A budding poetess: Paula's poetry

Cousin Paula was just a bright-eyed, preteen, normal little girl! With lots of bounce, laughter, and she and I just hit it off! She was never afraid to express herself to me but the one thing that I shall always remember is that

she gave her treasured collection of poetry so willingly and unselfishly to me.

For just being a kid, I found Paula's poetry to be absolutely stimulating, insightful, and filled with depth. I was so honoured that she shared or rather gave me her prized collection and for this I shall always be grateful.

The years have gone by and although we are no longer close, I still remember this eager, smart, and very intelligent kid! She is now all grown up!

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.

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2 loving little boy cousins. Playing with Stephen and Robert

They were just two little playmates, my kid cousins who were always so willing to play at anything and with anything. Most of all, they never seemed to care that I was vision impaired. It simply did not matter to them.

They were just two very willing playmates who loved to laugh, sing, and run up and down our corridors. At the beach they loved to swim, build sand castles, and collect shells. 

They also loved to take naps after lunch and never gave too many problems when it came time to eat their food.

Just some memories of 2 precious little cousins!

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

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Fun and games: Tiny steps to avoid tiny toys

This is the fun and games strategy for me whenever I am around those little ones who are playing on the floor with their little toys.  The object of the game is for me to ensure that I do not step, not just on their toys, but also on them!

As someone with several cousins who were much younger than me, I had a lot of practice doing this growing up. Then, when I had nieces and nephews later on, my strategy came in handy.  

I was always anxious to ensure that I did not step on anything or anyone and the way to do that was to take tiny steps as nothing else would work for me.  Of course, I ran into difficulty from time to time but I am happy to report that I survived it all.

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

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Special times: Family reunions

Family reunions continue to be very special for me.  Both on my mom's side of things as well as on my dad's side.  I have probably been to more of these on my mom's side but whenever I get that rare chance to attend on dad's side, it is very special.

In the summer of 2018 I had the chance to do just that and met cousins that I had never even met before.  Of course, there were those that I was quite familiar with and although I could not see their faces, their voices were only too familiar to me.

I was so very glad that I got to sit with cousin Shaughn before he passed on.  It was a pleasant late evening as we sat together and rehashed family history.

Ah, yes!  These very rare moments to be remembered forever.

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!
From recipes to apps, and 5 minute mysteries to tips for entrepreneurs and scam alerts! www.donnajodhan.com/takeanother5.html

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Taken from us too soon! I will never forget you, Cousin Shaughn

He was my second cousin but you could have said that he was just my cousin. Always there to greet me and share his info with me.  Always there to give me the latest news and to listen to me whenever I complained.  Always there to give his suggestions. In short, cousin Shaughn was probably one of the most likable cousins on my dad's side of the family.

You were taken too soon from us and oh so suddenly and though I was unable to see what you looked like after 2004, I shall always remember your face. Most of all, I shall never forget your cheery voice.

You are gone now but you are in a much better place: with no pain, no stress, and reunited with the family.  I am sure that you and Robert are now planning, forecasting, and hoping that our company is able to ride the waves of change.

Take care and do not forget us.  See you whenever that time comes.

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

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter!
'Let's Talk Tips' is my monthly resource for the most current and reliable nformational tips available in the areas of Technology, Nutrition, Media, Business, and Advocacy.
http://bit.ly/ADJSubscribe

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
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Thank you cousin Susan: Making mats from palm leaves

Looking back on this now it was something very special to me because I was just a child then, probably around six or seven years old.

It was cousin Susan who taught me and she was so very patient then and such a good teacher.  She painstakingly showed me how to place the leaves and then to weave them in and out of the spaces.  The first few tries were difficult and cousin Susan was not daunted by my lack of sight.

I did learn how to do it and she was so encouraging; constantly egging me on and congratulating me each time I did something right.  We sat on a bench facing each other and she and I spent so many wonderful hours together.

Cousin Susan was older than me and treated me like her little sister.  We went for walks together and she taught me a bit of Spanish and she always made sure that I went swimming among the rocks.

Great memories for a lifetime.

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
And like me on Facebook at
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Such sobering memories: Remembering the lagoons

Each lagoon was an individually very special one to me.  Each had its own very special memory because each had something that was different from the other.  Many would say that all lagoons are the same but it was not so for me.

