An experience to remember: At the chess club with Nadia's young students

In February of 2017, I visited my chess coach's class to talk to her young students and the topic was to be: I play chess as a blind person.

Nadia had been asking me to do this for a while and I finally got around to it.  I can tell you that I fully enjoyed my time with these smart and intuitive young ones.  Their questions were right on the money and they were very intuitive questions.

They wanted to know how I played chess; how did I go about identifying the pieces from each other.  Whether or not I used a special board, how did I identify pages in my book, and how did I know what the teacher was writing on the blackboard.  Were Braille page numbers different from print page numbers and did I like playing chess?

These questions were but just a few and as they ate their lunch their questions kept coming, fast and furious.  The youngest was about six years old and the oldest was about 12 years old.  Nadia did not have to encourage them to ask anything and everything.

At the end of it all, as I walked out of the school with Sue, I could not help but muse to myself as to whether one of these smart youngsters could one day become Prime Minister of Canada?

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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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
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A refreshing experience: An enjoyable train ride to Ottawa

In early February 2017, I took the train from Toronto to Ottawa on a very cold and wintry morning.  It was a typical Canadian winter's day but I was ready as I could ever be and I would say that I was pleasantly surprised when it came to my journey.

Courtesy of the Canadian Council of the Blind, I traveled first class to receive an award from them and it was first class all of the way.  The staff members aboard the train were so very accommodating and were so aware of my needs as a vision-impaired person.

They read the breakfast menu to me, told me exactly what was on my plate when they brought it to me, assisted me to the washroom whenever I asked, and helped me with my luggage on and off the train.  During the course of the four and a half hour trip they stopped several times to check on me.

Thank you Via Rail for having made my trip a super one.

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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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

Happy times: Remembering Lake Jo

This was probably one of the last great experiences that I had before I lost my vision in 2004.  My friend, Rozi, and I had gone to the Lake Jo Camp for a week and it was such a marvelous time.

Rozi and I shared a room and each day we spent time together just enjoying the lake and all of the activities around us.  We made lots of new friends and I got to do so many new things.

I canoed and rode in a kayak, sailed, swam in the lake, played basketball and croquet, and oh yes!  I played a game called Show Down, a type of air hockey.

It was a week never to be forgotten.  Where all of the facilities were accessible and usable.  Where the staff were so well trained and the volunteers so eager to please and assist.

The most memorable thing for me was that I was able to see the lake.  So beautiful, so tranquil, and so calm.  Those wondrous sunsets and the birds gliding effortlessly over the lake!  Ah, yes!  That was Lake Jo!

Now I can only remember and keep it close to my heart.  Maybe one day I’ll return to enjoy it, but 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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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 real challenge: The challenges of identifying photos

This has become one of my challenges ever since I lost my vision in 2004.  How do I go about identifying them for myself and to others?

As for myself,  there is really no fast and hard way.  I cannot see them and that’s the end of it all.  I just need to know what is in them and I do this by giving them names that reflect the date and a concise description.

If I do this then I can easily identify to others with sight what they are.  I place photos in folders that have names that mean something to me and my photos are carefully grouped.

So, for example:  I have a folder named Donna’s Photos and this folder contain photos of me alone, me with others, and so on.  This method really works for me.

I’m not going to say that I do not miss being able to see photos.  I sure do, but I try to keep my memories alive as best as I can and I try to imagine those that I have never seen.

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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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

Happy times: At the spa with Gabriella

It was the very first time that I had been to a spa and this wonderful experience took place in early February 2017.  Gabriella and I had traveled to the St. Anne’s Spa in Ontario and we spent a day and a night there.

Thank goodness that she was with me because I am pretty sure that as a vision-impaired person I would have found it difficult to navigate the facilities.  I would say that the staff were extremely accommodating and always willing to assist. But with facilities that did not seem to be designed with persons with disabilities in mind, that was the main drawback.

The waiters and waitresses were extremely attentive and this definitely helped to make my visit a very enjoyable one.  In addition, Gabriella made sure that at all times I knew what was going on around me.

All told, a great and wonderful experience!

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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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

Fun times: Making tulips in my pottery class

It took me about one and a half pottery sessions to complete my project of making a bouquet of tulips and a vase to go along with it.  All together, about 20 hours of such intricate work.  Hard work that demanded all of my attention and concentration.

I was so glad that Joan, my teacher, was there to guide me along and help me to stay on track.  First, she cut out the shape of the tulip’s petal for me and then patiently showed me how to place each petal in a specific way against each other in order to form the body of the tulip.  Each tulip was made up of six petals and each petal had to be just right when it came to its width and thickness.

