My perspective: More access technology vendors needed

That's just my wish for today.  For a visually impaired person, the choices are extremely limited when it comes to being able to buy from an access technology vendor.  There are simply too few of them in my neck of the words and this makes the choice completely out of my hands.

Then I have no other alternative than to purchase what they sell and if I want to go outside of my city then I am forced to pay more.

This is just another challenge for me.  I do not have the same number of choices as someone with sight.  I am forced to accept what is sold by these types of vendors.  I am forced to make choices based on what these vendors can and are willing to sell.  In short, I can only buy what they can offer to me.

The picture of this circumstance is that I do not have the luxury of choosing from a great number of vendors.  I am limited in my scope.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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

Using my imagination: Imagining the Queen's birthday celebrations

Now that I no longer have sight to be able to see a TV screen, I leave it all up to my imagination to do its thing for me. Or, whenever my mom is around to describe things to me, I use her descriptions to help bolster my imagination.

This is exactly what happened when the Queen's 90th birthday was shown on TV in 2016.  Mom described and I used it all to help me imagine.

I could see so much through my mind's eye: the parades, the crowds, the horses and carriages, and finally the Royal Family on the balcony.

I can tell you that I am still able to have lots of fun doing this.  My imagination simply runs away like an unstoppable freight train.  I can imagine so much and I will bet anything that what I imagine is probably much better than reality.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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 opinion: Why I like these restaurants

It's very simple for me. I like these particular restaurants because their staff know how to interact with a visually impaired person.  They know how to do it with class and style and not make a fuss doing it.  They know how to make you feel comfortable and welcomed.  In short, they know their business!

In the case of Charles, the waiter from Cora's in Markham, Ontario, he simply interacted with me in the most comfortable and simple way.  No fuss, no muss, and did not even bat an eye when he decided to read me the menu, serve me, and answer my questions.

In the case of Frank, the manager at La Grotta in Unionville, Ontario, he simply took matters into his own hands and made my day when he provided service that went way beyond the call of duty.  No fuss, no muss!  Frank was creative and friendly and was never afraid to ask me how I wanted him to explain things to me.

Then, finally, the Memories of Japan restaurant in North York, Ontario, with the chef at the open-cook table where meals are prepared in front of the customer. This wonderful man simply made my day when he described where he was putting various servings of food on my plate.  No fuss, no muss, and just someone who knew exactly how to communicate with 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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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

Very frustrating: It's census time

Yes, indeed!  This is what it was a few months ago and as I got ready to do my civic duty to complete my census form I could not help but be apprehensive and hesitant. My gut feelings were, indeed, bang on the money.

Nothing had really changed for me.  I had to enlist the assistance of friends to help me locate the number to call if I needed help.  The forms appeared in my mailbox in print format and if I wanted to do my duty then I had to ask someone to read me the code contained in said form.

So I took the route of calling the number which I will say was displayed on TV screens across the country, but alas!  There was no audio version of the number to call.  In short, someone had to read the number on the TV screen to me.

I won't go on and on here but suffice it to say that at the end of it all, my privacy and confidentiality were once again trampled upon as I had to depend on an agent on the phone to help me complete my census form.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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

Not very pleasant: Taking a blood test

At the best of times and like so many other people, taking a blood test is really no fun and for me I would really rather be doing something else.

It is one thing to have a technician struggling to take blood from you but it is quite another when said technician spends more than a few minutes struggling to do so.  Then, when they try to do this at least three times and can't seem to find a suitable vein, I begin to get really worried.

The technician does her best to reassure me but not being able to see only causes my imagination to start running rampant and then it all culminates in her having to call her supervisor to do the job.

I guess that what I am trying to say is this!  When you are unable to see what is going on, you start to wonder and imagine.  You conjure up images of the poor old technician with a huge needle in her hand poking around in your arm for a vein.  Then, when it hurts each time she makes an attempt, it only makes things that more dubious.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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

A lovely time: Charles, the waiter

I always enjoy my meal that extra bit at a restaurant whenever I encounter a waiter who really gets it. This was the case with Charles, the waiter, at the Cora's restaurant in Markham, Ontario a few months ago.

It was a crowded lunch hour that day as Mom, Gabriella, and I walked into Cora's to have a quick meal and no sooner than we had sat down when the wonderful experience began.

There was Charles, making it all happen.  He came sauntering up to our table with a smile on his face and ready to go to work.  He did not miss a beat as he proceeded to tell me what was on the menu.  He was attentive and extremely friendly and went the extra mile to describe things to me.  His service was way beyond first class.

The thing that impressed me most is that he did not make a fuss over me.  He simply did his job without letting on that he knew that I was visually impaired.  He went about his business with such ease and poise.

Thank you, Charles, for having made my day.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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

A funny experience: Speaking to the wrong person

I have come to accept and enjoy this experience and now that I think of it, it can only occur so many times in a day.  It cannot be helped and I can only say that the best way to deal with this type of experience is to accept that it is going to happen over and over again.

