Forever close to my heart: The treasured letters

These are those precious letters that kept me going when I first left home.  The ones from Mom, Dad, and Granny along with my other friends.  They were the ones that I could not read for myself in those days and I had to depend on sighted assistance to read them.

Alas, I had managed to keep some of them safely tucked away in my briefcase. When I had enough vision to read I sure as heck read each of them several times to ensure that they remained firmly implanted in my memory bank.

Now that I can no longer read them, it does not mean that I do not remember them.  Yes, I remember each of them but I do not know whether or not the print is faded.  That does not matter to me; the print in my mind burns brightly on!

Yes, my treasured letters forever.

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

Such cherished memories: Mom, Granny and me

Yes, we were a team!  When I was growing up this was my primary team!  Mom, Granny and me!  They were my primary teachers, my supporters and my most important critics!

We ate together for the most part.  We listened together to the soap operas on the radio.  We used to sit on our patio spending quiet times together on countless evenings.

Of course, the rest of the family was there, too, but Mom, Granny and I were always together!  Who can forget those happy times spent digging for clams and having fun in the sea.  Or times spent shelling peas together and walking with our dogs! Or going to church together or going for drives with the rest of the family!

Yes, that was Mom, Granny and me!

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

Great times: Getting better with my knitting

When I made the decision to learn how to knit in the fall of 2014, my objective was to use this activity to build my perseverance for patience and I am happy to report that I have more than met my objective.

At first I was very skeptical as to how a vision-impaired person could learn to knit.  Especially me, who at that time was just a bit short on my patience.  When I started out I already knew that there were people who were vision-impaired and who were good knitters.  However, I needed to convince myself.

My first teacher was Miko, a very patient young lady with tons of patience and a willingness to help me get over my hesitation.  The first few months were very trying ones for me as I struggled to get familiar with casting on and casting off and then knitting rows.

I often ran into great difficulty trying to control my spiraling but Miko persevered with me and by the time she left on maternity leave in early April 2016, I felt as if I was finally beginning to crawl but I knew that I had a very long way to go.

Then in came Robbie!  A dynamic young man with tons of ideas, the patience of Job, and someone who was not going to allow me to give up!  He persevered, encouraged, pushed, and filled my lessons with stories and lots of mugs of delicious English breakfast tea!

Today I am much better at controlling my spiraling.  I can cast on and off without much difficulty and I am much better at knitting multiple rows at a time.  I am working with both thin and thick wool.  I can troubleshoot much more easily now and get myself out of trouble without too much panic.

I give a huge thanks to Miko, Robbie, and folks at the Purple Purl knitting store!

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

An experience to remember: At the chess club with Nadia's young students

In February of 2017, I visited my chess coach's class to talk to her young students and the topic was to be: I play chess as a blind person.

Nadia had been asking me to do this for a while and I finally got around to it.  I can tell you that I fully enjoyed my time with these smart and intuitive young ones.  Their questions were right on the money and they were very intuitive questions.

They wanted to know how I played chess; how did I go about identifying the pieces from each other.  Whether or not I used a special board, how did I identify pages in my book, and how did I know what the teacher was writing on the blackboard.  Were Braille page numbers different from print page numbers and did I like playing chess?

These questions were but just a few and as they ate their lunch their questions kept coming, fast and furious.  The youngest was about six years old and the oldest was about 12 years old.  Nadia did not have to encourage them to ask anything and everything.

At the end of it all, as I walked out of the school with Sue, I could not help but muse to myself as to whether one of these smart youngsters could one day become Prime Minister of 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
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

A refreshing experience: An enjoyable train ride to Ottawa

In early February 2017, I took the train from Toronto to Ottawa on a very cold and wintry morning.  It was a typical Canadian winter's day but I was ready as I could ever be and I would say that I was pleasantly surprised when it came to my journey.

Courtesy of the Canadian Council of the Blind, I traveled first class to receive an award from them and it was first class all of the way.  The staff members aboard the train were so very accommodating and were so aware of my needs as a vision-impaired person.

They read the breakfast menu to me, told me exactly what was on my plate when they brought it to me, assisted me to the washroom whenever I asked, and helped me with my luggage on and off the train.  During the course of the four and a half hour trip they stopped several times to check on me.

Thank you Via Rail for having made my trip a super one.

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

Happy times: Remembering Lake Jo

This was probably one of the last great experiences that I had before I lost my vision in 2004.  My friend, Rozi, and I had gone to the Lake Jo Camp for a week and it was such a marvelous time.

Rozi and I shared a room and each day we spent time together just enjoying the lake and all of the activities around us.  We made lots of new friends and I got to do so many new things.

I canoed and rode in a kayak, sailed, swam in the lake, played basketball and croquet, and oh yes!  I played a game called Show Down, a type of air hockey.

It was a week never to be forgotten.  Where all of the facilities were accessible and usable.  Where the staff were so well trained and the volunteers so eager to please and assist.

The most memorable thing for me was that I was able to see the lake.  So beautiful, so tranquil, and so calm.  Those wondrous sunsets and the birds gliding effortlessly over the lake!  Ah, yes!  That was Lake Jo!

Now I can only remember and keep it close to my heart.  Maybe one day I’ll return to enjoy it, but without vision!

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

A real challenge: The challenges of identifying photos

This has become one of my challenges ever since I lost my vision in 2004.  How do I go about identifying them for myself and to others?

As for myself,  there is really no fast and hard way.  I cannot see them and that’s the end of it all.  I just need to know what is in them and I do this by giving them names that reflect the date and a concise description.

If I do this then I can easily identify to others with sight what they are.  I place photos in folders that have names that mean something to me and my photos are carefully grouped.

So, for example:  I have a folder named Donna’s Photos and this folder contain photos of me alone, me with others, and so on.  This method really works for me.

I’m not going to say that I do not miss being able to see photos.  I sure do, but I try to keep my memories alive as best as I can and I try to imagine those that I have never seen.

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