How blind persons read books

When it comes to blind persons being able to read books, we do it in several different ways. We can read it in Braille,
We can listen to it on CD or cassette, or we can use our computers to download books and listen to them using special
access technology called screen readers.

We can use cassette recorders to play our cassettes. We can use CD players to listen to our CDs and we can also
use specially developed book readers to read books that have been formatted into DAISY formats. We can also use
scanners to scan books and listen to them from our computers.

A lot has been done and continues to be done when it comes to making books more accessible to blind persons but
there is still much more to be done and this should be seen as a continuing job. In the meantime, I have some
websites for you to visit to learn more about how blind persons read books and what they use in order to read books.
Visit www.aph.org, www.rfbd.org and www.humanware.com.

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

Access technology versus mainstream technology

Greetings! I'm Scott Savoy, managing editor at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Well, it is the final week of November and today our president Donna J. Jodhan has a very sobering editorial to share with us. All about access technology versus mainstream technology. I wish you a great shopping weekend.

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Access technology versus mainstream technology
By Donna J. Jodhan

Well, what more can I say to add to this topic that is very near and dear to my heart. To put into perspective:
Access technology is much more expensive than its counterpart and much less available on the market.
It is extremely challenging to have access technology repaired as opposed to its counterpart.
There are few less manufacturers of accesstechnology hardware and few less developers of software.
The profit to be made for those who develop and sell access technology is much less than for those who do the same for mainstream technology.
Access technology has to be developed in such a way as to adapt to the mainstream world.
So there is the picture. Now where do we go from here?

About 18 months ago, I bought a PDA that was developed for blind persons; a real find for me and one that I found to be really forward thinking because of its features. A few weeks ago, I was told that this PDA will no longer be manufactured and as of June 2012, no more hardware maintennance agreements would be available. Accessories will still be available as long as supplies last. Quite a shock and now we are all left holding the bag so to speak.

I am not going to identify the manufacturers of this wonderful product but suffice it to say that it has made me rethink how I go about choosing my mobile devices. Do I continue to buy access technology that is extremely expensive and one that I am not sure will be around for too long? Or do I move towards the Apple world of mobile devices such as the iPad, iPhone, and so on?
Do I expose myself to heartbreak if I continue to buy these pieces of access technology only to learn that in a short space of time they are off the market and no more supplies of accessories or support is no longer available?

Just my two cents for today


I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and weekend.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna's blogs and editorials.
Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com
Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog
A monthly editorial on issues on diversity
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca

Is it clean mom?

This is one of my favorite questions and I constantly need to keep doing this because I am unable to decipher or tell when certain things are not clean. When it comes to dishes, glasses, and pots and pans, I can usually tell if things are clean by running my fingers along surfaces. If I feel bumps and sticky stuff, then I know that it is not clean but when it comes to stains it's a different story.

In the kitchen, stains are my main challenge because it is difficult to tell if a stain is there unless it is sticky or bumpy. When it comes to clothes, the same thing applies. When it comes to carpets and floors and furniture, it's all the same. So, if mom is around I can as her but if she is not then I have to be super careful. Walls and doors are also something for me to be careful with. My fingers can usually tell if surfaces are dirty but in many cases it is impossible to feel spots and stains.

I'd like to see the development of some sort of device to tell blind persons when stains and spots are present. In the meantime, you can learn more about how blind persons deal with such things as spots and stains by visiting www.rnib.org.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and help educate the sighted world about how blind persons deal with spots and stains.

Customer disservice?

Greetings! I'm Christian Robicheau, assistant editor at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
It is another beautiful fall weekend shaping up and I hope that we are all getting ready for the holiday season which should be kicking off in full right after the American Thanksgiving holiday.
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish our American friends and family a very happy Thanksgiving.
Today, our president Donna J. Jodhan is not very happy about the type of customer service being handed out by several of our large corporations and she has written an editorial to express her unhappiness.
I hope you take note of this editorial with the approaching holiday season.
I wish you a great weekend.

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Customer disservice?

There used to be a time when companies seemed to have gotten it! Customer service was one of the most important strategies to help them win over customer loyalty. It did work for a while but within the last two to three years this strategy seems to have been put on the back burner and what we have now are call takers and customer reps who believe that customer disservices is the only way to deal with their customers.

It appears that these good folks feel that it is no longer important to listen, display patience, or provide assistance to customers. In so many instances, they have become rude, impolite, discourteous, and unwilling to help whenever they are called upon to go the extra mile.

The other day I called the customer service department of a major Bank to complain about a rude note that my mom had received from them. When I tried to explain my position to them the call taker refused to listen and when I nicely asked to speak to a supervisor they refused to connect me to their supervisor. Several others have told me about similar incidents and I for one can only express my concerns as follows:

We are dealing with a rapidly aging market of consumers who will undoubtedly be needing more customer care and attention. Many of these consumers are going to be afflicted with additional diseases in addition to the afflictions that accompany the aging process. This means that companies are going to have to find ways to provide the necessary assistance and accordingly, they will have no choice but to provide adequate training to their call takers and customer reps. In turn, call takers and customer reps will have to find ways to leave their unhealthy attitudes at home and replace them with such qualities as respect, courtesy, helpfulness, and anything else that satisfies the needs and demands of these consumers.

