tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76309193706414025752024-03-13T05:25:55.775-06:00Beautifully BlindThis blog is about how the world is viewed by the visual and the visually impaired. The intent of this blog is to bring the two worlds together. It is administered by two fabulous sisters, Toni, who is sighted and Robin, who became visually impaired in 2002 at the age of 18 due to misdiagnosis.Beautifully Blindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173890787587858289noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-14104605228888001432014-01-26T18:43:00.000-07:002014-01-26T18:43:46.122-07:00My 11 Year Old Self I have a story to share, it is not blindness related, but I thought it was worthy of talking about with all of you. Maya Angelou understood it best when she said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” So, put on your seatbelts because we are going to travel back to the mid 1990’s, when I was in the 6th grade. This was a hard time for me because at school, I absolutely had no friends and felt isolated by my peers. Particularly, there were a group of girls, which seemed as though their main mission each day was to make my life as miserable as they could. I dreaded going to school, and could not wait for the year to be over. With that said, at the end of the year, I switched schools and never looked back.
Fast forward to the present; 19 years later, I have not talked to any of my former classmates from that school and had no expectation of ever doing so. But, you see, that is the funny thing about life, it can be unpredictable and rarely do things happen as you expect. I can attest to this first hand because at the end of last year, life threw me another curve ball. One day when checking my email, I was surprised by a particular sender. In fact, I had to scroll over his name several times before opening the message to make sure that I was hearing my screen reader correctly.
After opening the message, it was indeed who I thought it was; a male classmate from my 6th grade class. To say the least; my mouth flung open and I entered into a complete state of disbelief. In the message, he apologized for not being all that nice to me when we were younger. In addition, he offered some words of encouragement by talking about how strong of a person I am. The email was such a kind gesture and it meant a lot to me. I feel it was commendable for him to take the time to reach out to me, and it shows what a considerate adult he has grown up to be. Of course I accepted his apology, and now I have a pleasant ending to a chapter in my life that I had once closed. Speaking for my 11 and 30 year old self, I want to thank him again for contacting me!
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-10759963065396984102014-01-26T18:33:00.000-07:002014-01-26T18:33:05.821-07:00My 11 year Old Self I have a story to share, it is not blindness related, but I thought it was worthy of talking about with all of you. Maya Angelou understood it best when she said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” So, put on your seatbelts because we are going to travel back to the mid 1990’s, when I was in the 6th grade. This was a hard time for me because at school, I absolutely had no friends and felt isolated by my peers. Particularly, there were a group of girls, which seemed as though their main mission each day was to make my life as miserable as they could. I dreaded going to school, and could not wait for the year to be over. With that said, at the end of the year, I switched schools and never looked back.
Fast forward to the present; 19 years later, I have not talked to any of my former classmates from that school and had no expectation of ever doing so. But, you see, that is the funny thing about life, it can be unpredictable and rarely do things happen as you expect. I can attest to this first hand because at the end of last year, life threw me another curve ball. One day when checking my email, I was surprised by a particular sender. In fact, I had to scroll over his name several times before opening the message to make sure that I was hearing my screen reader correctly.
After opening the message, it was indeed who I thought it was; a male classmate from my 6th grade class. To say the least; my mouth flung open and I entered into a complete state of disbelief. In the message, he apologized for not being all that nice to me when we were younger. In addition, he offered some words of encouragement by talking about how strong of a person I am. The email was such a kind gesture and it meant a lot to me. I feel it was commendable for him to take the time to reach out to me, and it shows what a considerate adult he has grown up to be. Of course I accepted his apology, and now I have a pleasant ending to a chapter in my life that I had once closed. Speaking for my 11 and 30 year old self, I want to thank him again for contacting me!
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-16086260835920117652014-01-04T21:31:00.001-07:002014-01-04T21:31:20.830-07:00The Year of Happiness Happy New Year to all of you! Pat yourselves on the back you made it to the first weekend of 2014; yay! Do you have a New Year resolution yet? Well, I have been really thinking about my resolution this year because unlike the last time, I am in a new chapter of my life; the 30’s. Therefore, I really want my goal to be attainable, and benefit me in the long run. Last year, my resolution was to think more positive about my life circumstances because I was facing hardship around my unemployment. I have to admit, I had some up and downs, but overall, I think I did pretty well with my goal. I feel with any resolution or goal, there is going to be setbacks, but the important thing is not to give up or be extremely hard on yourself.
So, building off of my goal last year, my resolution is to have a year of happiness. Sure, it may sound easy, but seeking true happiness for yourself can be a daunting task, especially if you put yourself on the backburner. True happiness cannot be found in other people, but solely lies within you.
Not only am I going to think about my needs more, but I am also going to pinpoint one positive thing about each day, no matter how difficult a situation may be. For example I may be unemployed, but I have gone on interviews and I am volunteering for some great agencies, Beautifully Blind being one of them. So, what do you think, does my resolution seem attainable? Beautifully Blind wants to hear your thoughts! Also stay tuned for my next post regarding someone from my past.
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-52261922060451343532013-12-05T11:08:00.002-07:002013-12-05T11:08:38.199-07:00Moving Forward With “MovieReading” It is a great feeling to witness audio description becoming more of a discussion topic in the entertainment industry. With the television to movie theaters, audio description is more readily available than ever before. With this in mind, there is an app called “MovieReading” that makes the movie going experience even more enjoyable for blind viewers. For example, instead of trying to locate a theater that offers audio description, you have the option to travel to any show; all you just need is your smart phone.
