Will it be easier? Making air travel easier

Air travel, as we have known it up until now, is definitely going to change when all is said and done. Thanks to this pandemic, that is going to be assured.

All well and good but what concerns me greatly is this! How would I, as a vision-impaired person, be able to get assistance from airline and airport agents?  How will we be able to maintain social distancing or physical

distancing if, in reality, the agents need to walk very close to me so that I can take their arm?

Or how about when they are asked to help me retrieve my luggage, plus so much more?

I am sure that things will be ironed out but for now these are my concerns.

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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan

And like me on Facebook at

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An interesting experience: The little bird

On a cool October’s fall day in 2019, Stephanie and I were witnesses to a very interesting experience in the church parking lot after blind tennis was over.  Stephanie relayed the following commentary to me as she stood outside her car, enjoying her cigarette, and I was sitting in the passenger’s seat.

It started with a soft thump against her right back window, and when she checked a baby bird lay on the ground close to the car. He had inadvertently crashed into the back window. Stephanie proceeded to guide the stunned bird towards the closest wall and as we waited we heard the baby bird starting to sing sweetly. Then there was a rustle of wings overhead and behold! Mama bird was hovering over her little one.

Then she was flying close to her baby, answering his singing, and soon he was upright and his little wings were poised in readiness for flight. Soon mama and baby were flying close to the wall and ascending quickly and gracefully. They sounded as if they were talking to each other and very soon they were up, up and away!

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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A great discovery: A new way to find washrooms on aircrafts

I have found a new way to find my way to washrooms on aircrafts. The old method of pressing the call button still works but thanks to my friend, Rebecca, with whom I traveled in late January to England, I now have another way.

It works like this! Whenever I feel the need to visit the washroom, I pick up my cane, leave my seat, and start walking towards the washroom. Bingo! There is always an attendant nearby who will see me walking towards the washroom and in a flash they are there beside me to render assistance.

The thing is that I never even thought of this technique before Rebecca introduced it to me and it works like a charm!

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.

And now my weekly podcast!

From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts! www.donnajodhan.com/takeanother5.html

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Just my personal perspective: Air travel is for the birds

I am very sure that many travelers would readily agree with me but when one is blind or vision-impaired it makes matters even worse.  Why is this?

Because we need to depend on others to help us, whether they are agents or fellow passengers.  If we do not get the appropriate or required assistance then we are in huge difficulty.

If we are unable to hear announcements on the intercom then this leaves us at a huge disadvantage.  If we are unaware of a gate change then this, too, is a huge challenge. If we need to visit the washroom before boarding and there is no one to help us, then we are in big trouble.

For me, as a vision-impaired traveler, it is nerve racking and there are so many anxious and stressful moments.  I have met several wonderful agents and fellow passengers along the way but I have also met persons who, due to no fault of theirs, were either not well-trained or simply did not know how to assist me.

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.

And now my weekly podcast!

From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts! www.donnajodhan.com/takeanother5.html

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter!

'Let's Talk Tips' is my monthly resource for the most current and reliable informational tips available in the areas of Technology, Nutrition, Media, Business, and Advocacy.  http://bit.ly/ADJSubscribe

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @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

A new experience: Meeting Janet at the luggage carousel

Talk about a really funny experience. Here I was on June 19, 2016, preparing to meet someone that I had never met before and it was the same for her.

I had traveled to Ottawa for a meeting and Janet was going to meet me at the luggage carousel.  I had to give her a description of what I was wearing but in addition I had to let her know that I would be walking with my cane.

This strategy worked out very well as Janet had no difficulty identifying me and as soon as she came up beside me and spoke to me I knew that she was, indeed, Janet.  So, no need to worry if I am going to meet someone that I have never met before, even if I am unable to see 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

A frightening experience: Changing gates at the airport

In February 2016 I had a very interesting but frightening experience awaiting a flight from Toronto to Ottawa.  You see, the weather was very bad as a winter storm approached and four times within a half hour time span, the airline in question was forced to change gates.

All well and good, but guess what?  The airline neglected to tell me. As God was with me that day, an angel of mercy in the form of a really terrific fellow passenger came to my rescue.

She told me that she had noticed me when the airline's agent had escorted me to a seat and decided to ask me if I was on her flight after the first gate change was announced.  I was in luck!

This wonderful passenger stayed all the way with me as we shuffled from gate to gate.  I heard the first announcement and when I stood up she was right beside me.  Just picture this:  You are seated, waiting for your flight to be called.  You hear people around you and you are almost sure that when your flight is called the airline's agent will come to assist you to the plane because this has been the custom for all of your traveling life.

Then the announcement is made that there is a gate change and, alas!  You wait for five minutes and no one comes.  So you stand up and in a low, desperate voice you say, "Where do I go!"

You are not sure where to go: left, right, forward?  You hear people around you but you are not sure who to approach.  You can hear some folks speaking English.  Some are speaking French and others are chatting in some other language.

The sweat begins to run down your back and you start praying, and then! There is someone beside you asking if they can help!

