Learning how to interact

I guess that so many of us take this part of our lives for granted, but when you are blind it is my belief that we do need to learn how to interact. Having had some vision before, I learned that gestures and expressions sure play an important part in how and when we interact. Then add the eye contact to this mix and you have a huge learning curve.

When I had vision I sure learned how to do it in an acceptable manner. I copied gestures from others and learned how and when to use them. I had a bit more difficulty with expressions because I was never able to see them clearly so I had to get others to help me.

I learned fast and I asked many questions. In addition, I had great family and friends to help me out. Now that I do not have enough vision to see gestures and expressions, I have to rely on my previous experience, visualizing as I go along and I use my powers of listening to seal the deal.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and encouraging you to go out there and share my blogs with others. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.

Why do people walk into us?

My friends are constantly asking me this question and for the most part I really do not have an answer. As they would tell it, we would be walking along in a mall or through a store or supermarket and my cane would be clearly visible for everyone to see. Yet, someone is coming along in the opposite direction and would simply walk right into me.

Some would argue that on any given day, sighted persons walk into each other anyway so what's the fuss all about? Maybe so, but I am just a bit confused as to why someone would do it when it is clear that I am blind and am unable to see. My cane is a bold indicator of my being blind. What is even more confusing is that too many people simply go on their way after bumping into me and never apologize.

Are we living in a world where we are just simply too busy to realize each others' challenges? Is it that we are just too busy to pay sufficient attention to each other? Or are we too busy to say sorry?

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to go out there and share my thoughts with others. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.

Please ask before touching me

I know! Many people touch each other for various reasons. They do it for affection, they do it to make a point, and they also do it in so many cases to blind persons whenever they wish for them to move out of their way. I have no problem with all of this but whenever someone touches me because they wish me to move and they do not ask first, if they wish me to do so, then here is where my concerns lie.

Why am I concerned? Because if I am unexpectedly touched, it makes me nervous and I don’t believe that anyone should touch me without first asking. That is, if they are touching me in order for me to move out of their way. I would even venture to say that I find it rude and disrespectful if a person first touches me without asking because they would like me to move out of their way.

I know that many people do it without even thinking but I would like you to go out there and tell others about my concerns.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to visit www.acb.org to learn more.

Please do not forget Braille

This is my call to anyone who is thinking of either pushing Braille into the background or getting rid of it all together. I know that technology has made it much easier now for blind persons to access information through their computers and mobile devices, but there is still room for Braille.

I learned Braille as a child and when I gained a lot of vision as a teen I learned to read and write using large print. However, I kept Braille as a backup and am I ever lucky that I did. Why? Because when I lost my vision some years ago, I had Braille to fall back on. I was able to keep on labeling my stuff using Braille and I could take notes in Braille whenever a computer was not around.

There are huge advantages to using Braille. Whenever current goes, Braille is there to pick up the slack. Whenever I need to give a presentation, my Braille notes are there at my fingertips and I could deliver my presentation much more smoothly than I could using a computer or other device to hear the points that I want to make.

Braille makes a wonderful addition or backup to a blind person’s life. It is hopefully not going to go away anytime soon and I hope that you can go out there and share my thoughts on this with others.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and hoping that you would take a moment to visit www.nfb.org to learn more.

Toys and me

It is probably one of my biggest weaknesses, I love to play with toys and games despite my ripe old age. My friends often refer to me as their big kid and this is just fine with me. In short, I am constantly promoting the fact that blind kids can enjoy toys and games in much the same way as their sighted counterparts.

Blind kids dream of the same types of toys as sighted kids. They dream of dolls and tea sets, cars and soldiers! No different so far but here comes technology to throw a bit of a challenge into things. Blind kids are more exposed today to mainstream toys than they were in my day. What toy developers need to think of is this! For every toy or game that has visual components, a corresponding audio component needs to be developed as well.

Blind kids have more opportunity today to listen to story books online. They have a greater opportunity to participate in mainstream games and play with mainstream toys. It is definitely getting better but there is certainly room for improvement. Would the day ever come when equal access to toys could be a reality? I certainly dream of that glorious day but only time will tell.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and share my thoughts with others. Come by any time and visit me at www.sterlingcreations.ca.

Don’t give up on a blind baby

I know, it is always very daunting for many parents who find themselves having to bring up a blind baby in this confused and cluttered world. I am here to tell you that my parents did not give up on me, and for better or for worse, I have managed to weather the storm.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of speaking to many parents who have had to bring up blind babies. Yes, at first, it could be a real scare or challenge. Especially so if you have never had the experience of dealing with a blind person. But you know what? It is not nearly as difficult as you may imagine.

True it is that a blind baby can not have the pleasure of playing visual games with you and they can not respond to visual cues. But there is something very powerful that they can enjoy: listening to sounds and responding to audio cues. They can definitely hear noises and sounds around them and they can learn to play with you in a different way, without vision but with sound.

All babies are a joy and blind babies are no different. So don’t be afraid and simply enjoy what you have been given. Give a blind baby every chance to grow into a budding child, and a great human being.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and tell others about the joys of a blind baby. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.

Going fishing with Dad

How well I remember those very precious fishing trips that I went on with Dad. Call them fishing trips but they were really all about my dad introducing me to the fishing rod and the fish bait. I can still hear his gentle voice now, patiently teaching me how to put the bait on the hook.

I enjoyed every moment of our time together. He sat me down on the grassy bank of a river and then he showed me how to cast off. All the while he described everything around me. He described the color of the water flowing softly in the river. He described the trees that lined both sides of the river, and he even described the fish that I eventually caught. It was a little fish and when I told Dad to put him back into the river, he readily agreed.

We always had so much fun on these little trips. Dad always wanted me to be as still as a mouse so as not to scare the fish away. He was a patient teacher and father. He always had time for me and never allowed me to feel that I could not catch a fish despite not being able to see. Thanks, Dad!

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 blogs. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.