As exclusive U.S. partners with Universal Multimedia Access, Hollywood Access Services is releasing Solo-Dx on MovieReading, the first ever auto-syncing audio description app available for first-run movies. The debut title on this new platform will be The Weinstein Company’s Philomena, already in theaters.
According to Hollywood Access Services, using acoustic fingerprinting technology, this new auto-syncing method will completely change movie going for the blind and visually impaired via their smart phones. The company says it's really easy to use… download the app, download the description track and then go to the movie theater. Even if you arrive late, you can simply hit "sync" and your audio description will pick up in the right place. Listed below are some instructions for the app provided by Hollywood Access Services.
How it works:
• Download the MovieReading App on any smart device running iOS 6 or higher.
• Go to Settings and create a login.
• Choose PHILOMENA – It will ask you to "Download the movie." Hit YES. This will download
the audio description into the app.
• To use go to MY MOVIES on the bottom. It will sync automatically. Have to grab
some popcorn or go to the bathroom during the film? No problem! It will resync when
you sit back down. If it doesn't, simply hit SYNC.
If you decide to download this app, please let Beautifully Blind know what you think!
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-59791783156589041632013-11-16T19:19:00.000-07:002013-11-16T19:19:03.093-07:00Turbulence On The Tarmac If you have ever been on an airplane, then you know how limited space can be, well at least in the economy section where I sit. It seems as though many airliners try to cram as many seats as they can in that small aircraft, so that more profit will be made. However, for the consumer, the confined space can be a little uncomfortable. With this said, when the seat belt sign is turned off and the flight attendant announces that it is safe to move about the cabin, many people, especially tall ones, make a sigh of relief as they have the chance to get up and stretch their legs. Now that pets are allowed on airplanes, it is expected that they will have the same yearning as humans to stretch their legs, particularly since their space is even more restricted.
Specifically, one story has been making news within these past days regarding Albert Rizzi and his guide dog. The plane was a small turbo, where Mr. Rizzi was seated in the last row and there was no underseat area to place his dog, Doxy. As a result, Doxy was then placed in front of another passenger’s seat. But after waiting for over an hour on a US Airways flight to depart from Philadelphia, guide dog Doxy became restless and wanted to be near his owner.
Mr. Rizzi said that earlier he had requested an open seat where there was enough space for him and Doxy, but his request went unanswered, thus placing him in the current situation. The flight attendant aboard the plane told Mr. Rizzi to stow Doxy and after much debate, the flight attendant had them both removed from the flight along with thirty something other people who came to their defense.
Since the airline failed to accommodate guide dog Doxy, Mr. Rizi believed that he was discriminated against. Mr. Rizzi is quoted as saying, “If I allow myself to be beaten down, then I allow people who come behind me to be beaten down.” Following the incident, many people have shown support to Mr. Rizzi and the other people who took a stance with him. When we tweeted this story on Thursday, there were several tweeters who were just as disappointed in US Airways as we are. One good valid point that was brought up more than once is, US Airways needs to train their employees more on ADA compliance. We at Beautifully Blind, are interested to see what comes out of this story. Please share your thoughts, we would like to know!
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-66565342529760912492013-09-30T20:57:00.001-06:002013-09-30T20:57:37.098-06:00Under The Watchful Eye The true test to one’s character is not only measured by how he/she acts in front of others, but also the type of behavior that is exhibited when they think no one is watching. A person’s moral compass helps them distinguish from right and wrong, but is that compass thrown out the window if he/she thinks there will not be any negative consequences for their actions? Here’s a scenario for you to ponder…
Let’s say one beautiful day you are standing in line at an ice cream store waiting to be served, when you notice a customer has unknowingly dropped some money. No one that you know of sees the money but you. So, what do you do? Do you tell the person or pocket the money? Well, a woman at a Dairy Queen in Minnesota found herself in a similar situation when a blind customer dropped $20. Instead of returning the money to the customer, she decided to take the cash and keep it. Little did she know the store manager, Joey Prusak, had her under a watchful eye, thus seeing everything that just transpired.
Prusak confronted the woman and told her to give the money back, but she refused. Therefore, as a result of her actions, Prusak refused to serve the woman, then took $20 of his own money and gave it back to the blind customer. Prusak didn’t know that he was under a watchful eye as well; his co-workers and the customers commended him for his actions. It is true, no good deed goes unnoticed. Prusak has received monetary rewards and national recognition for his positive actions. Props to Mr. Joey Prusak for standing up for what’s right!
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-50508879266927913082013-08-31T21:39:00.001-06:002013-08-31T21:39:14.087-06:00Accessibility With Comcast TV Whether we like to admit it or not, TV consumes many hours of a person’s life; it is a tool for relaxation. When you think about it, just like music, TV has several options for a person to choose from that is in accordance with their mood. TV can uplift a person or make them feel validated when sad. In the midst of TV’s popularity, people have adopted various rituals while engaging in this pastime. Such rituals include, vegging out on the couch, exercising, sitting in the bed, cleaning, etc. Whatever the case may be, millions of people watch TV everyday.
