A wee bit frustrating! Voting for a new Mayor

 This time I have to say that whereas the voting machine proved to be one of the best accessibility devices, it was the fact that I had to muddle through so many names of candidates before I could find my choice.

Nobody’s fault at the end of the day and no different for anyone. sighted or not.

The machine worked like a charm!  The staff at the polling centre was simply wonderful and so very helpful. At the end of the day?  A good experience!

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
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Not quite up to mark: The Elections Canada forms

At the Canadian Federal Elections in October 2019, I have to admit that this time this agency fell a bit short when it came to providing me with accessible materials; this being in a format that I could read and interact

with as someone with a vision impairment.  In addition, to be able to vote independently.

The template was not accessible so I had no way of knowing where to place my check mark. However, Elections Canada redeemed itself when the returning officer was able to vouch as an assistant for me and she carried out the

appropriate procedures to ensure that I voted privately.

As they say, stuff happens and I can understand this and I am also happy when a solution is found. But when there is a total lack of training and an infringement against the customer/voter/consumer, then here is where I draw

the line. In this case, there was a happy ending.

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

A most humiliating experiences for me: No access when I voted in the Ontario Elections on June 7, 2018

Believe it or not, this was a total shock for me.  I could only say that it was one of the most horrible experiences for me when it comes to voting in Canada.

Prior to this experience on June 7, 2018, all of my experiences re voting in the Ontario Elections were excellent so just imagine my horror when I went to vote this time.  Here is the short story.

Staff at the polls were absolutely not trained to interact and communicate with a vision-impaired person.  They refused to communicate directly with me, choosing instead to insist that I sit in a chair and then communicating with my friend on my behalf.

They did not understand when my friend and I insisted that I be given my right to vote privately in the booth, insisting that either she or they could accompany me into the voting booth to cast my ballot.

They had no idea where to find the Braille templates or Braille documents.  They did not even know how to assemble the template and then slip the ballot into the template.  Most of all, the Braille was unreadable.

It is my right, just as it is the right of everyone else, to be allowed to vote in privacy. When staff such as these folks display such unawareness and lack of understanding I can only shake my head in disbelief and then do the right thing!  Take Elections Ontario to the Human Rights Tribunal!

This was totally unacceptable!

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.

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The voting access terminal

I'm just excited about this newest addition to my world: the voting access terminal. A gadget, or should I say a device, that will enable me to vote more independently in future elections.

This device will enable me, in future elections, to vote more independently. I'll be able to review lists of candidates, choose my candidate and verify it, and then finally submit my ballot without the least amount of sighted assistance.

Congrats to the one who first thought of this machine and it is my hope that this effort will be duplicated elsewhere. This is a huge step in the right direction.

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
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
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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!"

Voting time

I always tend to be a bit nervous whenever voting time comes around, and why? Because I hope and pray that when I enter the voting station I will be able to vote as independently as possible and in privacy.

What does all of this mean? It means that I will be able to vote without any sighted assistance; to choose my candidate of choice and mark my ballot, without any assistance, for returning officers.

Is this possible? I truly believe that it is and over the years I have seen the various levels of government striving to make this happen. At the Federal level, at the Provincial level, and now at the Municipal level. Everyone is trying their best and this after it has been recognized that a blind person does indeed need the independence and privacy that everyone else is afforded.

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
and you can even take advantage of our free downloads!
Or subscribe to our free monthly newsletter at
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!"