Training in public. Reasons why it is good!

Today, I was doing some training helping someone who is blind to learn more about her IPHONE. We did this in a coffee shop. Sometimes I am not sure whether or not this is the right environment to do this in. After all, it can be noisy and we need to hear the screen reader on our phones (in this case voiceover). But after today, I thought how good it is too. The other person had left for a meeting and I was getting ready to go too and walk home in the freezing cold wind with my guide dog. Someone beside me said, "Excuse me. I couldn't help but watch you with your phone. Do you have special software put on it?" I explained that Apple has made Idevices and macs accessible right out of the box. the man was so glad to hear it. A family member of his is losing vision and loves her iphone. I explained how to get voiceover or zoom (large print software) running. he thanked me so much!

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.

Walking in shoes for the first time outside in ages.

I thought spring might be approaching yesterday. For the first time in what feels like ages, went out in shoes yesterday. Tulia (my guide dog) did not have to wear her boots either which made her happy. I realized as I walked, that I can feel so much more through shoes than I can through boots. the sidewalk cracks and dips, driveway slopes, changes in surfaces. How wonderful it was to not have heavy boots on. But now they are saying a big dump of snow for today and tonight so human and dog boots come out again! But hopefully spring really is just around the corner.

Upcoming Storytelling performance at the carlingwood library in Ottawa.

I am storytelling this friday March 1 at the Carlingwood library.  in Ottawa from 2 to 3 PM.  Address is 281 Woodroff.

I will be telling stories for adults.  Autobiographical stories filled with interesting twists, insights, and humour.  It is free to attend.  The space holds about 40 people.  They would prefer you to register.  In order to register, you need a valid Ottawa library card which is free.  Here is the registration link.

//bit.ly/XX9k3j 

If this doesn't work for you and you want to come, let me know.  My lovely guide dog Tulia will be there too of course!

Changes to the Electronic Access Agreement - Please Review

Changes to the Electronic Access Agreement - Please Review

We have recently updated the Electronic Access Agreement which governs your
use of RBC Royal Bank Online Banking. The changes come into effect on February 25,
2013. By signing in to RBC Royal Bank Online Banking before February 25, 2013,
you are agreeing to the revised terms and conditions of the Electronic
Access Agreement.

To review the Summary of Changes to the Electronic Access Agreement,
click the "Sign In" link below:

Sign In to Online Banking

Apps and products I use regularly.

I'm going to start a series of blog posts about apps, resources, technologies, I use as a blind person regularly. If anyone has suggestions or wishes to write a guest post, contact me at gttprogram@rogers.com and I will take submissions. In the next post, I will feature blog booster which I am using to write this post.

Not in the dark.

I was trying to describe to one of my blog readers yesterday about what I see. In one eye, I see light and dark and shadows if they are within maybe a foot of my eye. In the other I see nothing. People say, "Does it look like dark?" No, it is just nothing. Not a scary nothing. But nothing. They asked if it was emptiness. Well, maybe. But the thing is that I am focusing on my other senses so even dark does not feel dark. When I walk around the house at night in the dark, I hear the furnace, the floor creeking, sounds from outside. I feel the carpet or the floor under my feet. I smell whatever scents are about. And I can touch everything I would touch in the daytime and know what it is. So it doesn't feel dark in a bad way as my world is full of the other senses. Hope this description makes sense. Thanks to all for your questions and reading of this blog. Another new parent of a blind child has found it. Welcome! Glad I have made you feel more positive about blindness. an aspiring song-writer is now here too. People working on school projects. Friends, family, and others. Glad to have you all here.