This was my predicament on that fateful day and when you are blind it makes things even more pronounced.

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

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.

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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!"

That Air Canada silver jet bird

Oh how beautiful she was to me! Gliding lazily over a rich blue Caribbean sea with the sun blazing down on her! She was big but graceful! She was fast and noiseless and she was the best!

I shall always remember her each time I travel to the Caribbean. In better times I used to board her on flights to the Caribbean, but sadly enough she no longer goes there!

So many of us used to stand and simply admire her beauty! I for one always looked back at her each time I disembarked at the airport! There she would stand, proud and upright! She sparkled or rather glittered in the warm Caribbean sunshine and her maple leaf displayed so proudly on her sleek body!

Yet another memory for me to keep carefully treasured in my memory bank. I can no longer see things like this type of image but that's okay! I have it all memorized!

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
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This is a personal message from author Donna Jodhan
"If you either are or have been a victim of crime, violence, abuse, or bullying, and if you are simply tired of being bombarded with audios and scenes of the above, then I am asking for your support. I have written and recorded audio mysteries that are completely void of vivid descriptions of sex, crime, and violence because I firmly believe that it is time for us to use the spoken word to help influence our kids to start listening to content that is clean and healthy. By doing this we can all do our part to tackle crime in a positive and meaningful way and it only costs pennies per day.Visit my online store at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html.
I thank you and your kids will also thank you!"

The first big plane trip with my parents

I can still remember this trip. I sat in the middle with Mom and Dad on each side of me. We were on our way to Panama and I was just so excited. Scared, not really! Dying to know what was going on around me? Definitely.

Dad took my hand in his warm and gentle grasp and then proceeded to give me a detailed description of the scene surrounding our plane as it flew on. Deep blue skies with white puffy clouds floating by. The sun shining down on our plane and sparkling ocean below. He went on to explain all about air pockets, altitude, tail winds, and so much more.

Mom sat quietly and took it all in and then she did what she always does best; she gave me a detailed description of what other passengers were wearing and doing after dad had finished his description. By the time they were both done I had had a complete description of everything that I had ever wanted to know. What terrific parents taking the time to introduce me to the world of flying and air travel!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to visit www.nfb.org to learn more.

Those airplane bathrooms

As a frequent air traveler, I am constantly having to get used to navigating a bathroom on board the aircraft. Yes, this is very true and although the general layout is almost the same, there is one thing that differs from bathroom to bathroom. You guessed it! It's the button to flush when finished.

Believe it or not, it is always a matter of me either trying to find it on my own or to ask the air hostess to show me. These precious buttons differ from aircraft to aircraft. If I am adventurous, I would spend the time to locate it by feeling along the wall behind the toilet bowl, but if I feel that either the hostess is busy or that there are others lined up behind me to use the bathroom, then I ask the air hostess to show me.

All in a day's work and just another challenge for me to deal with.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and tell others about my blogs. Stop by and visit me anytime at
www.sterlingcreations.ca.

Wheelchair or cane?

A few months ago, I decided to ask this question to the airline attendants as I stood waiting for assistance. I have been an airline traveler for more years than I can remember but it never fails. Each and every time I ask for assistance, out comes the wheelchair and each time I have to politely say that I do not want one. I would prefer to walk and take the arm of my sighted assistant. Even when I specifically ask for assistance by booking the services at the airport before hand, the same thing happens. I always state that I do not require a wheelchair but alas! There is one for me to seat myself in.

Another thing that I have noticed over the years is that when it comes to assistance, the wheelchair passengers are always assisted first and I am the last to be assisted. Now, I know that someone has to be last in line but why all the time does it have to be me? Am I missing something or do I need to be educated? Would it be better then for me to take the proffered wheelchair?

Maybe someone reading this blog can give me a logical answer. I’m Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and encouraging you to go out there and share my thoughts with others. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.

Waiting at the airport

For me, waiting at the airport is probably one of the most nerve racking things, especially when I have to depend on others for assistance because I am blind. In the normal scheme of things, waiting at a Canadian airport for my flight, whether it is domestic or international, usually goes relatively well.

I usually get assistance from the special services department at the airport. They meet me at the door and assist me to the airline’s counter. There they wait until my travel documents have been processed and my luggage checked in and then they escort me to the security check-in area. After I have been processed at the security area they then escort me to the departure gate and they make sure that I have boarded the aircraft before taking their leave.

If the airline that I am flying with is Air Canada, the Air Canada staff takes charge of assisting me as soon as I get to their check-in counter. All sounds well thus far but every now and then there is a hitch like everything else and I have to deal with spurts of anxiety. For example, if someone forgets to come and get me when passengers have been asked to board the aircraft, or when security personnel asks me to wait for someone to escort me to the gate and then there is no one to help me.

The arrival leg of my travels could be just as nerve racking for me. Particularly when I need to depend on sighted escorts to assist me through customs and immigration. I have not had too much trouble at Canadian airports but have had some anxious moments at some American airports.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to go out there and share my thoughts with others. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more about how blind and sight impaired persons navigate the airport.