For so many times at a service desk a person will walk away while I am speaking to them to either find something or to answer the phone and I am left either speaking to emptiness or to someone else who may be close by.

Or, how about this?  I may think that I am speaking to a specific person but in reality I am speaking to someone completely different.  This would usually occur when there is more than one person around.  I am speaking to one person but they leave to do something else and I don't know this and I continue to speak.

Or, here is this one!  I think that I am speaking to someone and in reality there is no one in front of me. All in a day's life.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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

A challenge: When English is not the first language

This is a challenge that continues to grow and it will only do so for as long as I continue to live in Toronto.

Toronto is probably one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and home to hundreds of thousands of people from many different cultures speaking several languages in addition to English. This is why whenever I need to communicate with someone whose first language is not English, I run into additional challenges.

If you are sighted and able to communicate visually, then it is more than likely not a problem for you, if you and the one that you are communicating with do not speak the same language.  You can use your eyes along with hand gestures and body language to communicate with each other.  However, when you are blind or partially sighted and unable to use these methods then it is a problem indeed.

For me, it is a huge problem whenever I am unable to communicate verbally. I do not have any other means of communicating and if they are unable to understand what I am trying to say then there goes my day.

How can I remedy this?  I can only try!

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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

Great memories: Summer shopping with Mom

2016 was the first time in four years since I was able to go summer shopping with Mom and boy oh boy, what a great time we had.

We visited our favorite stores and she took such delight in helping me to choose clothes and shoes.  She would describe stuff to me and then tell me which colors were available and then I would tell her which ones I was interested in.

She would let me touch and examine the clothes and shoes and I would tell her which styles interested me and then we would go off to the changing rooms to try on our choices.  Our arms would be loaded with all kinds of stuff.

I would end up choosing most of what mom had brought to my attention and then we would go off to the desk to pay.  I truly enjoyed these wonderful shopping days and I know that nothing could ever replace these cherished experiences.

After a morning of shopping we would end up at one of our favorite restaurants to dine leisurely and then it would be off to the supermarket to do our shopping.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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

Great memories: Birthday time

I am one of those who deliberately chooses not to make a fuss about my birthday.  I just wish that this special day of mine would end as quickly as it begins.

However, there are those who do not allow me to forget it so easily.  Mom is the leader followed by my twin brother, Jeffrey, my sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces, and those special friends.

Mom leads the charge with her customary flowers and now that I am no longer able to see what they look like, I still take delight in gently touching them and smelling their wonderful fragrances.

Then, my good friend Gabriella takes me out for a sumptuous lunch and for this year she and I went to a great restaurant in Unionville called La Grotta.  The waiter, Frank, was extremely attentive to us, taking additional care to ensure that mine was an extra special lunch.

Then the rest of the day went by uneventfully with no incidents except the phone calls.  I will tell you honestly, when I had limited vision until I received a whack of sight and now with precious little, my birthdays are all the same for me.  Celebrating privately with special ones and treasuring the memories that come with them.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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 best friend: When Char fell

She is my best friend and an almost perfect lady.  At least, as perfect as anyone in this world could be.  I have known her for more than half my life and there is nothing in the world that I would not do for her.

She never complains and despite her hearing challenge, along with her vision impairment, she still smiles at the world every day.  So much so that when she fell a few months ago she did not even tell me. But when I eventually found out a few days later I can tell you that her pain became mine.

When I got to speak to her on the phone, the first thing that I did was to scold her for not having told me but she only laughed.  Then, when I asked her to tell me about it all, she simply told me with no complaint.  Just a slight chuckle in her voice, tinged with hope for a quick recovery.

Char told me that she simply missed the large hole with her cane and down she went.  She broke her right wrist and fractured her left thumb.  She was placed in a wrist cast.

Happy to say now that she is on the mend.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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 perspective: Getting ready for the new windows

When our management office announced to us that we would be getting new windows and balcony doors, I knew that some challenges would definitely be ahead for us. As someone who places a lot of emphasis on organizing I immediately told myself that I had to get things in order as quickly as possible, given that I would be away at the time of this project.

I do not believe that being visually impaired has anything to do with my high propensity for organization.  I believe that in my case it would be the same no matter what.  I love things to be in order and I love to know at all times where things are so that at a moment's notice I could find what I am seeking.

This particular project means that all of my curtains will need to be taken down before the new windows and doors are installed.  Furniture will need to be moved away from the windows and placed as close as possible to each other.  Furniture will also need to be securely covered up so as to be protected from flying dust.

Thank God for my mom and my good friend, Sue, and with their assistance I have drawn up a plan of action and Sue will take charge of things while I am away.  She will cover up all of the furniture and move whatever needs to be moved away from the windows.  She will also arrange to have the curtains taken down and cleaned and to have the new tracks put up.

This is going to be a very large job and not having vision is definitely a challenge for me but with sighted help I hope and pray that things will go as smoothly as possible.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minutes mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts!
www.takeanother5.com
And available for download from iTunes and Google music play

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