How many times have you turned on the TV and flicked through the channels or used the guide to find a good show? It’s an easy task, to which many do not think twice about doing. However, for me and other blind/visually impaired individuals, it is not such an easy task. In fact, speaking for myself, it can be quite daunting. Whenever I am trying to find something to watch/listen to, I really have to pay attention to sound, so that I can try to decipher the show/movie. Some channels may announce the upcoming show or movie, while others just flash the name across the screen, which frustrates me. This is why I absolutely love my Apple TV because I can easily navigate show and movie titles without sighted assistance, all thanks to VoiceOver.
Well my friends, it seems as though in addition to Apple’s accessibility efforts, Comcast is trying to make an accessibility mark too. Taking their blind/visually impaired customers into consideration, Comcast has developed a talking TV guide to make channel surfing for those without sight easier. The program might even incorporate a selection of synthetic voices that the user can choose from. The program is still being tested, but hopefully, it will be released sometime next year. YAY!!! This makes me happy because one the program is made available, I don’t have to play the guessing game anymore. So, applause to Comcast!!!
To learn more about the talking TV guide and how it was developed check out an article by the Philadelphia Inquirer: http://articles.philly.com/2013-08-29/business/41542138_1_guide-disabilities-act-comcast-corp
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-14230482540694970892013-07-31T22:04:00.000-06:002013-07-31T22:04:32.761-06:00Keepin’ It In Drive It’s the last day in July; wow, where has the summer gone? It seems like the older one becomes, the faster time passes by. Particularly for me, I can’t believe that I will be 30 in less than two days. For many, with age comes wisdom; we gain more perspective on life experiences. However, as I age, I think about all of the dreams and goals that I set for myself. As a child, the possibilities are limitless and you don’t think about the chance of your life vision not happening.
Ever since I was a child, I knew that I wanted to enter into a profession where I could help people, which is the reasoning behind my interest in social work. I stayed on my path to helping others by going back to school and finishing both of my degrees, then attaining my license in social work. But, since I graduated four years ago from my master’s program, one unfinished goal keeps nagging at me everyday. Specifically, a goal that I feel I should have attained by now; a goal that will keep me on the path to completing my life’s vision, the goal of becoming gainfully employed. In February, I decided to give myself a 6 month time frame to accomplish this objective Well, it is 6 months later, and my goal is still not completed.
Therefore, after running out of options and still wanting to keep my gear in drive, I decided to focus my efforts elsewhere. I am temporarily putting the job search on the backburner, and devoting more time to volunteering. I am sad that I didn’t make my goal, but I am not discouraged. I refuse to put my gear in park or reverse, I want to move forward with my life, and I feel this is the best way for me to do so. It is really important to remember that when life hands you lemons to make lemonade!
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-43102604880560573612013-06-30T19:20:00.000-06:002013-06-30T19:20:02.154-06:00One Snap Away When I was sighted, I absolutely loved snapping pictures; they can leave a lifetime of memories. Pictures are a gateway into how a person views the world. Despite my blindness, I still have that fascination and yearning to capture precious moments. Some may be wondering why I would want to engage in such a visual activity, to which there is no simple answer. All I can say is that if you have an imagination, the possibilities are limitless.
However, I have to admit for me, snapping pictures can be daunting at times for one main reason; pointing the camera. Encompassing the whole subject to which I am trying to capture in the picture is a challenge for me, and often leads to much frustration. Lately, I have been experimenting more with my iPhone, and found out some helpful key elements that VoiceOver helps me out with. When in the camera mode, you can switch between two different cameras; front and back facing. I have been trying the front facing camera to take pictures of myself. VoiceOver lets me know how many faces are in the picture, if it’s centered, and the image size. So awesome! Toni is probably tired of me sending her random pictures of myself for feedback, lol. Thanks sis!
In addition to being excited about the new found interest with the camera on my phone, I was elated to hear about a new app that will make snapping pictures even easier for people with visual impairments. Specifically, a graduate student at the University of California at Santa Cruz is collaborating with others to create an app that seeks to help blind/visually impaired individuals line up the ideal snap shot when taking pictures. The app enables face detection, voice accessibility, and audio reminder clips. The app was unveiled in Greece during the latter part of May at a technology conference. Can’t wait to see if this innovative app makes it to the app store. What are your experiences with snapping pictures? Do you have any helpful tips? Beautifully Blind, Inc. wants to know!
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-57757152698439837532013-05-22T15:24:00.001-06:002013-05-22T15:24:19.377-06:00Prepare For The Nightmare If you found yourself in an emergency situation, such as a natural disaster, would you know what to do? I realize that many people do not like living their lives on the what ifs, and I am not asking you to, but I do believe it is important to be prepared. Therefore, being prepared does involve taking the what ifs into consideration so that the proper precautionary measures can be taken. I have been thinking about emergency preparedness a lot lately as I listen to the natural and human inflicted travesties occurring across the world. When thinking about these types of situations, it is always important to have a plan of action; what to do, where to go, and what to take.
The best advice I can give you is, know your environment because doing this and having a plan of action can increase the probability of a better outcome. To learn more about emergency and disaster preparedness for individuals with disabilities, you can check out https://www.disability.gov/emergency_preparedness So do you have a plan of action? Beautifully Blind, Inc. wants to know your thoughts!
