Long overdue: Time to teach those medical folks

 

Maybe it will never be time to teach those medical folks, and what am I attempting to teach them?

Here goes:
Speak to me and not my friend or family when I enter a medical office.
Do not shout at me when speaking to me.
Talk directly to me by looking at me and not at my escort.
Please take time to provide me with necessary documentation in a readable format; a word document is a good start.
When numbers are being displayed on the monitor in an office to let patients know when they are being called, please announce the number as well.
And when I am told to take a number, please tell me my number verbally.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly award-winning, sight-loss coach and accessibility 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 a sight-loss coach and 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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Frustrating and annoying: At the dentist office with Mom

 It often horrifies me how much the medical profession lacks when it comes to being able to engage and communicate in a meaningful manner with blind and vision-impaired patients.  And this is what happened a few months ago when I accompanied Mom to her dentist.

In these modern times, we still have receptionists and admin staff who either refuse or hesitate to communicate with those of us who are blind and/or vision-impaired or they simply disregard our presence.  We even have doctors and nurses who are unable to communicate with us.  In short, they look upon us as either unable to understand or to comprehend or that we are folks who need care givers and legal guardians to speak on our behalf.

What to do?  I invite you to give me your thoughts!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly award-winning sight-loss coach and accessibility 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 a sight-loss coach and 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

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Pleasant staff! At the vascular clinic

 

I can only describe this visit as a mixed bag at best.  For whereas I can only say good things about the staff and the technician, getting there and finding the clinic itself was another story.  All together, it was a long day and thank goodness that I had Stephanie to accompany me.

I always appreciate when medical staff are helpful and go above and beyond the call of duty to assist me as a vision-impaired person.  This clinic gets top marks from me for this.  The technician went out of her way to explain things to me as she went about her business.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly award-winning sight-loss coach and accessibility 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 a sight-loss coach and 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

Important notice from Donna J. Jodhan
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to share news and or info about yourself or about others, then please read on!
Donna J. Jodhan can help you reach a rapidly growing list of over 12,000 readers and listeners and counting!
All you need to do is to give a listen to her monthly shows and if you like what you hear then here's how it works!
For the very affordable price of $25, Donna will feature your info and news on 2 of her monthly shows.
Once on the Ask Donna show and once on the Dining with Donna show.
Both of these monthly shows run weekly.
This means that your info will be featured twice for the month.
No more having to worry about posting to Facebook!  
You'll be able to engage with ready made readers and listeners!
Your payment of $25 will be prorated as a monthly payment.
So you can either pay monthly, or you can pay as you go.
Just send your info or news to Donna at askdonnaonblindlife@gmail.com
No more than 150 words.
Donna will then post your info or news as soon as you remit payment to her at paypal@donnajodhan.com
To give a listen visit https://www.donnajodhan.com/askdonna and https://www.donnajodhan.com/dwd
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A shining example! The accommodating nurse

 This was such a refreshing experience for me and it was the day when I had my most recent colonoscopy.  This particular nurse was probably the best that I have ever had and I think that whether or not you are blind/vision-impaired you would have been so very pleased to have her as your nurse for this procedure.

Not only was she gentle and comforting, but she described everything to me as she went along.  She described each step to me before carrying it out and told me exactly what she was going to do.

Heartiest congrats to this wonderful nurse at the clinic on 5 Fairview Mall Drive in North York, Toronto.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly award-winning sight loss coach and accessibility 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 a sight loss coach and 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

Important notice from Donna J. Jodhan
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to share news and/or info about yourself or about others, then please read on!
Donna J. Jodhan can help you reach a rapidly growing list of over 12,000 readers and listeners and counting!
All you need to do is to give a listen to her monthly shows and if you like what you hear then here's how it works!
For the very affordable price of $25, Donna will feature your info and news on 2 of her monthly shows.
Once on the Ask Donna show and once on the Dining with Donna show.
Both of these monthly shows run weekly
This means that your info will be featured twice for the month.
No more having to worry about posting to Facebook!  
You'll be able to engage with ready-made readers and listeners!
Your payment of $25 will be prorated as a monthly payment.
So you can either pay monthly, or you can pay as you go.
Just send your info or news to Donna at askdonnaonblindlife@gmail.com
No more than 150 words.
Donna will then post your info or news as soon as you remit payment to her at paypal@donnajodhan.com
To give a listen visit https://www.donnajodhan.com/askdonna
and https://www.donnajodhan.com/dwd
Take advantage of this very quick and easy way to reach a ready-made audience!

Scary and intimidating! Those large hospitals

Even after all of these years, those large hospitals in Toronto continue to intimidate me!  I know, it seems as if I  have spent a lifetime in and out of them but nothing has changed for me.