There was the one in Toco, a huge one with water that was always flowing so silently and oh so easily.  We used to build boats out of palm leaves and then float them down the current of the lagoon.  We used to splash around and our dog, Yella, used to join us, barking so happily as she played with us.

I remember that there were fishes living in the lagoon and my brothers would go fishing, often catching a fish or two.  Sometimes we would see crabs running around at the mouth of the lagoon and then we would take time to watch the lagoon empty its water right into the sea.  This lagoon was surrounded by trees that bore luscious sea grapes and almonds.

Then there was the small lagoon in Mayaro.  One that had a bridge across it where I would often sit and listen to my radio and enjoy the fresh sea air. My cousins and brothers would go fishing in it and sometimes have palm leaf boat races but the water was not deep enough for swimming.  Yet the crabs seemed to enjoy playing in it.  This lagoon was right outside of our beach house.  This little lagoon was more open and not many trees surrounded it.

Finally, there was the larger lagoon which was about a quarter mile up the beach from us.  This one was deeper than the other one and there were many fishes in it.  I loved this one because of its peaceful ambiance.  It did not seem to empty its waters into the sea but somehow its waters did flow somewhere.  Coconut trees surrounded it thus making it a very private little getaway.

Those were my lagoons and memories of them shall forever be in my memory bank.

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
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 at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan

Fond memories: Growing up with the cousins

I can honestly say that memories of growing up with my cousins were ones of cherished and never to be forgotten times. There are so many memories for me to look back on but I'll tell you honesty that if you ever wanted to talk about equality, then my cousins showed how it was done.

They never differentiated against me!  They always treated me without any semblance of being afraid to play with me, talk with me, and have so much fun with me.

They walked with me, talked with me, swam with me, played hide and seek with me, plus so much more.  They even played football and cricket with me and never grumbled whenever I asked for help.  They even played cards with me and taught me so much.

They were mainstream kids who adapted so well to playing with a kid who was vision impaired.  We were close and saw each other so very often.  My, how I loved each of them in their own special way and even today we still manage to stay connected.

We love reminiscing about the good old times: building sand castles and water pools on the beach, running with the dogs, and cutting out photos from Mom's magazines, plus so much more! These memories will be mine forever and my cousins will be mine 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 ttp://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

When the cousins were babies

I still have very vivid memories of when these little ones were babies. Oh how I used to love to play with them. Listening to them laugh, listening to them try to talk, and being so touched whenever they were able to say my name. I used to play all kinds of games with them. Mainly the ones where they would point at things and then I would ask them to tell me what they were.

I was never really sure if they knew that I was blind but that was okay. We played ball and I crawled around on the floor with them. They never tired of my company and I never tired of theirs. We played with boats in the bath tub. We swam in the sea under the very watchful eye of my dad, and then we played in the warm golden sand of the beach.

Their toys were my toys and my toys were their toys. I rocked them to sleep and as I did so I imagined them smiling up at me as I could not see their tiny expressions. I even got to dress them sometimes and give them their bottles. Then I would sing to them at bedtime, and tried teaching them how to count. They were lovable little ones and I shall forever cherish these memories.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. Just go out there and learn more about the world of blind persons by visiting www.acb.org.

Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.

Through the eyes of my kid cousins

We were just kids then, but boy did we ever have so much fun. My kid cousins were always willing and ready to describe things to me. Any and everything that moved, and they were right there to describe it all to me. From pictures to people and from programs on TV to whatever lay before them, they were my fountains of knowledge and I was their avid listener. I took it all in.

They helped me to learn so much, and through their innocent eyes I managed to discover so much about my surroundings. I was never tired of listening to them go on and on about any and everything. Even at night as we lay in bed, their voices never stopped telling me about things until the sandman grabbed us and took us away into dreamland.

They would walk with me, run with me, play with me, and read to me. They would describe how the trees looked. They explained all kinds of things to me, and hand in hand we strolled the beach and they never stopped describing to me. Things in those days were so real. I could practically reach out and touch! Ah, yes! Through the eyes of my kid cousins and I shall forever cherish and remember.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to go out there and tell others about my memories. Come by and visit me at www.sterlingcreations.ca.