wee bit of guidance from her, I determined what I needed to do in order to help her.  Mom uses phone cards as her method of payment.

Once I determined how to use the options the rest was easy.  I also got used to the tiny keys and soon enough all was well and we were both happy.

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Finding my birth certificate

Just imagine my panic some months ago when I decided to go hunting for my birth certificate and could not find it.

I knew that I had it but the question was where did I put it?  So began the hunt for my birth certificate and I did not want to ask anyone to help me out because I am one of those who guards her date of birth with her life!

My trusted friend, Gabriella, was not around to help and no one else that I trusted with this vital info was close by to come to my rescue.

I spent endless hours hunting and when I felt that I had found it I then used my scanner to verify, but guess what.  My scanner failed to read what I thought was my birth certificate well enough to convince me that it was, indeed, my birth certificate.

So, what did I end up doing?  I had to wait for months when finally my mom came for a visit and then she helped me to locate it.  It turns out that my birth certificate was exactly where I had put it.

Ah yes!  Another challenge as someone without vision.

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Remembering the moon

How could I ever forget the moon and what she looks like?  Not very easy to forget and now that my vision is almost completely gone, I depend very heavily on my memory to keep her astounding beauty alive forever.

As a child I used to always spend endless moments looking up at the moon and when I went to Britain to study I used to do this even more.  You see, my dad and I had made a pact and this was what it was.

Dad had told me just before I left home for Britain that whenever I was feeling sad and homesick I should go out there and look up at the moon, if there was one, and as I did so I would think of him and in turn he, too, would be looking up at her and sending me all his love.

And guess what?  It sure worked for me!  I used to spend so many nights just looking up at the moon as the winds blew around me and so many times fat raindrops would be chasing each other as they came directly at my frozen cheeks.

Ah yes, the happy beautiful face of the moon forever imprinted in my mind.

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

My images of babies

I simply love conjuring up images of babies.  These are some of my favourite ones and I simply can't help it.

Babies in strollers smiling up at the world!  Babies crawling towards a brightly coloured object!  Babies sitting in their high chairs eating a cookie and not caring that they are spilling crumbs all over the front of their tiny tops!

Babies splashing water over themselves, and any and everything around them as they enjoy themselves sitting in their mini swimming pools!  Babies learning to walk, taking tentative steps as they go!  Babies trying to turn over in their cribs!  Babies trying to figure out how to get out of their play pens!  And on and on I go!

Ah, yes!  My images of babies!

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Picturing Santa Claus

I know!  It's not Christmas and I am writing this article in the spring of 2016.  So why am I picturing Santa Claus at this time of the year?

I am afraid that I do not have any sound response but suffice it to say that I usually try to picture the man in the big red suit whenever I think of kids, toys, jolly times, and tables loaded with lots and lots of goodies.

Yes, I am a true fan of Santa Claus!  So how do I picture him?  I already know what he looks like having been able to see him before now when I had enough vision to do so.

For me, his smile will never change and the twinkle in his big blue eyes will be forever.  His flowing white beard will always be imprinted in my mind and his big red suit will always be a part of the Christmas landscape.

For me, he is never in the same pose.  He could be standing at a street corner surrounded by kids.  He could be walking in the snow followed by his reindeer.  He could be sitting in his sleigh or he could even be sitting on a beach working on his numerous Christmas lists.

This is how I picture the jolly old man!

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Remembering and matching

That's it for me!  Now that I am no longer able to see to match my clothes, I need to remember what the colours looked like and then use these reference points to help me match.

So for example:  If someone tells me that there is a pair of grey pants, grey jacket, and a white shirt, I can remember and say yes!  This is going to match.  However, if someone tells me that there is a grey suit and a green shirt to match I'll also remember and say no, it's not for me.

Remembering and matching also helps me when I am dealing with clothes that I used to wear before I lost my vision.  My closet is arranged in the way that I want it to be and I have placed things next to each other in order of how they match.

All I need to do is to ensure that I have everything in their rightful place and that only those who I trust will access my clothes closet.  This being my mom only.

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Concentrating on my tennis

It is time for me to start concentrating more on my tennis.  I have been away for a bit too long and I sure miss it.

It is actually called Blind Tennis and we play with balls that are filled with bells.  The balls are made of sponge and are very light weight.  They bounce around a lot and one needs to get used to all of this.

Concentration is paramount if one really wants to have a good game.  Alan Ma, the man in charge who has been running this since 2010, is simply a very terrific person with the utmost of patience and a great willingness to ensure that everything goes right.

I started out going every week but over time I slacked off and now I need to return to this.  I sure miss it but will do my best to keep up in future.