They are huge, intimidating, and I can only pray not to stay too long within their rooms and corridors each time I visit.  On the whole, many staff are kind and helpful but once in a while I encounter some who are unpleasant and not very understanding.

So, what is my wish?  That I stay out of these intimidating places for as much as I can!  I stay healthy but those scans and tests are not always avoidable.  Neither are those necessary consultations!

The parting thought is that I am not the only one who feels this way!  Vision impaired or not, even the sighted feel this way!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and accessibility 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 a sight loss coach and 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 great experience: My latest physiotherapist

It is of the utmost importance to me, as a blind/vision impaired person, that whenever I interact with a medical professional that I can engage and communicate comfortably and in the friendliest and most welcoming way.  And this is exactly how I felt when I met and engaged and communicated with my latest therapist, Peter Anders.

I had gone to Peter’s clinic for some physiotherapy and the entire session was a complete joy and so very refreshing.  

The receptionist communicated with me without any difficulty.  Peter met me and escorted me to his working area.  Then he proceeded to show me how to do each individual exercise.  No problem showing me as a blind/vision impaired person.

Then, at the end of it all he escorted me back to the reception desk and later emailed me a detailed description of how to do my exercises. Bravo to you, Peter, and your staff.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and accessibility 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 a sight loss coach and 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 refreshing experience: Wonderful lab technicians

No one can deny that this pandemic has brought out the finest in so many of our front line workers and today I salute those wonderful lab technicians.

Over the past two years, these tireless technicians have visited my home several times to take my blood as part of my every three months' need to have blood tests taken.  They are always so very cheerful, always smiling, and so very efficient.

Their attitude is very positive and as a vision-impaired person I am truly grateful that I do not need to go to the lab and face the challenges of social distancing and hand sanitizing.

Thank you lab technicians!

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly sight-loss coach and accessibility 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 a sight loss coach and 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

Helping staff to understand: At the medical lab

They are getting better but there is still work to be done when it comes to how staff at the lab interact with me as a vision-impaired person.  Most times when I go there they would get a passing mark when it comes to how they communicate with me.

For example, they do not always place the health card in my hand when I put out my hand to receive it after they have asked for it and have finished with it.  However, they are getting better.

Most of the time my friend escorts me to the testing room but after I have given blood they do not escort me back to the waiting room and if I need to go to the washroom to collect urine they do not seem to know what to do when I walk out of the washroom.

The other day my friend had to mildly scold them to assist me when she discovered me wandering around in the hallway as I was trying to find my way back to the waiting room.  This is just going to be a work in progress

despite the many years that I have been going there.

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!

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Not very pleasant: Challenges of a colonoscopy

I guess that this particular procedure is probably most challenging for the majority of us even at the best of times. But for me, who is unable to see what the doctor is doing, it often leads to my imagination taking over.

Thank goodness that just before the procedure commences I am given something to relax me so then I have no idea what is taking place.

Before I am given this, however, the nurse and doctor do their best to put me at ease by telling me what is going on and what is going to happen, but for all of this it does not make me feel any better.  So I lie there on my back and do my best not to get too anxious about it all.

I sing softly but loud enough that those around me can hear and this sure helps me to feel better.

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

Not very pleasant: Taking a blood test

At the best of times and like so many other people, taking a blood test is really no fun and for me I would really rather be doing something else.

It is one thing to have a technician struggling to take blood from you but it is quite another when said technician spends more than a few minutes struggling to do so.  Then, when they try to do this at least three times and can't seem to find a suitable vein, I begin to get really worried.

The technician does her best to reassure me but not being able to see only causes my imagination to start running rampant and then it all culminates in her having to call her supervisor to do the job.

I guess that what I am trying to say is this!  When you are unable to see what is going on, you start to wonder and imagine.  You conjure up images of the poor old technician with a huge needle in her hand poking around in your arm for a vein.  Then, when it hurts each time she makes an attempt, it only makes things that more dubious.

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

My experience: At the hospital

A few months ago I had to have some nasal surgery and I was accompanied by my mom and my friend, Sue.    As someone who has had several major surgeries I have had the opportunity to see how both nurses and doctors, along with other medical staff, interact with me as a blind person.

The staff at this particular hospital has always been very good when it comes to interacting with me.  They talk to me directly and ask me questions directly which is such a relief and joy for me.

There is nothing worse than having staff that finds it necessary to interact with those accompanying me rather than with me directly.  The nurses were very good at explaining things and my surgeon was extremely good when telling me what was going to happen. 

The pre-surgery and after surgery interactions all went very well.  Hats off to the North York General Hospital in Toronto, Canada.

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