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27 episodes with blind how
20 episodes with blind how
Deepti Vempati is many things: breakout star of Netflix's hit reality dating show, Love is Blind, Indian immigrant, author, data analyst, daughter, sister, and a symbol of women's empowerment. Deepti captured the hearts of audiences across the globe when she turned down her fiancé at the altar—a man who, unbeknownst to Deepti, repeatedly belittled her and criticized her appearance on-screen. Millions watched as Deepti uttered the now-famous words that became a rallying cry for women everywhere: “I'm choosing myself.” It was a joy and an honor to have a conversation with Deepti about how we too can listen to our intuition and choose ourselves everyday. Listen to this episode to hear: • How Deepti navigates the spotlight after Love is Blind • How to listen to your intuition with grace • The sadness that can come with making the right decision • How letting go allows for better things to come along This episode is presented by Avocado Green Mattresses. The leader in organic, eco-luxury mattresses, bedding, and pillows. Find out more here. ABOUT DEEPTI: Deepti Vempati is many things: breakout star of Netflix's hit reality dating show, Love is Blind, Indian immigrant, author, data analyst, daughter, sister, and a symbol of women's empowerment. Deepti captured the hearts of audiences across the globe when she turned down her fiancé at the altar—a man who, unbeknownst to Deepti, repeatedly belittled her and criticized her appearance on-screen. Millions watched as Deepti uttered the now-famous words that became a rallying cry for women everywhere: “I'm choosing myself.” Born in India and immigrating to the USA when she was a child, Deepti struggled with her bicultural identity. From feeling caged by societal standards, to entering the dating world, to gaining (and losing) 70 lbs, to becoming an overnight celebrity, Deepti takes readers on her journey of self-discovery in her new book “I Choose Myself” and proves that the most important relationship you can have is with yourself. Grab Deepti's new book “I Choose Myself” here. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love to hear what you think in an iTunes review! DEEPTI'S BOOK • DEEPTI'S IG Follow, subscribe and leave a review! Find out more about Yellow Co.'s community of women creaeting meaningful work: yellowco.co | @yellowco.co • Connect with Joanna at joannawaterfall.com and on IG @joannawaterfall :) Music Written by Jonny Pickett (check out his music on spotify) Thanks for listening!
Blind How Basics Blind How (https://BlindHow.net) is produced by Gary Crow, Ph.D. who has been blind since birth and has extensive experience in mental health…
If, like me, you can't see, there are quite a few annoying problems that pop up; and they all are due to not being able to see. I'm sure that either of us could make a very long list. A number of little frustrations would be on both of our lists, but there would be some that show up only on one of our lists. We each have our own pet peeves. For me, most of my can't see annoyances can be put into only a few categories. What is it? Where is it? Which one is it? How does it work; and more to the point, how can I get it to work for me? First, let's get some perspective. Everyone has similar annoyances whether or not they can see. Being irritated by this and that now and then is liberally spread around for all of us. It's easy to get the feeling that life has dealt us a worse deal than everyone else, but that's just not true. The world is more accommodating to some of us than to others of us for sure. It is what it is. If we were to make a list of the ten worst limitations we might have, we might think that not being able to see would be at the top of the list, but that's mostly because we haven't experienced the other nine. My point is that coming up short in the seeing department only means that I'll just have to figure out some other way to know what it is, where it is, which one it is and how to make it work for me. Here's the good news. Let's call what, where, which one, and using it the big four – That's the big four annoyances due to not being able to see, of course. I don't have to puzzle out the big four for myself. If you insist on figuring them out for yourself, have at it. For me, I'm happy to know that others have already figured them out so I can just use their strategies and solutions. I'm sure that either of us could likely figure out ways around the big four by ourselves, but why bother? We can just use someone else's strategy, modifying it if necessary. Easy Peasy. The solution to "What is it?" and "Which one is it?" is not complicated. Open the Aira or Be My Eyes app on your smart phone and ask the agent or volunteer to take a look and tell you what it is or which one it is. We discussed those options in the last episode of Blind How. They also may be able to help you to find something that you dropped or just can't find, if you know approximately where it is. You will recall that they are also usually willing to read something for you, if it is not too long or overly private. But there are other options. You won't be surprised to know that those other ways involve apps on your phone, using the phone's camera. Although I don't understand much about how they do what they do, it's usually referred to as OCR or Optical Character Recognition or as A I or Artificial Intelligence. One of the most popular apps like this is called Seeing A I. There are several vision assist apps available to us and they do various tasks with mixed results. They can read, identify money, tell us whether the lights are on or off, identify things around us, help figure out what color something is, identify products, read bar codes, and other things related to providing visual information. How well they will work for you can only be determined by you giving each app a serious try. I think you can try each app for free, but there is a cost if you want to keep using most of the apps. I can tell you that the more you use a particular app, the more effective it will become, as your skill with using it improves. As with other apps, you will need to use your developing skills to find and try out the available visual assistance apps. As a place to start, try Applevis.com to find out about these apps and how to use them. There are also quite a few blindness related podcasts that will add to your explorations. And searching Google for "OCR" and "Blind" is likely to point you in helpful directions. If I'm leaving you short, leaving you annoyed, I already mentioned that I'm not going to hold your hand,
If, like me, you can't see, there are quite a few annoying problems that pop up; and they all are due to not being able to see. I'm sure that either of us could make a very long list. A number of little frustrations would be on both of our lists, but there would be some that show up only on one of our lists. We each have our own pet peeves. For me, most of my can't see annoyances can be put into only a few categories. What is it? Where is it? Which one is it? How does it work; and more to the point, how can I get it to work for me? First, let's get some perspective. Everyone has similar annoyances whether or not they can see. Being irritated by this and that now and then is liberally spread around for all of us. It's easy to get the feeling that life has dealt us a worse deal than everyone else, but that's just not true. The world is more accommodating to some of us than to others of us for sure. It is what it is. If we were to make a list of the ten worst limitations we might have, we might think that not being able to see would be at the top of the list, but that's mostly because we haven't experienced the other nine. My point is that coming up short in the seeing department only means that I'll just have to figure out some other way to know what it is, where it is, which one it is and how to make it work for me. Here's the good news. Let's call what, where, which one, and using it the big four – That's the big four annoyances due to not being able to see, of course. I don't have to puzzle out the big four for myself. If you insist on figuring them out for yourself, have at it. For me, I'm happy to know that others have already figured them out so I can just use their strategies and solutions. I'm sure that either of us could likely figure out ways around the big four by ourselves, but why bother? We can just use someone else's strategy, modifying it if necessary. Easy Peasy. The solution to "What is it?" and "Which one is it?" is not complicated. Open the Aira or Be My Eyes app on your smart phone and ask the agent or volunteer to take a look and tell you what it is or which one it is. We discussed those options in the last episode of Blind How. They also may be able to help you to find something that you dropped or just can't find, if you know approximately where it is. You will recall that they are also usually willing to read something for you, if it is not too long or overly private. But there are other options. You won't be surprised to know that those other ways involve apps on your phone, using the phone's camera. Although I don't understand much about how they do what they do, it's usually referred to as OCR or Optical Character Recognition or as A I or Artificial Intelligence. One of the most popular apps like this is called Seeing A I. There are several vision assist apps available to us and they do various tasks with mixed results. They can read, identify money, tell us whether the lights are on or off, identify things around us, help figure out what color something is, identify products, read bar codes, and other things related to providing visual information. How well they will work for you can only be determined by you giving each app a serious try. I think you can try each app for free, but there is a cost if you want to keep using most of the apps. I can tell you that the more you use a particular app, the more effective it will become, as your skill with using it improves. As with other apps, you will need to use your developing skills to find and try out the available visual assistance apps. As a place to start, try Applevis.com to find out about these apps and how to use them. There are also quite a few blindness related podcasts that will add to your explorations. And searching Google for "OCR" and "Blind" is likely to point you in helpful directions. If I'm leaving you short, leaving you annoyed, I already mentioned that I'm not going to hold your hand,
If, like me, you can't see, there are quite a few annoying problems that pop up; and they all are due to not being able to see. I'm sure that either of us could make a very long list. A number of little frustrations would be on both of our lists, but there would be some that show up only on one of our lists. We each have our own pet peeves. For me, most of my can't see annoyances can be put into only a few categories. What is it? Where is it? Which one is it? How does it work; and more to the point, how can I get it to work for me? First, let's get some perspective. Everyone has similar annoyances whether or not they can see. Being irritated by this and that now and then is liberally spread around for all of us. It's easy to get the feeling that life has dealt us a worse deal than everyone else, but that's just not true. The world is more accommodating to some of us than to others of us for sure. It is what it is. If we were to make a list of the ten worst limitations we might have, we might think that not being able to see would be at the top of the list, but that's mostly because we haven't experienced the other nine. My point is that coming up short in the seeing department only means that I'll just have to figure out some other way to know what it is, where it is, which one it is and how to make it work for me. Here's the good news. Let's call what, where, which one, and using it the big four – That's the big four annoyances due to not being able to see, of course. I don't have to puzzle out the big four for myself. If you insist on figuring them out for yourself, have at it. For me, I'm happy to know that others have already figured them out so I can just use their strategies and solutions. I'm sure that either of us could likely figure out ways around the big four by ourselves, but why bother? We can just use someone else's strategy, modifying it if necessary. Easy Peasy. The solution to "What is it?" and "Which one is it?" is not complicated. Open the Aira or Be My Eyes app on your smart phone and ask the agent or volunteer to take a look and tell you what it is or which one it is. We discussed those options in the last episode of Blind How. They also may be able to help you to find something that you dropped or just can't find, if you know approximately where it is. You will recall that they are also usually willing to read something for you, if it is not too long or overly private. But there are other options. You won't be surprised to know that those other ways involve apps on your phone, using the phone's camera. Although I don't understand much about how they do what they do, it's usually referred to as OCR or Optical Character Recognition or as A I or Artificial Intelligence. One of the most popular apps like this is called Seeing A I. There are several vision assist apps available to us and they do various tasks with mixed results. They can read, identify money, tell us whether the lights are on or off, identify things around us, help figure out what color something is, identify products, read bar codes, and other things related to providing visual information. How well they will work for you can only be determined by you giving each app a serious try. I think you can try each app for free, but there is a cost if you want to keep using most of the apps. I can tell you that the more you use a particular app, the more effective it will become, as your skill with using it improves. As with other apps, you will need to use your developing skills to find and try out the available visual assistance apps. As a place to start, try Applevis.com to find out about these apps and how to use them. There are also quite a few blindness related podcasts that will add to your explorations. And searching Google for "OCR" and "Blind" is likely to point you in helpful directions. If I'm leaving you short, leaving you annoyed, I already mentioned that I'm not going to hold your hand,
Thanks for checking out this episode of Audio Tidbits. I first explain what I've done with my websites and discuss consolidation. Specifically, I let you know what happened with Blind How and where new episodes will show up. The point is that everything is still available, just on GaryCrow.net now. I also talk with you about my SONOS Roam portable speaker. If you need a portable speaker with great sound, access to Alexa and Google, and connection to your favorite streaming music service, the SONOS Roam may be a perfect choice for you. Sure, there is also some nice music and some wondering here and there about this and that.
Thanks for checking out this episode of Audio Tidbits. I first explain what I've done with my websites and discuss consolidation. Specifically, I let you know what happened with Blind How and where new episodes will show up. The point is that everything is still available, just on GaryCrow.net now. I also talk with you about my SONOS Roam portable speaker. If you need a portable speaker with great sound, access to Alexa and Google, and connection to your favorite streaming music service, the SONOS Roam may be a perfect choice for you. Sure, there is also some nice music and some wondering here and there about this and that.
Thanks for checking out this episode of Audio Tidbits. I first explain what I've done with my websites and discuss consolidation. Specifically, I let you know what happened with Blind How and where new episodes will show up. The point is that everything is still available, just on GaryCrow.net now. I also talk with you about my SONOS Roam portable speaker. If you need a portable speaker with great sound, access to Alexa and Google, and connection to your favorite streaming music service, the SONOS Roam may be a perfect choice for you. Sure, there is also some nice music and some wondering here and there about this and that.
In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested AIRA.io whenever you need to have someone who can see to look at something or tell you about most anything. The AIRA helpers will also give you visual assistance while you are doing something that you want to do. Although the service is free much of the time and in a lot of situations, to be sure it's there for you consistently, whenever you need it, you do need a paid subscription, especially if it's going to take more than five minutes. There is an alternative and totally free option for getting live help from someone who can see. It's called Be My Eyes and has two parts. Download the Be My Eyes app from the app store. Poke around the app and you will figure out how to sign up. Once you have done that, you can either call a volunteer or talk with a specialist from any business on a long list of companies that are available through Be My Eyes. If you talk with a volunteer, the possibilities are more limited than with AIRA but work really well for most things where having someone to take a look and tell you what they see is all you need. They will also help you do something that you are doing while they watch through the phone's camera. If you use the option to talk with someone from one of the companies on the extensive list, you will be talking with an expert. Once you have explained your problem or issue, they will stick with you until you have the information you need or have the problem or issue resolved. For example, I was having an issue with my Windows computer. There was no speech and I had no idea what to do. The Microsoft expert had me point my phone's camera toward my computer screen and then told me exactly which keys to press on the computer keyboard. In about two minutes, my computer was again talking and off I went. Both AIRA and BE My Eyes are amazing services and always there, just a tap or so away on my iPhone. Still, I find myself reluctant to just make the call. I'm bringing this up since I suspect that you might have a similar reluctance. Here's what is going on for me. Whenever I ask someone to help when being able to see is necessary, it feels like I'm interrupting them and certainly inconveniencing them. Both feelings are in fact legitimate, much if not most of the time. The good news is that most people are okay with a small interruption or temporary inconvenience now and then, so long as I don't overdo it or impose too often. The bad news is that I haven't figured out a good way to always know where the line is between okay on the one hand and overdoing and too often on the other. For me, the best solution to this dilemma is to just not ask, unless I'm fairly certain that this specific request will not be disruptive or particularly inconvenient. I try to save up the good will for those infrequent times when I have a serious problem or issue that I just can't handle without help. There is another frustration that comes up at least once or twice most days. There is some little thing that I want to know or want to do that I wouldn't even notice, if I could see. What color is this shirt? What's in this can? What does that bird I'm hearing look like? Is my computer screen on or off? Where's the door to the store? Where's the ball I through for my dog that he didn't retrieve? I'll bet you can join in. It's just one little thing after another, with an even more frustrating thing thrown in now and then. But what to do? Unfortunately, I usually just move on, doing without that little bit of visual assistance. That's easier than bothering someone or waiting until they have time to help. So, what does all that have to do with not making the couple of taps it takes to connect with an AirA agent or a Be My Eyes volunteer? I have difficulty getting past the feeling that I'm interrupting or inconveniencing. Also, I'm so used to just letting the little things go that I give little thought to what the bird looks like or what color the shirt...
In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested AIRA.io whenever you need to have someone who can see to look at something or tell you about most anything. The AIRA helpers will also give you visual assistance while you are doing something that you want to do. Although the service is free much of the time and in a lot of situations, to be sure it's there for you consistently, whenever you need it, you do need a paid subscription, especially if it's going to take more than five minutes. There is an alternative and totally free option for getting live help from someone who can see. It's called Be My Eyes and has two parts. Download the Be My Eyes app from the app store. Poke around the app and you will figure out how to sign up. Once you have done that, you can either call a volunteer or talk with a specialist from any business on a long list of companies that are available through Be My Eyes. If you talk with a volunteer, the possibilities are more limited than with AIRA but work really well for most things where having someone to take a look and tell you what they see is all you need. They will also help you do something that you are doing while they watch through the phone's camera. If you use the option to talk with someone from one of the companies on the extensive list, you will be talking with an expert. Once you have explained your problem or issue, they will stick with you until you have the information you need or have the problem or issue resolved. For example, I was having an issue with my Windows computer. There was no speech and I had no idea what to do. The Microsoft expert had me point my phone's camera toward my computer screen and then told me exactly which keys to press on the computer keyboard. In about two minutes, my computer was again talking and off I went. Both AIRA and BE My Eyes are amazing services and always there, just a tap or so away on my iPhone. Still, I find myself reluctant to just make the call. I'm bringing this up since I suspect that you might have a similar reluctance. Here's what is going on for me. Whenever I ask someone to help when being able to see is necessary, it feels like I'm interrupting them and certainly inconveniencing them. Both feelings are in fact legitimate, much if not most of the time. The good news is that most people are okay with a small interruption or temporary inconvenience now and then, so long as I don't overdo it or impose too often. The bad news is that I haven't figured out a good way to always know where the line is between okay on the one hand and overdoing and too often on the other. For me, the best solution to this dilemma is to just not ask, unless I'm fairly certain that this specific request will not be disruptive or particularly inconvenient. I try to save up the good will for those infrequent times when I have a serious problem or issue that I just can't handle without help. There is another frustration that comes up at least once or twice most days. There is some little thing that I want to know or want to do that I wouldn't even notice, if I could see. What color is this shirt? What's in this can? What does that bird I'm hearing look like? Is my computer screen on or off? Where's the door to the store? Where's the ball I through for my dog that he didn't retrieve? I'll bet you can join in. It's just one little thing after another, with an even more frustrating thing thrown in now and then. But what to do? Unfortunately, I usually just move on, doing without that little bit of visual assistance. That's easier than bothering someone or waiting until they have time to help. So, what does all that have to do with not making the couple of taps it takes to connect with an AirA agent or a Be My Eyes volunteer? I have difficulty getting past the feeling that I'm interrupting or inconveniencing. Also, I'm so used to just letting the little things go that I give little thought to what the bird looks like or what color the shirt...
In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested AIRA.io whenever you need to have someone who can see to look at something or tell you about most anything. The AIRA helpers will also give you visual assistance while you are doing something that you want to do. Although the service is free much of the time and in a lot of situations, to be sure it's there for you consistently, whenever you need it, you do need a paid subscription, especially if it's going to take more than five minutes. There is an alternative and totally free option for getting live help from someone who can see. It's called Be My Eyes and has two parts. Download the Be My Eyes app from the app store. Poke around the app and you will figure out how to sign up. Once you have done that, you can either call a volunteer or talk with a specialist from any business on a long list of companies that are available through Be My Eyes. If you talk with a volunteer, the possibilities are more limited than with AIRA but work really well for most things where having someone to take a look and tell you what they see is all you need. They will also help you do something that you are doing while they watch through the phone's camera. If you use the option to talk with someone from one of the companies on the extensive list, you will be talking with an expert. Once you have explained your problem or issue, they will stick with you until you have the information you need or have the problem or issue resolved. For example, I was having an issue with my Windows computer. There was no speech and I had no idea what to do. The Microsoft expert had me point my phone's camera toward my computer screen and then told me exactly which keys to press on the computer keyboard. In about two minutes, my computer was again talking and off I went. Both AIRA and BE My Eyes are amazing services and always there, just a tap or so away on my iPhone. Still, I find myself reluctant to just make the call. I'm bringing this up since I suspect that you might have a similar reluctance. Here's what is going on for me. Whenever I ask someone to help when being able to see is necessary, it feels like I'm interrupting them and certainly inconveniencing them. Both feelings are in fact legitimate, much if not most of the time. The good news is that most people are okay with a small interruption or temporary inconvenience now and then, so long as I don't overdo it or impose too often. The bad news is that I haven't figured out a good way to always know where the line is between okay on the one hand and overdoing and too often on the other. For me, the best solution to this dilemma is to just not ask, unless I'm fairly certain that this specific request will not be disruptive or particularly inconvenient. I try to save up the good will for those infrequent times when I have a serious problem or issue that I just can't handle without help. There is another frustration that comes up at least once or twice most days. There is some little thing that I want to know or want to do that I wouldn't even notice, if I could see. What color is this shirt? What's in this can? What does that bird I'm hearing look like? Is my computer screen on or off? Where's the door to the store? Where's the ball I through for my dog that he didn't retrieve? I'll bet you can join in. It's just one little thing after another, with an even more frustrating thing thrown in now and then. But what to do? Unfortunately, I usually just move on, doing without that little bit of visual assistance. That's easier than bothering someone or waiting until they have time to help. So, what does all that have to do with not making the couple of taps it takes to connect with an AirA agent or a Be My Eyes volunteer? I have difficulty getting past the feeling that I'm interrupting or inconveniencing. Also, I'm so used to just letting the little things go that I give little thought to what the bird looks like or what color the shirt...
