A major concern: Privacy protection during Covid

This should be a very huge concern for anyone. For me, as a vision-impaired person, it is paramount.

With my trusted friend not being able to visit me, I have to make very sure that I choose the right person to help me with confidential documents.

Thanks to my neighbour, Sandra, it is not as difficult but I am still very leery of ensuring that I am as protected as can be.

Of course, the Covid scams are increasing daily via automated phone calls and horrible emails.  I just need to be alert and to pay closer attention to my surroundings and not to fall into very slimy and sleazy traps.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and advisor, wishing you a terrific day!

If you would like to learn more about me as a sight-loss coach and 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 a t www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

What a different world: Without the Internet in Saint Lucia

As a follow up to my previous blog post, I have to admit that not having the Internet in Saint Lucia could only be described as both a drawback and at the same time a relief.

A relief because I don't have to worry about having to keep up with emails but a drawback because I am unable to keep up with the latest news, follow my favourite sports teams, and conduct facetime chats with friends and associates.

As they say, one cannot have it both ways. It can only be a bit of this and a bit of that! For, after all, this is what makes life interesting!

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

One of my favorite passions: Dinner mystery evenings are for me

In 2010 I started off writing and producing my own audio mysteries and this quickly grew into other things.  Today I not only write and produce my own audio mysteries, I sell them, broadcast them across the Internet, and now I have expanded my business to include dinner mystery evenings.

I have adapted these events to include full audience participation where I write mysteries that are, for the most part, fictional satire.  The audience has their say as to who they believe did it and even a jury is chosen from the audience.

I love it all and so far so good.

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 
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.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

When the Internet failed

At the best of times it is always a huge inconvenience whenever the Internet goes down, but thank goodness that it does not do this very often. As a matter of fact, very seldom for me.

Most of the time I can tell when the Internet goes down. First I check to see if I can access it and when I am unable to do so I then check my emails. If both are unavailable then something is wrong, but if only one is unavailable, then I wait. I also use my iPhone or iPad to help decipher things for me.

On this particular day when it did indeed fail, I felt like a fish out of water, so to speak, but this is the way I suppose that many would feel as well.

I was able to ascertain that indeed the Internet had gone down but here is where the fun started. When I called my ISP to find out what was going on they kept telling me that it had not gone down and that it was a problem in my own home. Just imagine the panic I felt at hearing this. What!? How? Why? What to do now? The technician kept telling me that it was my modem and because I could not tell him whether or not the modem lights were on, it posed a royal headache for me.

The technician suggested that I find a sighted person to help me and on that day my neighbor, Sandra, was there to rescue me. It was not just the modem, but the connector to the modem. Matter solved and something new for me to keep in mind to check on the next time my Internet goes down.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan
Visit our online store to either purchase or subscribe for unlimited access to our library at www.donnajodhan.com/store.html
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at www.donnajodhan.com.

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!"

When the radio suits me best

There are some who prefer the TV, others who prefer the Internet, and then there are some like me who prefer the radio. It all has to do with our preferences and how we like to receive our information.

I sure recognize the importance of both TV and Internet but here are the times when radio suits me best. When I am at work in my office and I can keep up to date while I work. I find that when I am working the TV is often a distraction and in the opposite way the radio seems to soothe me best.

When I am in the car on my way somewhere, the Internet and TV are off limits to me. When I am elsewhere, TV and Internet are not available. Example, on the beach, while walking, in a restaurant, and so on. I really find that the radio is more of a friend or companion to me while I am outdoors. I find that I need to concentrate more when I listen to information on the Internet. I use the radio to keep up to date with breaking news, to listen to easygoing music, and of course, sporting events!

I often find that radio announcers are much more descriptive than their TV and Internet counterparts, but alas! Those watching TV and Internet programs can see what's going on and I am unable to do so. So here is where the radio fills the gap for me because everyone is on the same playing field; no one can see what's happening on the radio.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to expand your easy listening by visiting my audio mysteries at www.donnajodhan.com.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.

Why I chose the IPad

Thanks to the wisdom and guidance of my friend, Larry Lewis, I have chosen to go the IPad way. Hopefully and no reason why not, I will be enjoying all the benefits of the IPad plus more and I am going to use the Braille Pen to help me navigate my way as I prefer to leave the touch screen arena to others.

By using the IPad, I will be able to surf the Internet without having to power up my computer. I will be using a fantastic mainstream device to surf and I will not have to worry about access technology and whether or not it can interact and communicate with the Internet. The Braille Pen will greatly help me to get around.

I can’t wait to join the millions who have graduated to Apple’s suite of devices: the IPhone, the IPod and IPod Touch, and the IPad. No more having to power my computer when I wish to surf. I can now read books more easily with my IPad. I can surf more easily, and I can even take scrap notes plus so much more. I’ll probably install GPS on my IPad in the near future, and o yes! Omoby, an app which will enable me to take pictures of various objects and be able to have them described back to me.

