The dog with the gentle soul, loving heart, intelligent brain, and sense of fun!

Last week, I was honoured to be asked to be guest speaker at an annual general meeting for an organization that supports children with disabilities. As I was preparing to enter the building, a little boy approached us. I was just about to put Tulia's harness on. The boy came up to us and asked very nicely if he could pat my dog. I said yes as she was not wearing her working harness. He patted her and then turned to go inside with his mom. She came up to us and told me that he is afraid of dogs and never ever before has asked to pat any dog. Tulia must have given off a special vibe. She is a special dog but then I am biased. So lucky to be the one she shares her life with every day.

Started a work blog.

I have started a blog to put up all work information. It is at Kim's work blog.

High tech low tech both fascinate the public.

yesterday, two other hosts and I launched a radio show by and for and about people with disabilities. I will blog more about the show soon. I am still absorbing the launch and how it felt. However, I want to say this. We had media coverage from CBC radio and CBC television in Canada. The tv man was in the studio filming us as we did our show. This is community radio so we have to do all aspects of it. Conduct the interviews, play the music, operate the sound board. Everything. I had my iphone in the dock and was running music from it. I turned the speech off and ran it from my braille display so radio audiences don't hear the sound. The journalist was fascinated by this. And then, in the next breath he wanted to make sure he got a photo of the guide dog lying under the desk. What a contrast between two of the things that help me to lead an independent life. My guide dog (low tech in many ways) and my braille display and my phone (high tech) but both so important and essential. Here is the link to go and find our show. Once you get to the site, search for welcome to my world or tuesday at 9:30 AM. CKCU radio

blind people in chaos

A friend of mine who happens to be blind was running the Boston Marathon this week when the explosions took place. He is fine. He did not finish because of the bombs. He was worried about his guide dog who was waiting at the finish line. But, all were okay. It got me thinking. Thinking about being blind and in a chaotic situation. Like in a fire, or bombs going off, or flood or tornado. If your landmarks are moved. If things around you change. If everything is noisy it is more difficult to navigate the world around you. However, at times it might be an advantage too being blind in these situations. If it is dark and hard to see for example.

Crazy things you do!

The other day, I had a meeting in a nearby coffee shop. After much talking, wrestling with technology, and consuming of hot liquids, I went to find the bathroom. I knew where it was and my guide dog did too. i put out my hand to touch the wall across from the bathroom and felt some round shapes that were rough. I thought they were travel coffee cups and that it was some sort of art installation. I went to the bathroom and when I came back to our table, I asked the 2 sighted folks meeting with me what the art was on the wall across from the bathroom. There was a silence. They said they had not noticed any art. One got up to look. She came back saying there was no art on the wall. I got up and went to show her. Found the wall, found the round scratchy things. They were rubber mats rolled up the ones you use in winter to keep salt and water off the coffee shop floor. That was all it was. No art at all. This is the funniest thing that I have done in weeks! I am still laughing.

The dog's memories live on.

It has been more than a year and a half since my third guide dog Gia died. And more than two years since we worked together as a team. But still she is remembered. This morning early, Tulia and I were out for a walk. A man said good morning to us with a cheerful accent from somewhere like Jamaica or one of those lovely warm islands. Then he asked if my other dog had died. he said he used to see us all of the time. He said she was such a nice dog. Then he paused and said, "All of your dogs are nice." Tulia was sitting beside me as we chatted and she tilted her head and leaned it on my leg. I'm sure she was giving him the look she does with everyone. "I am the cutest dog ever! Isn't that right?" On another note, I was with someone who has early stage dementia the other day. Tulia sat with her head on his leg. He said, "This dog has the kindest eyes." Later, he asked the nurse where that nice dog was.

International day of disabilities.

Yesterday, December 3 was the United Nations day of persons with disabilities. I reflected what a long way we have come even since I was born. There were no computers for us when I started school. I had a brailler, a large and heavy typewriter and braille books. I never dreamed of apps or touch screens or GPS navigation that talked. But, even though technology has hepled me immensely, still the things that I still have with me every day are not high tech. My guide dog. My cane. My orientation and mobility skills.

Apps for everything but would I need this one?

Yesterday, I came across a posting of someone who was developing an app for an I device. It is one that converts colour into sound. It made me think. Would I use such a thing. I do sometimes associate colour with sound but it is a personal association. I think of dark colours as the bass notes on a piano or cello or tuba. I think of bright colours like the sound of a trumpet or flute or piccolo. I think of light colours as a ringing of a clear high bell. So I might not like it if someone else picked the sounds for the colours. I'd just rather hear the word. What that colour is. Very interesting concept though.

Dinner in the dark performance.

Next week, I am storytelling for a dinner in the dark event to promote accessibility. I'm happy to do it. It amuses me slightly that this dining in the dark seems to be big business. People want to pay large chunks of money to do it. There are restaurants that specialize in it. Au noir is one in Montreal and Toronto and they also exist in Europe and I'm sure other places. It really makes me laugh to think that I do this every day in a way and that others pay a lot to do it. I would have never dreamed that this type of experience would be so highly valued.

The Frustration Of Facebook

Today, I was trying to set up a facebook group. I got a ways along. Picked a name. Then it asked me to pick an icon. None labelled. Just said "link" "link" "link" I picked one. Do not know what it was. Then it asked me to add people. I did that. Then tried to go on but it would not let me. Twitter is very accessible and blind friendly. Why won't facebook listen? I've written and asked numerous times for more accessibility. Pointed out what I need. It is So Frustrating not to even get a response from them. Everyone, write to Facebook and ask for accessibility and not just for bits of the site but all of it! Okay, off my soap box now! Thanks twitter for being so accessible by the way.

Taxi anyone?

I've mentioned this before here, but, I will say it again. My guide dog has a phenomenal memory. The other day, we walked to a taxi stand at a near-by hotel to get a cab. Yesterday, we passed by there again. When we reached the stand, my dog sat down and bumped me with her head. "This is where those cars are that you like!" I laughed and laughed, patted her and we moved on. She is truly a genius of a dog. Maybe I should get someone to teach her to play chess? I was never good at that myself!

Stay safe in the storm.

Much of North America will be hit by a big storm this week. Fortunately, I believe that we will miss most of it where I live. When you are blind, knowing your environment is very important. When I go out in a few minutes, I need to walk a few blocks to the bus stop. My dog guides me along but I do use certain landmarks to know where I am. A mailbox on my left, I can hear it is there and know I am close to the corner. I know where the garbage cans are along the way for doggy gifts. I know the bus stop pole. If a storm moves these things and others, I could be a bit turned around. Also, wind makes it difficult for me to hear traffic, people around me, and can be quite disorienting. So storms bring challenges to us all but sometimes different challenges to people who are blind.

More about the blind man and the sword incident.

I read a few more articles about the blind man in england who was tasered by local police. They believed or thought that his white cane was a sword. They had been alerted to a man wandering around with a sword. They saw him walking with his cane. They called and told him to stop. The thing about this is that if you call out, "Stop. Hey stop." I would not necessarily know you were talking to me. You would have to say my name if you knew it or actually tap my shoulder or be very close to me. So, he did not stop and therefore was tasered. Very odd situation. Some major disability awareness training needs to be done pergh?

What I get for reading murder mysteries at night.

Last night I was reading a murder mystery before going to sleep and I had a really awful dream that someone was chasing me through the house. But, then it was cool because it was one of those dreams I could shape myself. I turned off all of the lights and heard them blundering around. I went into the closet and texted 911 with my phone and my dog was there too and the police came and got the chaser. Bad dream turned cool for sure.

Some police who need to have their eyes checked perhaps?

I was startled the other day by an arsicle. Some police in the UK thought a blind man's white cane was a sword and tasered him. A sword really? For anyone who does not know, the white cane identifies someone as blind or partially sighted. there are longer white canes that people use to travel if they are totally blind or have very low vision. There are also smaller shorter canes called identification canes. People carrying these canes do not need them to walk with but use them so that people know they have some vision difficulties. When someone travels with a white cane, they swing it of course. This is so that you can feel objects around you as you touch them with the cane. Yes you move it back and forth. Yes you touch things. Yes you may bang into things. That is what you do. But a sword? Really? Thank goodness I travel with a guide dog. I hope no law enforcers ever think my guide is asome kind of danerous weapon.

Thankful to be blind in Canada.

It is Thanksgiving day here in Canada. I am thankful for many things. But, for the purposes of this blog, I am very thankful to be blind in Canada. Sometimes, I remember something and hear something about blind people in other countries. Developing countries. Here, I have computer equipment, a braille display, a guide dog, the ability to have learned how to get around independently, laws that protect my rights. Is it perfect here? No. Are there things we can do to improve? Yes. But, in some countries, blind people have no equipment, no ability to move about independently, not always support to be educated. So, on this thanksgiving day, I am thankful to live here in Canada and to have had a family who supported me in all of my adventures.

Facial expressions.

Someone was talking about facial expressions yesterday. Reading people's faces. This person looks sad, angry, worried Etc. I can hear things in people's voices yes. But, I can't look across a room and see someone's face. A wink. A shrug. I wonder how much I am missing or if I get most of it?

Can someone describe the cycling track?

Thanks so very much to those who gave me an idea about the pole vault. Fascinating to know more about these sports. Brings a whole new appreciation to me of what athletes do. I ran a bit of track in public and highschool so I know what a running track is like. I do not know what a track cycling track is like though. The velodrome. They said it was made from Canadian wood (the one in London that they are using now) but what is it like? It sounds like it is not flat like a running track but I am not sure.

people don't think we can be athletes.

This morning, Oscar Pistorius made history by running in an olympic race and making it to the next round of the men's 400 meters. he does not have legs and runs on artificial ones. I can't describe them to you as I do not know what they are like. But, I have been following the story. Some people said that it would be dangerous for him to compete. This is a common thought. Sports would be dangerous for us, for those around us, and why would people with disabilities do them? I myself have participated in many sports. People are amazed to know that I ran cross country and a bit of track. But how? Why? That I was a competitive swimmer and paralympian. Again, why? How? Skiing, skating, hiking, sandem cycling. Participating in sports has kept me healthy, happy, given me interests and activities that I love, help me travel around the world with confidence. i have not yet quite figured out why this makes people so nervous. Perhaps it is because we are often perceived as weak and pathetic. This makes participating in sports unlikely and even dangerous perhaps. or maybe they imagine themselves trying to do these things with their eyes closed and this makes them nervous. i'm so glad for Oscar that he is making history in a classy manner. Go go blade runner.

what the heck do they throw in the hammer throw? More olympic questions.

Continuing in my blog series of questions about the olympics and events I ask you this. This morning, they talked about the hammer throw. So I am pretty sure they do not throw a hammer like the ones we use to pound nails in. But what do they throw? And how do they throw it? So curious.