When it comes to technology that can help those of us who can't see do what we want to do, there are at least two ways I could go about letting you know about the possibilities. First, I could give you detailed descriptions and step by step instructions for using each app or gadget. That type of tutorial is very useful and makes learning to use the app or gadget, if not always easy, at least doable. The good news is that tutorials like that are out there for many apps and gadgets and for most all of the popular ones. The bad news is that they are only helpful if you find the particular tutorial you need right now. The other way to get you up and running – and the one I chose – is to encourage you to develop the skills you need to figure out for yourself how to use the apps and gadgets available to help with what you want to do. The good news is that there are only a few basic skills that you need to do most things you want to do. The bad news is that it takes time and practice to develop those skills, a lot of concentration and frustration to improve your skills, and a good measure of imagination -- along with trial and error -- to perfect them. But as your skills improve, you will be doing more and more of what you want to do by yourself and finding it easier to locate those step-by-step tutorials to learn how to use the apps and gadgets you want to use to do what you want to do. This is episode 30 of Blind How. You have already listened to episodes 1 through 29, haven't you? You have been working on the skills and strategies included in those earlier episodes, haven't you? I sure hope so, since we are about to jump into the really fun stuff with your cell phone. If you haven't kept up, it will be really hard to stick with us; not impossible but really hard. If you have kept up, it will still not be easy, but is doable. Even so, it's always easier to hope that someone who can see will come along and do what you want done for you. Enough of that. What if I were to tell you that there is always someone who can see who is ready and usually able to help you with those times when you need someone who can see to "take a look" and provide visual assistance with doing what you want to do? "What will they help with," you ask? Good question. What do you want to do that being able to see would make easier? Whatever that is, the assistance you need is a couple of swipes and taps away. The app on your iPhone or Android phone is called "Aira." I have no idea what Aira means or why that is the app's name, but the app is sort of magical. This is one of those times when I'm just assuming that you have been keeping up and have been practicing. Download the app to your phone and open it. Flick around to get familiar with what's on the screen. As I recall, all I needed to do was enter my phone number to get started. If you want some tutorial info, visit https://aira.io. Poke around on the site. There is a lot of helpful stuff there. You'll find out on the app screen how to call an Aira agent. On your first call, the agent who answers will talk you through how to use the app and the Aira service. Basically, you point the back camera on your phone toward whatever is of interest to you. The agent will help you get it into the picture so the agent can see what you want him or her to see. Just tell the agent what you want to know, want to do, need him or her to do. Along with telling you what is in the picture, the agent will go ahead and do things for you such as making an order, taking a picture, looking up instructions, helping you figure out how to do stuff yourself, and on and on. I think most anything within reason is on the table. It's like having someone who can see follow you around, always ready to lend a hand, or an eye. I'm going to discuss other ways to get visual assistance with your phone in future episodes of Blind how but start with Aira. In many situations,
When it comes to technology that can help those of us who can't see do what we want to do, there are at least two ways I could go about letting you know about the possibilities. First, I could give you detailed descriptions and step by step instructions for using each app or gadget. That type of tutorial is very useful and makes learning to use the app or gadget, if not always easy, at least doable. The good news is that tutorials like that are out there for many apps and gadgets and for most all of the popular ones. The bad news is that they are only helpful if you find the particular tutorial you need right now. The other way to get you up and running – and the one I chose – is to encourage you to develop the skills you need to figure out for yourself how to use the apps and gadgets available to help with what you want to do. The good news is that there are only a few basic skills that you need to do most things you want to do. The bad news is that it takes time and practice to develop those skills, a lot of concentration and frustration to improve your skills, and a good measure of imagination -- along with trial and error -- to perfect them. But as your skills improve, you will be doing more and more of what you want to do by yourself and finding it easier to locate those step-by-step tutorials to learn how to use the apps and gadgets you want to use to do what you want to do. This is episode 30 of Blind How. You have already listened to episodes 1 through 29, haven't you? You have been working on the skills and strategies included in those earlier episodes, haven't you? I sure hope so, since we are about to jump into the really fun stuff with your cell phone. If you haven't kept up, it will be really hard to stick with us; not impossible but really hard. If you have kept up, it will still not be easy, but is doable. Even so, it's always easier to hope that someone who can see will come along and do what you want done for you. Enough of that. What if I were to tell you that there is always someone who can see who is ready and usually able to help you with those times when you need someone who can see to "take a look" and provide visual assistance with doing what you want to do? "What will they help with," you ask? Good question. What do you want to do that being able to see would make easier? Whatever that is, the assistance you need is a couple of swipes and taps away. The app on your iPhone or Android phone is called "Aira." I have no idea what Aira means or why that is the app's name, but the app is sort of magical. This is one of those times when I'm just assuming that you have been keeping up and have been practicing. Download the app to your phone and open it. Flick around to get familiar with what's on the screen. As I recall, all I needed to do was enter my phone number to get started. If you want some tutorial info, visit https://aira.io. Poke around on the site. There is a lot of helpful stuff there. You'll find out on the app screen how to call an Aira agent. On your first call, the agent who answers will talk you through how to use the app and the Aira service. Basically, you point the back camera on your phone toward whatever is of interest to you. The agent will help you get it into the picture so the agent can see what you want him or her to see. Just tell the agent what you want to know, want to do, need him or her to do. Along with telling you what is in the picture, the agent will go ahead and do things for you such as making an order, taking a picture, looking up instructions, helping you figure out how to do stuff yourself, and on and on. I think most anything within reason is on the table. It's like having someone who can see follow you around, always ready to lend a hand, or an eye. I'm going to discuss other ways to get visual assistance with your phone in future episodes of Blind how but start with Aira. In many situations,
When it comes to technology that can help those of us who can't see do what we want to do, there are at least two ways I could go about letting you know about the possibilities. First, I could give you detailed descriptions and step by step instructions for using each app or gadget. That type of tutorial is very useful and makes learning to use the app or gadget, if not always easy, at least doable. The good news is that tutorials like that are out there for many apps and gadgets and for most all of the popular ones. The bad news is that they are only helpful if you find the particular tutorial you need right now. The other way to get you up and running – and the one I chose – is to encourage you to develop the skills you need to figure out for yourself how to use the apps and gadgets available to help with what you want to do. The good news is that there are only a few basic skills that you need to do most things you want to do. The bad news is that it takes time and practice to develop those skills, a lot of concentration and frustration to improve your skills, and a good measure of imagination -- along with trial and error -- to perfect them. But as your skills improve, you will be doing more and more of what you want to do by yourself and finding it easier to locate those step-by-step tutorials to learn how to use the apps and gadgets you want to use to do what you want to do. This is episode 30 of Blind How. You have already listened to episodes 1 through 29, haven't you? You have been working on the skills and strategies included in those earlier episodes, haven't you? I sure hope so, since we are about to jump into the really fun stuff with your cell phone. If you haven't kept up, it will be really hard to stick with us; not impossible but really hard. If you have kept up, it will still not be easy, but is doable. Even so, it's always easier to hope that someone who can see will come along and do what you want done for you. Enough of that. What if I were to tell you that there is always someone who can see who is ready and usually able to help you with those times when you need someone who can see to "take a look" and provide visual assistance with doing what you want to do? "What will they help with," you ask? Good question. What do you want to do that being able to see would make easier? Whatever that is, the assistance you need is a couple of swipes and taps away. The app on your iPhone or Android phone is called "Aira." I have no idea what Aira means or why that is the app's name, but the app is sort of magical. This is one of those times when I'm just assuming that you have been keeping up and have been practicing. Download the app to your phone and open it. Flick around to get familiar with what's on the screen. As I recall, all I needed to do was enter my phone number to get started. If you want some tutorial info, visit https://aira.io. Poke around on the site. There is a lot of helpful stuff there. You'll find out on the app screen how to call an Aira agent. On your first call, the agent who answers will talk you through how to use the app and the Aira service. Basically, you point the back camera on your phone toward whatever is of interest to you. The agent will help you get it into the picture so the agent can see what you want him or her to see. Just tell the agent what you want to know, want to do, need him or her to do. Along with telling you what is in the picture, the agent will go ahead and do things for you such as making an order, taking a picture, looking up instructions, helping you figure out how to do stuff yourself, and on and on. I think most anything within reason is on the table. It's like having someone who can see follow you around, always ready to lend a hand, or an eye. I'm going to discuss other ways to get visual assistance with your phone in future episodes of Blind how but start with Aira. In many situations,
[Here, I focus on your iPhone, but if your phone is Android or Samsung, read Voiceover as Talkback and Siri as Google, as in OK Google. For example, say, "OK Google, how do I … with Talkback?"] There are a few things those of us who can't see can do with our iPhones that are rather boring but necessary. I'm going to spend this episode of Blind How looking at them, but it would be more fun checking out ways we can use our phones to get people who can see to help us whenever we need someone who can see to give us a couple of minutes to just look at something for us. I'll get to those options in the next episode, but for now, let's get to the more boring stuff. Yes, we can make and receive phone calls on our iPhones. Let's start with the simple way. Just say, "Hey Siri, call 555-555-5555." Of course, use the actual number you want to call instead of all of those 5's. From there, it's like any phone call: the phone rings and someone answers, if there is someone there to answer the phone. For now, always include the area code when voicing the number. If our phone is ringing, simply tap twice quickly with two fingers anywhere on the screen. It's called a two-finger double tap, or "magic tap." Wait a second or so and then say, "Hello." (I'm assuming that you always keep Voiceover turned on.) You can also flick around until you find the "Answer" button and then double tap with one finger anywhere on the screen. But why would you, when you can just use the magic tap? If you would rather dial the number, you can also do that. Flick around until you find the Phone icon on your phone's screen. It may be on the bottom row of icons. Once Voiceover says "Phone," do a one-finger double tap anywhere on the screen. The Phone app will open. At the bottom of the screen, find Keypad, and double tap. (I'll just say double tap when you should tap twice quickly with one finger.) The keypad is much like the keypad on a regular telephone. Touch toward the top of the screen, and then flick right until Voiceover says the first number. Now double tap. The first number makes a sound, and you are ready for the second number. Flick left or right to find the second number and double tap. Repeat the steps until you have added all 10 numbers in the phone number. Finally, find the "Call" icon and double tap. (You start with the area code. Starting with a 1 like with a regular phone is not needed.) That will get you started making and receiving calls. Even so, this is a good time to use your search skills that we considered earlier on Blind How. Start with asking Siri. Say, "Hey Siri, How do I use the phone app with Voiceover?" Siri will tell you that this is what I found on the web. Explore the screen with one finger or swipe down from the top with two fingers. Touch the screen with two fingers to get Siri to stop talking. When you hear something that sounds interesting, double tap. Siri will open Safari where the information is. Swipe down from the top with two fingers to get Voiceover to read the web page. (Hint: You can also ask Siri, "Hey Siri, how do I use Safari with Voiceover?" You can also send and receive text messages with your iPhone. You do this in the Messages app. Open the Messages app and check it out. Once the app is open, swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen. This will let you know what's there. For now, you will need the phone number of anyone you want to message. (To practice, you can send a message to yourself, using your phone number.) Sure, you can also say, "Hey Siri, how do I use the Messages app with Voiceover?" You also can say, "Hey Siri, how do I type using Voiceover?" For now though, you just find the letter or character you want to enter and then double tap. Nothing goes in until you double-tap. Since you are sending the message to yourself for practice, you don't need to be concerned about typing errors.
[Here, I focus on your iPhone, but if your phone is Android or Samsung, read Voiceover as Talkback and Siri as Google, as in OK Google. For example, say, "OK Google, how do I … with Talkback?"] There are a few things those of us who can't see can do with our iPhones that are rather boring but necessary. I'm going to spend this episode of Blind How looking at them, but it would be more fun checking out ways we can use our phones to get people who can see to help us whenever we need someone who can see to give us a couple of minutes to just look at something for us. I'll get to those options in the next episode, but for now, let's get to the more boring stuff. Yes, we can make and receive phone calls on our iPhones. Let's start with the simple way. Just say, "Hey Siri, call 555-555-5555." Of course, use the actual number you want to call instead of all of those 5's. From there, it's like any phone call: the phone rings and someone answers, if there is someone there to answer the phone. For now, always include the area code when voicing the number. If our phone is ringing, simply tap twice quickly with two fingers anywhere on the screen. It's called a two-finger double tap, or "magic tap." Wait a second or so and then say, "Hello." (I'm assuming that you always keep Voiceover turned on.) You can also flick around until you find the "Answer" button and then double tap with one finger anywhere on the screen. But why would you, when you can just use the magic tap? If you would rather dial the number, you can also do that. Flick around until you find the Phone icon on your phone's screen. It may be on the bottom row of icons. Once Voiceover says "Phone," do a one-finger double tap anywhere on the screen. The Phone app will open. At the bottom of the screen, find Keypad, and double tap. (I'll just say double tap when you should tap twice quickly with one finger.) The keypad is much like the keypad on a regular telephone. Touch toward the top of the screen, and then flick right until Voiceover says the first number. Now double tap. The first number makes a sound, and you are ready for the second number. Flick left or right to find the second number and double tap. Repeat the steps until you have added all 10 numbers in the phone number. Finally, find the "Call" icon and double tap. (You start with the area code. Starting with a 1 like with a regular phone is not needed.) That will get you started making and receiving calls. Even so, this is a good time to use your search skills that we considered earlier on Blind How. Start with asking Siri. Say, "Hey Siri, How do I use the phone app with Voiceover?" Siri will tell you that this is what I found on the web. Explore the screen with one finger or swipe down from the top with two fingers. Touch the screen with two fingers to get Siri to stop talking. When you hear something that sounds interesting, double tap. Siri will open Safari where the information is. Swipe down from the top with two fingers to get Voiceover to read the web page. (Hint: You can also ask Siri, "Hey Siri, how do I use Safari with Voiceover?" You can also send and receive text messages with your iPhone. You do this in the Messages app. Open the Messages app and check it out. Once the app is open, swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen. This will let you know what's there. For now, you will need the phone number of anyone you want to message. (To practice, you can send a message to yourself, using your phone number.) Sure, you can also say, "Hey Siri, how do I use the Messages app with Voiceover?" You also can say, "Hey Siri, how do I type using Voiceover?" For now though, you just find the letter or character you want to enter and then double tap. Nothing goes in until you double-tap. Since you are sending the message to yourself for practice, you don't need to be concerned about typing errors.
[Here, I focus on your iPhone, but if your phone is Android or Samsung, read Voiceover as Talkback and Siri as Google, as in OK Google. For example, say, "OK Google, how do I … with Talkback?"] There are a few things those of us who can't see can do with our iPhones that are rather boring but necessary. I'm going to spend this episode of Blind How looking at them, but it would be more fun checking out ways we can use our phones to get people who can see to help us whenever we need someone who can see to give us a couple of minutes to just look at something for us. I'll get to those options in the next episode, but for now, let's get to the more boring stuff. Yes, we can make and receive phone calls on our iPhones. Let's start with the simple way. Just say, "Hey Siri, call 555-555-5555." Of course, use the actual number you want to call instead of all of those 5's. From there, it's like any phone call: the phone rings and someone answers, if there is someone there to answer the phone. For now, always include the area code when voicing the number. If our phone is ringing, simply tap twice quickly with two fingers anywhere on the screen. It's called a two-finger double tap, or "magic tap." Wait a second or so and then say, "Hello." (I'm assuming that you always keep Voiceover turned on.) You can also flick around until you find the "Answer" button and then double tap with one finger anywhere on the screen. But why would you, when you can just use the magic tap? If you would rather dial the number, you can also do that. Flick around until you find the Phone icon on your phone's screen. It may be on the bottom row of icons. Once Voiceover says "Phone," do a one-finger double tap anywhere on the screen. The Phone app will open. At the bottom of the screen, find Keypad, and double tap. (I'll just say double tap when you should tap twice quickly with one finger.) The keypad is much like the keypad on a regular telephone. Touch toward the top of the screen, and then flick right until Voiceover says the first number. Now double tap. The first number makes a sound, and you are ready for the second number. Flick left or right to find the second number and double tap. Repeat the steps until you have added all 10 numbers in the phone number. Finally, find the "Call" icon and double tap. (You start with the area code. Starting with a 1 like with a regular phone is not needed.) That will get you started making and receiving calls. Even so, this is a good time to use your search skills that we considered earlier on Blind How. Start with asking Siri. Say, "Hey Siri, How do I use the phone app with Voiceover?" Siri will tell you that this is what I found on the web. Explore the screen with one finger or swipe down from the top with two fingers. Touch the screen with two fingers to get Siri to stop talking. When you hear something that sounds interesting, double tap. Siri will open Safari where the information is. Swipe down from the top with two fingers to get Voiceover to read the web page. (Hint: You can also ask Siri, "Hey Siri, how do I use Safari with Voiceover?" You can also send and receive text messages with your iPhone. You do this in the Messages app. Open the Messages app and check it out. Once the app is open, swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen. This will let you know what's there. For now, you will need the phone number of anyone you want to message. (To practice, you can send a message to yourself, using your phone number.) Sure, you can also say, "Hey Siri, how do I use the Messages app with Voiceover?" You also can say, "Hey Siri, how do I type using Voiceover?" For now though, you just find the letter or character you want to enter and then double tap. Nothing goes in until you double-tap. Since you are sending the message to yourself for practice, you don't need to be concerned about typing errors.
Almost nothing about technology in general and cell phones in particular is either obvious or intuitive, especially if you, like me, can't see. There are very good cell phones that use buttons instead of fingers on the touch screen, but it still takes time to master their use. If you want buttons, you will be missing out on many, if not most things you can do with your iPhone. Even so, a good button phone may be all you're up to right now. Here's a suggestion. Call the folks at Mystic Access: (716) 543-3323 or visit MysticAccess.com on the Internet. Ask about the BlindShell phone. The phone is completely usable with buttons and comes with an excellent audio tutorial that tells you everything you need to use all of the features on the phone. When you are talking with Chris or Kim, ask about their other tutorials and services. Hint: they can teach you how to use your iPhone. Back to your iPhone -- In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested that you check out the Podcast app. It's pretty easy to find a podcast or so and start listening. Here though, I need to recommend two more apps that I think are essential for getting started using your iPhone. They are "Safari" and the "App Store." Safari enables you to search for almost anything you want or want to know. The App Store gives you access to apps for doing most anything you can do or want to do on your iPhone. (Android's app store is called the Play Store, but also has apps for doing most anything on your Android Phone.) To open Safari, find the Safari icon on your iPhone. It's probably on the bottom row of icons. Touch the icon or flick right until voiceover says "Safari." If your phone makes a clunk sound before you find Safari and you can't go right any farther, flick left until you hear "Safari." Now, anywhere on the screen, double tap quickly with one finger. This is the double tap that opens apps or activates virtual buttons anywhere on your phone. Although you will need to learn how to use the Safari app at some point, here's a quick way to start. Let Siri search for you. Take a minute to think about what you want to know or do. Put it in the form of a question. Now, just ask Siri. You always start with "Hey Siri," or by holding down the home or power button until you hear a quick double beep and then letting go. Now ask your question. For example, "How do I use voiceover?" Siri will then either answer your question or display the answer on the screen. If you activate Siri with the button, ask your question right after you hear the double beep. If you use "Hey Siri," you don't do anything except talk. You just say, "Hey Siri, how do I use voiceover?" Siri will then talk to you. If Siri says "Ok, here's what I found on the web," your answer is on the phone's screen. Touch the screen near the top with one finger. Next, swipe down quickly with two fingers. Voiceover will start at the top and read everything on the screen, including the answer or answers. To stop voiceover from talking, touch the screen with two fingers. You can also move your finger around on the screen to find something that interests you. Once you find it, double tap with one finger. That will cause Safari to open where the information or answer is on the web. Until you learn more about how to use Safari, touch at the top and swipe down with two fingers. Voiceover will read the whole page. That will likely be way more than you want to read, but too much is better than nothing for now. Now for the App Store – It's a little like going to the mall. Even if you know what you want, it can be confusing. There is an app called "Wayaround" that is a very cool way of labeling your stuff. I'll be discussing it in a later episode of Blind How, but for now, let's see if we can find it in the App Store. First find the "app store" icon on your iPhone. Now, double tap to open the app. Now find the search icon in the bottom right corner of the screen and double tap on it.
Almost nothing about technology in general and cell phones in particular is either obvious or intuitive, especially if you, like me, can't see. There are very good cell phones that use buttons instead of fingers on the touch screen, but it still takes time to master their use. If you want buttons, you will be missing out on many, if not most things you can do with your iPhone. Even so, a good button phone may be all you're up to right now. Here's a suggestion. Call the folks at Mystic Access: (716) 543-3323 or visit MysticAccess.com on the Internet. Ask about the BlindShell phone. The phone is completely usable with buttons and comes with an excellent audio tutorial that tells you everything you need to use all of the features on the phone. When you are talking with Chris or Kim, ask about their other tutorials and services. Hint: they can teach you how to use your iPhone. Back to your iPhone -- In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested that you check out the Podcast app. It's pretty easy to find a podcast or so and start listening. Here though, I need to recommend two more apps that I think are essential for getting started using your iPhone. They are "Safari" and the "App Store." Safari enables you to search for almost anything you want or want to know. The App Store gives you access to apps for doing most anything you can do or want to do on your iPhone. (Android's app store is called the Play Store, but also has apps for doing most anything on your Android Phone.) To open Safari, find the Safari icon on your iPhone. It's probably on the bottom row of icons. Touch the icon or flick right until voiceover says "Safari." If your phone makes a clunk sound before you find Safari and you can't go right any farther, flick left until you hear "Safari." Now, anywhere on the screen, double tap quickly with one finger. This is the double tap that opens apps or activates virtual buttons anywhere on your phone. Although you will need to learn how to use the Safari app at some point, here's a quick way to start. Let Siri search for you. Take a minute to think about what you want to know or do. Put it in the form of a question. Now, just ask Siri. You always start with "Hey Siri," or by holding down the home or power button until you hear a quick double beep and then letting go. Now ask your question. For example, "How do I use voiceover?" Siri will then either answer your question or display the answer on the screen. If you activate Siri with the button, ask your question right after you hear the double beep. If you use "Hey Siri," you don't do anything except talk. You just say, "Hey Siri, how do I use voiceover?" Siri will then talk to you. If Siri says "Ok, here's what I found on the web," your answer is on the phone's screen. Touch the screen near the top with one finger. Next, swipe down quickly with two fingers. Voiceover will start at the top and read everything on the screen, including the answer or answers. To stop voiceover from talking, touch the screen with two fingers. You can also move your finger around on the screen to find something that interests you. Once you find it, double tap with one finger. That will cause Safari to open where the information or answer is on the web. Until you learn more about how to use Safari, touch at the top and swipe down with two fingers. Voiceover will read the whole page. That will likely be way more than you want to read, but too much is better than nothing for now. Now for the App Store – It's a little like going to the mall. Even if you know what you want, it can be confusing. There is an app called "Wayaround" that is a very cool way of labeling your stuff. I'll be discussing it in a later episode of Blind How, but for now, let's see if we can find it in the App Store. First find the "app store" icon on your iPhone. Now, double tap to open the app. Now find the search icon in the bottom right corner of the screen and double tap on it.
Almost nothing about technology in general and cell phones in particular is either obvious or intuitive, especially if you, like me, can't see. There are very good cell phones that use buttons instead of fingers on the touch screen, but it still takes time to master their use. If you want buttons, you will be missing out on many, if not most things you can do with your iPhone. Even so, a good button phone may be all you're up to right now. Here's a suggestion. Call the folks at Mystic Access: (716) 543-3323 or visit MysticAccess.com on the Internet. Ask about the BlindShell phone. The phone is completely usable with buttons and comes with an excellent audio tutorial that tells you everything you need to use all of the features on the phone. When you are talking with Chris or Kim, ask about their other tutorials and services. Hint: they can teach you how to use your iPhone. Back to your iPhone -- In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested that you check out the Podcast app. It's pretty easy to find a podcast or so and start listening. Here though, I need to recommend two more apps that I think are essential for getting started using your iPhone. They are "Safari" and the "App Store." Safari enables you to search for almost anything you want or want to know. The App Store gives you access to apps for doing most anything you can do or want to do on your iPhone. (Android's app store is called the Play Store, but also has apps for doing most anything on your Android Phone.) To open Safari, find the Safari icon on your iPhone. It's probably on the bottom row of icons. Touch the icon or flick right until voiceover says "Safari." If your phone makes a clunk sound before you find Safari and you can't go right any farther, flick left until you hear "Safari." Now, anywhere on the screen, double tap quickly with one finger. This is the double tap that opens apps or activates virtual buttons anywhere on your phone. Although you will need to learn how to use the Safari app at some point, here's a quick way to start. Let Siri search for you. Take a minute to think about what you want to know or do. Put it in the form of a question. Now, just ask Siri. You always start with "Hey Siri," or by holding down the home or power button until you hear a quick double beep and then letting go. Now ask your question. For example, "How do I use voiceover?" Siri will then either answer your question or display the answer on the screen. If you activate Siri with the button, ask your question right after you hear the double beep. If you use "Hey Siri," you don't do anything except talk. You just say, "Hey Siri, how do I use voiceover?" Siri will then talk to you. If Siri says "Ok, here's what I found on the web," your answer is on the phone's screen. Touch the screen near the top with one finger. Next, swipe down quickly with two fingers. Voiceover will start at the top and read everything on the screen, including the answer or answers. To stop voiceover from talking, touch the screen with two fingers. You can also move your finger around on the screen to find something that interests you. Once you find it, double tap with one finger. That will cause Safari to open where the information or answer is on the web. Until you learn more about how to use Safari, touch at the top and swipe down with two fingers. Voiceover will read the whole page. That will likely be way more than you want to read, but too much is better than nothing for now. Now for the App Store – It's a little like going to the mall. Even if you know what you want, it can be confusing. There is an app called "Wayaround" that is a very cool way of labeling your stuff. I'll be discussing it in a later episode of Blind How, but for now, let's see if we can find it in the App Store. First find the "app store" icon on your iPhone. Now, double tap to open the app. Now find the search icon in the bottom right corner of the screen and double tap on it.
