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

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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

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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

Meet the A team! The hearing aid and the seeing eye

I am the hearing aid and Mom is the seeing eye. I hear for us both and she sees for us both.

For the most part, our team of two works very well together. She tells me and describes everything to me as we walk around in the mall or eat in restaurants. She does not miss very much and her descriptions are complete. She is the seeing eye.

She describes what people are wearing, what is on the display racks, and whatever else she sees as we travel around.

For me, as the hearing aid, I do my best to tell her what people are saying and asking. My job is to ensure that she knows what is being said and what is being asked but I need to ensure that she hears me. This means that I need to go very close to her and articulate as best as I can.

This is hard work but I do not see any other alternative. This is the hearing aid and the seeing eye at work.

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

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
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That's my girl! My best friend's perspective on the deaf/blind world

Whenever my best friend, Char, has something to say I listen very closely because I know that she almost always says what she wishes to say after really thinking about it.

Char is visually impaired and hard of hearing.  She is classified as a high partial vision person and she uses hearing aids to help her with her hearing problem.

I have the utmost respect for this almost perfect person.  We have known each other for most of our lives and ours is a friendship that is very special, rare, and unique. 

Char has never complained about her double challenge instead choosing to take it all in with a smile and find ways not to complain.  She has developed ways to cope with her loss of hearing.

Char has a phone that enables her to turn up the volume on the headset so that she can hear more clearly when she receives calls.  She uses her vision to compensate for loss of hearing and in turn she finds ways to compensate for her loss of vision.

I have never heard Char complain about anything. She takes it all in stride and with a grin.  She is innovative, creative, and patient. She uses her limited vision to its utmost and utilizes her hearing aids to the maximum.

This is my best friend, Char.

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

Never Assume Before You Know

In my opinion, this is one of the more frequent challenges that I deal with as a blind person.  Too many persons often fall into the gaping trap of assuming before knowing.  They often assume for example, that they need to raise their voices two notches in order for us to hear.  They assume that in order to guide us they need to grab us either by the hand or by the arm.  They assume that we are unable to make up our minds at restaurants or in stores when either ordering an item or purchasing something so instead of speaking directly to us they address their comments to our friends or anyone accompanying us.

 

I can go on and on but I won't because by now I am sure that you have the picture.  In short, it is always best not to assume that blind persons are unable to hear properly, speak for themselves, or decide for themselves.  The only difference between me and the seeing world is that I am unable to see clearly.

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and share my blogs with the rest of the world.  If you'd like to learn more about how to interact with a blind person, then visit www.afb.org.