We had to figure out how to arrange the petals inside and outside of each other and then to squeeze them together just enough so as to leave an opening for the stem.  Then at the end of it all we had to use special sticks to form the stems. 

While I painted them in green, Joan had to prepare them first by cutting and filing them down.  Then, after this, she fitted each stick into each tulip’s opening and glued it all together.  Finally, they were ready to be placed in the vase.

Before this, however, each tulip had to be glazed in their chosen color.  Everything is done now and my finished vase and bouquet are now sitting atop of my piano. 

Gabriella has taken pictures of it for me and I have begun to share them now.  I am so very happy that I decided to do this and to stick with it.

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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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 strategy: How I stay aware

I guess that we each have our own special way of staying aware but for me it comes down to using my four senses, vision being now unavailable to me.

So, I use my sense of hearing first and foremost, followed by smell, touch, and then taste.  It does not always happen in this order for it depends on what I want to stay aware of and/or be aware of.

It is so very important for me to stay aware of my surroundings, to be able to know what is going on around me.  To hear and identify the various activities, to be able to identify the various smells wafting in and out of my space, so to speak, and then to use my senses of touch and taste as backups whenever necessary.

Sometimes it is easier than you may think but at other times it can be very challenging and trying.  All in a day’s work.

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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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 trick that works: Shaking the tins

A few months ago I had to employ one of my favorite tricks in order to determine what was in each tin. 

At first I had some idea what each of the three tins should contain, but in order to make sure I had to shake each in turn.  This came after I had somehow mixed them up in my pantry.

So off I went, getting down to work.  True it is that the shape of the soup can was the first telltale but I needed to know the difference between tomato soup and mushroom soup. 

Bingo!  I guessed correctly. It was the mushroom because upon shaking it the contents did not make any sound.  Mushroom soup is usually much thicker than tomato soup. 

Then I had to decipher between a tin of beans and a tin of sweet potatoes.  As I already knew what to expect re listening to the various sounds, the sound of the tin of sweet potatoes sounds a bit more fluid than that of the tin of beans. 

Of course, I could have taken out my iPhone and used the appropriate app to help me out, but on this day I was just a tad too lazy to do this.

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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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

All in a day's work: Reacquainting myself with my fridge

Each time I travel and stay away for any length of time, I need to reacquaint myself with my fridge. Thank goodness that my fridge is just big enough so that I do not have to worry too much about large shelves and drawers.

I start with the top shelf and methodically descend downwards doing my best to remember.  Then I tackle the drawers and finally I go to my freezer.

This entire activity takes about half an hour at the most, but at the end of it all I am a bit tired and need to sit and catch my breath.  I liken this to a refresher course in familiarity.  For whereas a person with sight would normally take much less time to do this, it is not quite the same for me as someone who is vision-impaired.

I need to depend more on my memory whereas for a person with sight the memory factor is not as prominent.

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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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

Traveling challenges: In search of my luggage

This is probably one of the most difficult challenges for me whenever I travel and there is no getting away from it: I need to depend on sighted assistance to help me out.

This usually comes in the form of agents helping me to locate and fetch my luggage.  I do my best to ensure that my suitcases are marked in ways that anyone helping me can identify them.  One of my suitcases has a pink Disney tag on it while the other has yellow strips of tape pasted all over it.

I have been told by many baggage agents that many people have black or blue suitcases so, if possible, it is always preferable to have suitcases that are either of a different color or ones that are clearly marked.

I recently bought a luggage locator and I can place the transponder in my suitcase and use the receiver to locate it.  It’s one way to deal with this challenge.

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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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 times: Helping Mom to pack away her decorations

This is probably one of my favorite activities to do after the Christmas holidays are behind us and it is one that I shall forever cherish.

Mom and I do this at the beginning of each year and as close as possible to January 06.  We start off at around 9 am in the morning and Mom takes the lead.  She goes from room to room, meticulously removing and taking down her decorations.  Then I help her to pack them away in their designated boxes and bags.

Mini Christmas trees go into their assigned boxes.  Hollies and Poinsettias go into their various bags and then the angels and other decorations go into boxes and bags.  Then comes the fun part.

I take a stool and under Mom’s directions I climb up and open the various overhead cupboards and then very gingerly and carefully I proceed to pack away her decorations. 

The entire event takes about an hour or so and at the end of it all?  Mom’s decorations have been packed away for another year, waiting to be taken down again at the end of the year.

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
http://www.donnajodhan.com

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 minute 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