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

No lights in my office

Here is another funny story for your reading.  This one also had me chuckling to myself, and my friend and technician was equally amused.

Imran had come over to visit and do some work for me.  I brought him into my office but before he arrived I had turned on the lights in my office, or so I had thought.  I was in for a very rude awakening.

When he asked me to turn on the lights I told him that I had already done so but in his quiet way he told me that I had not.  Then we both figured it out at the same time!  Both of the bulbs had blown so there were no lights in my office.

Imran quickly changed my bulbs, chuckling as he worked and never making me feel stupid!  That's my friend, Imran!

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Who are you?

A few months ago I had a very funny experience and at the end of it all I could not help but laugh to myself, wearing a huge smile on my face.

I was standing outside of my condo building, waiting for my friend to pick me up, when I heard a car stop in front of the pick-up area.  Then I heard doors slam and then footsteps approaching.

I knew that it was not my friend because she always says hi to me as she approaches.  So I waited.

The footsteps sounded like two people approaching and I was correct.  They both said good morning to me and then they opened the door.  Then I heard them enter and start searching on the board for the buzzer of the person they were seeking.

I heard them enter the numbers that they wanted and then I waited as I heard the sound of the buzzer as it kept ringing and there was no response.

After a minute or so the two people came out of the building and asked if I could let them in.  At first I hesitated because we are not supposed to let strangers into our building but then I asked in a tentative voice, "And who are you?"

They both responded in unison, "We are the Toronto police!"  Then we all laughed and needless to say that I did as they asked.  Not being able to see them I had no idea who they were.

My friend later laughed as I related this story to her when she finally picked me up.

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Running through the rain

In the fall of 2015 I had a very interesting experience when I had to run through the rain with my friend, Gabriella, as we rushed along to a government building in downtown Toronto.

We were on a mission!  We had to get there so that I could sign an affidavit.  It was pouring buckets as we ran.

Truth be told, I enjoyed the experience but the sobering reality was I had to trust Gabriella completely to get me through the rain and navigate with me safely.  I have known this wonderful lady for more than half my life so there was not a problem.

It just seemed to me as if I was giving permission to my friend to lead me through unknown territory, so to speak.  It truly felt like being guided around puddles, across busy streets, along crowded sidewalks, and all while the rain poured down over us.

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Signing an affidavit

For the most part, signing an affidavit is not a problem but when you are blind and do not have enough info to know where to sign then it is a challenge.  Add to this that you are totally dependent on someone else to tell you that what you are signing is indeed the affidavit that you are expecting to sign.

You need to have someone show you where to sign.  Some of us who are blind use a signature guide but others may not.  Some of us who have enough vision may be able to see where to sign.

For me, I always take along someone who I totally trust.  It is the best that I can do.  Of course, I could use my iPhone to take a picture through my KNFB reader app and have it read it out to me.  However, there are some challenges with this.

Despite the KNFB reader app being very accurate, I for one will still be a bit uneasy as to whether it is reading everything to me.

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Counting money with the bank teller

This is my way of making sure that the teller at the bank gives me exactly what I have asked for.  That is, the exact amount of money.

So this is how it works.  I approach the customer counter and there I give over my bank book to the teller telling them how much I need and in what denominations.

Next I give them my bank card and they ask me to enter my pin number.  Then, after a few minutes, they return with my money.  They proceed to count the money in front of me and I listen carefully for the sound of the money being counted.

The teller counts orally as she goes and I count silently to myself along with her.  Then the teller asks me if I would like my money in an envelope or in my hand.  I chose the former.

Now my visit to the bank is over and I am sure that I have received the correct amount before I leave.  It works for me as someone who is blind but I am sure that it is not much different for someone who is sighted.

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

At the doctor's office

I am ready to admit that I would not venture into any doctor's office if it is the first time that I am visiting said office.  Why?  Well, here are my reasons.

I need to learn my way there.  I need to familiarize with the layout of the office.  I need to get to know the secretaries and doctors.  I need to let them know that I am blind and require assistance to negotiate the office.

This is the formula that has always worked for me.  I always find that it is best not to surprise staff and doctors alike for the first time whenever I go in for a visit.  True it is that most people are now much more aware as to how to interact with someone who is blind but I do not take any chances.

Not every doctor would be like my family physician, Dani Manis.  Or my dentist, Gordon Yaser.  Or my ENT specialist, Everton Gooden or my Gynaecologist, Nathan Roth.

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

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit  jodhanmysterybook.club/about-the-author
There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids with their wide-eyed smiles and infectious laughter is secured forever.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan