Handling the mail with no one around

Here is yet another challenge that I as a blind person face on a daily basis: having to handle the mail when no one is around. For the most part, it is difficult for me to find someone to sort and handle my mail on a daily basis and for the most part I need to find someone to help me do it and at their convenience.

This could be frustrating for me only if I let it be so and I have had to strategize in order to help myself. I use my portable scanner to help read the envelopes and this cuts down tremendously on time spent on this daily task. Nine out of ten times the scanner can decipher the text on the envelope and from there it is easy to sort the junk mail from the real mail.

I know what flyers and brochures feel like so those are usually tossed in the garbage first. After this the junk mail that is in envelopes follow suit and then it is time to read the bills and other letters.

Handwritten mail is usually the most difficult for me to deal with and here is where I need to find sighted assistance. With regard to bills and other mail that is typewritten, I need to take my time and read it thoroughly. All in a day's work I say to myself as it needs to be done.

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. Visit me anytime at www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.

Dealing with dust

As a blind person it is often difficult for me to deal with dust. Dust on my counters, dust on my dressers, dust on my clothes and shoes, dust everywhere.

So how do I deal with this natural challenge of life? Well, I have a recipe which works most of the time and here are the ingredients: patience, more patience, and taking time to find it and remove it. No, it may not be the perfect recipe but it sure works for me.

I let my hands and fingers do the walking and finding, so to speak. I use my fingers and hands to find the dust, and to remove it. I really do not like the feel of dust under my hands and fingers but I put up with it. I methodically remove the dust so as not to knock over objects on my counters and dressers. With regard to my clothes, I am extra careful to brush outwards and away from the affected piece of clothes or garment so as not to allow the dust to blow back on to them.

Sometimes, of course, I may knock over something that is in my way and this can't be helped but I say to myself that it is all in a day's work. I dust regularly so as to avoid having to deal with too much dust. I am constantly checking for dust but you know what? I do it once weekly so as not to drive myself crazy.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to expand your easy listening by visiting my audio mysteries at www.donnajodhan.com.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.

My memories of the moon

O! That big round face that always seemed to smile down on me each time I looked up at her! For as long as I can remember until January of 2004, I was able to see her. No matter how small she was and how brightly she shone! I could see her.

After the demise of my vision in January 2004, I used my memory to conjure up images of her and it sure as anything works for me. Ah yes! My beloved moon! I could find her on any given night when I had enough vision to do so and when I was studying in England my dad had said to me before I left home: "Whenever you're feeling homesick just go out there and look up at the moon and I'll do the same and all will be well."

This magic formula sure worked for me because believe it or not I believed it and I knew that my dad would never let me down. Just like me, he would go out there and look up at the moon. He taught me so much about my beloved moon!

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

My first memories of flames

I can still remember when I first discovered what flames looked like. I had very limited vision then so I could not really appreciate their beauty at that time. This memory is still as clear as day in my mind.

I was no more than six years old then and it was a really lovely evening in August. We kids were outside roasting cashew nuts on an outdoor fire and my cousin, Susan, brought me as close as she could to the fire and there I stood, gazing in wonder at it. I loved what I saw given my very limited vision and I think that in her child's mind Susan also seemed to appreciate my smile because she proceeded to describe the fire and the cashew nuts to me. I think that she did a really good job doing it.

When I obtained a great deal of functional vision as a teen, I grew to appreciate the beauty of flames even more. The flames of a candle, of a warm fire on a cold winter's day, and a fireside in a restaurant. Memories for me to cherish forever.

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. Visit me anytime at www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.

When the radio suits me best

There are some who prefer the TV, others who prefer the Internet, and then there are some like me who prefer the radio. It all has to do with our preferences and how we like to receive our information.

I sure recognize the importance of both TV and Internet but here are the times when radio suits me best. When I am at work in my office and I can keep up to date while I work. I find that when I am working the TV is often a distraction and in the opposite way the radio seems to soothe me best.

When I am in the car on my way somewhere, the Internet and TV are off limits to me. When I am elsewhere, TV and Internet are not available. Example, on the beach, while walking, in a restaurant, and so on. I really find that the radio is more of a friend or companion to me while I am outdoors. I find that I need to concentrate more when I listen to information on the Internet. I use the radio to keep up to date with breaking news, to listen to easygoing music, and of course, sporting events!

I often find that radio announcers are much more descriptive than their TV and Internet counterparts, but alas! Those watching TV and Internet programs can see what's going on and I am unable to do so. So here is where the radio fills the gap for me because everyone is on the same playing field; no one can see what's happening on the radio.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to expand your easy listening by visiting my audio mysteries at www.donnajodhan.com.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.

My favorite sand box

As I sit here writing this blog I can still remember my favorite sand box as clear as day. It was just right, the one at primary school. Not too big and not too small. Not too deep and not too shallow. Filled with soft white sand that simply slipped through my fingers each time I went to play with it.

This particular sand box was filled with all kinds of wonderful little toys. Little cars and trucks. Boats, buses, scooters, and mini buckets and spades. Hoes and rakes, and my favorites! Ducks, chickens, fishes, lobsters, and crabs. Everything was so colorful! Things in so many different colors and how I loved to play with them.

Sometimes I would sneak away at break time to play with them on my own. There I would kneel in front of my favorite sand box and there I would play with its contents. I would arrange the ducks and chickens in a line. Then do the same with the fishes, crabs, and lobsters. I would place the boats in a circle, and place the spades hoes and rakes in the little buckets. Then I'd drive the little cars and scooters around in the sand and do the same with the buses and trucks. I would compose stories on my own as my hands moved everything around.

The cars, boats, scooters, trucks and buses were of various colors ranging from blue and red to yellow and green. The ducks were blue, the chickens were yellow, the fishes were red and green, the lobsters were red, and the crabs were green. Buckets were blue and yellow and there were matching spades, hoes, and rakes and oh yes! The wheel barrow was a bright yellow.

I remember it all now and this is what keeps me alive and thinking. The ability to remember color as I can no longer see it now.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and encouraging you to learn more about the world of blind persons by visiting www.afb.org.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.

Those scary wasps

For as long as I can remember, wasps have always been scary little things to me and I believe that as a general rule of thumb they are the same for many others. In a real world, the mainstream person can normally see them coming and approaching but for me as a bind person I cannot see their approach and by the time I hear them buzzing around me it is just that bit too late for me to either get out of their way or to defend myself.

As a kid, I was stung by them a few times. Sometimes I inadvertently strayed into their path and sometimes I tumbled upon their nest and I can tell you that they do not appreciate me invading their privacy. Their sting is hard and they are not about to let you invade their space. I respect these little insects and am constantly on alert for their presence no matter where I am. Thank the Lord that they only come out in the summer.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to visit me anytime at www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and @author_jodhan.
Or you can chat with me on Skype at habsfan0526.