This is a growing concern: The challenge of communicating when it is a second language

As a vision-impaired person it is always doubly difficult whenever I need to communicate with someone whose second language is English.  I think that it is difficult for all of us, the communicator and the communicatee.

We find it difficult to understand each other and it only makes things more challenging because I cannot read facial expression, am unable to communicate visually, and then there is the additional barrier of various cultures who are not used to interacting with persons who have a disability. 

There is no fast and hard solution for this except to continue to persist and build awareness. In addition, to find ways to better understand each other.

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 
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
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A challenge: When English is not the first language

This is a challenge that continues to grow and it will only do so for as long as I continue to live in Toronto.

Toronto is probably one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and home to hundreds of thousands of people from many different cultures speaking several languages in addition to English. This is why whenever I need to communicate with someone whose first language is not English, I run into additional challenges.

If you are sighted and able to communicate visually, then it is more than likely not a problem for you, if you and the one that you are communicating with do not speak the same language.  You can use your eyes along with hand gestures and body language to communicate with each other.  However, when you are blind or partially sighted and unable to use these methods then it is a problem indeed.

For me, it is a huge problem whenever I am unable to communicate verbally. I do not have any other means of communicating and if they are unable to understand what I am trying to say then there goes my day.

How can I remedy this?  I can only try!

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