My two cents worth for today.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and weekend.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna's blogs and editorials.
Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com
Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog
A monthly editorial on issues on diversity
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca

Can blind people travel?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions that I am asked and my response is this: Sure, blind persons can travel and enjoy what the sighted world does. However, we do things a bit differently.
Here's how I do it.

Whenever I travel by plane; I first ask my travel agent to notify the airline that I will need assistance and this has turned out to be not much of a problem. Air Canada has been excellent to me and has provided me with first class services. They have always provided me with end to end services that include checking in, boarding, in flight, and disembarking services.

When I arrive at the airport in Toronto, this airport's special needs services department is ready to help because I have notified them before hand that I would need help from my cab to the airline's counter. I do not know if other airports provide this type of service but if they don't, then I have to depend on sighted assistance for someone to bring me to the check in counter. I find this a bit nerve racking but I have learned to live with it as I am a frequent traveler.

If I take a train, I usually notify the railway company in advance that I would need help so that they can provide me with boarding, in train, and disembarking services. Not a problem for me and whenever I get to a station in Canada, the "Redcaps" attendants are right there to help me from my cab to the ticket counter. Bus services are similar.

So you see, it is not as difficult as you may think and if you would like to learn more about how blind persons travel, then visit www.nfb.org or www.afb.org.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and help educate the rest of the world about how blind persons can travel.

Different views from different generations

Greetings! I'm Scott Savoy, managing editor at
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
It is a typical fall weekend and I hope that everyone is doing just fine and
getting ready to enjoy some outdoor freshness and/or some pre Christmas
shopping.

Today, I am delighted to share an editorial written by our president Donna
J. Jodhan in which she presents views from different generations of blind
persons.
Enjoy and have a great weekend.

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Different views from different generations

A few weeks ago, I decided to take some time to go out there and listen
to the views from blind persons of different generations.
Specifically, what are their views on the issues of such subjects as
employment, education, and accessibility. In order to simplify things,
I am going to refer to the generations as follows: 35 and under -
generation Y and above 35 - as generation X. I will first state the
question that I asked and then give the consensus answer.

I will hasten to add that my mission was not meant to be a formal
survey in any way shape or form but rather as a fact finding mission
for my own education. I managed to gather a total of 15 responses from
each generation and I would like to thank those of you who took the
time to respond. So without much more ado here goes.

On the subject of employment -
Question: Do you think that employment opportunities for your
generation are better than they were about five years ago?
Consensus from generation X:
Not really. Employment opportunities for this generation have always
been extremely difficult to come by and they do not see much of a
change for the foreseeable future.

Consensus from Generation Y:
Employment opportunities have improved somewhat in certain areas thanks

to better technology for the blind. However, there are still many
barriers for them to face and there is a glimmer of hope for the
future.

Question: What kind of barriers do you presently face in the
workplace?
Consensus from generation X:
There are many barriers that include attitude, ignorance, and adaptive
technology is still trying to catch up with mainstream technology.
There is also still an unwillingness to give blind persons an equal
chance to prove themselves.

Consensus from generation Y:
Some barriers have started to come down but there is still much more to
work on. The gap needs to be narrowed when it comes to employers and
employees believing in the abilities of this generation. More needs to
be done when it comes to making the workplace a more level playing
field for blind persons.

Question: Is there anything that can be done to improve employment
opportunities for blind persons?
Consensus from generation X:
Everyone needs to work on such things as attitude and more willingness
to change perceptions of what blind persons can do. A greater
awareness needs to be worked on.

Consensus from generation Y:
Employers and employees need to be given awareness training on how
blind persons can fit into the working world. More education is needed
and acceptance as well.

On the subject of education -
Question: Do you believe that your generation has had equal access to
educational facilities and opportunities?
Consensus from generation X:
Not really. Blind persons of this generation have had to fight very
hard to receive education; especially at post secondary level.

Consensus from generation Y:
Opportunities have been improving but more needs to be done in the area
of distance learning opportunities for blind persons.

Question: Do you believe that educators have been able to fully
comprehend the needs of your generation in the classroom?
Consensus from generation X:
No. In so many cases educators have failed this generation simply
because of a lack of understanding and a willingness to do so.

Consensus from generation Y:
In some cases educators seem to get it but in other cases not really.

Question: Do you believe that educational opportunities for blind
persons can be improved and if so how so?
Consensus from generation X:
The only way for any sort of improvement is for everyone to come together to
discuss what needs to be done and how it can be done. A more serious effort
needs to be made.

Consensus from generation Y:
Things are getting better for blind persons in the classroom but if
improvement is expected to continue then blind persons need to speak up

more.

On the subject of accessibility -
Question: Do you believe that your generation has been given equal
access to important services in your community?
Consensus from generation X:
No! In so many cases, this generation seems to be the forgotten ones.

Consensus from generation Y:
Things are a bit better than they were a few years ago but there is
definitely still not equal access.

Question: Do you believe that equal access is something that could be
attained by blind persons?
Consensus from generation X:
No. For as long as governments continue to ignore the needs of blind
persons, there will be no equality to accessibility.