Ok, you have your iPhone or perhaps you went with Android. If it's Android or maybe Samsung for you, that works as well as an iPhone, just not quite as easily. Either way, I'll start with the screen. If you can see some, the screens on all three phones (iPhone, Android, and Samsung) are quite good, although I'm told that the Android phones may have somewhat better screens. Since I can't see, I'll need to take their word for that. At any rate, the phone screens can be customized to fit your preferences. You can adjust the colors, the amount of motion and the size of the text that shows up on the screen. To make those kinds of adjustments, you need to check out the "Accessibility" area in the phone's settings. Most of the resources I mention in this and future episodes of Blind How have tips and suggestions for "low vision" users of the phones. With that important point covered, having our phones talk to us is where it's at for me and others who can't see. On Android and Samsung phones, the talking feature is called Talkback, although on older Samsung phones, it's called Voice Guide. There are also "talk" features on most modern tablets and TVs. The "talk" feature is normally in settings, under accessibility, regardless of the type of device you are using. The name for the "talk" feature is different for each brand, but the idea is always the same: it talks or reads the text on the screen, including menues on TVs. Let's get back to your iPhone. It has a "talk" feature that is called Voiceover. Unfortunately, if you just search for "voiceover," you will mostly get results about the voices we hear behind other things going on, such as commercials or other things where there is an anonymous voice in the background. Those voices are called voiceovers, but should probably be called voice-unders. Even so, if you want to learn about Voiceover on your iPhone, search for "iPhone voiceover," or some such. You can turn Voiceover on either in settings, accessibility, voiceover or by pressing the home button or the power button if there is no home button. To do this, press the button three times quite quickly. You can turn it off the same way. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested some resources for learning to use your iPhone. I hope you have checked out those resources and can now flick around on your phone and open apps. If not, this episode is not going to be very useful, unless you're satisfied with knowing about the possibilities, but not interested in actually making them available to you to use and enjoy. Let's start with podcasts. What are they and why would you be interested? They are audio (and sometimes include video) shows or programs, like on the radio or TV. They can be about anything, including dramas, comedy materials, news, information, or most anything else people dream up. There are many different types and categories. For our purposes, I'll stick with educational podcasts that focus on technology that is useful for those of us who can't see, and especially on those podcasts that are useful for cell phone users who can't see. To start, you need an app that was made for finding and playing podcasts. Good news. There is already one on your iPhone. It's simply called "Podcast." I'm not going to try to teach you how to use "Podcast," since there is already an excellent podcast that does that very thing. The podcast is called Applevis Podcast and the episode is called Learning to Use Apple Podcasts for iOS. If you want to listen to the episode now, Click Here. To finish this episode of Blind How, I'll suggest a few podcasts that you can listen to in order to expand your knowledge about and comfort with accessible technology in general and cell phones in particular. It's important to understand that podcasts are the show or program. Each podcast then has episodes, individual audio instances of the podcast or program. You search for the podcast.
Ok, you have your iPhone or perhaps you went with Android. If it's Android or maybe Samsung for you, that works as well as an iPhone, just not quite as easily. Either way, I'll start with the screen. If you can see some, the screens on all three phones (iPhone, Android, and Samsung) are quite good, although I'm told that the Android phones may have somewhat better screens. Since I can't see, I'll need to take their word for that. At any rate, the phone screens can be customized to fit your preferences. You can adjust the colors, the amount of motion and the size of the text that shows up on the screen. To make those kinds of adjustments, you need to check out the "Accessibility" area in the phone's settings. Most of the resources I mention in this and future episodes of Blind How have tips and suggestions for "low vision" users of the phones. With that important point covered, having our phones talk to us is where it's at for me and others who can't see. On Android and Samsung phones, the talking feature is called Talkback, although on older Samsung phones, it's called Voice Guide. There are also "talk" features on most modern tablets and TVs. The "talk" feature is normally in settings, under accessibility, regardless of the type of device you are using. The name for the "talk" feature is different for each brand, but the idea is always the same: it talks or reads the text on the screen, including menues on TVs. Let's get back to your iPhone. It has a "talk" feature that is called Voiceover. Unfortunately, if you just search for "voiceover," you will mostly get results about the voices we hear behind other things going on, such as commercials or other things where there is an anonymous voice in the background. Those voices are called voiceovers, but should probably be called voice-unders. Even so, if you want to learn about Voiceover on your iPhone, search for "iPhone voiceover," or some such. You can turn Voiceover on either in settings, accessibility, voiceover or by pressing the home button or the power button if there is no home button. To do this, press the button three times quite quickly. You can turn it off the same way. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested some resources for learning to use your iPhone. I hope you have checked out those resources and can now flick around on your phone and open apps. If not, this episode is not going to be very useful, unless you're satisfied with knowing about the possibilities, but not interested in actually making them available to you to use and enjoy. Let's start with podcasts. What are they and why would you be interested? They are audio (and sometimes include video) shows or programs, like on the radio or TV. They can be about anything, including dramas, comedy materials, news, information, or most anything else people dream up. There are many different types and categories. For our purposes, I'll stick with educational podcasts that focus on technology that is useful for those of us who can't see, and especially on those podcasts that are useful for cell phone users who can't see. To start, you need an app that was made for finding and playing podcasts. Good news. There is already one on your iPhone. It's simply called "Podcast." I'm not going to try to teach you how to use "Podcast," since there is already an excellent podcast that does that very thing. The podcast is called Applevis Podcast and the episode is called Learning to Use Apple Podcasts for iOS. If you want to listen to the episode now, Click Here. To finish this episode of Blind How, I'll suggest a few podcasts that you can listen to in order to expand your knowledge about and comfort with accessible technology in general and cell phones in particular. It's important to understand that podcasts are the show or program. Each podcast then has episodes, individual audio instances of the podcast or program. You search for the podcast.
Ok, you have your iPhone or perhaps you went with Android. If it's Android or maybe Samsung for you, that works as well as an iPhone, just not quite as easily. Either way, I'll start with the screen. If you can see some, the screens on all three phones (iPhone, Android, and Samsung) are quite good, although I'm told that the Android phones may have somewhat better screens. Since I can't see, I'll need to take their word for that. At any rate, the phone screens can be customized to fit your preferences. You can adjust the colors, the amount of motion and the size of the text that shows up on the screen. To make those kinds of adjustments, you need to check out the "Accessibility" area in the phone's settings. Most of the resources I mention in this and future episodes of Blind How have tips and suggestions for "low vision" users of the phones. With that important point covered, having our phones talk to us is where it's at for me and others who can't see. On Android and Samsung phones, the talking feature is called Talkback, although on older Samsung phones, it's called Voice Guide. There are also "talk" features on most modern tablets and TVs. The "talk" feature is normally in settings, under accessibility, regardless of the type of device you are using. The name for the "talk" feature is different for each brand, but the idea is always the same: it talks or reads the text on the screen, including menues on TVs. Let's get back to your iPhone. It has a "talk" feature that is called Voiceover. Unfortunately, if you just search for "voiceover," you will mostly get results about the voices we hear behind other things going on, such as commercials or other things where there is an anonymous voice in the background. Those voices are called voiceovers, but should probably be called voice-unders. Even so, if you want to learn about Voiceover on your iPhone, search for "iPhone voiceover," or some such. You can turn Voiceover on either in settings, accessibility, voiceover or by pressing the home button or the power button if there is no home button. To do this, press the button three times quite quickly. You can turn it off the same way. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested some resources for learning to use your iPhone. I hope you have checked out those resources and can now flick around on your phone and open apps. If not, this episode is not going to be very useful, unless you're satisfied with knowing about the possibilities, but not interested in actually making them available to you to use and enjoy. Let's start with podcasts. What are they and why would you be interested? They are audio (and sometimes include video) shows or programs, like on the radio or TV. They can be about anything, including dramas, comedy materials, news, information, or most anything else people dream up. There are many different types and categories. For our purposes, I'll stick with educational podcasts that focus on technology that is useful for those of us who can't see, and especially on those podcasts that are useful for cell phone users who can't see. To start, you need an app that was made for finding and playing podcasts. Good news. There is already one on your iPhone. It's simply called "Podcast." I'm not going to try to teach you how to use "Podcast," since there is already an excellent podcast that does that very thing. The podcast is called Applevis Podcast and the episode is called Learning to Use Apple Podcasts for iOS. If you want to listen to the episode now, Click Here. To finish this episode of Blind How, I'll suggest a few podcasts that you can listen to in order to expand your knowledge about and comfort with accessible technology in general and cell phones in particular. It's important to understand that podcasts are the show or program. Each podcast then has episodes, individual audio instances of the podcast or program. You search for the podcast.
I have a problem. As we begin thinking about serious tech in general and iPhones in particular, even to share starter information with you is difficult to do without assuming that you already have a computer or iPhone, or at least have access to one or the other. Remember in earlier episodes of Blind How when I talked about the three ways to get on with doing whatever you want to do? They are: get someone to do it for you, get someone to help you do it, and do it yourself. This is one of those get someone to help you times. But first, here's a tip for making notes and remembering things like phone numbers and recipes. You need a little hand held recorder. It doesn't matter what kind, so long as you can record stuff on it and then play it back. The key is that you can record things yourself or have someone else read while you record. You can then listen when you want to listen and at your preferred speed. To get started with your iPhone, do two things. First, get someone to get it up and working for you. Once it is working, press the home button near the bottom three times very quickly, or if there is no big round button toward the bottom on the front of the phone, press the button toward the top on the right side three times very quickly. Also press the top button on the left side a few times to be sure the volume is turned up. You should hear the phone talking to you. Put your finger lightly on the screen and move it around. You should hear things being read aloud. Next, have your helper go to Applevis.com and search for "A Beginner's Guide to Using iOS with VoiceOver." Ask him or her to read the article onto your recorder. Tip: Ask the person reading to say "new heading" whenever there is a new heading. That will make it easier for you to listen. Here's where that hour a day for twenty-four days I mentioned in an earlier episode of Blind How comes in. Start by listening to the complete article, and then go back to the start and go through it, heading by heading. You will get confused, frustrated and tempted to just quit. But don't forget, you committed to a day – one hour at a time. By the third or fourth day, you will start having more success than frustration, but you will persist for the full 24-hours, won't you? Of course you will. Learning to use your iPhone is far from easy, but is totally doable. In fact, it is a lot easier than several other things you have already taught yourself to do. Another tip: When you get frustrated, and you will, stop, lay down the iPhone, walk around some, think about something else, and then come back to practicing iPhone stuff. You do need to learn how to use the iPhone, but you don't need to learn everything before lunch. I've been an iPhone user for ten years or so and still have things to learn and still find new things that I didn't even know it could do. It's a computer, and like other computers, it can be very stubborn when it comes to giving up its secrets. In the next few episodes of Blind How, I'm going to suggest some apps you can consider having on your iPhone and why you might want them, but before I do that, there is an alternative that you may want to look into. It's a tech device that can do a few of the things you will want to do on your iPhone. It can read books, magazines and other things that you have or can get in a digital format, including Talking Books. It has wi-fi that lets you download some materials directly from the Internet, a very good recorder, can play music and podcasts, and is very easy to learn and use without seeing. You likely would need no help from someone who can see to become a proficient user. It is the Victor Reader Stream From Humanware (1 800 722-3393). As of when I am posting this episode of Blind How, the US price is $425. The additional good news is that there is an excellent audio tutorial for it from MysticAccess.com or call (716) 543-3323. The price is $59 as I post this episode of Blind How.
I have a problem. As we begin thinking about serious tech in general and iPhones in particular, even to share starter information with you is difficult to do without assuming that you already have a computer or iPhone, or at least have access to one or the other. Remember in earlier episodes of Blind How when I talked about the three ways to get on with doing whatever you want to do? They are: get someone to do it for you, get someone to help you do it, and do it yourself. This is one of those get someone to help you times. But first, here's a tip for making notes and remembering things like phone numbers and recipes. You need a little hand held recorder. It doesn't matter what kind, so long as you can record stuff on it and then play it back. The key is that you can record things yourself or have someone else read while you record. You can then listen when you want to listen and at your preferred speed. To get started with your iPhone, do two things. First, get someone to get it up and working for you. Once it is working, press the home button near the bottom three times very quickly, or if there is no big round button toward the bottom on the front of the phone, press the button toward the top on the right side three times very quickly. Also press the top button on the left side a few times to be sure the volume is turned up. You should hear the phone talking to you. Put your finger lightly on the screen and move it around. You should hear things being read aloud. Next, have your helper go to Applevis.com and search for "A Beginner's Guide to Using iOS with VoiceOver." Ask him or her to read the article onto your recorder. Tip: Ask the person reading to say "new heading" whenever there is a new heading. That will make it easier for you to listen. Here's where that hour a day for twenty-four days I mentioned in an earlier episode of Blind How comes in. Start by listening to the complete article, and then go back to the start and go through it, heading by heading. You will get confused, frustrated and tempted to just quit. But don't forget, you committed to a day – one hour at a time. By the third or fourth day, you will start having more success than frustration, but you will persist for the full 24-hours, won't you? Of course you will. Learning to use your iPhone is far from easy, but is totally doable. In fact, it is a lot easier than several other things you have already taught yourself to do. Another tip: When you get frustrated, and you will, stop, lay down the iPhone, walk around some, think about something else, and then come back to practicing iPhone stuff. You do need to learn how to use the iPhone, but you don't need to learn everything before lunch. I've been an iPhone user for ten years or so and still have things to learn and still find new things that I didn't even know it could do. It's a computer, and like other computers, it can be very stubborn when it comes to giving up its secrets. In the next few episodes of Blind How, I'm going to suggest some apps you can consider having on your iPhone and why you might want them, but before I do that, there is an alternative that you may want to look into. It's a tech device that can do a few of the things you will want to do on your iPhone. It can read books, magazines and other things that you have or can get in a digital format, including Talking Books. It has wi-fi that lets you download some materials directly from the Internet, a very good recorder, can play music and podcasts, and is very easy to learn and use without seeing. You likely would need no help from someone who can see to become a proficient user. It is the Victor Reader Stream From Humanware (1 800 722-3393). As of when I am posting this episode of Blind How, the US price is $425. The additional good news is that there is an excellent audio tutorial for it from MysticAccess.com or call (716) 543-3323. The price is $59 as I post this episode of Blind How.
I have a problem. As we begin thinking about serious tech in general and iPhones in particular, even to share starter information with you is difficult to do without assuming that you already have a computer or iPhone, or at least have access to one or the other. Remember in earlier episodes of Blind How when I talked about the three ways to get on with doing whatever you want to do? They are: get someone to do it for you, get someone to help you do it, and do it yourself. This is one of those get someone to help you times. But first, here's a tip for making notes and remembering things like phone numbers and recipes. You need a little hand held recorder. It doesn't matter what kind, so long as you can record stuff on it and then play it back. The key is that you can record things yourself or have someone else read while you record. You can then listen when you want to listen and at your preferred speed. To get started with your iPhone, do two things. First, get someone to get it up and working for you. Once it is working, press the home button near the bottom three times very quickly, or if there is no big round button toward the bottom on the front of the phone, press the button toward the top on the right side three times very quickly. Also press the top button on the left side a few times to be sure the volume is turned up. You should hear the phone talking to you. Put your finger lightly on the screen and move it around. You should hear things being read aloud. Next, have your helper go to Applevis.com and search for "A Beginner's Guide to Using iOS with VoiceOver." Ask him or her to read the article onto your recorder. Tip: Ask the person reading to say "new heading" whenever there is a new heading. That will make it easier for you to listen. Here's where that hour a day for twenty-four days I mentioned in an earlier episode of Blind How comes in. Start by listening to the complete article, and then go back to the start and go through it, heading by heading. You will get confused, frustrated and tempted to just quit. But don't forget, you committed to a day – one hour at a time. By the third or fourth day, you will start having more success than frustration, but you will persist for the full 24-hours, won't you? Of course you will. Learning to use your iPhone is far from easy, but is totally doable. In fact, it is a lot easier than several other things you have already taught yourself to do. Another tip: When you get frustrated, and you will, stop, lay down the iPhone, walk around some, think about something else, and then come back to practicing iPhone stuff. You do need to learn how to use the iPhone, but you don't need to learn everything before lunch. I've been an iPhone user for ten years or so and still have things to learn and still find new things that I didn't even know it could do. It's a computer, and like other computers, it can be very stubborn when it comes to giving up its secrets. In the next few episodes of Blind How, I'm going to suggest some apps you can consider having on your iPhone and why you might want them, but before I do that, there is an alternative that you may want to look into. It's a tech device that can do a few of the things you will want to do on your iPhone. It can read books, magazines and other things that you have or can get in a digital format, including Talking Books. It has wi-fi that lets you download some materials directly from the Internet, a very good recorder, can play music and podcasts, and is very easy to learn and use without seeing. You likely would need no help from someone who can see to become a proficient user. It is the Victor Reader Stream From Humanware (1 800 722-3393). As of when I am posting this episode of Blind How, the US price is $425. The additional good news is that there is an excellent audio tutorial for it from MysticAccess.com or call (716) 543-3323. The price is $59 as I post this episode of Blind How.
