Socializing in the workplace

Now, here's one of the most difficult challenges for me; socializing in the workplace. At the best of times, when I worked in a mainstream workplace, I always found it a bit difficult to socialize. As a blind person, it is often difficult at the best of times to be able to tell when and where to socialize. It is often difficult to find where people are gathered and in many cases we have to use our sense of hearing to find the action so to speak.

When it comes to going out to restaurants with coworkers, we often have to depend on our sighted colleagues to lend a helping hand. Getting to the restaurant, finding a table, knowing what's on the menu, and so on. We even have to depend on sighted assistance to help us navigate our way to the bathroom and back to our places at the table.

There are many tiny things that much of society may not think of when it comes to a blind person being able to socialize in the workplace but there you have it. If we are in unfamiliar territory, then we would definitely need sighted assistance to help us navigate and find our way and if we need to locate friends and acquaintances then the same would apply.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and encouraging you to go out there and educate your coworkers about how blind persons socialize in the workplace.
Visit www.acb.org to learn more.

I will always love you Whitney

Greetings! I'm Scott Savoy, managing editor at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
This week, our president Donna J. Jodhan is going to share a very special editorial with you; her personal feelings on the passing of Whitney Houston.
I wish you a great weekend.

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I will always love you Whitney
By Donna J. Jodhan

She was a mom and she was a daughter! She was an inspiration and she was one of the brightest lights in our music industry! Most of all, to me, she brought so many happy moments to me. Through her music, she helped to preserve so many cherished memories for me.

Without enough vision to see what is happening on TV these days, I still have memories of a smiling Whitney Houston on the cover of my Whitney Houston record albums. Her happy face is forever engrained on my memory and I will never forget you Whitney.

I am so lucky that I was able to capture the image of your face before I lost most of my vision and your songs will forever live on in my mind. There is one particular verse that will always be precious to me and it is this:
“Give me one moment in time! When I’m more than I thought I could be! When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away and the answers are all up to me. Give me one moment in time! When I’m racing with destiny! Then in that moment in time, I will feel eternity!”

Thank you Whitney for helping me to preserve my precious memories. Rest in peace and know that your songs will live on. Each time I need to retrieve some of those precious memories; images and all, I will play some of your ballads and let your voice do the rest for me.


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

Technology becoming more difficult

Two steps forward for mainstream technology, but unfortunately, just one for access technology. What I mean is this; the evolution of technology is like a runaway freight train. It changes literally by the minute and we all have to find ways to keep up with it in our own way. For blind persons, the challenge to keep up with it is made even more difficult because of having to wait for access technology to catch up and when it does; mainstream technology has already left the building so to speak.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with what access technology is; it is the technology that is used by disabled persons to help them access software, the Internet, plus more. Access technology includes such products as: screen reading software, magnifying software, and specially adapted keyboards. There are other types of access technology of course. Access technology is also very expensive in comparison to mainstream technology and often time, it is financially out of the reach of many disabled persons.

Access technology has come a long way in its development but there is much more to be done and it does not help when mainstream technology continues to change so rapidly. This can't be helped. We need specially developed devices to enable us to scan and read books. We need talking GPS devices to help us navigate streets in unfamiliar areas. We need clocks and watches that talk to help us tell the time. We need appliances that have been designed with voice output so that we can use them. In short, for a blind person, we need to have devices that talk and devices with large print displays so that we can use them.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and encouraging you to go out there and help educate the rest of the world about access technology. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.

The five pillars of success

Greetings! I'm Christian Robicheau, assistant editor at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Well, February is marching along quite nicely and so far, our winter has been a mixed bag. Today, our president has a very thought provoking editorial to share with us and I hope that you find it of interest.
Do enjoy this weekend!

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The five pillars of success
By Donna J. Jodhan

I have thought long and hard about this and I guess that everyone would have a different list to offer. The word success could be used in so many ways to describe the achievement of a plethora of goals, objectives, and victories. I would like to offer mine as a “successful” blind professional woman who is deeply committed to advocacy, and to ensuring that the rights of blind and partially sighted kids of the future are recognized, legitimized, and protected.

So here is my list.
Pillar 1, commitment: To work tirelessly to achieve one’s dreams, objectives, and goals and to not give up no matter what. In good times and in bad times, my commitment will not waver.

Pillar 2, respect: To respect myself first and foremost, and then to respect the opinions and feelings of others.

Pillar 3, patience: To have patience for as long as I can with the opinions and short comings of others.

Pillar 4, compromise: To always look for a middle ground whenever conflict arises.

Pillar 5, accommodation: To always find ways to accommodate the opinions and suggestions of others.

I will add to other pillars to my list as follows.
Pillar 6, passion: To always approach our task with passion and mean what we do and do what we mean.

Pillar 7, compassion: To have compassion for our neighbor and the next person in our lives.

Just 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

If I could dream

If I could have just a few seconds to dream then this is what I would dream of:
That blind kids of the future will have a better shot at enjoying a more mainstream life. That they will be able to have equal access to such things as websites, information, and services. That their parents would be in a position to afford to buy them the necessary access technology that they would need in order to function on an equal footing with mainstream kids. That somehow, they would be able to go out there and literally reach for the stars.