Consensus from generation Y:
No. Equal access can only be attained if a serious effort is made to make it
happen.

So there you have it; views from two different generations.
My two cents for today.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and weekend.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would
be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna's blogs and editorials.
Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com
Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog
A monthly editorial on issues on diversity
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca

My favourite scrap books

As long as I can remember, and with or without sight, scrap books have
always been one of my favourite pastimes. When I was a kid, my cousins used
to clip all of my favourite pictures and photos out of magazines and
newspapers and then patiently paste them into scrap books for me. I only
had to ask and Nancy and Brenda would do it for me.

There were pictures of the Kennedy family; in particular the Kennedy
brothers. The Osmonds, and the Royal family. I could barely see these but
it did not matter. I had to have them. Later on, my best friend Charlene
continued the tradition for me and my favourites expanded to include Paul
Anka, Englebert Humperdink, Julio Iglesias, Wayne Gretzky, Princess Diana,
and of course my hero Pierre Trudeau.

I expanded my favourites when I got my vision through a cornea transplant
and for 25 glorious years I was able to cut and paste for myself. There
were many other favourites that I collected as well. I collected
memorabilia on the death of Princess Diana and JFK JR along with Pierre
Trudeau and I extended my scrap book pastime to include videos.

Five years ago when I lost almost all of my vision, my pastime came to a
screeching halt but I held on to my scrap books and videos. A few months
ago, I decided to rid myself of some of these treasured scrap books because
it was becoming too much for me to store and it was with a very heavy heart
and a lump in my throat that I did this. Before parting with them, I opened
each and riffled through their pages doing my best to remember. Then
fighting back tears, I placed them in a large box and took them down to the
garbage shoot. "Rest in peace" was what I whispered as I gently pushed them
down the shoot.

These scrap books have helped me to keep my memories alive. I have kept
some of the more treasured ones back but I shall always miss the others. I
still have my videos because at least, I can play them and listen to them.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a
terrific day and inviting you to go out there and tell others how much a
blind person can enjoy scrap books and videos. Visit www.aph.org to learn
more.

Seniors and technology

Greetings! I'm Christian Robicheau, assistant editor at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Ah yes! November is here and soon the holiday bells will be ringing. Today, I am pleased to introduce an editorial by our president Donna J. Jodhan and she focuses her attention today on seniors and technology.
I wish you a great weekend.

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Seniors and technology
By Donna J. Jodhan

I do not think that many would argue with my humble opinion that over the past decade, technology has made it possible for more seniors to live more independently. We have seen some giant steps forward in the field of technology with regard to making it easier and more possible for seniors to be more independent. An Example of this would include the event of the medical alert bracelet, and of course there are many more that can be listed. Suffice it to say that more seniors are using technology to do such things as get around more independently, communicate more freely, and socialize more easily.

More seniors are using electronic devices to get around; ranging from electric wheelchairs and walkers to sophisticated devices such as GPS gadgets. They are using the Internet to get involved in online socializing, affect in depth information searches, engage in online shopping, plus a lot more.

I do not think that over 10 years ago, anyone could have predicted the evolution of such things as social networks and online shopping and that our seniors would be so willing to embrace it all so readily. What it all means is that our seniors are being presented with more lucrative opportunities to live their golden years in a better place and as time marches on, it is only going to become better.

Just imagine seniors becoming involved in something like online dating and online socializing? Seniors using the Internet to book their travel plans? Seniors taking full advantage of the email era? Things have certainly changed and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The seniors of nowadays certainly have a lot more technology at their disposal; to learn, discover, and explore.

We can only look forward to the continuing changes of a landscape of tomorrow that will hardly image the one of just yesterday.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and weekend.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna's blogs and editorials.
Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com
Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog
A monthly editorial on issues on diversity
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca

New ways of identifying

Now that I am barely able to see, I constantly have to find and come up with new ways of identifying things to others. It is no longer possible for me to identify things by color so I need to let my fingers do the identifying for me. The other day for example, I told my brother that his sweater was hanging in the coat closet and when he asked me which sweater we both hesitated at the same moment. His first words were "O, you don't know which one" but my comeback was "the woolen one, with long sleeves, and workings on the front."

When I was able to see, and had enough vision to identify colors, my mom and others usually identified things to me through color. It was the yellow book, the black shoes, the bottle with the green liquid, the tin with the red top, and so on. Now, I have to come up with other ways to identify things to them and in turn, they are constantly coming up with ways to identify things to me.

We usually communicate in terms of size, shape, texture, and where a certain thing can be found. More work for both sides but it works just fine. When I was a kid and as long as I can remember, my mom and I have used a very unique way for us to identify things to each other. We identify things through incidents and memory and who has given something to us. So for example; it's Gayle's bag because my sister-in-law Gayle gave me this particular bag. It's Granny's dress, because the dress belonged to Granny. It's mom's perfume because mom gave me the perfume, and so on.

Of course, there are other ways to identify things and there are devices out there that blind persons can use to identify things. To learn more, visit:
http://www.independentliving.com
Or http://www.maxiaids.com

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