It's time for some serious tech. The skills I've discussed so far on Blind How are mostly basic. So what does basic mean? If you practice the skills I've discussed to this point in our journey of doing without seeing, you can get along fairly well in your living environment. You will need additional basic skills, but for the most part, you are good to go. What additional skills you add to your skill set depends on what you want to do. The point here is that you can do much of what you want to do without any serious tech. For help and tips for doing things around your living area, Hadley (that I discussed in an earlier episode of Blind How) is your friend. Whatever you want to do, give them a call: 1-800-323-4238Mon - Fri8am - 6pm Central. If you have a friend who can use a computer or even a smart phone, have him or her go to Hadley.edu and share what they find there with you. Along with help with cleaning and cooking, they can help with marking appliances and such so you can operate them yourself. It really is true that whatever you want to do, Hadley can probably help. If reading is your thing, especially if you don't already use Talking Books or some other library service, audio books and magazines are plentiful, and usually free. Call your local library, tell them that you can't see, and ask for them to help you with accessing reading resources for the blind. Now for some serious tech. I wish I could tell you that getting into tech is simple, easy, and free. But it's not any of those. Getting into serious tech, especially when you can't see, is fairly complicated, is tedious and frustrating at times, and costs real money. If that puts you off, keep practicing your basic skills and learning as many new ones as you can. There are many people who are quite content with that level of doing without seeing. There certainly aren't any rules that say you should get into serious tech. But if you are ready to learn more, and do more for yourself, let's start with cell phones. In years past, teching-up for those of us who can't see was even more complicated than it is now. We needed a separate tech gadget for each thing we wanted to do. This could easily mean that we had to keep track of maybe a dozen gadgets, not to speak of the time and frustration required to figure out how to use each of them. Times they are changing though. What used to take several gadgets and many hours now requires only one gadget, but unfortunately, still requires many hours of learning and frustration. At least we can carry the only gadget we need in our pocket. Even better, our cell phones can do more, and can do it better than all those gadgets from days past. I'm an iPhone user, but that's not the only good choice. Other good choices include Pixel phones from Google and Samsung phones from – well – Samsung. People usually talk about iPhones and Android phones, including those from Google and Samsung. If you get to choose, I think an iPhone is easier to learn and has more learning resources for people who can't see. On the other hand, Android phones usually cost less and have nearly the same features for those of us who can't see as iPhones. It's true that many Android phones cost less than iPhones, But be careful. Android phones that have the features and quality needed for a good experience for people who can't see usually cost several hundred dollars, and are not generally less expensive than many iPhones. Whether you go with iPhone or Android, the important point to know is that neither will help much unless you commit to the time and frustration of learning how to use them. But it only takes a day to get started. The catch is that you have to split the 24-hour day into an hour a day for 24 days. But if you do that, you are likely to be using your cell phone just fine. There are a couple of points that need attention before we get into the what and how. First,
It's time for some serious tech. The skills I've discussed so far on Blind How are mostly basic. So what does basic mean? If you practice the skills I've discussed to this point in our journey of doing without seeing, you can get along fairly well in your living environment. You will need additional basic skills, but for the most part, you are good to go. What additional skills you add to your skill set depends on what you want to do. The point here is that you can do much of what you want to do without any serious tech. For help and tips for doing things around your living area, Hadley (that I discussed in an earlier episode of Blind How) is your friend. Whatever you want to do, give them a call: 1-800-323-4238Mon - Fri8am - 6pm Central. If you have a friend who can use a computer or even a smart phone, have him or her go to Hadley.edu and share what they find there with you. Along with help with cleaning and cooking, they can help with marking appliances and such so you can operate them yourself. It really is true that whatever you want to do, Hadley can probably help. If reading is your thing, especially if you don't already use Talking Books or some other library service, audio books and magazines are plentiful, and usually free. Call your local library, tell them that you can't see, and ask for them to help you with accessing reading resources for the blind. Now for some serious tech. I wish I could tell you that getting into tech is simple, easy, and free. But it's not any of those. Getting into serious tech, especially when you can't see, is fairly complicated, is tedious and frustrating at times, and costs real money. If that puts you off, keep practicing your basic skills and learning as many new ones as you can. There are many people who are quite content with that level of doing without seeing. There certainly aren't any rules that say you should get into serious tech. But if you are ready to learn more, and do more for yourself, let's start with cell phones. In years past, teching-up for those of us who can't see was even more complicated than it is now. We needed a separate tech gadget for each thing we wanted to do. This could easily mean that we had to keep track of maybe a dozen gadgets, not to speak of the time and frustration required to figure out how to use each of them. Times they are changing though. What used to take several gadgets and many hours now requires only one gadget, but unfortunately, still requires many hours of learning and frustration. At least we can carry the only gadget we need in our pocket. Even better, our cell phones can do more, and can do it better than all those gadgets from days past. I'm an iPhone user, but that's not the only good choice. Other good choices include Pixel phones from Google and Samsung phones from – well – Samsung. People usually talk about iPhones and Android phones, including those from Google and Samsung. If you get to choose, I think an iPhone is easier to learn and has more learning resources for people who can't see. On the other hand, Android phones usually cost less and have nearly the same features for those of us who can't see as iPhones. It's true that many Android phones cost less than iPhones, But be careful. Android phones that have the features and quality needed for a good experience for people who can't see usually cost several hundred dollars, and are not generally less expensive than many iPhones. Whether you go with iPhone or Android, the important point to know is that neither will help much unless you commit to the time and frustration of learning how to use them. But it only takes a day to get started. The catch is that you have to split the 24-hour day into an hour a day for 24 days. But if you do that, you are likely to be using your cell phone just fine. There are a couple of points that need attention before we get into the what and how. First,
It's time for some serious tech. The skills I've discussed so far on Blind How are mostly basic. So what does basic mean? If you practice the skills I've discussed to this point in our journey of doing without seeing, you can get along fairly well in your living environment. You will need additional basic skills, but for the most part, you are good to go. What additional skills you add to your skill set depends on what you want to do. The point here is that you can do much of what you want to do without any serious tech. For help and tips for doing things around your living area, Hadley (that I discussed in an earlier episode of Blind How) is your friend. Whatever you want to do, give them a call: 1-800-323-4238Mon - Fri8am - 6pm Central. If you have a friend who can use a computer or even a smart phone, have him or her go to Hadley.edu and share what they find there with you. Along with help with cleaning and cooking, they can help with marking appliances and such so you can operate them yourself. It really is true that whatever you want to do, Hadley can probably help. If reading is your thing, especially if you don't already use Talking Books or some other library service, audio books and magazines are plentiful, and usually free. Call your local library, tell them that you can't see, and ask for them to help you with accessing reading resources for the blind. Now for some serious tech. I wish I could tell you that getting into tech is simple, easy, and free. But it's not any of those. Getting into serious tech, especially when you can't see, is fairly complicated, is tedious and frustrating at times, and costs real money. If that puts you off, keep practicing your basic skills and learning as many new ones as you can. There are many people who are quite content with that level of doing without seeing. There certainly aren't any rules that say you should get into serious tech. But if you are ready to learn more, and do more for yourself, let's start with cell phones. In years past, teching-up for those of us who can't see was even more complicated than it is now. We needed a separate tech gadget for each thing we wanted to do. This could easily mean that we had to keep track of maybe a dozen gadgets, not to speak of the time and frustration required to figure out how to use each of them. Times they are changing though. What used to take several gadgets and many hours now requires only one gadget, but unfortunately, still requires many hours of learning and frustration. At least we can carry the only gadget we need in our pocket. Even better, our cell phones can do more, and can do it better than all those gadgets from days past. I'm an iPhone user, but that's not the only good choice. Other good choices include Pixel phones from Google and Samsung phones from – well – Samsung. People usually talk about iPhones and Android phones, including those from Google and Samsung. If you get to choose, I think an iPhone is easier to learn and has more learning resources for people who can't see. On the other hand, Android phones usually cost less and have nearly the same features for those of us who can't see as iPhones. It's true that many Android phones cost less than iPhones, But be careful. Android phones that have the features and quality needed for a good experience for people who can't see usually cost several hundred dollars, and are not generally less expensive than many iPhones. Whether you go with iPhone or Android, the important point to know is that neither will help much unless you commit to the time and frustration of learning how to use them. But it only takes a day to get started. The catch is that you have to split the 24-hour day into an hour a day for 24 days. But if you do that, you are likely to be using your cell phone just fine. There are a couple of points that need attention before we get into the what and how. First,
What do you think the outcome will be if every child who thinks that playing baseball is fun, is told that his or her goal should be becoming a professional baseball player; or perhaps, any child who is interested in science is told that he or she will only be a success when awarded the Nobel Prize? "But no one would ever do that," you protest. Unfortunately, it happens; and any of us may be one of the guilty parties. Putting the issue into the "can't see" context, all of us who can't see have been challenged in exactly this way. If you check out the previous episodes of Blind How, you will find a few examples of me doing it to you. How? I suggest a skill you might want to add to your personal skill set, and then I do it to you. I tell you that there are people who can't see who have mastered that particular skill. Either implicitly or sometimes explicitly, I suggest that you can and probably should develop the skill, getting as good at it as those who have mastered it. Why would I do such a silly and maybe even cruel thing to you? Why would I imply that you will only be successful when you have mastered a particular skill? I don't have any excuse. I realized that an hour or so ago. My sudden insight came a few minutes after I ran into the corner of a door, banging my forehead. Yes, it was my bedroom door. Yes, it was on my mental map of my house. Yes, I knew the door was there, just where it always is. Yes, I wasn't paying attention to where I was and where I was going. And yes, I'm pretty good at getting up and around; and I'm not quite the master of that skill as I may have led you to believe. Nonetheless, I'll still be walking around, trying not to bump into things, even though I'm not yet a master at it. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested that learning Braille would likely be a useful skill for you. At least I didn't go on to say that you should become proficient at reading and writing Braille, at the level where you are easily writing long essays and reading books. Sure, if you want to do that, go for it. I left it at suggesting that learning a little Braille can be very useful. It comes in handy for me to label this and that, to read the labels on medicine bottles or when I need to tell someone what my credit card number is, when ordering something over the phone. Mastering Braille just doesn't interest me at this point in my life. This is what I think the take-away is. For the most part, those of us who can't see should consider developing those skills we need to do what we want to do, at the level sufficient to get the job done for us. For example, developing mobility skills takes some level of time, effort and commitment. But we only need to progress enough to come and go where and when we want to come and go. We probably don't need to master mobility. There are a lot of skills we need, to do what we want to do, but we may not need to master any of them. "Good enough" is usually sufficient for our purposes. Why am I bringing this up at this point in our journey? Think cell phones in general, and smart phones in particular. Yes, you can make phone calls on smart phones, but if that's the only reason for having one, an old-fashion land-line phone is easier and probably cheaper. But making phone calls is not the reason why you likely should have a smart phone, if you can't see. It's all the other things you can do with a smart phone that makes having one so useful. Try this. Think of ten things you want to do that not being able to see prevents or makes especially difficult. I suspect that a smart phone can help with at least seven of those things. The key here is that you don't need to master the smart phone or become what they call a power user. You only need to have enough skill to get the smart phone to help with those things you want to do. Since I'm not a smart phone power user, I'm not going to try to teach you how to use a smart phone, but I am going to suggest resources you may want to con...
What do you think the outcome will be if every child who thinks that playing baseball is fun, is told that his or her goal should be becoming a professional baseball player; or perhaps, any child who is interested in science is told that he or she will only be a success when awarded the Nobel Prize? "But no one would ever do that," you protest. Unfortunately, it happens; and any of us may be one of the guilty parties. Putting the issue into the "can't see" context, all of us who can't see have been challenged in exactly this way. If you check out the previous episodes of Blind How, you will find a few examples of me doing it to you. How? I suggest a skill you might want to add to your personal skill set, and then I do it to you. I tell you that there are people who can't see who have mastered that particular skill. Either implicitly or sometimes explicitly, I suggest that you can and probably should develop the skill, getting as good at it as those who have mastered it. Why would I do such a silly and maybe even cruel thing to you? Why would I imply that you will only be successful when you have mastered a particular skill? I don't have any excuse. I realized that an hour or so ago. My sudden insight came a few minutes after I ran into the corner of a door, banging my forehead. Yes, it was my bedroom door. Yes, it was on my mental map of my house. Yes, I knew the door was there, just where it always is. Yes, I wasn't paying attention to where I was and where I was going. And yes, I'm pretty good at getting up and around; and I'm not quite the master of that skill as I may have led you to believe. Nonetheless, I'll still be walking around, trying not to bump into things, even though I'm not yet a master at it. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested that learning Braille would likely be a useful skill for you. At least I didn't go on to say that you should become proficient at reading and writing Braille, at the level where you are easily writing long essays and reading books. Sure, if you want to do that, go for it. I left it at suggesting that learning a little Braille can be very useful. It comes in handy for me to label this and that, to read the labels on medicine bottles or when I need to tell someone what my credit card number is, when ordering something over the phone. Mastering Braille just doesn't interest me at this point in my life. This is what I think the take-away is. For the most part, those of us who can't see should consider developing those skills we need to do what we want to do, at the level sufficient to get the job done for us. For example, developing mobility skills takes some level of time, effort and commitment. But we only need to progress enough to come and go where and when we want to come and go. We probably don't need to master mobility. There are a lot of skills we need, to do what we want to do, but we may not need to master any of them. "Good enough" is usually sufficient for our purposes. Why am I bringing this up at this point in our journey? Think cell phones in general, and smart phones in particular. Yes, you can make phone calls on smart phones, but if that's the only reason for having one, an old-fashion land-line phone is easier and probably cheaper. But making phone calls is not the reason why you likely should have a smart phone, if you can't see. It's all the other things you can do with a smart phone that makes having one so useful. Try this. Think of ten things you want to do that not being able to see prevents or makes especially difficult. I suspect that a smart phone can help with at least seven of those things. The key here is that you don't need to master the smart phone or become what they call a power user. You only need to have enough skill to get the smart phone to help with those things you want to do. Since I'm not a smart phone power user, I'm not going to try to teach you how to use a smart phone, but I am going to suggest resources you may want to con...
What do you think the outcome will be if every child who thinks that playing baseball is fun, is told that his or her goal should be becoming a professional baseball player; or perhaps, any child who is interested in science is told that he or she will only be a success when awarded the Nobel Prize? "But no one would ever do that," you protest. Unfortunately, it happens; and any of us may be one of the guilty parties. Putting the issue into the "can't see" context, all of us who can't see have been challenged in exactly this way. If you check out the previous episodes of Blind How, you will find a few examples of me doing it to you. How? I suggest a skill you might want to add to your personal skill set, and then I do it to you. I tell you that there are people who can't see who have mastered that particular skill. Either implicitly or sometimes explicitly, I suggest that you can and probably should develop the skill, getting as good at it as those who have mastered it. Why would I do such a silly and maybe even cruel thing to you? Why would I imply that you will only be successful when you have mastered a particular skill? I don't have any excuse. I realized that an hour or so ago. My sudden insight came a few minutes after I ran into the corner of a door, banging my forehead. Yes, it was my bedroom door. Yes, it was on my mental map of my house. Yes, I knew the door was there, just where it always is. Yes, I wasn't paying attention to where I was and where I was going. And yes, I'm pretty good at getting up and around; and I'm not quite the master of that skill as I may have led you to believe. Nonetheless, I'll still be walking around, trying not to bump into things, even though I'm not yet a master at it. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested that learning Braille would likely be a useful skill for you. At least I didn't go on to say that you should become proficient at reading and writing Braille, at the level where you are easily writing long essays and reading books. Sure, if you want to do that, go for it. I left it at suggesting that learning a little Braille can be very useful. It comes in handy for me to label this and that, to read the labels on medicine bottles or when I need to tell someone what my credit card number is, when ordering something over the phone. Mastering Braille just doesn't interest me at this point in my life. This is what I think the take-away is. For the most part, those of us who can't see should consider developing those skills we need to do what we want to do, at the level sufficient to get the job done for us. For example, developing mobility skills takes some level of time, effort and commitment. But we only need to progress enough to come and go where and when we want to come and go. We probably don't need to master mobility. There are a lot of skills we need, to do what we want to do, but we may not need to master any of them. "Good enough" is usually sufficient for our purposes. Why am I bringing this up at this point in our journey? Think cell phones in general, and smart phones in particular. Yes, you can make phone calls on smart phones, but if that's the only reason for having one, an old-fashion land-line phone is easier and probably cheaper. But making phone calls is not the reason why you likely should have a smart phone, if you can't see. It's all the other things you can do with a smart phone that makes having one so useful. Try this. Think of ten things you want to do that not being able to see prevents or makes especially difficult. I suspect that a smart phone can help with at least seven of those things. The key here is that you don't need to master the smart phone or become what they call a power user. You only need to have enough skill to get the smart phone to help with those things you want to do. Since I'm not a smart phone power user, I'm not going to try to teach you how to use a smart phone, but I am going to suggest resources you may want to con...
There is a point about Blind How that some visitors may find confusing. Question: "Who is Blind How for?" If you can't see and already have an extensive skill set for doing whatever you want to do, Blind How may be somewhat interesting, but isn't for you. At the same time, I hope you will take the time to share what you've already figured out with those who haven't. Send your tip or strategy to Tips@BlindHow.net. Please give others the benefit of your learning and experience. Let me share an anecdote that speaks to who Blind How is for. I was listening to a podcast called iBUG Buzz. It's produced by the folks at http://www.iBugToday.org. iBUG is a Blind Users Group for people who use or want to use iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs and everything related. The website and the iBUG program has been around for more than ten years, but I just found out about it this week. I'm going to spend more time exploring its resources and options, and definitely recommend that you spend some time with it too. Back to the anecdote. An individual (I'm calling her Sue, but I have no idea what her name actually is.) commented that she has been unable to see all of her life. As a child and on to being a young adult, Sue's parents and others in her family were very supportive and also quite protective. With the best of intentions, they developed a pattern of doing most everything for her that children and adults who can see do without much thought. They obviously wanted to do everything they could do to make Sue's life frustration and friction free. Their love was strong and heart-felt. To her surprise and that of her family, Sue discovered that there are lots of people who can't see who have learned to do most things they want to do without needing someone to help or to do them for them. Many people who can't see have developed a skill set that neither she nor her family knew was possible. Sure, Sue had developed her own skill set, but limited by others doing for her instead of her learning to do for herself. Her new awareness was that she could learn to use iPhones, computers and a range of other tech-toys that could open a world of experiences and opportunities that had been hidden from her. "Thanks, but I'll do it for myself," was a new and freeing experience. In addition to the tech-toys, she discovered a growing range of resources for people who can't see that range from how to do most anything, to how others have adjusted to not being able to see, to techniques and strategies for managing more or less independently when she had things to do, places to go and people to see. Is all of this easy peasy, a piece of cake, as they say? Definitely not. Is it doable with time and effort? It is, to the extent you can develop the skills and so long as you are willing to manage the frustration and hard work. Developing the know-how and skills is tedious. Having the knowledge and skills is totally terrific. For this episode of Blind How, let's start our tech journey with rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. In the kitchen, put one rubber band around the cans of beans, and two for corn. In your closet, put one small safety pin inside the black pants, and two for the brown. Put a paper clip on the mail you want to keep, and none for the junk mail. I'll bet you get the idea. Use something to designate which type of thing is which. Doing for yourself starts with being able to tell this from that. If you could see, it would be easy. When you can't see, you need a system. There are better ways of labeling your stuff, and we will get to them in time. For now though, get a good supply of rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. Pro tip: You can also use big ones and little ones to add to your labeling options. Just be consistent, and – the most important tip – remember your system.
There is a point about Blind How that some visitors may find confusing. Question: "Who is Blind How for?" If you can't see and already have an extensive skill set for doing whatever you want to do, Blind How may be somewhat interesting, but isn't for you. At the same time, I hope you will take the time to share what you've already figured out with those who haven't. Send your tip or strategy to Tips@BlindHow.net. Please give others the benefit of your learning and experience. Let me share an anecdote that speaks to who Blind How is for. I was listening to a podcast called iBUG Buzz. It's produced by the folks at http://www.iBugToday.org. iBUG is a Blind Users Group for people who use or want to use iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs and everything related. The website and the iBUG program has been around for more than ten years, but I just found out about it this week. I'm going to spend more time exploring its resources and options, and definitely recommend that you spend some time with it too. Back to the anecdote. An individual (I'm calling her Sue, but I have no idea what her name actually is.) commented that she has been unable to see all of her life. As a child and on to being a young adult, Sue's parents and others in her family were very supportive and also quite protective. With the best of intentions, they developed a pattern of doing most everything for her that children and adults who can see do without much thought. They obviously wanted to do everything they could do to make Sue's life frustration and friction free. Their love was strong and heart-felt. To her surprise and that of her family, Sue discovered that there are lots of people who can't see who have learned to do most things they want to do without needing someone to help or to do them for them. Many people who can't see have developed a skill set that neither she nor her family knew was possible. Sure, Sue had developed her own skill set, but limited by others doing for her instead of her learning to do for herself. Her new awareness was that she could learn to use iPhones, computers and a range of other tech-toys that could open a world of experiences and opportunities that had been hidden from her. "Thanks, but I'll do it for myself," was a new and freeing experience. In addition to the tech-toys, she discovered a growing range of resources for people who can't see that range from how to do most anything, to how others have adjusted to not being able to see, to techniques and strategies for managing more or less independently when she had things to do, places to go and people to see. Is all of this easy peasy, a piece of cake, as they say? Definitely not. Is it doable with time and effort? It is, to the extent you can develop the skills and so long as you are willing to manage the frustration and hard work. Developing the know-how and skills is tedious. Having the knowledge and skills is totally terrific. For this episode of Blind How, let's start our tech journey with rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. In the kitchen, put one rubber band around the cans of beans, and two for corn. In your closet, put one small safety pin inside the black pants, and two for the brown. Put a paper clip on the mail you want to keep, and none for the junk mail. I'll bet you get the idea. Use something to designate which type of thing is which. Doing for yourself starts with being able to tell this from that. If you could see, it would be easy. When you can't see, you need a system. There are better ways of labeling your stuff, and we will get to them in time. For now though, get a good supply of rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. Pro tip: You can also use big ones and little ones to add to your labeling options. Just be consistent, and – the most important tip – remember your system.
There is a point about Blind How that some visitors may find confusing. Question: "Who is Blind How for?" If you can't see and already have an extensive skill set for doing whatever you want to do, Blind How may be somewhat interesting, but isn't for you. At the same time, I hope you will take the time to share what you've already figured out with those who haven't. Send your tip or strategy to Tips@BlindHow.net. Please give others the benefit of your learning and experience. Let me share an anecdote that speaks to who Blind How is for. I was listening to a podcast called iBUG Buzz. It's produced by the folks at http://www.iBugToday.org. iBUG is a Blind Users Group for people who use or want to use iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Apple TVs and everything related. The website and the iBUG program has been around for more than ten years, but I just found out about it this week. I'm going to spend more time exploring its resources and options, and definitely recommend that you spend some time with it too. Back to the anecdote. An individual (I'm calling her Sue, but I have no idea what her name actually is.) commented that she has been unable to see all of her life. As a child and on to being a young adult, Sue's parents and others in her family were very supportive and also quite protective. With the best of intentions, they developed a pattern of doing most everything for her that children and adults who can see do without much thought. They obviously wanted to do everything they could do to make Sue's life frustration and friction free. Their love was strong and heart-felt. To her surprise and that of her family, Sue discovered that there are lots of people who can't see who have learned to do most things they want to do without needing someone to help or to do them for them. Many people who can't see have developed a skill set that neither she nor her family knew was possible. Sure, Sue had developed her own skill set, but limited by others doing for her instead of her learning to do for herself. Her new awareness was that she could learn to use iPhones, computers and a range of other tech-toys that could open a world of experiences and opportunities that had been hidden from her. "Thanks, but I'll do it for myself," was a new and freeing experience. In addition to the tech-toys, she discovered a growing range of resources for people who can't see that range from how to do most anything, to how others have adjusted to not being able to see, to techniques and strategies for managing more or less independently when she had things to do, places to go and people to see. Is all of this easy peasy, a piece of cake, as they say? Definitely not. Is it doable with time and effort? It is, to the extent you can develop the skills and so long as you are willing to manage the frustration and hard work. Developing the know-how and skills is tedious. Having the knowledge and skills is totally terrific. For this episode of Blind How, let's start our tech journey with rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. In the kitchen, put one rubber band around the cans of beans, and two for corn. In your closet, put one small safety pin inside the black pants, and two for the brown. Put a paper clip on the mail you want to keep, and none for the junk mail. I'll bet you get the idea. Use something to designate which type of thing is which. Doing for yourself starts with being able to tell this from that. If you could see, it would be easy. When you can't see, you need a system. There are better ways of labeling your stuff, and we will get to them in time. For now though, get a good supply of rubber bands, paper clips and safety pins. Pro tip: You can also use big ones and little ones to add to your labeling options. Just be consistent, and – the most important tip – remember your system.
Let me start this episode of Blind How with a heads-up. I will be talking some about walking outside and in unfamiliar inside places. The tips I include will be minor and only intended to suggest a few things to keep in mind. Walking from place to place outside and in new places without a helper who can see, requires a skill set that all of us who can't see need, but should only develop with the assistance of a qualified mobility professional. Additionally, I don't know any way to develop those skills without learning how to use a white cane or guide dog. Where you live and spend most of your time likely is doable, whether you live in an apartment or on a farm. The key is that you have a good mental map of the area and are aware of any risky areas or hazards. Also, when you become disoriented – and you will – there is minimal risk of getting hurt. I mentioned in an earlier episode of Blind How that I don't know how to use a white cane. I'm a guide dog user. My current guide dog is my seventh, so I have been trusting my mobility to a dog for a long time. Like most other strategies for doing what we want to do without seeing, getting out and about by ourselves requires high motivation, determination and practice and then more practice. On any given day, it's easier to just stay home. The important thing to know is that going wherever you want to go is possible; and there are people who can't see who have already been there and done that. That's it for the heads-up. Let's get back to moving around in our personal living space. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested leaving a radio or TV playing as an orientation device. The sound is a known landmark on our mental map. But it gets even better. Here's where the fun starts. Those of us who can't see have what sometimes seems like unlimited technology out there to help us do what we want to do. Does thinking about all that technology get you excited, or does it cause you to shrug and turn away? If technology is something that interests you, you are ready to ramp up your skill set for doing what you want to do. If instead, you aren't interested and don't think technology is for you, you have made a life altering decision, although you may not know you are making it. You have decided to be satisfied with the status quo. You already have all the help you need or want, to do what you do, and things as they are is sufficient for you. – No problem. It really is your choice. Sure, I'll be getting to cell phones and computers; but for starters, I'm very impressed with the Amazon Echo and the Google wireless speaker. You need the little speaker for either. I suspect you already have one or the other. The cool part isn't so much the gadget, but rather the assistant that talks to us. For Amazon's Echo, she is Alexa, and for the Google gadget, I call him the Google Guy. We'll come back to both devices from time to time, but for now, let's get back to walking around our living areas. Alexa and the Google Guy are great orientation helpers. Since I know where they are located in my living space, I can just ask anything – It doesn't matter what I ask. – I get a response and immediately am oriented to where I am in relation to the voice. It's better for me than a radio or TV, especially when I don't want them on all day. You are undoubtedly getting the idea. Listening is, for those of us who can't see, our most important orientation device. If you can't see and also can't hear, you have two serious issues; and I don't know how to help with the can't hear issue. But there are people who can help. The first step is to identify someone who can't hear or knows how to help people who can't hear. They likely can head you in the right direction to get some assistance. There are a lot of sounds in our environments and ways to add sounds. Radios and TVs are good, but adding Alexa or the Google Guy may be even better.
Let me start this episode of Blind How with a heads-up. I will be talking some about walking outside and in unfamiliar inside places. The tips I include will be minor and only intended to suggest a few things to keep in mind. Walking from place to place outside and in new places without a helper who can see, requires a skill set that all of us who can't see need, but should only develop with the assistance of a qualified mobility professional. Additionally, I don't know any way to develop those skills without learning how to use a white cane or guide dog. Where you live and spend most of your time likely is doable, whether you live in an apartment or on a farm. The key is that you have a good mental map of the area and are aware of any risky areas or hazards. Also, when you become disoriented – and you will – there is minimal risk of getting hurt. I mentioned in an earlier episode of Blind How that I don't know how to use a white cane. I'm a guide dog user. My current guide dog is my seventh, so I have been trusting my mobility to a dog for a long time. Like most other strategies for doing what we want to do without seeing, getting out and about by ourselves requires high motivation, determination and practice and then more practice. On any given day, it's easier to just stay home. The important thing to know is that going wherever you want to go is possible; and there are people who can't see who have already been there and done that. That's it for the heads-up. Let's get back to moving around in our personal living space. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested leaving a radio or TV playing as an orientation device. The sound is a known landmark on our mental map. But it gets even better. Here's where the fun starts. Those of us who can't see have what sometimes seems like unlimited technology out there to help us do what we want to do. Does thinking about all that technology get you excited, or does it cause you to shrug and turn away? If technology is something that interests you, you are ready to ramp up your skill set for doing what you want to do. If instead, you aren't interested and don't think technology is for you, you have made a life altering decision, although you may not know you are making it. You have decided to be satisfied with the status quo. You already have all the help you need or want, to do what you do, and things as they are is sufficient for you. – No problem. It really is your choice. Sure, I'll be getting to cell phones and computers; but for starters, I'm very impressed with the Amazon Echo and the Google wireless speaker. You need the little speaker for either. I suspect you already have one or the other. The cool part isn't so much the gadget, but rather the assistant that talks to us. For Amazon's Echo, she is Alexa, and for the Google gadget, I call him the Google Guy. We'll come back to both devices from time to time, but for now, let's get back to walking around our living areas. Alexa and the Google Guy are great orientation helpers. Since I know where they are located in my living space, I can just ask anything – It doesn't matter what I ask. – I get a response and immediately am oriented to where I am in relation to the voice. It's better for me than a radio or TV, especially when I don't want them on all day. You are undoubtedly getting the idea. Listening is, for those of us who can't see, our most important orientation device. If you can't see and also can't hear, you have two serious issues; and I don't know how to help with the can't hear issue. But there are people who can help. The first step is to identify someone who can't hear or knows how to help people who can't hear. They likely can head you in the right direction to get some assistance. There are a lot of sounds in our environments and ways to add sounds. Radios and TVs are good, but adding Alexa or the Google Guy may be even better.
Let me start this episode of Blind How with a heads-up. I will be talking some about walking outside and in unfamiliar inside places. The tips I include will be minor and only intended to suggest a few things to keep in mind. Walking from place to place outside and in new places without a helper who can see, requires a skill set that all of us who can't see need, but should only develop with the assistance of a qualified mobility professional. Additionally, I don't know any way to develop those skills without learning how to use a white cane or guide dog. Where you live and spend most of your time likely is doable, whether you live in an apartment or on a farm. The key is that you have a good mental map of the area and are aware of any risky areas or hazards. Also, when you become disoriented – and you will – there is minimal risk of getting hurt. I mentioned in an earlier episode of Blind How that I don't know how to use a white cane. I'm a guide dog user. My current guide dog is my seventh, so I have been trusting my mobility to a dog for a long time. Like most other strategies for doing what we want to do without seeing, getting out and about by ourselves requires high motivation, determination and practice and then more practice. On any given day, it's easier to just stay home. The important thing to know is that going wherever you want to go is possible; and there are people who can't see who have already been there and done that. That's it for the heads-up. Let's get back to moving around in our personal living space. In the last episode of Blind How, I suggested leaving a radio or TV playing as an orientation device. The sound is a known landmark on our mental map. But it gets even better. Here's where the fun starts. Those of us who can't see have what sometimes seems like unlimited technology out there to help us do what we want to do. Does thinking about all that technology get you excited, or does it cause you to shrug and turn away? If technology is something that interests you, you are ready to ramp up your skill set for doing what you want to do. If instead, you aren't interested and don't think technology is for you, you have made a life altering decision, although you may not know you are making it. You have decided to be satisfied with the status quo. You already have all the help you need or want, to do what you do, and things as they are is sufficient for you. – No problem. It really is your choice. Sure, I'll be getting to cell phones and computers; but for starters, I'm very impressed with the Amazon Echo and the Google wireless speaker. You need the little speaker for either. I suspect you already have one or the other. The cool part isn't so much the gadget, but rather the assistant that talks to us. For Amazon's Echo, she is Alexa, and for the Google gadget, I call him the Google Guy. We'll come back to both devices from time to time, but for now, let's get back to walking around our living areas. Alexa and the Google Guy are great orientation helpers. Since I know where they are located in my living space, I can just ask anything – It doesn't matter what I ask. – I get a response and immediately am oriented to where I am in relation to the voice. It's better for me than a radio or TV, especially when I don't want them on all day. You are undoubtedly getting the idea. Listening is, for those of us who can't see, our most important orientation device. If you can't see and also can't hear, you have two serious issues; and I don't know how to help with the can't hear issue. But there are people who can help. The first step is to identify someone who can't hear or knows how to help people who can't hear. They likely can head you in the right direction to get some assistance. There are a lot of sounds in our environments and ways to add sounds. Radios and TVs are good, but adding Alexa or the Google Guy may be even better.
There is a small fact of life that is frequently overlooked. Here it is. Just because doing something isn't complicated, doesn't mean that doing it is easy or simple. This important point definitely applies to doing without seeing. The tips and strategies for doing without seeing that I have discussed so far on Blind How have not been particularly complicated. Nonetheless, adding each tip or strategy to our personal skill set is far from easy or simple. They require a degree of attention, concentration and practice that can seem to be unreasonable and hardly worth the effort. On any given occasion, they are hardly worth the bother – and they are a lot of bother at times. Here is the issue. Those of us who can't see have limited options. Either we go to the bother of incorporating the tips and strategies into our skill set, or we are permanently disabled, unable to do what we want to do, when we want to do it. The things we want to do are either off the table or left to the discretion and good will of people who can see. We each get to choose; and I'm assuming that you are choosing to do for yourself, whenever you can, as much as you can. In the last episode of Blind How, I focused on walking around our homes or living areas. The strategy is to start with our mental map of our area. It's not a one and done kind of thing. We continue to improve our mental map by adding and correcting the details. The more time we spend in the area, the more detailed and the more accurate our mental map gets. I also pointed out that a good strategy for moving around is to get into the habit of walking from known point to known point. I call those points "landmarks." The idea is to take a moment to make sure you are facing the next landmark before starting to walk. Now walk directly toward that landmark. In your home, this strategy is important, but once you go outside, it becomes critical. Practicing at home is your best bet for safely mastering the technique. If options were limited to following our mental maps, walking around would be difficult but doable. The good news is that we can do better than simply relying on our mental maps. In the last episode of Blind How, I mentioned paying attention to the floor. Notice when you step on a rug or when the floor changes from carpet to wood. The idea is that changes in the floor surface become additional landmarks on our mental maps. The same notion will apply outside when the surface where we are walking changes. I also mentioned touching things. Keeping our hands up helps us touch things before banging into them, but also helps us identify landmarks in our environments such as chairs, walls and appliances. The added tip for this episode of Blind How is listening. Along with touching and feeling, your home or living area makes sounds. Where I live, the furnace just turned on. I also hear the ice maker in the refrigerator. Different areas make different sounds, letting me know a little more about where I am at any particular time. The traffic sounds are outside in front of the house, the birds are chirping outside the back door, and on and on. My living environment is not loud but is noisy, and yours likely is too. Again, listening becomes even more important when we leave our familiar environments and venture into unfamiliar outside and inside spaces. Here's what I think is an especially useful tip. Leave a radio or TV playing whenever you are at home and awake. Along with being auditory company, the sound is a consistent and continuous landmark that you can use from most anywhere in your living area. I've done this for a long time and am still surprised at times by how helpful the sound is, particularly when I become momentarily disoriented now and then. If you don't already do this, give it a try. Do you have a tip for other Blind How listeners? Do you have a question needing an answer? Get in touch at Tips@BlindHow.net.
There is a small fact of life that is frequently overlooked. Here it is. Just because doing something isn't complicated, doesn't mean that doing it is easy or simple. This important point definitely applies to doing without seeing. The tips and strategies for doing without seeing that I have discussed so far on Blind How have not been particularly complicated. Nonetheless, adding each tip or strategy to our personal skill set is far from easy or simple. They require a degree of attention, concentration and practice that can seem to be unreasonable and hardly worth the effort. On any given occasion, they are hardly worth the bother – and they are a lot of bother at times. Here is the issue. Those of us who can't see have limited options. Either we go to the bother of incorporating the tips and strategies into our skill set, or we are permanently disabled, unable to do what we want to do, when we want to do it. The things we want to do are either off the table or left to the discretion and good will of people who can see. We each get to choose; and I'm assuming that you are choosing to do for yourself, whenever you can, as much as you can. In the last episode of Blind How, I focused on walking around our homes or living areas. The strategy is to start with our mental map of our area. It's not a one and done kind of thing. We continue to improve our mental map by adding and correcting the details. The more time we spend in the area, the more detailed and the more accurate our mental map gets. I also pointed out that a good strategy for moving around is to get into the habit of walking from known point to known point. I call those points "landmarks." The idea is to take a moment to make sure you are facing the next landmark before starting to walk. Now walk directly toward that landmark. In your home, this strategy is important, but once you go outside, it becomes critical. Practicing at home is your best bet for safely mastering the technique. If options were limited to following our mental maps, walking around would be difficult but doable. The good news is that we can do better than simply relying on our mental maps. In the last episode of Blind How, I mentioned paying attention to the floor. Notice when you step on a rug or when the floor changes from carpet to wood. The idea is that changes in the floor surface become additional landmarks on our mental maps. The same notion will apply outside when the surface where we are walking changes. I also mentioned touching things. Keeping our hands up helps us touch things before banging into them, but also helps us identify landmarks in our environments such as chairs, walls and appliances. The added tip for this episode of Blind How is listening. Along with touching and feeling, your home or living area makes sounds. Where I live, the furnace just turned on. I also hear the ice maker in the refrigerator. Different areas make different sounds, letting me know a little more about where I am at any particular time. The traffic sounds are outside in front of the house, the birds are chirping outside the back door, and on and on. My living environment is not loud but is noisy, and yours likely is too. Again, listening becomes even more important when we leave our familiar environments and venture into unfamiliar outside and inside spaces. Here's what I think is an especially useful tip. Leave a radio or TV playing whenever you are at home and awake. Along with being auditory company, the sound is a consistent and continuous landmark that you can use from most anywhere in your living area. I've done this for a long time and am still surprised at times by how helpful the sound is, particularly when I become momentarily disoriented now and then. If you don't already do this, give it a try. Do you have a tip for other Blind How listeners? Do you have a question needing an answer? Get in touch at Tips@BlindHow.net.
There is a small fact of life that is frequently overlooked. Here it is. Just because doing something isn't complicated, doesn't mean that doing it is easy or simple. This important point definitely applies to doing without seeing. The tips and strategies for doing without seeing that I have discussed so far on Blind How have not been particularly complicated. Nonetheless, adding each tip or strategy to our personal skill set is far from easy or simple. They require a degree of attention, concentration and practice that can seem to be unreasonable and hardly worth the effort. On any given occasion, they are hardly worth the bother – and they are a lot of bother at times. Here is the issue. Those of us who can't see have limited options. Either we go to the bother of incorporating the tips and strategies into our skill set, or we are permanently disabled, unable to do what we want to do, when we want to do it. The things we want to do are either off the table or left to the discretion and good will of people who can see. We each get to choose; and I'm assuming that you are choosing to do for yourself, whenever you can, as much as you can. In the last episode of Blind How, I focused on walking around our homes or living areas. The strategy is to start with our mental map of our area. It's not a one and done kind of thing. We continue to improve our mental map by adding and correcting the details. The more time we spend in the area, the more detailed and the more accurate our mental map gets. I also pointed out that a good strategy for moving around is to get into the habit of walking from known point to known point. I call those points "landmarks." The idea is to take a moment to make sure you are facing the next landmark before starting to walk. Now walk directly toward that landmark. In your home, this strategy is important, but once you go outside, it becomes critical. Practicing at home is your best bet for safely mastering the technique. If options were limited to following our mental maps, walking around would be difficult but doable. The good news is that we can do better than simply relying on our mental maps. In the last episode of Blind How, I mentioned paying attention to the floor. Notice when you step on a rug or when the floor changes from carpet to wood. The idea is that changes in the floor surface become additional landmarks on our mental maps. The same notion will apply outside when the surface where we are walking changes. I also mentioned touching things. Keeping our hands up helps us touch things before banging into them, but also helps us identify landmarks in our environments such as chairs, walls and appliances. The added tip for this episode of Blind How is listening. Along with touching and feeling, your home or living area makes sounds. Where I live, the furnace just turned on. I also hear the ice maker in the refrigerator. Different areas make different sounds, letting me know a little more about where I am at any particular time. The traffic sounds are outside in front of the house, the birds are chirping outside the back door, and on and on. My living environment is not loud but is noisy, and yours likely is too. Again, listening becomes even more important when we leave our familiar environments and venture into unfamiliar outside and inside spaces. Here's what I think is an especially useful tip. Leave a radio or TV playing whenever you are at home and awake. Along with being auditory company, the sound is a consistent and continuous landmark that you can use from most anywhere in your living area. I've done this for a long time and am still surprised at times by how helpful the sound is, particularly when I become momentarily disoriented now and then. If you don't already do this, give it a try. Do you have a tip for other Blind How listeners? Do you have a question needing an answer? Get in touch at Tips@BlindHow.net.
Okay, it's time to get up and moving. But not so quick. I do have a couple of thoughts to share first. If you've not been able to see for a long time, this is probably nothing new or particularly interesting for you. I'm sure tempted to skip on past the basics to the good stuff, including phone apps and cool gadgets. I might even suggest a few podcasts specifically for those of us who can't see. But all in good time. First, I need to share a few tips with those of you who recently joined the can't see club, and also with those of you who just want to understand how those of us who can't se do what we do. First, a white cane or handy stick of some sort would likely be helpful as you get up and about. I did tell you that I don't know everything about not seeing, or how other people are able to do what they do without seeing, didn't I? Well, this is one of those times. I have never used a white cane and don't actually know how to use one. People who are proficient with a white cane have a skill set that I simply don't have. Nonetheless, if you can't see and get a chance to learn how to use a white cane, go for it, without any hesitation. It would be a good addition to your toolbox. Second, if someone is going to help you get around, they are likely to hold your arm or hand, trying to guide or lead you. This usually doesn't work out very well. Better is for you to hold their arm or touch them. What makes the difference, you ask? That is a great question. It's the difference between being lead and following. Following is much easier. With the best of intentions, people holding you will tend to push and pull. When they do, it's hard to know exactly what they want you to do or which direction they want you to go. Much easier is to hold their arm and follow them. I don't think I fully understand the difference well enough to completely explain it, but for me, following is always better. Try it both ways to see which works best for you. Just as an aside, when it comes to getting up and walking around, I have a tip and a caution, but I'm starting with the caution. More often than not, if you bump into something or bang your head, the reason is simple. You started moving before you gave any thought to where you are and how to get to where you want to be. The next most likely reason for those bumps and bangs is not thinking about where you want to go and how you are doing as you move toward where you want to be. You just start out without any further thought. The point is that you stop paying attention at your own risk. It usually turns out fine, but now and then, you will wish that you had been more attentive. Now that I have gotten us past the preliminaries, let's get to the first tip. Yes, there are quite a few tips and techniques for moving around without seeing, but let's start with what I think is likely principle number 1. It's all about the angles. I know, I mentioned that in the last episode of Blind How. Even so, it's really true. I'm going to assume that you want to walk around where you live. We can start inside and save outside for later. You have made a mental map of where you live, haven't you? You need it now. The more detailed your mental map is, the easier moving around will be. The key to walking around without running into things or getting somewhere you didn't want to be is moving from point to point on your mental map, and not trying to go from where you are straight to where you want to be. It actually is as easy as that. As you walk, you know you are at the next waypoint when you touch it with your hand, or perhaps your leg. Keep your hand up so you find the wall or other waypoint before banging into it. It's not necessary to reach out. It's usually enough to just hold your arm up some, with your hand bent forward. You only need to walk slowly enough to give yourself a chance to stop once your hand touches the wall, or corner, or perhaps the refrigerator. Here's the deal with those angles.
Okay, it's time to get up and moving. But not so quick. I do have a couple of thoughts to share first. If you've not been able to see for a long time, this is probably nothing new or particularly interesting for you. I'm sure tempted to skip on past the basics to the good stuff, including phone apps and cool gadgets. I might even suggest a few podcasts specifically for those of us who can't see. But all in good time. First, I need to share a few tips with those of you who recently joined the can't see club, and also with those of you who just want to understand how those of us who can't se do what we do. First, a white cane or handy stick of some sort would likely be helpful as you get up and about. I did tell you that I don't know everything about not seeing, or how other people are able to do what they do without seeing, didn't I? Well, this is one of those times. I have never used a white cane and don't actually know how to use one. People who are proficient with a white cane have a skill set that I simply don't have. Nonetheless, if you can't see and get a chance to learn how to use a white cane, go for it, without any hesitation. It would be a good addition to your toolbox. Second, if someone is going to help you get around, they are likely to hold your arm or hand, trying to guide or lead you. This usually doesn't work out very well. Better is for you to hold their arm or touch them. What makes the difference, you ask? That is a great question. It's the difference between being lead and following. Following is much easier. With the best of intentions, people holding you will tend to push and pull. When they do, it's hard to know exactly what they want you to do or which direction they want you to go. Much easier is to hold their arm and follow them. I don't think I fully understand the difference well enough to completely explain it, but for me, following is always better. Try it both ways to see which works best for you. Just as an aside, when it comes to getting up and walking around, I have a tip and a caution, but I'm starting with the caution. More often than not, if you bump into something or bang your head, the reason is simple. You started moving before you gave any thought to where you are and how to get to where you want to be. The next most likely reason for those bumps and bangs is not thinking about where you want to go and how you are doing as you move toward where you want to be. You just start out without any further thought. The point is that you stop paying attention at your own risk. It usually turns out fine, but now and then, you will wish that you had been more attentive. Now that I have gotten us past the preliminaries, let's get to the first tip. Yes, there are quite a few tips and techniques for moving around without seeing, but let's start with what I think is likely principle number 1. It's all about the angles. I know, I mentioned that in the last episode of Blind How. Even so, it's really true. I'm going to assume that you want to walk around where you live. We can start inside and save outside for later. You have made a mental map of where you live, haven't you? You need it now. The more detailed your mental map is, the easier moving around will be. The key to walking around without running into things or getting somewhere you didn't want to be is moving from point to point on your mental map, and not trying to go from where you are straight to where you want to be. It actually is as easy as that. As you walk, you know you are at the next waypoint when you touch it with your hand, or perhaps your leg. Keep your hand up so you find the wall or other waypoint before banging into it. It's not necessary to reach out. It's usually enough to just hold your arm up some, with your hand bent forward. You only need to walk slowly enough to give yourself a chance to stop once your hand touches the wall, or corner, or perhaps the refrigerator. Here's the deal with those angles.
Okay, it's time to get up and moving. But not so quick. I do have a couple of thoughts to share first. If you've not been able to see for a long time, this is probably nothing new or particularly interesting for you. I'm sure tempted to skip on past the basics to the good stuff, including phone apps and cool gadgets. I might even suggest a few podcasts specifically for those of us who can't see. But all in good time. First, I need to share a few tips with those of you who recently joined the can't see club, and also with those of you who just want to understand how those of us who can't se do what we do. First, a white cane or handy stick of some sort would likely be helpful as you get up and about. I did tell you that I don't know everything about not seeing, or how other people are able to do what they do without seeing, didn't I? Well, this is one of those times. I have never used a white cane and don't actually know how to use one. People who are proficient with a white cane have a skill set that I simply don't have. Nonetheless, if you can't see and get a chance to learn how to use a white cane, go for it, without any hesitation. It would be a good addition to your toolbox. Second, if someone is going to help you get around, they are likely to hold your arm or hand, trying to guide or lead you. This usually doesn't work out very well. Better is for you to hold their arm or touch them. What makes the difference, you ask? That is a great question. It's the difference between being lead and following. Following is much easier. With the best of intentions, people holding you will tend to push and pull. When they do, it's hard to know exactly what they want you to do or which direction they want you to go. Much easier is to hold their arm and follow them. I don't think I fully understand the difference well enough to completely explain it, but for me, following is always better. Try it both ways to see which works best for you. Just as an aside, when it comes to getting up and walking around, I have a tip and a caution, but I'm starting with the caution. More often than not, if you bump into something or bang your head, the reason is simple. You started moving before you gave any thought to where you are and how to get to where you want to be. The next most likely reason for those bumps and bangs is not thinking about where you want to go and how you are doing as you move toward where you want to be. You just start out without any further thought. The point is that you stop paying attention at your own risk. It usually turns out fine, but now and then, you will wish that you had been more attentive. Now that I have gotten us past the preliminaries, let's get to the first tip. Yes, there are quite a few tips and techniques for moving around without seeing, but let's start with what I think is likely principle number 1. It's all about the angles. I know, I mentioned that in the last episode of Blind How. Even so, it's really true. I'm going to assume that you want to walk around where you live. We can start inside and save outside for later. You have made a mental map of where you live, haven't you? You need it now. The more detailed your mental map is, the easier moving around will be. The key to walking around without running into things or getting somewhere you didn't want to be is moving from point to point on your mental map, and not trying to go from where you are straight to where you want to be. It actually is as easy as that. As you walk, you know you are at the next waypoint when you touch it with your hand, or perhaps your leg. Keep your hand up so you find the wall or other waypoint before banging into it. It's not necessary to reach out. It's usually enough to just hold your arm up some, with your hand bent forward. You only need to walk slowly enough to give yourself a chance to stop once your hand touches the wall, or corner, or perhaps the refrigerator. Here's the deal with those angles.
So far, everything I have discussed, and the tips to go along, can be done sitting down. If getting up and walking around are not in your wheelhouse, there are many more things you can do, but for now, I want to shift to walking around. I'll get back in future episodes of Blind How to the wide range of stuff you can do without needing to walk. Let me just skip right over how easy walking around is if you can see. I can't see and walking around is for me, a daily challenge. Let's also get past the notion that, even though you can't see, it's possible for you to learn to walk around, never tripping, bumping into things, knocking things over and not even occasionally banging your head or other sensitive area into a wall or stray chair. Maybe someone who can't see, somewhere, but not me and most likely, not you either. Bumps, bruises and similar annoyances are inevitable, if walking around is in your daily routine. I have a robot vacuum cleaner that has learned to vacuum the floors in my house, without any additional directions or intervention. Okay, it only usually vacuums my house without any intervention by me, except when it gets stuck or can't find its way back to its dock. I call it Jake. If it successfully vacuums and returns to its dock, I can say, "That's just Jake." If it gets stuck or can't find its way home, that's just a Jake mistake. Here's the point. Jake made itself a map of my house which it now uses to vacuum. With a little human help, it knows where each room is, how to get from room to room and its way back to its dock, most of the time. Making its map took a while, but it is pretty independent now. Just Jake, don't you think? Here's the deal. I'm smarter than Jake, and so are you. I can make a mental map of my house and can use it when walking around. Making my mental map took a while, but now that I have it, walking around my house is just Jake, most of the time. Step one is to make the mental map of my space. I have one for my house and others for places I regularly go. When I go to a new location, I immediately start making a mental map of that place. The longer I am at a specific location and the more often I return there, the better my mental map for that location gets. "How do I make a mental map," you ask? If possible, I get someone to show me around, I ask about the location where I am, I listen to the sounds and noises around me and to what people around say about where things are and what they look like. Over time, I collect more and more data about the place. The more data I collect and the more familiar I become with the location, the more useful my mental map becomes. Is that the end of it? Is having a really good mental map of a place all there is to it? Would that that were true. I could just focus on my mental map and walk around with no mistakes, errors or issues. But instead of being the end of it, having a working mental map is what gamblers call table stakes. You need that mental map just to get into the walking around game. Without it, you are lost and would be well-advised to stay seated. At least, in your chair, you aren't likely to bump into a wall or trip over the dog toys on the floor. – But if that's not Jake for you, make a mental map everywhere you are and everywhere you go. That's enough to think about for this episode of Blind How. In the next and future episodes, I will have some tips and suggestions for making mental maps and for how to use them, successfully and safely. Here's a hint: it's all about the angles.
So far, everything I have discussed, and the tips to go along, can be done sitting down. If getting up and walking around are not in your wheelhouse, there are many more things you can do, but for now, I want to shift to walking around. I'll get back in future episodes of Blind How to the wide range of stuff you can do without needing to walk. Let me just skip right over how easy walking around is if you can see. I can't see and walking around is for me, a daily challenge. Let's also get past the notion that, even though you can't see, it's possible for you to learn to walk around, never tripping, bumping into things, knocking things over and not even occasionally banging your head or other sensitive area into a wall or stray chair. Maybe someone who can't see, somewhere, but not me and most likely, not you either. Bumps, bruises and similar annoyances are inevitable, if walking around is in your daily routine. I have a robot vacuum cleaner that has learned to vacuum the floors in my house, without any additional directions or intervention. Okay, it only usually vacuums my house without any intervention by me, except when it gets stuck or can't find its way back to its dock. I call it Jake. If it successfully vacuums and returns to its dock, I can say, "That's just Jake." If it gets stuck or can't find its way home, that's just a Jake mistake. Here's the point. Jake made itself a map of my house which it now uses to vacuum. With a little human help, it knows where each room is, how to get from room to room and its way back to its dock, most of the time. Making its map took a while, but it is pretty independent now. Just Jake, don't you think? Here's the deal. I'm smarter than Jake, and so are you. I can make a mental map of my house and can use it when walking around. Making my mental map took a while, but now that I have it, walking around my house is just Jake, most of the time. Step one is to make the mental map of my space. I have one for my house and others for places I regularly go. When I go to a new location, I immediately start making a mental map of that place. The longer I am at a specific location and the more often I return there, the better my mental map for that location gets. "How do I make a mental map," you ask? If possible, I get someone to show me around, I ask about the location where I am, I listen to the sounds and noises around me and to what people around say about where things are and what they look like. Over time, I collect more and more data about the place. The more data I collect and the more familiar I become with the location, the more useful my mental map becomes. Is that the end of it? Is having a really good mental map of a place all there is to it? Would that that were true. I could just focus on my mental map and walk around with no mistakes, errors or issues. But instead of being the end of it, having a working mental map is what gamblers call table stakes. You need that mental map just to get into the walking around game. Without it, you are lost and would be well-advised to stay seated. At least, in your chair, you aren't likely to bump into a wall or trip over the dog toys on the floor. – But if that's not Jake for you, make a mental map everywhere you are and everywhere you go. That's enough to think about for this episode of Blind How. In the next and future episodes, I will have some tips and suggestions for making mental maps and for how to use them, successfully and safely. Here's a hint: it's all about the angles.
So far, everything I have discussed, and the tips to go along, can be done sitting down. If getting up and walking around are not in your wheelhouse, there are many more things you can do, but for now, I want to shift to walking around. I'll get back in future episodes of Blind How to the wide range of stuff you can do without needing to walk. Let me just skip right over how easy walking around is if you can see. I can't see and walking around is for me, a daily challenge. Let's also get past the notion that, even though you can't see, it's possible for you to learn to walk around, never tripping, bumping into things, knocking things over and not even occasionally banging your head or other sensitive area into a wall or stray chair. Maybe someone who can't see, somewhere, but not me and most likely, not you either. Bumps, bruises and similar annoyances are inevitable, if walking around is in your daily routine. I have a robot vacuum cleaner that has learned to vacuum the floors in my house, without any additional directions or intervention. Okay, it only usually vacuums my house without any intervention by me, except when it gets stuck or can't find its way back to its dock. I call it Jake. If it successfully vacuums and returns to its dock, I can say, "That's just Jake." If it gets stuck or can't find its way home, that's just a Jake mistake. Here's the point. Jake made itself a map of my house which it now uses to vacuum. With a little human help, it knows where each room is, how to get from room to room and its way back to its dock, most of the time. Making its map took a while, but it is pretty independent now. Just Jake, don't you think? Here's the deal. I'm smarter than Jake, and so are you. I can make a mental map of my house and can use it when walking around. Making my mental map took a while, but now that I have it, walking around my house is just Jake, most of the time. Step one is to make the mental map of my space. I have one for my house and others for places I regularly go. When I go to a new location, I immediately start making a mental map of that place. The longer I am at a specific location and the more often I return there, the better my mental map for that location gets. "How do I make a mental map," you ask? If possible, I get someone to show me around, I ask about the location where I am, I listen to the sounds and noises around me and to what people around say about where things are and what they look like. Over time, I collect more and more data about the place. The more data I collect and the more familiar I become with the location, the more useful my mental map becomes. Is that the end of it? Is having a really good mental map of a place all there is to it? Would that that were true. I could just focus on my mental map and walk around with no mistakes, errors or issues. But instead of being the end of it, having a working mental map is what gamblers call table stakes. You need that mental map just to get into the walking around game. Without it, you are lost and would be well-advised to stay seated. At least, in your chair, you aren't likely to bump into a wall or trip over the dog toys on the floor. – But if that's not Jake for you, make a mental map everywhere you are and everywhere you go. That's enough to think about for this episode of Blind How. In the next and future episodes, I will have some tips and suggestions for making mental maps and for how to use them, successfully and safely. Here's a hint: it's all about the angles.
If you, like me, can't see, set it and forget it has a whole other significance. I know, you don't lose track of your stuff. You resent my suggesting that, just because you can't see, you might not remember where you set something down or where you put it. I apologize, so let me start this over. I sometimes set things down or put them somewhere and can't remember where. Even worse, I look for whatever it was and end up knocking it over, spilling it or maybe just bumping it, with the result that it goes flying and I have an even harder time finding it. If I could see, I would just look around and would usually find whatever was temporarily lost. I can't. I don't. Okay, you've got the idea. I occasionally set it and forget it. If that ever happens to you, here are a couple of tips. First, work on putting things away, where they belong. Yes, I'm actually serious. Even if you plan to use it again fairly soon, take the extra minute to put it away, back where it's easy to find. It's nearly as easy to get into the habit of putting things away as it is to habitually set things down willy-nilly. "I'll put it away later" is mostly a sign of laziness. That isn't much of an issue, unless you can't see. But if you don't mind not being able to find your stuff, don't bother with getting into the habit of putting them away. Here is my second tip. If you need to set something down while completing a task or activity, put it beside something else that doesn't move, and that you always know where it is. This comes up when working in the kitchen, at your desk, in your workshop, etc. You need to lay down a tool or supply while you do something else. It needs to be handy when you need it. The main point here is not to just randomly lay it down in an open area on a counter or other surface. Put it next to the wall, against an appliance or other object that you seldom move, or beside another fixed object. The idea is that you can first locate the spot that doesn't move and then locate whatever you sat down. This technique is much harder to explain than to do. It's like having a mental map showing where things are. When setting something down, put it next to a familiar landmark on your mental map. Then, even if you forget where you put it, it's easier to check near the usual landmarks than to have to randomly search around for it. It will make finding your stuff even easier if you get into the habit of trying to always use the same reference landmarks as much as you can. If you set things down beside the regular landmarks, they will be easier to find, when you set it but forget where. A quick reminder and a tiny extra tip: Remember to move your hand low and slow when reaching for whatever you have temporarily set aside or laid down. More detail about this is in an earlier episode of Blind How. The tiny tip is to always lay knives down with the cutting edge away from you and on the other side of where you may be feeling for it. The same edge that can cut a cucumber can and will cut your finger, if you aren't careful.
If you, like me, can't see, set it and forget it has a whole other significance. I know, you don't lose track of your stuff. You resent my suggesting that, just because you can't see, you might not remember where you set something down or where you put it. I apologize, so let me start this over. I sometimes set things down or put them somewhere and can't remember where. Even worse, I look for whatever it was and end up knocking it over, spilling it or maybe just bumping it, with the result that it goes flying and I have an even harder time finding it. If I could see, I would just look around and would usually find whatever was temporarily lost. I can't. I don't. Okay, you've got the idea. I occasionally set it and forget it. If that ever happens to you, here are a couple of tips. First, work on putting things away, where they belong. Yes, I'm actually serious. Even if you plan to use it again fairly soon, take the extra minute to put it away, back where it's easy to find. It's nearly as easy to get into the habit of putting things away as it is to habitually set things down willy-nilly. "I'll put it away later" is mostly a sign of laziness. That isn't much of an issue, unless you can't see. But if you don't mind not being able to find your stuff, don't bother with getting into the habit of putting them away. Here is my second tip. If you need to set something down while completing a task or activity, put it beside something else that doesn't move, and that you always know where it is. This comes up when working in the kitchen, at your desk, in your workshop, etc. You need to lay down a tool or supply while you do something else. It needs to be handy when you need it. The main point here is not to just randomly lay it down in an open area on a counter or other surface. Put it next to the wall, against an appliance or other object that you seldom move, or beside another fixed object. The idea is that you can first locate the spot that doesn't move and then locate whatever you sat down. This technique is much harder to explain than to do. It's like having a mental map showing where things are. When setting something down, put it next to a familiar landmark on your mental map. Then, even if you forget where you put it, it's easier to check near the usual landmarks than to have to randomly search around for it. It will make finding your stuff even easier if you get into the habit of trying to always use the same reference landmarks as much as you can. If you set things down beside the regular landmarks, they will be easier to find, when you set it but forget where. A quick reminder and a tiny extra tip: Remember to move your hand low and slow when reaching for whatever you have temporarily set aside or laid down. More detail about this is in an earlier episode of Blind How. The tiny tip is to always lay knives down with the cutting edge away from you and on the other side of where you may be feeling for it. The same edge that can cut a cucumber can and will cut your finger, if you aren't careful.
If you, like me, can't see, set it and forget it has a whole other significance. I know, you don't lose track of your stuff. You resent my suggesting that, just because you can't see, you might not remember where you set something down or where you put it. I apologize, so let me start this over. I sometimes set things down or put them somewhere and can't remember where. Even worse, I look for whatever it was and end up knocking it over, spilling it or maybe just bumping it, with the result that it goes flying and I have an even harder time finding it. If I could see, I would just look around and would usually find whatever was temporarily lost. I can't. I don't. Okay, you've got the idea. I occasionally set it and forget it. If that ever happens to you, here are a couple of tips. First, work on putting things away, where they belong. Yes, I'm actually serious. Even if you plan to use it again fairly soon, take the extra minute to put it away, back where it's easy to find. It's nearly as easy to get into the habit of putting things away as it is to habitually set things down willy-nilly. "I'll put it away later" is mostly a sign of laziness. That isn't much of an issue, unless you can't see. But if you don't mind not being able to find your stuff, don't bother with getting into the habit of putting them away. Here is my second tip. If you need to set something down while completing a task or activity, put it beside something else that doesn't move, and that you always know where it is. This comes up when working in the kitchen, at your desk, in your workshop, etc. You need to lay down a tool or supply while you do something else. It needs to be handy when you need it. The main point here is not to just randomly lay it down in an open area on a counter or other surface. Put it next to the wall, against an appliance or other object that you seldom move, or beside another fixed object. The idea is that you can first locate the spot that doesn't move and then locate whatever you sat down. This technique is much harder to explain than to do. It's like having a mental map showing where things are. When setting something down, put it next to a familiar landmark on your mental map. Then, even if you forget where you put it, it's easier to check near the usual landmarks than to have to randomly search around for it. It will make finding your stuff even easier if you get into the habit of trying to always use the same reference landmarks as much as you can. If you set things down beside the regular landmarks, they will be easier to find, when you set it but forget where. A quick reminder and a tiny extra tip: Remember to move your hand low and slow when reaching for whatever you have temporarily set aside or laid down. More detail about this is in an earlier episode of Blind How. The tiny tip is to always lay knives down with the cutting edge away from you and on the other side of where you may be feeling for it. The same edge that can cut a cucumber can and will cut your finger, if you aren't careful.
Do you like to play lost and found? Most people don't like it much, especially if it's their stuff that is lost. Even so, the found part of lost and found works okay for most everyone. And therein lies the problem. For those of us who can't see, losing our stuff is frequently followed by not finding our stuff. Instead of lost and found, we are left with lost and still searching, or too often, lost and quit looking. Nothing to do but get along without our stuff, or wait until someone who can see happens by to find it for us. So what's the deal? Why can't we find our stuff? Like everyone else, those of us who can't see don't put things away when we are finished using them, lay thing down but forget where, toss things on a table or chair without thinking about it, or move things to a new location but don't remember where that is. Of course, the issue when we can't see is that looking around for stuff is not an option. That brings us back to BATS, discussed in an earlier episode of Blind How. "What do BATS have to do with it?" you ask. BATS is our Best Alternative To Seeing, and since we can't look around, we definitely need an alternative. I sure hope you aren't expecting a quick and easy solution to the lost but not found problem. I won't like it much, if I have to disappoint you. First comes the obvious. Put things away after you use them. Don't just lay things down or toss them on a table or chair without giving it a moment's thought. Only move things if necessary. Don't forget where you put things. If you live with other people, ask them to try to put things back where they got them. And most important, ask them not to move your stuff or other things like furniture or equipment. That's it: your Best Alternative To Seeing, when it comes to lost and found. Just work at getting better and better at not losing or misplacing things. I think the most helpful element here for your skill set is remembering that, "I'll put it away later," isn't going to cut it for those of us who can't see. I do have one suggestion for finding your stuff though. When something is not where you expect it to be, expand the search area a little. It may have just gotten bumped or pushed away some. But before you just keep expanding the search area, stop for a minute to think about exactly where it was the last time you had it or used it. It's probably still there. Will you still lose or misplace things? Indeed you will. The good news is that, with practice and attention, lost and not found will frustrate you less often. If you think this is unrealistic and too much work, you can hope someone who can see always comes along to find your stuff for you. But even if they do, if you don't remember where you put it, they may not be able to find it either. No, I'm not going to just leave it at that. Despite our best effort, we still have times when we can't find our stuff. Fortunately, there are a few more tips that will add to your finding my stuff skill set. I'll be sharing them in the next few episodes of Blind How. But just know that not losing or misplacing your stuff in the first place is definitely your Best Alternative To Seeing.
Do you like to play lost and found? Most people don't like it much, especially if it's their stuff that is lost. Even so, the found part of lost and found works okay for most everyone. And therein lies the problem. For those of us who can't see, losing our stuff is frequently followed by not finding our stuff. Instead of lost and found, we are left with lost and still searching, or too often, lost and quit looking. Nothing to do but get along without our stuff, or wait until someone who can see happens by to find it for us. So what's the deal? Why can't we find our stuff? Like everyone else, those of us who can't see don't put things away when we are finished using them, lay thing down but forget where, toss things on a table or chair without thinking about it, or move things to a new location but don't remember where that is. Of course, the issue when we can't see is that looking around for stuff is not an option. That brings us back to BATS, discussed in an earlier episode of Blind How. "What do BATS have to do with it?" you ask. BATS is our Best Alternative To Seeing, and since we can't look around, we definitely need an alternative. I sure hope you aren't expecting a quick and easy solution to the lost but not found problem. I won't like it much, if I have to disappoint you. First comes the obvious. Put things away after you use them. Don't just lay things down or toss them on a table or chair without giving it a moment's thought. Only move things if necessary. Don't forget where you put things. If you live with other people, ask them to try to put things back where they got them. And most important, ask them not to move your stuff or other things like furniture or equipment. That's it: your Best Alternative To Seeing, when it comes to lost and found. Just work at getting better and better at not losing or misplacing things. I think the most helpful element here for your skill set is remembering that, "I'll put it away later," isn't going to cut it for those of us who can't see. I do have one suggestion for finding your stuff though. When something is not where you expect it to be, expand the search area a little. It may have just gotten bumped or pushed away some. But before you just keep expanding the search area, stop for a minute to think about exactly where it was the last time you had it or used it. It's probably still there. Will you still lose or misplace things? Indeed you will. The good news is that, with practice and attention, lost and not found will frustrate you less often. If you think this is unrealistic and too much work, you can hope someone who can see always comes along to find your stuff for you. But even if they do, if you don't remember where you put it, they may not be able to find it either. No, I'm not going to just leave it at that. Despite our best effort, we still have times when we can't find our stuff. Fortunately, there are a few more tips that will add to your finding my stuff skill set. I'll be sharing them in the next few episodes of Blind How. But just know that not losing or misplacing your stuff in the first place is definitely your Best Alternative To Seeing.
Do you like to play lost and found? Most people don't like it much, especially if it's their stuff that is lost. Even so, the found part of lost and found works okay for most everyone. And therein lies the problem. For those of us who can't see, losing our stuff is frequently followed by not finding our stuff. Instead of lost and found, we are left with lost and still searching, or too often, lost and quit looking. Nothing to do but get along without our stuff, or wait until someone who can see happens by to find it for us. So what's the deal? Why can't we find our stuff? Like everyone else, those of us who can't see don't put things away when we are finished using them, lay thing down but forget where, toss things on a table or chair without thinking about it, or move things to a new location but don't remember where that is. Of course, the issue when we can't see is that looking around for stuff is not an option. That brings us back to BATS, discussed in an earlier episode of Blind How. "What do BATS have to do with it?" you ask. BATS is our Best Alternative To Seeing, and since we can't look around, we definitely need an alternative. I sure hope you aren't expecting a quick and easy solution to the lost but not found problem. I won't like it much, if I have to disappoint you. First comes the obvious. Put things away after you use them. Don't just lay things down or toss them on a table or chair without giving it a moment's thought. Only move things if necessary. Don't forget where you put things. If you live with other people, ask them to try to put things back where they got them. And most important, ask them not to move your stuff or other things like furniture or equipment. That's it: your Best Alternative To Seeing, when it comes to lost and found. Just work at getting better and better at not losing or misplacing things. I think the most helpful element here for your skill set is remembering that, "I'll put it away later," isn't going to cut it for those of us who can't see. I do have one suggestion for finding your stuff though. When something is not where you expect it to be, expand the search area a little. It may have just gotten bumped or pushed away some. But before you just keep expanding the search area, stop for a minute to think about exactly where it was the last time you had it or used it. It's probably still there. Will you still lose or misplace things? Indeed you will. The good news is that, with practice and attention, lost and not found will frustrate you less often. If you think this is unrealistic and too much work, you can hope someone who can see always comes along to find your stuff for you. But even if they do, if you don't remember where you put it, they may not be able to find it either. No, I'm not going to just leave it at that. Despite our best effort, we still have times when we can't find our stuff. Fortunately, there are a few more tips that will add to your finding my stuff skill set. I'll be sharing them in the next few episodes of Blind How. But just know that not losing or misplacing your stuff in the first place is definitely your Best Alternative To Seeing.