Thank you, Larry Lewis! You can visit Larry at www.flyingblind.com.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day.

The Internet as My Workplace

This is now my new workplace; where I can be as comfortable as can be. I don't have to tell anyone that I am blind, that I am unable to see. I can play in an environment on an equal footing. No one is going to penalize me if I am unable to see. That is, no one is going to feel uncomfortable if I am blind.

I don't even have to tell anyone about my blindness. My clients are satisfied to know that I can fulfill their requirements. I work with clients from all over the world. They correspond with me either by email or by phone. There is no need to tell. The Internet as a workplace is so different and so much more fun to work in and why? Because I can be me.

I set my own parameters. I set my own hours and my own limits and I dictate which jobs I work on and which I reject. I do not have to make excuses to anyone. I don't have to worry about attitude barriers. I do not have to be concerned about what the mainstream world thinks. As long as I can perform my duties and fulfill my end of the bargain; no one really cares if I am blind.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and tell others how blind persons interact with their clients through the Internet. Visit me at www.sterlingcreations.ca to learn more.

Why I Prefer Mailing Lists

As social networking websites continue to grow, it continues to be a challenge for persons without sufficient sight to find ways to socialize on the Internet. I for one find it a frustration to do so, and I use a fairly easy way of doing it. I use mailing lists to communicate with others. Why? Because it is simpler, less frustrating, and I do not have to put up with having to deal with CAPTCHA security which, for the most part, does not allow a blind person the ability to enter the required codes.

(It is an acronym for "Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.")

You see, more and more websites are using the CAPTCHA technology in order to prevent spammers from cluttering their in boxes and from sending spam emails but, in doing this, they are shutting out those who are unable to use their CAPTCHA process.

You go to a particular website and you are asked to go through a security process. You are given a code to enter but you need to retrieve the code as presented to you by CAPTCHA on the website. When you are presented with the code visually, you then need to re-enter the code as you see it and only then are you given the necessary username and password in order to continue on. For a blind person, this is impossible because of two things:

First, the blind person is unable to see the code. Second, access technology -- what a blind person uses in order to communicate with the Internet -- is unable to read the code. Blind persons use screen readers and self-voicing browsers to communicate with the Internet and these are unable to read graphics and images.

So, where does this leave blind persons? In a great big hole! What we need is for developers to find ways to make CAPTCHA technology more accessible to blind persons. The following link is to a blog where the writer talks about social networks, CAPTCHA technology, and how blind persons view it all.

Visit http://www.marcozehe.de/2009/04/07/why-are-web-forums-so-unpopular-with-the-blindness-community/

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your accessibility and special-needs business consultant, wishing you a terrific day and asking you to go out there and make developers more aware of the problem that CAPTCHA technology is presently causing for those with vision problems.

Living In a Sighted World

Living in a sighted world is something that I accepted as a child, and acceptance is something that enables me to function as best as I can. There are challenges to face, namely unhealthy attitudes on the part of individuals, governments, and society as a whole. There are technological challenges to face such as keeping up with the evolution of the Internet using access software that is a few steps behind the times. There are social and employment barriers to deal with as well as barriers from several other quarters, but I'll tell you this without hesitation: At the end of the day when I lie quietly in bed waiting for the sandman to take me off to dreamland, I thank God for my family and friends. Those who have never used my lack of sight as a barrier against me.

Unlike so many others with vision problems, I have been blessed with family who do not really think of me as blind; if they do, they have never really allowed it to get in the way. Naturally when I was growing up my parents, brothers, and granny were a bit overprotective at times, but apart from this I was treated normally in every sense of the way. My cousins acted normally around me but they always came to my rescue whenever I found myself in difficulty, like bumping into things, being unable to find my way, or not being able to find stray or fallen objects.

I have friends who do the same. Debbie in Tennessee, who has known me since we were in high school and who recently admitted to me that we never really discussed my blindness until now; when she read my blogs she realized that we had never done so. Gabriella in Toronto, who has never allowed my lack of sight to get in the way of a really warm and treasured friendship. I often call her my electronic cane! Dena in North Carolina, my friend across the border as I call her. This is a very special friendship because you see, we have never met in person since forming a natural and normal friendship in 2005. She never knew what I looked like until last December and I have trusted her to tell me what she looks like. A blind friendship if I may say so.

There are so many others that I can mention here but for now I think that this is enough for you to get the picture. If you would like to learn more then by all means drop me a line at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca and I will be happy to respond.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your accessibility and special-needs business consultant wishing you a terrific day and encouraging you to go out there and find someone who is blind and see if you can become friends.

The Problem With PDF Content

So many content designers just do not understand. They continue to put all of their efforts into designing pretty PDF content, but at the end of the day it is totally inaccessible to blind and visually-impaired persons. Why you ask? Very simple. PDF content is made up of an image that cannot be deciphered by screen readers. In other words, PDF files are image-based instead of textual-based, and blind and visually-impaired persons use screen readers to surf the Internet.