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-12973664844936445302013-04-09T19:52:00.001-06:002013-04-09T19:52:59.759-06:00It's Been A Long Time....It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you without a blog to listen to! LOL listening to Eric B & Rakim "I Know You Got Soul" on my iPod and it just flowed! It's been sooooo long since I've posted a blog, but Robin has been holding it down. We've been super busy this year, let me telling you running a non-profit and working a full-time job is A LOT of work...but definitely worth it. We were able to do 2 presentations with the Colorado Department of Labor, set up educational booths and run a few fundraisers. We're hoping to get out to more employers and educate them on blindness and help them understand that someone who is blind can do a job just as well as someone who is sighted, there just needs to be adaptive equipment. It amazes me and is very sad that in this day and age it is still extremely difficult for one with a disability to find employment. It can be frustrating at times because we see so many holes in the system as far as inclusion and leveling the playing field for those with disabilities and there is so much that we want to do, but it is challenging. I'm an optimist, and I wanted to do it all; transportation, counseling, grants for research, grants for assistive technology, education and home care; getting everything registered with the State and getting funding took a lot of work and resources. We decided to take a step back and and focus on just a couple of areas, education and grants within the State of Colorado. Through our journey we have learned so many lessons and met so many amazing people. It is the wonderful people that we've met who keep us going. Through them we see that we are going in the right direction and are making a positive impact. Thank you to all of the wonderful people that we've met through social media and all other supporters, your support keeps us pushing forward!Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06237461837320397171noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-49887955165699461962013-03-31T20:23:00.000-06:002013-03-31T20:23:08.722-06:00Don't Count Out The Green Rose Part II Continuing with my post, “Don’t Count Out The Green Rose Part I”, I am going to list a few strategies that I used to help me cope with my frustrations. If you have any other techniques that are not on the list, to which helped you deal with a trying situation, please share them.
1. Talking it out: Having a listening ear, whether it is a person or pet be your sounding board can help immensely. Voicing your feelings is an emotional release that allows healing because you are not keeping unresolved pain bottled up inside. In addition, talking is a mechanism that can help a person find a solution to their problem. I know when I talk some things out; I realize the answer to the issue at hand.
2. Journaling: For those who love to write, this is a great way to express your feelings. Some people write in a personal diary or in a more public form, such as a blog. Again, journaling is another way to attain that emotional release. It is a great tool for the shy person, someone who does not like vocalizing their feelings, or simply for the individual who feels better after reading their thoughts. Like talking, journaling is another way for realization because as people write, ideas come to mind, which ultimately gives clarity. With Beautifully Blind Inc.’s being exhibit A, I like to journal because it enables me to gain clarity and express emotions that I don’t necessarily feel comfortable saying in conversation to someone.
3. Music: Playing an instrument, singing, and/or listening to playlists can help a person channel his/her emotions in a positive way. Music is so relatable; there is a tune to fit every occasion. I love, love music! I can feel the emotion of the songs, as though the lyrics were meant specifically for me or at the least, the singer/song writer understands me.
4. Crying: Many people have deciphering opinions on this type of expression, but I believe it is healthy. I know I feel better once I have a good cry, even if it is only for a minute. Out of all of the techniques mentioned, crying for me is the best way that allows me to feel better. There is a quote that I love by an unknown author that sums up the impact of crying, “Tears are words that the heart can’t express.” Crying does not equate to weakness, but rather strength.
5. Nature: Studies have proven that depression is linked to isolation, so being outdoors can boost a person’s mood. The variety of sounds that nature has to offer, gives me a sense of serenity. Taking walks, jogging, hiking, playing a sport, or just sitting outside can do volumes. Fresh air does a soul good! However, I admit with the extremely cold temperatures, nature is a lot harder to enjoy in the winter. LOL.
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-79052228253000648032013-02-28T20:47:00.000-07:002013-02-28T20:47:07.515-07:00Cookin' It Up With Robin Like a taunting sound, I could hear the clock steadily ticking away, reminding me that the time was drawing near for me to start my task. “Tick tock, tick tock”, the clock chimed as the hours turned into minutes and the minutes turned into seconds. I slowly edged my way into the kitchen, creeping upon the stove. Standing there, with my heart beating rapidly, it’s like the stove was daring me to a challenge; a challenge that I was not going to lose. Taking a deep breath, I turned on the oven; there was no turning back now.
Mentally checking that I had everything; chicken, rice, and vegetables, I began the process of cooking dinner. Now, you see, I am accustomed to cooking dinner for myself, but when it comes to making food for someone else, I am an amateur. In fact, I have never cooked for anyone besides myself. So to say that I was nervous about cooking dinner for one of my friends, would be an understatement. Although, baking chicken, boiling rice and vegetables may seem easy, I was still praying that I didn’t burn up anything. When it came time to eat, I acutely listened for any sound that would give an idea of how my food tasted to my friend. However, to no avail, the only thing I heard was my friend quickly retreating from the table to put her plate away. My facial expressions must have been transparent because my friend apologized for being a fast eater and said the food was great. Hmmm… I’m not sure how much she ate, but I’ll take her word for it. LOL. Do you have a similar story to tell? Beautifully Blind, Inc. wants to know!
