An embarrassing experience: At the wrong meeting

Nothing could be more embarrassing than realizing that you are at the wrong meeting and especially so when you are seated in the middle of the room and you need to find a way to exit without being noticed. It does not matter

whether or not you are vision impaired; the embarrassment is the same!

This is what happened to me in late September 2019. I thought that I was in the right place at the right time but when I realized that I was not, I had to depend on Stephanie to guide me out of the room.

I am not sure if anyone noticed or moreover if anyone really cared. I did and as I walked swiftly out of the room with Stephanie and her young son Tyler, I could only bow my head in embarrassment.  What if Stephanie was not with me?

That would have been even more difficult for me, as a vision impaired person.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

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Famous magic words! Where is Mustard?

This is what I asked Mom when she first got her hearing aids. We were at the hearing clinic and she was being tested and fitted for her hearing aids.

She was sitting about five feet in front of me and the Audiologist asked me to say something to her. I asked her, "Where is Mustard?" and her immediate response was, "Mustard is in the zoo!"

I shall forever remember these words because I knew then that Mom was now hearing me loud and clear! She was once again hearing and now it was time to make sure that she stayed with me and the rest of the world, using her new

toys!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Such a treasured childhood memory: Daddy's dance with Yella

She was his favourite dog and he was her favourite person and every evening when Dad returned home from work, he would treat us to his dance with our fat, chubby yellow Lab, Yella.

It always seemed as if she knew what time Dad would be coming through the gate to our home.  There she would be, excited, wagging her tail back and forth and up and down and barking happily.

Dad would take her two front paws and dance with her! Yella would bark happily while the rest of us looked on. As long as both Dad and Yella were happy, then so was I.

This is a memory that shall forever be imbedded in my memory: Dad and Yella dancing when he returned home from work!  What a dad and what a dog!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Not quite up to mark: The Elections Canada forms

At the Canadian Federal Elections in October 2019, I have to admit that this time this agency fell a bit short when it came to providing me with accessible materials; this being in a format that I could read and interact

with as someone with a vision impairment.  In addition, to be able to vote independently.

The template was not accessible so I had no way of knowing where to place my check mark. However, Elections Canada redeemed itself when the returning officer was able to vouch as an assistant for me and she carried out the

appropriate procedures to ensure that I voted privately.

As they say, stuff happens and I can understand this and I am also happy when a solution is found. But when there is a total lack of training and an infringement against the customer/voter/consumer, then here is where I draw

the line. In this case, there was a happy ending.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Filled with energy: Tyler at blind tennis

He is exciting and he is refreshing!  And he is just what we need for our blind tennis sessions.

Tyler is so very helpful and oh so enthusiastic. He is observant and always ready to participate, either as a player or as a ball boy!  He is just nine years old but he has a lot to teach others!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

A tedious task: Getting rid of old software

I need to make sure that when I get rid of old software, it is indeed old software and not something that I should be holding on to.

So, in order to avoid throwing out the wrong thing and keeping the right thing, here is what I do.

I label each piece of software by placing braille labels on their packages or boxes. Then I arrange them in a logical order, either on my book shelves or in my drawers in some sort of order that I can understand. If I am

ambitious enough and if there is no printed label on said boxes or packages, I get sighted assistance to place printed labels on packages and boxes.

The important thing for me to remember is that I am the one who needs to be able to find what I am searching for.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Exciting times: Planning for a Hawaiian cruise

I'd like to consider myself as a seasoned traveler who happens to be vision impaired. I also consider myself as one who takes extra time to plan and to do my best to avoid unnecessary obstacles. In short, I go the extra mile to ensure that I am more than prepared and this is going to be my motto for my Hawaiian cruise.

I print all necessary documents and even leave copies on my dining table for anyone who may need to read them while at the same time ensuring that only those who need to know will see them.

I pack meticulously and ensure that I only pack what I need and am able to find things in my suitcase easily and quickly. Each piece of clothing has its particular spot in my suitcase.

Finally, I make sure that for this Hawaiian cruise, I pack the appropriate clothes and things that are necessary. I must not forget to pack my trusted gadgets and I already know that I won't be able to use my iPhone on board

the ship due to imperfect wi-fi connections and exorbitant fees for said connections.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

A nice time: At the Walmart store

I have come to enjoy my visits to the Walmart store: a huge, busy, and extremely cluttered facility!  Lots to hear, lots to discover, and so much to listen to!

The clothes racks are packed to overflowing. The aisles are a bit narrow and filled with shoppers shopping and browsing. It is difficult to drive the shopping cart without having to avoid obstacles. My one piece of 

advice is that, for a vision-impaired person, one should definitely take along a trusted escort who can help you to navigate.

So far, I have had Mom and Stephanie with me and these two wonderful escorts are simply the best! Guiding me, protecting me from obstacles and giving top notch descriptions of everything in my path!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Not as difficult: Communicating with a deaf person

As a vision impaired person, I can honestly say that the challenges of communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing are very different and somewhat challenging. I'd like to say that, for me, it is being able to develop different ways to communicate and once you get the hang of things, it is not as difficult as one may think.

Just think of it as cultivating more patience and coming up with creative ways to communicate more effectively.

So here are my observations as I continue to communicate with my mom who now wears hearing aids and is so much more involved whenever communication is in progress.

Speak more clearly.

Maybe speak a bit more slowly.

Try not to mumble.

Face the person when speaking with them.

Going closer to the person certainly helps.

Keep telling them that they are doing well!

Keep encouraging them!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Mom's new toys: Hearing aids for Mom

Mom has finally gotten hearing aids after two years of interesting challenges.  At first it was gradual but then it became more of a problem and I can only say that it has made such a difference to her and to me.

For a vision-impaired person who is required to communicate with someone with a hearing problem, there are so many challenges to overcome but at the same time it is a very deep and interesting learning experience.

For me, it means that I need to speak more loudly, more slowly, and to face the person to whom I am speaking. I also need to draw closer and to articulate more clearly.

This is what it is when someone is not wearing hearing aids but as soon as those trusty and reliable tiny devices are worn, then everything changes. It's like night and day!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

And the beat continues: Those troublesome forms

It is bad enough when I am asked to sign a printed form but it is even more challenging when I am asked to sign either an electronic form or one that is on a screen and I need to sign either with my finger or a special pen.

In all three cases, there is no simple solution. Each of these alternatives requires me to depend on sighted assistance to tell me what I am signing and where I need to sign. Each of these alternatives has its individual

stress points and I can only try my best to deal with it.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

A different experience: Communicating at the Apple store

A few months ago I had a very interesting experience at the Apple Store. For the most part, I am always very satisfied with the communication that I encounter there but this was a bit different and also a bit amusing for me.

Upon entering, the very friendly customer service rep escorted me to a spot towards the back of the store and I did not have long to wait. When the Genius Bar person came over to work with me, my friend told me that she was

hard of hearing. My first impression was mixed.

For whereas I felt that it was great to have a hard of hearing Genius Bar person working for Apple, I did not think that this would work because how would I be able to communicate with her when I could not see her gestures?

It would be very difficult for us to communicate; a person who was hard of hearing and a vision-impaired person?  The Apple supervisor realized immediately. I was very sorry about the situation but all ended well.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, 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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan