In life, three barriers often prevent people with disabilities from fully participating in various activities:
Social stigmas, attitudes, and misconceptions about our abilities.
The built environment and the lack of accessibility.
Ourselves, which includes fear of the unknown, fear of failure…
Here's a simple tip to make your business more accessible:
Manual Debit/Credit card machines feature tactile elements such as raised dots and symbols to assist individuals who are blind or legally blind. For example, there's a raised dot on the #5 button that provides orientation for navi…
1) A white cane signifies that the person using it has low to no vision. Only 15% of people who use a white caneor a guide dog are totally blind, the rest of us have varying degrees of vision, but our vision isn’t reliable.
2) Most of us call our cane what it is -- a cane. If someon…
Do you know what the synthesized sound of chirping birds are for at some intersections? Currently, at some intersections, they are still in use to tell those of us who have low vision or who are blind to know when it is safe to cross the road. Did you know that there are 2 different sounds? One sou…
Supporting someone who stutters is important for emotional well-being and self-confidence. Stuttering can be challenging for each person experiencing it and your support can make a significant difference in our life.
Here are some tips on how to support someone who stutters:
Patience. One of…
A couple of years ago, my husband and I travelled to Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island. Our goal was to see the tide pools during low tide at Botanical Beach. I was told the trail/path down was inaccessible to me due to tree roots, rocks, low hanging branches, steps, and many small plank walkways. M…
1) When a fully sighted person is looking at something that is 200 feet away and sees it clearly, that is 20/20 vision. When someone is diagnosed legally blind, that means that the person with the diagnosis needs to be 20 feet or closer to it to see it or to kind of see it.
2) Never assume …
According to Easter Seals of Canada, approximately 22% of our population in Canada live with a learning disability. Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia are some examples. Learning disabilities have nothing to do with intelligence or psychiatric conditions. Many people with learning …
A disability is something that prevents someone from participating fully in life. Anyone at any time could develop a disability.
You can be born with a disability, or acquire one later in life through accident, illness, stress, genetics, the natural process of aging, or for no known reason.
…
My vision loss journey. It is a journey that is mine, one that only I can experience from the inside. It is a journey that is unique to me, just as everyone else is on journeys that are unique to them. I am blessed to have the love, support, and encouragement of my husband, family, and many close fr…
Guide dogs and service animals are more readily acknowledged today and are often seen with their handlers in every setting around town or in daily life activities.
These highly trained animals are essential to their owner’s quality of life, safety, and ability to live independently. They have und…
Hello, my name is Gina Martin. I own and operate Diverse Abilities Programs and Training on lower Vancouver Island. Through interactions with attendees of my presentations on low vision, blindness, and disability at retirement and senior communities, I have come to realize how trusting our senio…
Coping with PTSD / CPTSD: Understanding and living with Post-Traumatic Stress
The information in this post is not meant to be comprehensive, only to give basic information on this disabling illness and to provide resources to seek more information or help.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (P…
Unveiling the hidden barriers that people who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices encounter
Imagine a world designed for everyone. A world where mobility isn't determined by physical ability. This vision is at the heart of the concept of universal design. “Universal design is design th…
a few AWESOME and helpful things happen!
1. When you know our name, it is helpful when you use it to greet or address us. Saying “Hi Gina” lets me know for sure that you are talking to me. Often, many of us who have low to no vision don’t always know it is us that you are talking too.
Ways to navigate zip lining with low to no vision
The first time I zip lined was in 2016 while I was attending The Louisiana Centre for the Blind, receiving training to navigate life with sight loss. What was unique about this adventure was that we all wore learning shades (a blindfold)! It was…
You may be familiar with the most known of the many neurological disabilities:
- Epilepsy. Abnormal electrical activity in the brain causing seizures.
- Parkinson’s Disease. A brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with bal…
Vision loss is not only about losing your sight. It also is about gaining your blindness.
Why would someone who can barley see, want to go in a hot air balloon?
Because the experience is more than just a visual.
The energy of the crowd was electrifying. People buzzing around all happy …
Editor’s note: On January 25, 2017, friends, family and members of CFB gathered at Paul’s Restaurant in Victoria, B.C. to celebrate Gina’s successful completion of the nine-month training program at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Gina gave an interesting and inspiring presentation about her e…
I have no central vision, and I experience blind spots and floaters in my peripheral vision. I can see shapes and most colours, but cannot make out details. I wear dark sunglasses as my eyes are light-sensitive, so I prefer low lighting. No two people’s experience with vision loss or blindness is th…
The Braille alphabet is used by people who are blind or partially sighted as a basis of the larger Braille code for reading and writing. Kids and adults who are blind read Braille by gliding their fingertips over the lines of embossed Braille dots. They write braille using a variety of tools, such a…
1) There are many different types of canes and cane tips for people who are partially sighted or blind to choose from. Every cane gives different information, and each person can explore what type of cane will work best for them. A cane represents freedom to those who use them.
2) A white cane…
Money is only good if you know what it is!
In Canada, if you are someone who has limited vision or is totally Blind, our Canadian currency is easy to figure out the denomination. Every bill is identifiable.
We can tell from the font size, different colours, and the tactile markings of Brai…
It is totally okay to use the words see, look, and watch when talking to someone who is blind. These are not uncomfortable words for the majority of us who are blind. We do see, look, and watch only differently.
You look at a garden and see a beautiful orange rose. You smile as you admire how…
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition that affects how someone’s brain processes sensory information (sensory integration), causing extreme sensitivity to stimuli. From 5% to 16.5% of the population lives with SPD according to ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Occupational therapist, psy…
There are a few main terms used to describe people experiencing hearing loss. Deaf, Hard of Hearing, someone experiencing hearing loss, and deaf blind. The majority of people in the Deaf community prefer not to use the term “hearing impaired,” so avoid it unless the person specifies that they prefer…
Epilepsy is a disorder in which nerve cell activity in the brain is disturbed, causing seizures. Epilepsy may occur as a result of a genetic disorder or an acquired brain injury, such as a trauma or stroke. During a seizure, a person experiences abnormal behavior, symptoms, and sensations, sometimes…
As a woman who is almost blind, technology has helped our community of people who are blind or partially sighted gain a huge amount of independence back. Smart phones and other inventions have allowed many of us to participate and enjoy life more fully. Voice over, Siri and magnification (all built …
I used to fear the idea of using a white cane and drawing attention to myself. Today, this white cane represents my freedom.
Navigating with no sight is possible if you have these tools in your belt!
My cane is an extension of me! I use it to detect objects that I can’t see or have difficultie…
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