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-73223704711695855562013-01-31T18:59:00.001-07:002013-01-31T18:59:20.372-07:00Don’t Count Out The Green Rose-Part I I have been thinking a lot about life lately, particularly my goals and aspirations. Therefore, I titled this post “Don’t Count Out The Green Rose”. To me, the color green, coupled with the flower, signifies rarity, life, growth, health, and resilience. I believe that we all are like the green rose; rarity in our form, everyone has the power to grow into the person they are meant to be. If you don’t already know, I am an aspiring social worker with my master’s and license in the field of social work. I love helping people and have felt this way from a very young age. However, when it comes to employment, lately, I have been letting my frustrations get the best of me. I have sent out my resumes and had personal job interviews, but to no avail.
I know statistically, it is not against the norm for a disabled individual, particularly a blind person to find themselves in the same situation as me, but I refuse to be just a number. Behind the figures, are real people with real talents and capabilities. It can be hard when you feel that you have so much to give, but some employers don’t want to take a chance on you based on assumptions. So, what am I doing to cope with my present circumstances? Well, stay tuned to “Don’t Count Out The Green Rose” Part II, to find out. As always, feel free to leave your feedback because Beautifully Blind, Inc. wants to know!
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-26109314056384830222012-12-01T06:37:00.001-07:002012-12-01T06:37:50.524-07:00The Listening Ear “Listen to what you hear, and you will understand what is near.” As expected, since I lost my eyesight, I definitely pay more attention to sound, as it helps paint a picture of my environment. Through sound, one can pinpoint a particular person, place, or thing. In addition, he/she can assume the size, depth, and location by the noise that is transmitted. A term coined for this phenomenon is echolocation. Whether sighted or blind, people who do not have hearing impairments, use sound in their everyday lives. With this said it is authors/practitioners like Tim Johnson who seek to help people, such as blind/visually impaired individuals maximize their sense of sound through echolocation. Mr. Johnson is the author of “BEGINNER’s GUIDE TO ECHOLOCATION FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED: LEARNING TO SEE WITH YOUR EARS.” Through the history of echolocation to the offering of several helpful exercises, this book seeks to introduce a person to the capabilities that rest behind the ear.
It is pointed out by Mr. Johnson that although the purpose of echolocation is to help blind/visually impaired individuals become more oriented with their surroundings, it can still be practiced by sighted people as well. In fact, as mentioned above, if able, sighted people use echolocation already. I really like how Mr. Johnson illustrates this point, because in my opinion, his statement creates unity rather than divisiveness. Echolocation is something that both blind/visually impaired and sighted individuals can partake in separately or together.
Personally, as I was reading this book, I found myself following along with the exercises while also thinking about how I engaged in similar activities with my co-workers in the past. We were practicing echolocation without really knowing it. Reading further into the book, I became more intrigued and was eager to learn more. In my opinion, the whole idea of fine tuning our ability to use echolocation seemed overwhelming, but Mr. Johnson’s book lessened my anxiety because the given material gradually introduces harder exercises as the reader’s skill level increases. I felt at ease when Mr. Johnson reiterated that what may work for one person, may not be the same case for another, and to gear the material to what best suits you. In addition, he kept inspiring by saying that if one person can do it, then it is possible for anyone to do it.
Having completed an independent study on sound, to say that I am intrigued with echolocation would be an understatement. This is why I was excited to read Mr. Johnson’s book, to which I found enlightening. If you want to purchase Mr. Johnson’s book, please click on the below links. Out of curiosity, please tell us your thoughts on echolocation.
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1478371080/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1478371080&linkCode=as2&tag=ti00-20
Accessible Version:
http://www.humanecholocation.com/echolocation-guide-msword-format/
Audio Version (Currently available on Tim Johnson’s website, but will soon be available on Amazon and iTunes):
http://www.HumanEcholocation.com/audiobook
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-48490820402011900292012-10-25T14:13:00.003-06:002012-10-25T14:13:35.319-06:00What I Hear, Is What You See… Descriptive videos becoming more of a reality it seems to be, the services enhances curiosity and accessibility for many. I cannot say it enough, but I truly love watching movies. They are fun and evoke many emotions such as, laughter, sadness, fear, and anger, just to name a few. However, one main drawback for me, being a blind viewer, is the visual aspects. When watching a movie with someone, it is easy for me to fill in the gaps by having my friend or family describe to me what I am not able to see. But, what happens when I am watching a movie by myself? The answer is that I miss out on some crucial parts of the movie.
With this said, it is with great appreciation to the companies, such as Hollywood Access Services, who make descriptive videos so that blind/visually impaired individuals can watch movies independently or alongside someone without having to rely on that person’s narration. Descriptive videos offer me a sense of imagination, allowing me to create visual images of what I hear. It is correct when people say that a thousand words can be painted into a picture.
For example, like many movie theatre frequenters, I had great anticipation to see “The Hunger Games”. So, when one of my friends said she would attend the movie with me, I jumped at the chance to go with her. In my opinion, “The Hunger Games” is an action filled movie with several visual aspects, and for me, without my friend’s descriptions, I would have been lost. Most recently, I was given the opportunity to view the movie again, but with professional descriptive services from the company Hollywood Access Services. From the clear and precise descriptions of the characters to vivid illustrations of the scenery, the audio track broadened my movie viewing experience. I formulated images of what I thought appeared on the screen and I felt that the descriptions gave me a better understanding of the plot. The only thing is that throughout the viewing, sometimes the audio track and the movie fell out of sync with each other.
