Lights on please?

I still smile to myself each time I remember this particular incident. It happened a few years ago when I had a technician over to help troubleshoot some printer problems.

The technician came over at night and I escorted him into my office to have a look. All was going well but then I noticed that the technician had suddenly gone very quiet and was just standing next to my chair. I was about to ask what was the matter when he sheepishly said, "I need to have the lights on."

We both burst out laughing at the same time and he sure understood when I told him that, in my world, I often operate without lights although I do my best to remember to flip them on whenever sighted visitors or assistance come to my home. Truth be told, I flip them on all of the time or at least most of the time even though I can no longer see them.

Old habits die hard and now that I can no longer see, I still remember to turn on the lights at night or whenever I think that it is dark. I just have to remember to turn them off before retiring to sleep.

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

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan
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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!"

Reformatting my memories

It is not as bad as it sounds. Reformatting my memories is often needed whenever something has changed since I have lost my vision and then I have to familiarize myself with it all over again. This often happens whenever renovations to a building takes place or whenever someone has been perceived to change in looks.

This is especially so when kids who I was able to see when I had vision have grown up and now look quite different and I have to depend on sighted help to tell me what they look like.

Just think of it like this. They were babies and little ones when I was able to see and now that I am no longer able to see, they have simply grown up.

This is a daily chore for me but that's okay. There is no getting away from this.

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 heros 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!"

Each dog had their feeding spot

This certainly made things a lot easier for me as I knew exactly where to place their bowls of food and somehow they knew where to go as well. There were three of them and during the summer vacation there were two additional ones and they, too, knew exactly where to go at mealtime.

I never had any difficulty taking their feeding bowls to them. I never got the bowls mixed up and I have to say that they seemed to be very satisfied with my service.

I was always certain to make sure that they were there waiting for me when I arrived. They never tried to knock their bowl out of my hand and I was careful enough not to get too close to them when they were eating.

Our dogs were very disciplined and very organized and they never even tried to snatch each others' meal. Good dogs all the way! They shall forever be in my memory bank!

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!"

The four-legged greeters

Yes indeed! They were my four-legged greeters and they were always there to greet me when I came home from school. Each dog had their own way of greeting me and I am almost certain that they each knew in their way that I was blind.

First there was Yella, the grand dame of them all and mother to her two handsome boys, Lion and Tiger. Yella was very reserved and extremely ladylike but there was one very true thing about this lady dog! She never failed to come out and greet me whenever I would come home from school. That is, whenever she felt that she should do it. Indeed, she did whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, and on her own terms.

Then there was Lion! A handsome retriever, gentle, clumsy, and who always came out to greet me, that is, most of the time. He would come up to me and then jump all over me with sloppy kisses and sticking out his paw for me to take. Lion had his own way of expressing himself to his loved ones.

Then there was Tiger! The leader of the pack; strong. Mr. Muscles, as I liked to call him, and he just loved to jump all over me and nip at my hands and feet.

Dogs with their very own individual personalities. Each dog in their own way always letting me know that they were there for me. They probably knew that I was blind but that was just okay with each of them.

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!"

Challenges of navigating on an i device

I am truly grateful to Steve Jobs for having had the foresight to develop and market those wonderful i devices. My whole world has opened up so much more but, like anything else, there are challenges to be faced when navigating my i device.

I am much better at it now but it has taken tremendous effort and practice to become comfortable. Flicking left to right and vice versa, flicking up and down, and tapping with various fingers are still somewhat of a challenge to me but getting better with time. I have installed screen protectors on my i devices and there are dots that are placed in strategic positions on the screen to help me navigate my way around.

I sometimes use a Braille Pen device to help me navigate my iPhone and it is quite workable for me but I can also tell you that other Braille devices are not as efficient as the Braille Pen. Some of the Apple keyboards are also a challenge to use with an i device due to the smallness of the keys.

Navigating through various apps can also be a challenge at times, especially so when the apps are not very accessible to a person who is either blind or partially sighted to start with. Things are improving, though, and you can always count on Apple support to help you.

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 heros 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!"

Mom and I with our new coffee machine

A few months ago Mom and I went shopping for a coffee machine and we decided beforehand that we would each purchase our own. It was quite a new experience for me because it was the first time that I was getting to actually hold one of these things in my hands.

Mom was very good as she described each machine to me and then let me hold it in my hands. We looked at several different makes and sizes and asked several questions of the salesman. I had to depend on my intuition, description from Mom, info from the salesman, and finally it was up to me to make up my mind.

This time, unlike previous times, color of machine did not much matter to me. It all came down to how it felt to me and at the end of the day I was quite happy with my choice.

It did not end there, however. When we returned home Mom had to show me how to use my new coffee machine and it was really not that difficult. I learned how to measure the coffee and water and then let the machine do the rest.

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!"

Unable to hear as I cross the street

Yes, this is indeed a very common problem for me. Especially so when there is either a lot of noise around me or whenever the wind is blowing hard and loud across my path. It can also happen whenever I am out in a heavy rainfall.

This is why I have to concentrate extra hard whenever I am crossing the street and this is not really a problem or challenge that is only for a blind or partially sighted person. I am very sure that sighted persons are also opened to this type of challenge, as well, but what I can tell you is this. This type of challenge is even greater when you are totally blind.

When I had functional vision, I could depend on visual cues to help me cross safely, but now that I have no more functional vision, those visual cues are no longer available to me. This is why I have to concentrate and focus more deeply and carefully.

Accordingly, I do not walk and talk on my iPhone at the same time. I do not listen to music as I walk along, and I certainly do not do anything else as I cross the street.

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!"