Do you remember those school books? Sure, I'm talking about those books you spent so much time staring at, and at least occasionally, seriously reading. In many of them, there was a summary at the end of each chapter. I know you never did this, but I would sometimes see if I could get away with reading the summary and skipping reading the chapter itself. Okay, that's enough for confessions. We are at the point in our Blind How journey to call this the end of the Introduction, if Blind How were a book. That means it's time to insert a chapter summary. The summary in a nutshell is this: If I can't see and success for me is to be, it's up to me. Let me share a tiny anecdote that captures the essence of helping children who can't see, understanding how to succeed when we can't see, and most everything you will ever need to know about how to do when you can't see. I was six-years-old and in the first grade. My mother had come to pick me up after school and was talking to my teacher, Miss Icenogle. I was playing near by and dropped the pencile I was using. My mother immediately started to pick it up and hand it to me. Miss Icenogle said, "No, let him look for it. He needs to learn to listen to those types of things. If he looks and still can't find it, then you can hand it too him, making sure to mention where you found it." And thus, a long journey of learning to do it for myself was underway. With "I'll learn to do it myself," as our mantra, let me try summarizing Blind How to this point. • Good communication skills matter a lot. Start by looking at whoever is talking, whether he or she is talking to you or to someone else. People are more comfortable when they and those with whom they are talking look at each other. Face-to-Face is the preferred mode. • Stand or sit up straight, look up at others when you or they are talking and speak up so others can hear you without needing to make any special effort. • The single best way to be taken seriously in any conversation is to make it clear that you are taking other people and what they say seriously. If you first attend to taking the other person seriously, he or she will be more apt to take you and what you say seriously. The more seriously they take you and what you say, the more your not seeing moves into the background, the less likely they are to put you into their blind box. • There is a critical difference between can't and haven't yet figured out how. When we put BATS (Best Alternative To Seeing) first, "I can't see" is never the end of it. Any time there is something we need to do or just want to do, the challenge is to figure out what our best alternative to seeing is, while still being able to do whatever it is we need or want. Here's the thing. It's far too easy for many of us to play our blind card. We either wait for someone who can see to help us with the activity or do the task for us, or we simply avoid the activity. Can't or at least won't wins. The outcome is cumulative: we gradually do less and less, avoiding more and more. Here it is in the proverbial nutshell. The best alternative to not seeing is to figure out how to do whatever you want done, by yourself, without depending on sighted assistance, unless necessary. Here's the good news. Most everything you want to do is being done somewhere and being done independently, by a person who can't see. For those times when sighted assistance is necessary, anonymous help is often there, on your phone. The bad news is that developing the needed skills and accessing the available resources takes time, effort and a big measure of determination. Try this, "If it is to be, it's up to me, so BATS it shall be, for me." • But how do we who can't see do that, how do we do what we want to do, get what we want? I know of three general approaches that usually cover the challenge for me. First, I can get someone who can see to do it for me or get it for me. Second, I can enlist the help of someone who can see to...
Do you remember those school books? Sure, I'm talking about those books you spent so much time staring at, and at least occasionally, seriously reading. In many of them, there was a summary at the end of each chapter. I know you never did this, but I would sometimes see if I could get away with reading the summary and skipping reading the chapter itself. Okay, that's enough for confessions. We are at the point in our Blind How journey to call this the end of the Introduction, if Blind How were a book. That means it's time to insert a chapter summary. The summary in a nutshell is this: If I can't see and success for me is to be, it's up to me. Let me share a tiny anecdote that captures the essence of helping children who can't see, understanding how to succeed when we can't see, and most everything you will ever need to know about how to do when you can't see. I was six-years-old and in the first grade. My mother had come to pick me up after school and was talking to my teacher, Miss Icenogle. I was playing near by and dropped the pencile I was using. My mother immediately started to pick it up and hand it to me. Miss Icenogle said, "No, let him look for it. He needs to learn to listen to those types of things. If he looks and still can't find it, then you can hand it too him, making sure to mention where you found it." And thus, a long journey of learning to do it for myself was underway. With "I'll learn to do it myself," as our mantra, let me try summarizing Blind How to this point. • Good communication skills matter a lot. Start by looking at whoever is talking, whether he or she is talking to you or to someone else. People are more comfortable when they and those with whom they are talking look at each other. Face-to-Face is the preferred mode. • Stand or sit up straight, look up at others when you or they are talking and speak up so others can hear you without needing to make any special effort. • The single best way to be taken seriously in any conversation is to make it clear that you are taking other people and what they say seriously. If you first attend to taking the other person seriously, he or she will be more apt to take you and what you say seriously. The more seriously they take you and what you say, the more your not seeing moves into the background, the less likely they are to put you into their blind box. • There is a critical difference between can't and haven't yet figured out how. When we put BATS (Best Alternative To Seeing) first, "I can't see" is never the end of it. Any time there is something we need to do or just want to do, the challenge is to figure out what our best alternative to seeing is, while still being able to do whatever it is we need or want. Here's the thing. It's far too easy for many of us to play our blind card. We either wait for someone who can see to help us with the activity or do the task for us, or we simply avoid the activity. Can't or at least won't wins. The outcome is cumulative: we gradually do less and less, avoiding more and more. Here it is in the proverbial nutshell. The best alternative to not seeing is to figure out how to do whatever you want done, by yourself, without depending on sighted assistance, unless necessary. Here's the good news. Most everything you want to do is being done somewhere and being done independently, by a person who can't see. For those times when sighted assistance is necessary, anonymous help is often there, on your phone. The bad news is that developing the needed skills and accessing the available resources takes time, effort and a big measure of determination. Try this, "If it is to be, it's up to me, so BATS it shall be, for me." • But how do we who can't see do that, how do we do what we want to do, get what we want? I know of three general approaches that usually cover the challenge for me. First, I can get someone who can see to do it for me or get it for me. Second, I can enlist the help of someone who can see to...
Do you remember those school books? Sure, I'm talking about those books you spent so much time staring at, and at least occasionally, seriously reading. In many of them, there was a summary at the end of each chapter. I know you never did this, but I would sometimes see if I could get away with reading the summary and skipping reading the chapter itself. Okay, that's enough for confessions. We are at the point in our Blind How journey to call this the end of the Introduction, if Blind How were a book. That means it's time to insert a chapter summary. The summary in a nutshell is this: If I can't see and success for me is to be, it's up to me. Let me share a tiny anecdote that captures the essence of helping children who can't see, understanding how to succeed when we can't see, and most everything you will ever need to know about how to do when you can't see. I was six-years-old and in the first grade. My mother had come to pick me up after school and was talking to my teacher, Miss Icenogle. I was playing near by and dropped the pencile I was using. My mother immediately started to pick it up and hand it to me. Miss Icenogle said, "No, let him look for it. He needs to learn to listen to those types of things. If he looks and still can't find it, then you can hand it too him, making sure to mention where you found it." And thus, a long journey of learning to do it for myself was underway. With "I'll learn to do it myself," as our mantra, let me try summarizing Blind How to this point. • Good communication skills matter a lot. Start by looking at whoever is talking, whether he or she is talking to you or to someone else. People are more comfortable when they and those with whom they are talking look at each other. Face-to-Face is the preferred mode. • Stand or sit up straight, look up at others when you or they are talking and speak up so others can hear you without needing to make any special effort. • The single best way to be taken seriously in any conversation is to make it clear that you are taking other people and what they say seriously. If you first attend to taking the other person seriously, he or she will be more apt to take you and what you say seriously. The more seriously they take you and what you say, the more your not seeing moves into the background, the less likely they are to put you into their blind box. • There is a critical difference between can't and haven't yet figured out how. When we put BATS (Best Alternative To Seeing) first, "I can't see" is never the end of it. Any time there is something we need to do or just want to do, the challenge is to figure out what our best alternative to seeing is, while still being able to do whatever it is we need or want. Here's the thing. It's far too easy for many of us to play our blind card. We either wait for someone who can see to help us with the activity or do the task for us, or we simply avoid the activity. Can't or at least won't wins. The outcome is cumulative: we gradually do less and less, avoiding more and more. Here it is in the proverbial nutshell. The best alternative to not seeing is to figure out how to do whatever you want done, by yourself, without depending on sighted assistance, unless necessary. Here's the good news. Most everything you want to do is being done somewhere and being done independently, by a person who can't see. For those times when sighted assistance is necessary, anonymous help is often there, on your phone. The bad news is that developing the needed skills and accessing the available resources takes time, effort and a big measure of determination. Try this, "If it is to be, it's up to me, so BATS it shall be, for me." • But how do we who can't see do that, how do we do what we want to do, get what we want? I know of three general approaches that usually cover the challenge for me. First, I can get someone who can see to do it for me or get it for me. Second, I can enlist the help of someone who can see to...
You may have noticed that, so far, I haven't suggested anything that only applies to those of us who can't see. The tips all work quite well for people who can see, although for them, the tips may not be quite so essential. Well, I'm about to do it again. One of those tips that is essential for those of us who can't see, but work almost as well for everyone else, is headed your way. The harsh reality is this. If you can't see, many, but definitely not all, people who can see make judgments about you based on little more than their personal generalizations about blindness and blind people. Unfortunately, those generalizations tend to be negative. Not negative in the sense of your being a bad person or somehow unacceptable, but rather negative in terms of being limited, less competent, more needy and ignorable. A major contributor to these negative generalizations is that most people who can see have never known a successful, competent blind person. If they do know someone who can't see, the likelihood is that the blind person they know is quite old, not involved in the mainstream of things, or both. Sure, it's just another version of prejudice; but knowing that doesn't help much when it is you who is the person being judged. I agree. It's not fair, not right and people who judge us without knowing us should be ashamed of themselves. There is another side to that particular coin though. Many, but definitely not all people who can't see, buy into the negative judgment habit. They sometimes behave as if other people should adjust to their issues and limitations. Since they can't see, people should expect less, accommodate more and be more considerate of how difficult it is to get along when you can't see. And the fact of it is that most people will expect less and accommodate more, at least until they get tired of it or start to suspect that you are taking advantage of their helpful nature. In earlier episodes of Blind How, I've suggested a few ways you can get past the tendency of people to put you in the blind box, depending on whatever they assume about people who can't see. I can assure you that life is easier in the blind box, if you don't mind staying on the fringe and mostly being ignored. If instead you do mind, do believe that you can swim in the mainstream, are committed to giving it your best effort, first be sure you are implementing the tips I shared in earlier episodes. Along with that, here's another tip to incorporate into your skill set. There is never a good excuse for bad manners. I know. Your manners are impeccable. You don't need to be reminded to use your good manners every day, everywhere, with everyone. This little tip is just not needed. But just in case, pick someone you know who has especially good manners. Now, ask yourself if you are keeping up with the standard they are setting. If so, good for you. If not, you may want to work on that. It's one way you can let other people know that you don't belong in their blind box. Yes, good manners are a lot more than please and thank you. Observe thoughtfully, take mental notes and remember the thoughts and feelings you have about people who really do have impeccable manners. You'll soon get the point. If it is to be, I'll always take my good manners with me, putting them right out there for all to see.
You may have noticed that, so far, I haven't suggested anything that only applies to those of us who can't see. The tips all work quite well for people who can see, although for them, the tips may not be quite so essential. Well, I'm about to do it again. One of those tips that is essential for those of us who can't see, but work almost as well for everyone else, is headed your way. The harsh reality is this. If you can't see, many, but definitely not all, people who can see make judgments about you based on little more than their personal generalizations about blindness and blind people. Unfortunately, those generalizations tend to be negative. Not negative in the sense of your being a bad person or somehow unacceptable, but rather negative in terms of being limited, less competent, more needy and ignorable. A major contributor to these negative generalizations is that most people who can see have never known a successful, competent blind person. If they do know someone who can't see, the likelihood is that the blind person they know is quite old, not involved in the mainstream of things, or both. Sure, it's just another version of prejudice; but knowing that doesn't help much when it is you who is the person being judged. I agree. It's not fair, not right and people who judge us without knowing us should be ashamed of themselves. There is another side to that particular coin though. Many, but definitely not all people who can't see, buy into the negative judgment habit. They sometimes behave as if other people should adjust to their issues and limitations. Since they can't see, people should expect less, accommodate more and be more considerate of how difficult it is to get along when you can't see. And the fact of it is that most people will expect less and accommodate more, at least until they get tired of it or start to suspect that you are taking advantage of their helpful nature. In earlier episodes of Blind How, I've suggested a few ways you can get past the tendency of people to put you in the blind box, depending on whatever they assume about people who can't see. I can assure you that life is easier in the blind box, if you don't mind staying on the fringe and mostly being ignored. If instead you do mind, do believe that you can swim in the mainstream, are committed to giving it your best effort, first be sure you are implementing the tips I shared in earlier episodes. Along with that, here's another tip to incorporate into your skill set. There is never a good excuse for bad manners. I know. Your manners are impeccable. You don't need to be reminded to use your good manners every day, everywhere, with everyone. This little tip is just not needed. But just in case, pick someone you know who has especially good manners. Now, ask yourself if you are keeping up with the standard they are setting. If so, good for you. If not, you may want to work on that. It's one way you can let other people know that you don't belong in their blind box. Yes, good manners are a lot more than please and thank you. Observe thoughtfully, take mental notes and remember the thoughts and feelings you have about people who really do have impeccable manners. You'll soon get the point. If it is to be, I'll always take my good manners with me, putting them right out there for all to see.
You may have noticed that, so far, I haven't suggested anything that only applies to those of us who can't see. The tips all work quite well for people who can see, although for them, the tips may not be quite so essential. Well, I'm about to do it again. One of those tips that is essential for those of us who can't see, but work almost as well for everyone else, is headed your way. The harsh reality is this. If you can't see, many, but definitely not all, people who can see make judgments about you based on little more than their personal generalizations about blindness and blind people. Unfortunately, those generalizations tend to be negative. Not negative in the sense of your being a bad person or somehow unacceptable, but rather negative in terms of being limited, less competent, more needy and ignorable. A major contributor to these negative generalizations is that most people who can see have never known a successful, competent blind person. If they do know someone who can't see, the likelihood is that the blind person they know is quite old, not involved in the mainstream of things, or both. Sure, it's just another version of prejudice; but knowing that doesn't help much when it is you who is the person being judged. I agree. It's not fair, not right and people who judge us without knowing us should be ashamed of themselves. There is another side to that particular coin though. Many, but definitely not all people who can't see, buy into the negative judgment habit. They sometimes behave as if other people should adjust to their issues and limitations. Since they can't see, people should expect less, accommodate more and be more considerate of how difficult it is to get along when you can't see. And the fact of it is that most people will expect less and accommodate more, at least until they get tired of it or start to suspect that you are taking advantage of their helpful nature. In earlier episodes of Blind How, I've suggested a few ways you can get past the tendency of people to put you in the blind box, depending on whatever they assume about people who can't see. I can assure you that life is easier in the blind box, if you don't mind staying on the fringe and mostly being ignored. If instead you do mind, do believe that you can swim in the mainstream, are committed to giving it your best effort, first be sure you are implementing the tips I shared in earlier episodes. Along with that, here's another tip to incorporate into your skill set. There is never a good excuse for bad manners. I know. Your manners are impeccable. You don't need to be reminded to use your good manners every day, everywhere, with everyone. This little tip is just not needed. But just in case, pick someone you know who has especially good manners. Now, ask yourself if you are keeping up with the standard they are setting. If so, good for you. If not, you may want to work on that. It's one way you can let other people know that you don't belong in their blind box. Yes, good manners are a lot more than please and thank you. Observe thoughtfully, take mental notes and remember the thoughts and feelings you have about people who really do have impeccable manners. You'll soon get the point. If it is to be, I'll always take my good manners with me, putting them right out there for all to see.
I was listening to a podcast yesterday when a listener's email told a sad story. The listener identified himself as blind and was bemoaning his situation. Mostly, he was complaining about all the things he can't do and how inconvenient it is to need someone around to care for him and his needs. That got me to thinking about how easy it is for those of us who can't see to confuse can't with don't know how. The specific issue in the listener's email that caused me to ponder the confusion came when he said that he had to get someone who can see to hang a picture for him. His point was that his blindness prevents him from using a drill and makes it impossible for him to get the picture level and at the right height. That's just silly talk. I can't see and know how to use a drill. I can't see and know how to make sure a picture is level. I can't see and know how to hang a picture at a good height for most people when they are looking at it. Being blind is not the reason why the listener can't hang a picture on his wall. The reason is simple. He just doesn't know how to hang the picture without being able to see. Is the listener having his own pity party? Probably, but that is not my point. It's true that he can't do by looking. (We explored that notion in the last episode of Blind How.) But just because he can't do by looking doesn't mean he can't do. Let me suggest a strategy for doing if you can't see. Think of something – anything – that you think you can't do because you can't see. Now, start with the outcome. As clearly as you can, define what you want to achieve. I want this picture hanging appropriately on that wall. I want to be wearing my red shirt with my black pants. I want to be eating lasagna for dinner. I want to be pleased with the selection of groceries in my pantry. I want to be sitting on my friend's patio chatting and having a cold drink. I want to be at a bookstore, signing copies of my new book. I want to be relaxing in my newly finished basement or perhaps on my new deck. I want to be listening to the latest episode of my podcast. I want to be attending my graduation from college. I want to use all of the features on my cell phone. I want to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I know. It's another one of those lists. But what goes on your list? What outcomes interest you? Now that you have an outcome in mind, you're ready for the second part of this strategy for doing without seeing. There are people who can't see who know how to do all of the things on the list I have included here. Even better, there are people who can't see who know how to do most everything on your list as well. But how do they do that? They use the three strategies I mentioned in an earlier episode of Blind How. They get someone who can see to do it for them. They get someone who can see to help them do it. They learn to do it for themselves. Whichever strategy they choose, they don't confuse can't see with can't do. Here's the secret sauce. The people who are most successful at doing without seeing intentionally use all three of these strategies, taking care not to confuse can't see with can't do. It works like this. I'll first be clear about what I want. Then I'll identify someone to will do it for me, while I carefully observe. Then, I'll get them to help me do it myself. Finally, I'll use my new skills to do it by myself. If it is to be, I'll just learn how to do it for me.
I was listening to a podcast yesterday when a listener's email told a sad story. The listener identified himself as blind and was bemoaning his situation. Mostly, he was complaining about all the things he can't do and how inconvenient it is to need someone around to care for him and his needs. That got me to thinking about how easy it is for those of us who can't see to confuse can't with don't know how. The specific issue in the listener's email that caused me to ponder the confusion came when he said that he had to get someone who can see to hang a picture for him. His point was that his blindness prevents him from using a drill and makes it impossible for him to get the picture level and at the right height. That's just silly talk. I can't see and know how to use a drill. I can't see and know how to make sure a picture is level. I can't see and know how to hang a picture at a good height for most people when they are looking at it. Being blind is not the reason why the listener can't hang a picture on his wall. The reason is simple. He just doesn't know how to hang the picture without being able to see. Is the listener having his own pity party? Probably, but that is not my point. It's true that he can't do by looking. (We explored that notion in the last episode of Blind How.) But just because he can't do by looking doesn't mean he can't do. Let me suggest a strategy for doing if you can't see. Think of something – anything – that you think you can't do because you can't see. Now, start with the outcome. As clearly as you can, define what you want to achieve. I want this picture hanging appropriately on that wall. I want to be wearing my red shirt with my black pants. I want to be eating lasagna for dinner. I want to be pleased with the selection of groceries in my pantry. I want to be sitting on my friend's patio chatting and having a cold drink. I want to be at a bookstore, signing copies of my new book. I want to be relaxing in my newly finished basement or perhaps on my new deck. I want to be listening to the latest episode of my podcast. I want to be attending my graduation from college. I want to use all of the features on my cell phone. I want to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. I know. It's another one of those lists. But what goes on your list? What outcomes interest you? Now that you have an outcome in mind, you're ready for the second part of this strategy for doing without seeing. There are people who can't see who know how to do all of the things on the list I have included here. Even better, there are people who can't see who know how to do most everything on your list as well. But how do they do that? They use the three strategies I mentioned in an earlier episode of Blind How. They get someone who can see to do it for them. They get someone who can see to help them do it. They learn to do it for themselves. Whichever strategy they choose, they don't confuse can't see with can't do. Here's the secret sauce. The people who are most successful at doing without seeing intentionally use all three of these strategies, taking care not to confuse can't see with can't do. It works like this. I'll first be clear about what I want. Then I'll identify someone to will do it for me, while I carefully observe. Then, I'll get them to help me do it myself. Finally, I'll use my new skills to do it by myself. If it is to be, I'll just learn how to do it for me.
When I think of things I want to do, it's easy to get stuck at “how.” For example, the mail comes, and I want to read the mail. How do I do that? I pop the last chip in the bag into my mouth and want more chips. How do I get more chips? I want to call my friend but don't remember his number. How can I find his number? I want to wear my red shirt with my black pants. How do I know I selected the right ones? I want to go for a walk in the park. How do I do that without getting hurt or lost? I want to do some work on my computer. How is that possible? I could keep adding to my list as you could to yours. But here's the point. If I could see, the “How?” questions have easy answers. I just open the mail and read it, run over to the corner store and pick up some more chips, scroll through my contacts on my phone and tap on my friend's number, look in my closet and grab my black pants and red shirt, slip on my walking shoes and head out to the park, pick up my mouse and I'm good to go. If I could see, the “How?” for most everything on my list is simple. But I can't and the “How?” is not simple. If you used to be able to see, the first step to get past the “How?” issue will likely be the hardest for you to take. Look and do is not an option anymore. You can't look and read, look and shop, look and tap, look and choose, look and walk, look and click. You can't look and do anything anymore. That's the bad news. The good news is that you can still do most things you want to do, just not by looking and doing. The challenge is to get unstuck, to get on past the notion that looking is the only way to facilitate doing. I can't see, thus I can't do, is seldom true. The problem is getting stuck on “How?” But that's not quite it. Close, but not quite. The problem is getting stuck on looking being the only how. It's not. That's some more good news. Unfortunately, there is also some more bad news. Alternatives for doing, when looking isn't an option, are usually neither obvious nor intuitive. I have had most of a lifetime to learn how to do without seeing, but there are still skills I haven't mastered, strategies I still haven't learned. Let me close on this episode of Blind How by sharing a simple fact. Not seeing is a nuisance, inconvenient, frustrating, but is what it is. Doing without looking requires a skill set and resources that are neither easy to acquire nor simple to maintain. If you want a quick and easy solution, sit back, relax and hope that someone takes pity and waits on you. Otherwise, here's the deal: If it is to be, it's up to me, despite my not being able to see. (Remember to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode of Blind How.)