Solo-DX is the name of their new descriptive product. Specifically, Solo-DX is a MP3 audio file that can be played along with a movie. So, you only need two things to enjoy the descriptive services; the Solo-DX audio track and your movie. In other words, “The Hunger Games” audio file can be played on an iPhone, etc., and the movie can be listened to on a separate device. All in all, I was pleased with the Solo-DX track and commend Hollywood Access Services on their efforts. The Solo-DX is at an affordable price; around two dollars per track. The Solo-DX files are available on iTunes, but “The Hunger Games” wont be available until later this month. Like most files on iTunes, the product can be previewed before purchasing. To learn more about Solo-DX, check out their website at http://www.solo-dx.com
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-64331965734760954852012-09-30T11:53:00.001-06:002012-10-12T14:27:43.174-06:00My Ten In Ten Part II6. I went on my first roller coaster ride, but not by choice. Thanks Toni, NOT! Putting it mildly, I am afraid of heights, therefore I try to avoid rides that involve being feet in the air. However, while in Disneyland, I slipped up, and let my oh so loving sister trick me to going on Space Mountain. I still have to get her back for that one. LOL.
7. 1, 2, 3, I became a part of the texting community! I was thrilled when I was able to text for the first time, thanks to Mobile Speaks, which was downloaded on my cell phone. This was a joyous moment for me because I felt closer to mainstream. I would sit in my undergraduate and graduate classes listening to my peers text, before and after the lectures of course. LOL. But, listening to my peers engage in an activity that I could not do, caused me to feel left out. Yay for accessibility!
8. Bon Voyage, Jamaica here I come! Not only did I attain my first passport, but I was able to venture outside of the United States for the first time as well. Jamaica was a blast to visit, and I’m glad I was able to go on this trip. The culture, food, music, ocean, sand, etc. made my time in Jamaica enjoyable. Also, thanks to my niece being the charmer she is, I was able to sit in first class on the plane for the first time as well.
9. I was hired at my first internship. This is an experience that I will never forget, both good and bad because it prepared me on what to expect in my future places of employment. I was not only entering the work force as an intern, but one without eyesight. One main challenge that I faced was changing a fellow intern's negative notions regarding my blindness. I realized that you can't broaden someone's perspective if they are not open for change.
10. My first professional job. After leaving my first internship, I found another agency where I would be able to fulfill my remaining internship field credits. Choosing this agency was one of the best choices I made because I truly found out what it meant to work in a healthy, supportive environment. I felt needed and wanted by the staff; I was a valuable member of the team. Eventually, I interviewed for a contract position that open, and was hired. I learned many tools that have and will continue to help me thrive in my future endeavors, such as the importance of teamwork.
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-58686739412169596192012-07-12T14:54:00.000-06:002012-07-12T14:54:49.745-06:00Guest Blogger: Accepting My Blindness By Jeff Thompson, Blind AbilitiesAs I pass through so many worlds, so many lives each day, I wish my Scarlet Letter was not my defining impression. My blindness does not define me. And to those who don’t understand I begin to write…
If I never accepted my blindness I would join you in a notion of pity and share a tear of sadness with you. And, yet, there would come a day when we would cry no more, no more tears, no more sadness because we would grow to an acceptance of our fate. Yours to mine and mine to yours. Let that day be today where we accept and turn our attention towards tomorrow and today. I am me and I am blind. You are you and together with acceptance we both can move on. I move on differently and today, to me, so do you.
Tomorrow I’ll do as I do and you will as you do, too. My ways of my methods and my alternative techniques shine like oddities in this perfect world where we reside. Unto me I face the challenges of blending in and I am an autonomist going about my way, going about my day where some think I strayed. I belong on this broken trail of zig and zag, tappity tap tap, slaunching to the right and bumping to the left. My dance is quite chaotic to those unaware of my shoes. But to you, with acceptance, I’m right there where I intended, in this perfect world…equally with you.
Do we accept people and their differences as much as we think we do? Does my presence create the “Where’s Waldo” effect as I criss cross through this perfect world? I accept all of this and that is why I am out there, being Waldo, being the glitch out of sync with perfection’s tolerances. I am OK, I accept it, and I’m not blind to me being blind.
I see differently today but more clearly than ever before. And like Beautifully Blind states: I see through my heart.
Thanks for the vision Robin and Thanks for the Beauty you and Toni bring to blindness.Beautifully Blindhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173890787587858289noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-10250327635059128792012-06-26T08:54:00.001-06:002012-09-23T18:12:53.386-06:00My Ten In TenIt literally feels as though time is flying by, and truer as the person ages. It’s hard for me to believe that it has been ten years since my loss of sight. Through these years, I have experienced a great deal of things; many for the first time. All of my experiences enabled me to have a broader outlook on life and treasure what life has to offer. To give you a better glimpse into my life, I have compiled a list of ten things that I have experienced for the first time within this past decade. So, here it goes:
1. I became an aunt for the first time. Ok, although, my niece was born a month before my loss of sight, I would be remiss if I didn’t include her on my list.