More and more online forms are being designed in PDF format and as a result of this blind and visually-impaired persons are being deprived of their right to privacy and confidentiality. If a form is in PDF format it means that blind and visually-impaired persons need to depend on sighted assistance to help them complete it. It is frustrating, scary, and a downright violation of our right to confidentiality and privacy. There is a way for all of this to be dealt with and it starts with the content developer using the appropriate tags to format the PDF content so that it is made accessible and usable.

What most content developers still fail to understand is this: If they take the additional time to tag their PDF content appropriately, they will not only be making it accessible to blind and visually-impaired persons, they will also be making it accessible and usable to the print disabled, the technically shy, and to those who are not technically savvy. Before you start to wonder who all of these people are, please allow me to define these populations.

The print disabled - those who are unable to read because of either physical, mental, or visual challenges.

The technically shy or those not technically savvy - those who have difficulty coping with modern technology and who work better with more simple environments. In short, the millions of aging baby boomers who did not grow up with the Internet at their fingertips.

I personally find PDF content to be frustrating. It is a useless and time-consuming obstacle for me to deal with, and a downright insult to my right to privacy and confidentiality.

Here is a URL that you can visit in order to learn why PDF content does not benefit the blind and visually-impaired.

Visit http://www.rnib.org.uk/wacblog/pdf/why-pdfs-suck/

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your accessibility and special-needs business consultant wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and start educating the rest of the world as to why PDF content does not benefit blind and visually-impaired persons.

Internet Service Providers Not Providing

I sort of grew as a businessperson along with the era of the Internet and modern technology. However, there is still so much for me to get used to and it is growing on a daily basis. It is one thing to have been involved in this growth all along, but quite another to be able to keep up with it; and, when you are blind or do not have enough vision to see things, there is a huge gap.

The mainstream person (someone without stereotypical special needs) who is lucky enough to be able to see and learn things, who can easily understand and fix technical problems, and who knows how to communicate with technical support teams at their Internet service providers, can consider themselves lucky. However for me, the picture is different. Yes, for the most part when a glitch occurs in my Internet service I can understand what is going on, but the trouble starts when I try to communicate this to technicians at my Internet service provider.

You see, my Internet service provider is staffed with technicians whose first language is not English and their culture is one where they have not been exposed to persons who are either technically disabled or otherwise disabled due to anyone of the following: hearing, sight, or physical impairments. So whenever I phone them with a problem, they are at a loss as how to communicate with me. 99% of the time, I spend the first 15 minutes trying to explain why I am unable to give them the requested info about my modem. The conversation goes something like this:

Technician: "Please give me the model number on your modem."
Donna: "Sorry, but I can't because I am blind."
Technician: "Well, do you see the lights on your modem?"
Donna: "No, I do not see any lights on my modem because I am blind."
Technician: "Okay, then what color is your modem?"
Donna: "Sir, I told you that I am unable to see because I am blind."

After about 15 minutes of this type of conversation the technician finally gets it and understands that something is wrong with me, and he then informs me that maybe my modem is not working. This occurs after much wasted energy and only after I have convinced him to check to see if there is a signal to my modem from his end. He tells me that there is no signal, so the modem is dead. He is going to order a new modem for me but guess what? I will not be able to install the modem when it arrives because it requires vision to do so.

We haggle on the phone for another 15 minutes, and in the end I am told that there is no one from the company to help me with this at the present time. A technician will not be available until about three days later. So in the meantime, I will have to do without Internet service. Tough. If I really want to restore my Internet service sooner than this, I will need to pay a technician about $100 to come to my home office and install the modem which the Internet service provider is only too willing to send to me via priority post.

So what is the problem here? As a general rule of thumb, most Internet service providers do not provide on site technical support to their customers. If you need help over and above phone support, you are out of luck and you will have to pay out of your pocket for on site technical support. What disturbs me greatly is that my particular Internet service provider falls woefully short when it comes to both phone support and lack of on-site support. Yet every month they are more than happy to accept my payments, but if you make the mistake of missing a payment one month, then see how quickly they will cut your services.

What Internet service providers need to understand is this: Their bread and butter consumers of tomorrow will be those who did not grow up in the age of technology. Aging baby boomers, retirees, seniors, and the ever-growing number of those with physical, hearing, and vision challenges. If they continue to ignore these consumers, then much sooner than later they will find themselves facing a massive exit of customers seeking better services or even more serious may be a series of lawsuits by customers who will take them to court over inadequate service.

Internet service providers need to provide better support services to their consumers; phone support by technicians who can communicate better in English, and reliable on-site support. This can all be accomplished but we need to have cooperation and communication between Internet service providers and their consumers.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your accessibility and business needs consultant, wishing you a terrific day and reminding you to start educating your Internet service providers as to how they can better serve their bread and butter consumers of tomorrow.