If I could have just one solitary moment to dream then this is what I would want to dream of: That aging adults who are either blind or will be come blind later on in their life will be able to live their golden years in relative comfort. That being; that they would be able to receive adequate services to help them cope with their blindness and loss of vision. That their golden years will be filled with happiness and joy and that their lack of vision would not be a hindrance to them.

If I could dream for that one fleeting minute then I would dream that the doctors would find a cure for my blindness. That somehow and some way, they will be able to come up with a medical solution to help me and others like me. That somehow in the not too distant future, I would again be able to cherish a golden rising sun and an orange sunset. That I would be able to look at a deep blue sky with fluffy white clouds coasting lazily by and white capped waves and a jade green ocean.

If I could have that one defining wish it would be this; that I could once again imprint the faces of my beloved parents, granny, and brothers on my mind. That I would be able to see the Christmas lights, the ice skaters on an icy rink, my beloved Montreal Canadiens hockey team skating up the ice, birds of gorgeous plumage, and a plate all decorated with fruits of various shapes and colors.

If I could dream! Ah, but only just a dream! Then the rustic reds and burning oranges of fall and the burning candles in my favorite church would become a reality and then I would be able to reach out and touch whatever I wanted to.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to go out there and share my dreams with the rest of the world. Visit me anytime at www.sterlingcreations.ca.

The workplace syndrome

Greetings! I'm Scott Savoy, managing editor at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
It's a typical winter's weekend shaping up and I hope that wherever you are, you are having fun. This week, I am delighted to present you with an editorial from our president Donna Jodhan and today Donna discusses the workplace syndrome.
I wish you a great weekend.

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The workplace syndrome
By Donna J. Jodhan

For lack of a better term, this is what I call it; the workplace syndrome. The workplace has now taken on so many new meanings and dimensions and we need to keep this in mind as we attempt to add the needs and demands of blind and partially sighted persons. The workplace has undergone so many changes within the last two decades and today we find that it can apply to any of the following: The workplace in an office environment, the workplace in one’s home, and even the workplace on the road.

For blind and partially sighted persons, these changes can both be a challenge as well as an exciting time but it all depends on certain factors. Factors such as having the right type of technology to meet the requirements of the environment of the workplace.

There is no reason why blind and partially sighted persons cannot be a part of any of these types of workplaces. All it takes is a bit of patience, research and a willingness on both sides to make it happen. Blind and partially sighted persons need to ensure that they can access their environment in an efficient manner and this means ensuring that their access technology is able to communicate with mainstream technology.

In the case of the mainstream workplace in an office environment, blind and partially sighted persons need to ensure that their access technology can access the company’s intranets, mainframe environments if necessary, and that it can communicate in an efficient manner with online screens and databases. In case of at home workplaces, there needs to be an assurance that access technology can communicate appropriately with company servers and the same would hold true for an on the road workplace.

Employers need not be too worried about a blind or partially sighted person’s ability to use hand held devices such as IPhones, IPods, or IPads. Apple has done a marvelous job at ensuring that this is all possible. In short, the changing nature of the workplace should not affect the abilities and capabilities of blind and partially sighted persons to be participating contributors.


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

Inaccessible slot machines

Now, here is something that much of the sighted world may not have given much thought to and I am only going to comment on the machines here in Ontario. However, some friends in the United States have told me that they are facing the same challenges when it comes to inaccessible slot machines.

Up until about two years ago, it used to be relatively easy for me to play at the slot machines. They emitted sounds, the coins made noise when dropping into trays, and the flashing lights helped to make my visit to the casino a very enjoyable one. Now however, things have changed.

There are no more noises of coins to be heard dropping into trays. No more sounds when I get lucky at win a few coins. No more noise period. So now when or if I win, I have to depend on sighted assistance to tell me what's going on. Yes, I can understand the casinos wanting to cut down on the noise level but in doing so they have in effect severely limited our access to slot machines. Too bad for us.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and help educate casinos about why we are finding their machines to be inaccessible and somewhat unusable.

Make the dream last

Greetings! I'm Christian Robicheau, assistant editor at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca
and today I have a really inspiring editorial to share with you from our president Donna J. Jodhan. All about making the dream last.
I hope that this editorial inspires you to reach for the stars!
Enjoy your weekend.

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Make the dream last
By Donna J. Jodhan

A few months ago, I took the time to follow the funeral proceedings for the late Jack Layton and was particularly impressed by the quotation "Always dream a dream that lasts longer than a lifetime." This is what Mr. Layton often said to those around him and it is something that I personally happen to believe in.

Almost all of us have dreams; as children, as teens, as young adults and as we approach retirement and beyond. Some of us day dream in school or at work. Others do it while asleep while still others take time to do it whenever they can. No matter where we do it or how we do it, it is a dream but in order to make the dream last and/or make it last longer than a life time, we need to dream harder, better, and do it with much more commitment and effort.

In other words, we need to mean what we dream and dream what we mean. We need to dream with fervor. We need to dream about things that will have the potential to affect our lives and way beyond into the future. We need to dream outside the box so to speak and we need to use our imaginations in a more creative and effective way.


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