2. I bought my first white cane. To me, the white cane is not only a traveling tool for blind individuals, but it is also a symbolic representation of how one has left the sighted world. I didn’t have any reservation about carrying my cane because I felt awkward without it. Before I had my cane, many people thought I was being rude if I was standing in their way, failing to realize that I could not see them. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have grown to rely on my cane, and it is my trusty friend!
3. I made my first television appearance on KMGH – Channel 7 10:15 Difference. I am very thankful to former Executive Producer of Channel 7 News, Jeff Harris, for providing me with the opportunity to share my story with individuals across the state of Colorado. I was able to communicate my thoughts/feelings regarding everything I went through with my medical condition and loss of sight.
4. I became a first time voter. No matter what political affiliation a person is, if any at all, I truly believe it is important for everyone to take part in the legislative process. As we all know, one vote counts and can make a difference. This was a long waited, momentous time in my life.
5. I attended my first hydrocephalus conference. For of those of you who do not know, hydrocephalus is a medical condition that I have, and is the cause behind my loss of sight. Attending the conferences allows my family and I to learn about recent research updates, attend various informational workshops, share perspectives, meet new people, and visit with old friends.
To be continued next time…
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-65944266304215430752012-05-11T11:11:00.000-06:002012-05-11T11:11:58.507-06:00Behind The White CaneWhy do you feel the need to categorize me?
Placing me in a group filled with stereotypes and misconceptions,
slowly, but surely, erases my individuality.
I’m a person, who happens to be blind,
but that does not mean I have the inability to see;
for I see with my heart,
so please, have some empathy.
When you talk about people, who are blind,
you say that they’re unapproachable,
or could it be that your perception may not be plausible?
If you viewed me as my friends do,
you’d realize I’m a separate entity.
Selfless, caring, gifted, determined;
my friends describe me to be.
On the contrary of unapproachable,
with sheer honesty,
one friend described me to be personable.
Take the time to listen;
I’m not asking for sympathy,
but instead, a chance to be accepted for being me.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-4766350069714339642012-03-27T12:29:00.000-06:002012-03-27T12:32:41.176-06:00To Have Eyesight Or Not To Have Eyesight Part IIIf a knock came at the door, amidst the opportunity to have you once more, I would probably say yes with thoughts of adding another chapter to my core. For me, sight restoration is not a matter of being maladapted or unhappy, but instead it is answering the what if. Naturally, if something is taken away from you, an initial thought may be geared around the possibility of its return. As one of Beautifully Blind, Inc.’s friends in twitter eloquently put it, having sight again would be an adventure for him. To say the least, I agree; it would be an adventure that could cause feelings of excitement, yet, also uncertainty.<br /> I miss physically seeing the changes of seasons, stars in the night sky, but most importantly, my family’s beautiful faces. I had the opportunity to see my niece when she was a baby, for about a little over a month. Ten years later, I want to see what she looks like as she grows into the maturing young lady that she is becoming. On the flip side, I wonder what it would feel like to see my friends to whom I have met after my sight loss. I believe initially, it would be strange to actually see their face, rather than just a voice.<br /> Also, similar to the reader in my previous post, “To Have Eyesight Or Not To Have Eyesight”, I wonder what it would feel like not having to use my trusty talking technology. In addition, I also wonder what it would feel like not being a blind person, and entering into the sighted world again. Would I feel uncomfortable? Or how would I be received by the blind community? I am not sure how to answer these questions, in fact, there are a lot of I don’t knows that I have.<br /> But what I do know is that I should not have to think about how I would be treated by the blind and sighted community if I ever got my sight restored, because we are all human beings and need to live in a united society. There must be an end to the gap between the blind and sighted communities. All in all, whatever the case may be, sight restoration would be something that I would consider doing if deemed fit and safe. Like me, all of the respondents to my question about sight restoration, had eyesight at one point in their lives. The majority of the people responded that they would want to have their eyesight back, if given the opportunity. What are your thoughts?Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-80566428737672680182012-02-27T14:35:00.000-07:002012-02-27T14:37:08.455-07:00To Have Eyesight Or Not To Have EyesightTo have eyesight or not to have eyesight, is something that I have been pondering for a while, especially lately. As technology and science research advances more and more each day, eyesight restoration becomes more of a reality for people inflicted with blinding eye conditions. In fact, if you have not heard, last month two women, who have different forms of retina pigmantosa, received stem cell injections in their eyes. The stem cell injections proved to be successful by restoring some vision to the patients. <br /> After tweeting this news on twitter, I posed a question to our blind/visually impaired followers regarding whether or not they would want to have eyesight, if given the opportunity. To many, this topic might be a no brainer; of course people who are blind want to see. But despite the contrary belief, many blind people do not want to have eyesight. I was talking to my ophthalmologist about this, and he was saying, one deciding factor for a person may be based on the amount of time they have been blind. He went on to discuss how when compared to someone who has lost their eyesight, If you are born blind, having vision would probably be scary because of the unknown. So, taking the research into consideration, as a person who has been blind for ten years this year, would I want to see again? What were the responses to this subject matter on twitter? Stay tuned for “To Have Sight Or Not To Have Sight Part II.”Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-50670337787572944232012-01-30T11:07:00.004-07:002012-01-30T11:21:42.844-07:00An Okie At HeartThe sound of the whistling winds, brisk breeze hitting you so hard that it almost knocks you over, lets a person know that they have arrived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is the land of the ice storms, tornados, and oddly enough, lately earthquakes. For those of you who may not know this, I had the opportunity to attend my freshman year of college in this inimitable city. I always enjoy visiting Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City reminds me of many pleasant moments revolving around some of my family and friends; moments that always bring a smile to my face. With this said, my good friends, Jenny and Curtis, always go out of their way to make my trip extra special. I met them over ten years ago, before the loss of my sight, and they have continued to stick by my side. Upon my arrival to Oklahoma City, Jenny and Curtis prepared one of my favorite meals, took me to visit my favorite ice cream place, then I had a trip down memory lane, while visiting my former school. Jenny and Curtis’ overall amazing descriptive skills, and awareness for the need to verbalize descriptions, resulted in nothing but smiles for all of us. <br /> In addition to the visiting with my family and friends, a highlight of my trip was discovering Oklahoma City’s talking crosswalks, in the downtown area. Talking crosswalks are automated street crossing signals that allow a blind/visually impaired person to know when it is safe to cross. When I pressed the crosswalk button on the pole, if it was safe to cross, the voice would announce the following: name of the street, walk to cross, and then the remaining seconds left to arrive to the other side of the street. When crossing the street, there is another system still counting down the time, allowing a person to know how much time they have left to travel and what direction to go towards. However, if it was not safe to cross, the automated voice would repeatedly announce wait. I was so excited after my experience with the talking crosswalks, that I became giddy, to say the least. LOL. I wish Denver would install this type of system. I believe it would make traveling safer compared to the beeping signals. Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I did embarking on the trip.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-65013918065109888742011-12-15T22:20:00.009-07:002011-12-16T08:30:22.016-07:00Pardonez Moi.....OK readers I need you to help your girl out! I am baffled and need some understanding. Is common courtesy nonexistent? I mean if you saw someone in your path with a bright white cane, wouldn't you think to move out of the way? Remember this blog is based on the perceptions of 2 sisters; one blind, one sighted; Robin seemed to find my irritation funny, but I was quite flabbergasted! I was not a happy shopper and usually shopping brings me great joy! Here's what happened, *sigh*, so we're at the mall getting our mom's Christmas gift, Thursday evening, the mall wasn't too crowded, normal mall crowd and people still continued to walk straight into us. WTH?! Not just once, not just twice...multiple times! This girl had to pull her boyfriend out of the way! We're walking, they see us...keep walking...I'm thinking are they gonna shift to the side...nope, they keep coming. I'm telling Robin, "These people see us, headed straight towards us and they are not gonna move". Robin's laughing, "Yeah, it happens all the time." So, now I'm at the point where I'm refusing to move, they are going to have to get out of our path. Can you believe these people still would not move?! They got right up on us to the point we're all doing a two step shuffle to get around each other! Again, WTH?! Maybe I'm a bad guide. I know, I know, Robin's talked trash about my guiding skills, but I've gotten better! Seriously, I have lol! I don't know, maybe I'm confused, maybe I missed the memo that courtesy went out with last years fashion. Call me crazy, but doesn't it just make plain ol' good sense for someone to go around if they see someone is blind? Or were we supposed to move out of the way? Oh pardon me sighted person, although you see us and are walking directly in our path, let me guide my blind sister around you at the last minute to not inconvience you. All you, sighted person, had to do was take a few steps over to the side, while I have to direct my sister to go to the right, keep going, oh wait, hold on here's some more ding dongs who don't want to move out of the way...geez! My thinking is whoever has to make the less effort should move. If I see someone with a stroller, in a wheelchair, that's blind, on crutches, or someone who has shopped until they can't shop anymore and has more bags than they know they need, etc., I'm moving out of the way because it takes less effort for me to move than to make them move. C'mon people, let's keep down all of the unnecessary scuffle...share the mall hall! It could just be that some people are just rude and are that way regardless and it's more noticeable when their rudeness is towards someone with different abilities. They better not be shocked when they find a lump of coal in their stockings this year, lol!<br /><br />It's the holidays, so while out and about, be kind, be courteous and most of all be fabulous! Smooches!!!Tonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06237461837320397171noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7630919370641402575.post-38348201452588177162011-11-23T11:42:00.000-07:002011-11-23T11:43:45.322-07:00Giving ThanksThank you for your unwavering love.<br />Thank you for your ongoing support.<br />Thank you for your undeniable devotion.<br />Thank you for your compassion,<br />which flies freely like a dove.<br />Thank you for your listening ear.<br />Thank you for your soothing voice.<br />Thank you for the big hugs.<br />But most importantly,<br />thank you for being so dear.<br /><br /> Tis’ the season to reflect back on your life and offer thanks for the blessings you have received. As Thanksgiving rapidly approaches, many people are gearing up to celebrate with their family and friends. The preparing of food, feasting together, sharing of stories, and the overall quality time spent together, will create a lifetime of memories. But the reality is, the offering of thanks should not be limited to one season, it should be everyday. Even when times are hard, try to pinpoint one positive thing that has gone right. It will be difficult, but it is possible. When I was losing my eyesight, of course with the help of my family, I had to keep reminding myself to be thankful for what I do have instead of what I don’t. My challenge to you is every morning before you start your day, think about one thing that you are thankful for; it will impact your outlook on life and others. I will start by saying how thankful I am for my family. What are you thankful for?Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182575564618253480noreply@blogger.com0