When I think of things I want to do, it's easy to get stuck at “how.” For example, the mail comes, and I want to read the mail. How do I do that? I pop the last chip in the bag into my mouth and want more chips. How do I get more chips? I want to call my friend but don't remember his number. How can I find his number? I want to wear my red shirt with my black pants. How do I know I selected the right ones? I want to go for a walk in the park. How do I do that without getting hurt or lost? I want to do some work on my computer. How is that possible? I could keep adding to my list as you could to yours. But here's the point. If I could see, the “How?” questions have easy answers. I just open the mail and read it, run over to the corner store and pick up some more chips, scroll through my contacts on my phone and tap on my friend's number, look in my closet and grab my black pants and red shirt, slip on my walking shoes and head out to the park, pick up my mouse and I'm good to go. If I could see, the “How?” for most everything on my list is simple. But I can't and the “How?” is not simple. If you used to be able to see, the first step to get past the “How?” issue will likely be the hardest for you to take. Look and do is not an option anymore. You can't look and read, look and shop, look and tap, look and choose, look and walk, look and click. You can't look and do anything anymore. That's the bad news. The good news is that you can still do most things you want to do, just not by looking and doing. The challenge is to get unstuck, to get on past the notion that looking is the only way to facilitate doing. I can't see, thus I can't do, is seldom true. The problem is getting stuck on “How?” But that's not quite it. Close, but not quite. The problem is getting stuck on looking being the only how. It's not. That's some more good news. Unfortunately, there is also some more bad news. Alternatives for doing, when looking isn't an option, are usually neither obvious nor intuitive. I have had most of a lifetime to learn how to do without seeing, but there are still skills I haven't mastered, strategies I still haven't learned. Let me close on this episode of Blind How by sharing a simple fact. Not seeing is a nuisance, inconvenient, frustrating, but is what it is. Doing without looking requires a skill set and resources that are neither easy to acquire nor simple to maintain. If you want a quick and easy solution, sit back, relax and hope that someone takes pity and waits on you. Otherwise, here's the deal: If it is to be, it's up to me, despite my not being able to see. (Remember to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode of Blind How.)
(Guest Post) For those of us who can't see, getting what we need and most of what we want is at times quite challenging. Sure, it's challenging for people who see fine too. But for us, there are a couple of additional factors requiring extra attention. Let's give them some thought here. First, I'm only talking about those things we need or want that we would simply do or get for ourselves, if we could see. As it turns out, this can be a long list. I have discussed that in earlier episodes on BlindHow.net, so don't need to review the list here. Suffice it to say that we each have a lot of items on our "would be easy if I could see" list. For any of the items on our list, we have options. The easiest option is to skip the particular item, just get along without doing it or getting it. For me and most likely for you, the do nothing option is sometimes tempting and occasionally the choice we make. What we need or want is just not worth the bother right now. And that's okay occasionally. People who can see do the same thing now and then. Whatever they want or need is just not worth the time and energy it would take right now. Their motivation is not strong enough, although they could do whatever without much extra effort. But for most of us who can't see and most of the time, doing nothing is not an acceptable option. Even if we can't see, we are determined to do what needs done, determined to get what we want. I discussed that decision in the last episode of Blind How. But how do we do that, how do we do what we want to do, get what we want? There may be more than three options, but I know of three general approaches that usually cover the challenge for me. First, I can get someone who can see to do it for me or get it for me. Second, I can enlist the help of someone who can see to assist me with doing it myself or getting it myself. Third, I can develop the skills and strategies I need to do it myself or to get it by myself. It's important for me to emphasize that each of these three options is perfectly legitimate at times and in some situations or circumstances. At other times, insisting on one option over another may be inappropriate or counterproductive. Those of us who can't see need all three options and the ability and determination to use them as needed and as appropriate. Each of these three options requires good communication skills and especially good conversational skills. Why? For the first option, having someone who can see act on our behalf includes our being able to help them understand what we need or want and what we think would be the best way for them to proceed doing for us. For the second option, having someone who can see assist us with whatever we need or want involves even more and continuing communication. As for the third option, think of observing someone who can see while he or she does what you want to do, actively participating while you work together to do what you want done and then working increasingly independently over days, months or years to perfect your ability to do it by yourself. Here's something to consider. Each of us, whether we can see or not, have needs, problems and vulnerabilities beyond our individual ability to cope. We all need other people with skills, talents and resources who are available and willing to help us compensate for our limitations. Our challenge is to learn about those people and resources and then access them for our benefit. Meeting this challenge for those of us who can't see, among other things, rests firmly on our ability, and on the ability of those who advocate on our behalf,to effectively communicate our special and general needs and wants, and the best ways to satisfy those needs and wants. Parents do this for their children who can't see, teachers do this for their students and you and I will either do it for ourselves or it likely will just not happen. If it is to be, it's up to me, getting people who can see, to:
For those of us who can't see, getting what we need and most of what we want is at times quite challenging. Sure, it's challenging for people who see fine too. But for us, there are a couple of additional factors requiring extra attention. Let's give them some thought here. First, I'm only talking about those things we need or want that we would simply do or get for ourselves, if we could see. As it turns out, this can be a long list. I have discussed that in earlier episodes of Blind How, so don't need to review the list here. Suffice it to say that we each have a lot of items on our "would be easy if I could see" list. For any of the items on our list, we have options. The easiest option is to skip the particular item, just get along without doing it or getting it. For me and most likely for you, the do nothing option is sometimes tempting and occasionally the choice we make. What we need or want is just not worth the bother right now. And that's okay occasionally. People who can see do the same thing now and then. Whatever they want or need is just not worth the time and energy it would take right now. Their motivation is not strong enough, although they could do whatever without much extra effort. But for most of us who can't see and most of the time, doing nothing is not an acceptable option. Even if we can't see, we are determined to do what needs done, determined to get what we want. I discussed that decision in the last episode of Blind How. But how do we do that, how do we do what we want to do, get what we want? There may be more than three options, but I know of three general approaches that usually cover the challenge for me. First, I can get someone who can see to do it for me or get it for me. Second, I can enlist the help of someone who can see to assist me with doing it myself or getting it myself. Third, I can develop the skills and strategies I need to do it myself or to get it by myself. It's important for me to emphasize that each of these three options is perfectly legitimate at times and in some situations or circumstances. At other times, insisting on one option over another may be inappropriate or counterproductive. Those of us who can't see need all three options and the ability and determination to use them as needed and as appropriate. Each of these three options requires good communication skills and especially good conversational skills. Why? For the first option, having someone who can see act on our behalf includes our being able to help them understand what we need or want and what we think would be the best way for them to proceed doing for us. For the second option, having someone who can see assist us with whatever we need or want involves even more and continuing communication. As for the third option, think of observing someone who can see while he or she does what you want to do, actively participating while you work together to do what you want done and then working increasingly independently over days, months or years to perfect your ability to do it by yourself. Here's something to consider. Each of us, whether we can see or not, have needs, problems and vulnerabilities beyond our individual ability to cope. We all need other people with skills, talents and resources who are available and willing to help us compensate for our limitations. Our challenge is to learn about those people and resources and then access them for our benefit. Meeting this challenge for those of us who can't see, among other things, rests firmly on our ability, and on the ability of those who advocate on our behalf,to effectively communicate our special and general needs and wants, and the best ways to satisfy those needs and wants. Parents do this for their children who can't see, teachers do this for their students and you and I will either do it for ourselves or it likely will just not happen. If it is to be, it's up to me, getting people who can see, to: • Do it for me,
For those of us who can't see, getting what we need and most of what we want is at times quite challenging. Sure, it's challenging for people who see fine too. But for us, there are a couple of additional factors requiring extra attention. Let's give them some thought here. First, I'm only talking about those things we need or want that we would simply do or get for ourselves, if we could see. As it turns out, this can be a long list. I have discussed that in earlier episodes of Blind How, so don't need to review the list here. Suffice it to say that we each have a lot of items on our "would be easy if I could see" list. For any of the items on our list, we have options. The easiest option is to skip the particular item, just get along without doing it or getting it. For me and most likely for you, the do nothing option is sometimes tempting and occasionally the choice we make. What we need or want is just not worth the bother right now. And that's okay occasionally. People who can see do the same thing now and then. Whatever they want or need is just not worth the time and energy it would take right now. Their motivation is not strong enough, although they could do whatever without much extra effort. But for most of us who can't see and most of the time, doing nothing is not an acceptable option. Even if we can't see, we are determined to do what needs done, determined to get what we want. I discussed that decision in the last episode of Blind How. But how do we do that, how do we do what we want to do, get what we want? There may be more than three options, but I know of three general approaches that usually cover the challenge for me. First, I can get someone who can see to do it for me or get it for me. Second, I can enlist the help of someone who can see to assist me with doing it myself or getting it myself. Third, I can develop the skills and strategies I need to do it myself or to get it by myself. It's important for me to emphasize that each of these three options is perfectly legitimate at times and in some situations or circumstances. At other times, insisting on one option over another may be inappropriate or counterproductive. Those of us who can't see need all three options and the ability and determination to use them as needed and as appropriate. Each of these three options requires good communication skills and especially good conversational skills. Why? For the first option, having someone who can see act on our behalf includes our being able to help them understand what we need or want and what we think would be the best way for them to proceed doing for us. For the second option, having someone who can see assist us with whatever we need or want involves even more and continuing communication. As for the third option, think of observing someone who can see while he or she does what you want to do, actively participating while you work together to do what you want done and then working increasingly independently over days, months or years to perfect your ability to do it by yourself. Here's something to consider. Each of us, whether we can see or not, have needs, problems and vulnerabilities beyond our individual ability to cope. We all need other people with skills, talents and resources who are available and willing to help us compensate for our limitations. Our challenge is to learn about those people and resources and then access them for our benefit. Meeting this challenge for those of us who can't see, among other things, rests firmly on our ability, and on the ability of those who advocate on our behalf,to effectively communicate our special and general needs and wants, and the best ways to satisfy those needs and wants. Parents do this for their children who can't see, teachers do this for their students and you and I will either do it for ourselves or it likely will just not happen. If it is to be, it's up to me, getting people who can see, to: • Do it for me,
(Guest Post) For those of us who can't see, getting what we need and most of what we want is at times quite challenging. Sure, it's challenging for people who see fine too. But for us, there are a couple of additional factors requiring extra attention. Let's give them some thought here. First, I'm only talking about those things we need or want that we would simply do or get for ourselves, if we could see. As it turns out, this can be a long list. I have discussed that in earlier episodes on BlindHow.net, so don't need to review the list here. Suffice it to say that we each have a lot of items on our "would be easy if I could see" list. For any of the items on our list, we have options. The easiest option is to skip the particular item, just get along without doing it or getting it. For me and most likely for you, the do nothing option is sometimes tempting and occasionally the choice we make. What we need or want is just not worth the bother right now. And that's okay occasionally. People who can see do the same thing now and then. Whatever they want or need is just not worth the time and energy it would take right now. Their motivation is not strong enough, although they could do whatever without much extra effort. But for most of us who can't see and most of the time, doing nothing is not an acceptable option. Even if we can't see, we are determined to do what needs done, determined to get what we want. I discussed that decision in the last episode of Blind How. But how do we do that, how do we do what we want to do, get what we want? There may be more than three options, but I know of three general approaches that usually cover the challenge for me. First, I can get someone who can see to do it for me or get it for me. Second, I can enlist the help of someone who can see to assist me with doing it myself or getting it myself. Third, I can develop the skills and strategies I need to do it myself or to get it by myself. It's important for me to emphasize that each of these three options is perfectly legitimate at times and in some situations or circumstances. At other times, insisting on one option over another may be inappropriate or counterproductive. Those of us who can't see need all three options and the ability and determination to use them as needed and as appropriate. Each of these three options requires good communication skills and especially good conversational skills. Why? For the first option, having someone who can see act on our behalf includes our being able to help them understand what we need or want and what we think would be the best way for them to proceed doing for us. For the second option, having someone who can see assist us with whatever we need or want involves even more and continuing communication. As for the third option, think of observing someone who can see while he or she does what you want to do, actively participating while you work together to do what you want done and then working increasingly independently over days, months or years to perfect your ability to do it by yourself. Here's something to consider. Each of us, whether we can see or not, have needs, problems and vulnerabilities beyond our individual ability to cope. We all need other people with skills, talents and resources who are available and willing to help us compensate for our limitations. Our challenge is to learn about those people and resources and then access them for our benefit. Meeting this challenge for those of us who can't see, among other things, rests firmly on our ability, and on the ability of those who advocate on our behalf,to effectively communicate our special and general needs and wants, and the best ways to satisfy those needs and wants. Parents do this for their children who can't see, teachers do this for their students and you and I will either do it for ourselves or it likely will just not happen. If it is to be, it's up to me, getting people who can see, to:
For those of us who can't see, getting what we need and most of what we want is at times quite challenging. Sure, it's challenging for people who see fine too. But for us, there are a couple of additional factors requiring extra attention. Let's give them some thought here. First, I'm only talking about those things we need or want that we would simply do or get for ourselves, if we could see. As it turns out, this can be a long list. I have discussed that in earlier episodes of Blind How, so don't need to review the list here. Suffice it to say that we each have a lot of items on our "would be easy if I could see" list. For any of the items on our list, we have options. The easiest option is to skip the particular item, just get along without doing it or getting it. For me and most likely for you, the do nothing option is sometimes tempting and occasionally the choice we make. What we need or want is just not worth the bother right now. And that's okay occasionally. People who can see do the same thing now and then. Whatever they want or need is just not worth the time and energy it would take right now. Their motivation is not strong enough, although they could do whatever without much extra effort. But for most of us who can't see and most of the time, doing nothing is not an acceptable option. Even if we can't see, we are determined to do what needs done, determined to get what we want. I discussed that decision in the last episode of Blind How. But how do we do that, how do we do what we want to do, get what we want? There may be more than three options, but I know of three general approaches that usually cover the challenge for me. First, I can get someone who can see to do it for me or get it for me. Second, I can enlist the help of someone who can see to assist me with doing it myself or getting it myself. Third, I can develop the skills and strategies I need to do it myself or to get it by myself. It's important for me to emphasize that each of these three options is perfectly legitimate at times and in some situations or circumstances. At other times, insisting on one option over another may be inappropriate or counterproductive. Those of us who can't see need all three options and the ability and determination to use them as needed and as appropriate. Each of these three options requires good communication skills and especially good conversational skills. Why? For the first option, having someone who can see act on our behalf includes our being able to help them understand what we need or want and what we think would be the best way for them to proceed doing for us. For the second option, having someone who can see assist us with whatever we need or want involves even more and continuing communication. As for the third option, think of observing someone who can see while he or she does what you want to do, actively participating while you work together to do what you want done and then working increasingly independently over days, months or years to perfect your ability to do it by yourself. Here's something to consider. Each of us, whether we can see or not, have needs, problems and vulnerabilities beyond our individual ability to cope. We all need other people with skills, talents and resources who are available and willing to help us compensate for our limitations. Our challenge is to learn about those people and resources and then access them for our benefit. Meeting this challenge for those of us who can't see, among other things, rests firmly on our ability, and on the ability of those who advocate on our behalf,to effectively communicate our special and general needs and wants, and the best ways to satisfy those needs and wants. Parents do this for their children who can't see, teachers do this for their students and you and I will either do it for ourselves or it likely will just not happen. If it is to be, it's up to me, getting people who can see, to: • Do it for me,
In the last episode of Blind How, I talked with you about BATS: “Best Alternative To Seeing.” I'm thinking that we should dig into that a little more before just moving on to how to do this or that without seeing. There is a major issue that we need to think through very carefully. With few exceptions, one alternative to seeing is to get someone who can see to do whatever we want done. If inclination and resources permit, we could simply have someone drive us wherever we want to go, read whatever needs read, cook whatever needs cooked, clean whatever needs cleaned and on and on. As the saying goes, we could just have someone wait on us hand and foot. You think this sounds silly? On the one hand, good for you. But on the other hand, many people who can't see, quite easily and without much thought, get into the habit of being waited on. To a significant extent, much of the time and in most situations, having others do things for them becomes their preferred alternative to not being able to see. Should we always do things for ourselves, without any help from someone who can see? Of course not, especially if there is someone nearby who can and wants to help. Note that I said, “wants to help,” and not simply “willing to help.” To always refuse help would be as silly as always expecting help. This is quite a bit more complicated than it may seem at first. I'm not sure I fully understand its complexity, since I struggle some with the issue myself. Even so, there are a few points that pop out for me. Perhaps mentioning those here will help you think about the issues from your perspective. I suspect that the help versus do-it-yourself question is personal and doesn't have the same answer or set of answers for all of us who can't see. Let's start with something that I think is important or at least of interest to me. That could include a hot cup of coffee or clean clothes, reading my mail or a movie on TV, dinner or using my cell phone, a walk around the block or a visit to my doctor, brushing my guide dog or visiting with friends, doing my banking or ordering a pizza, going out for lunch or making a podcast. I could easily put a hundred items on my list without much thought. I'm sure you could put at least as many on your list, although they wouldn't all be the same as those on my list. We all have things to do, places to go and people to see. Let's call the things on our lists “activities.” Here's the thing. It's far too easy for many of us to play our blind card. We either wait for someone who can see to help us with the activity or do the task for us, or we simply avoid the activity. Can't or at least won't wins. The outcome is cumulative: we gradually do less and less, avoiding more and more. Please note that I'm not talking about situations where people live or work together, situations where work and other activities are divided up – I'll do this and you do that. Rather, I'm focusing on situations where a person who can't see comes to be dependent on others doing most things for him or her, or perhaps he or she just avoids whatever the activity is. I am simply struggling to describe what can happen to many, if not most of us who can't see, if we don't actively resist. Sure, I'm talking about me, but may also be talking about you. Fortunately, knowing the best, and likely only way to prevent drifting down the slippery slope to dependence and non-participation turns out to be simple. But knowing and doing can be far apart at times. Here it is in the proverbial nutshell. The best alternative to not seeing is to figure out how to do whatever you want done, by yourself, without depending on sighted assistance, unless necessary. Here's the good news. Most everything you want to do is being done somewhere and being done independently, by a person who can't see. For those times when sighted assistance is necessary, anonymous help is usually there, on your phone. The bad news is that developing the needed skills and accessing the avail...
In the last episode of Blind How, I talked with you about BATS: “Best Alternative To Seeing.” I'm thinking that we should dig into that a little more before just moving on to how to do this or that without seeing. There is a major issue that we need to think through very carefully. With few exceptions, one alternative to seeing is to get someone who can see to do whatever we want done. If inclination and resources permit, we could simply have someone drive us wherever we want to go, read whatever needs read, cook whatever needs cooked, clean whatever needs cleaned and on and on. As the saying goes, we could just have someone wait on us hand and foot. You think this sounds silly? On the one hand, good for you. But on the other hand, many people who can't see, quite easily and without much thought, get into the habit of being waited on. To a significant extent, much of the time and in most situations, having others do things for them becomes their preferred alternative to not being able to see. Should we always do things for ourselves, without any help from someone who can see? Of course not, especially if there is someone nearby who can and wants to help. Note that I said, “wants to help,” and not simply “willing to help.” To always refuse help would be as silly as always expecting help. This is quite a bit more complicated than it may seem at first. I'm not sure I fully understand its complexity, since I struggle some with the issue myself. Even so, there are a few points that pop out for me. Perhaps mentioning those here will help you think about the issues from your perspective. I suspect that the help versus do-it-yourself question is personal and doesn't have the same answer or set of answers for all of us who can't see. Let's start with something that I think is important or at least of interest to me. That could include a hot cup of coffee or clean clothes, reading my mail or a movie on TV, dinner or using my cell phone, a walk around the block or a visit to my doctor, brushing my guide dog or visiting with friends, doing my banking or ordering a pizza, going out for lunch or making a podcast. I could easily put a hundred items on my list without much thought. I'm sure you could put at least as many on your list, although they wouldn't all be the same as those on my list. We all have things to do, places to go and people to see. Let's call the things on our lists “activities.” Here's the thing. It's far too easy for many of us to play our blind card. We either wait for someone who can see to help us with the activity or do the task for us, or we simply avoid the activity. Can't or at least won't wins. The outcome is cumulative: we gradually do less and less, avoiding more and more. Please note that I'm not talking about situations where people live or work together, situations where work and other activities are divided up – I'll do this and you do that. Rather, I'm focusing on situations where a person who can't see comes to be dependent on others doing most things for him or her, or perhaps he or she just avoids whatever the activity is. I am simply struggling to describe what can happen to many, if not most of us who can't see, if we don't actively resist. Sure, I'm talking about me, but may also be talking about you. Fortunately, knowing the best, and likely only way to prevent drifting down the slippery slope to dependence and non-participation turns out to be simple. But knowing and doing can be far apart at times. Here it is in the proverbial nutshell. The best alternative to not seeing is to figure out how to do whatever you want done, by yourself, without depending on sighted assistance, unless necessary. Here's the good news. Most everything you want to do is being done somewhere and being done independently, by a person who can't see. For those times when sighted assistance is necessary, anonymous help is usually there, on your phone. The bad news is that developing the needed skills and accessing the avail...
If you've been listening to the earlier episodes of Blind How, you know to focus on the 3 ups: Stand or sit up straight, look up at others when you or they are talking and speak up so others can hear you without needing to make any special effort. This is useful advice for anyone, but it's particularly important for those of us who can't see. Why? Because some of us who can't see, if not most of us, tend not to look at people with whom we are talking, are apt to not talk loudly enough and clearly enough to be heard easily and may get a little lazy and not sit or stand up straight. Why does it matter? We want to be taken seriously and may not be if we neglect the 3 Ups. It's no more complicated than that. There is a fourth element for effective communication that I'd like to tuck in as the fourth up, but I can't figure out any way to make it an up. Even so, it's pretty important, important enough to label it as the key to effective communication. Without it, the 3 ups still matter, but even if you look up, sit up and speak up, it is still hard to be taken seriously or to let others know that you are taking them seriously. It goes back to that blind thing. Certainly not everyone who can see, but many who can, make assumptions about blind people that are generally not true. Ask someone who can see to finish the sentence, “Blind people….” The likelihood is that they will finish the sentence with things that they assume blind people cannot do. The additional issue is that they likely don't personally know anyone who is blind. They probably know of a blind ccelebrity but still think of him or her in terms of what he or she can't do, seeing the celebrity's musical or other special talent as separate from his or her blindness. Blindness is typically not seen as a simple fact but rather as a complex handicap. Of course the same types of assumptions are made about people with other physical limitations such as not being able to hear or not being able to walk. This is the issue. People who can see, can hear, can walk, reflexively think of what they would not be able to do if they suddenly couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't walk. They then project their perceived inabilities onto those of us who can't see, can't hear or can't walk. It's worth noting that many people who see fine but then can't see later in life for some reason are apt to do the same thing; but they project their false assumptions onto themselves. They think of themselves as blind and unable to do much of anything. Since they haven't yet learned how to manage without being able to see, it feels like not being able to do much of anything may be permanent. I'll get back to that in future episodes of Blind How; but here I want to share the key to effective communication, when you can't see. Listen and learn. The single best way to be taken seriously in any conversation is to make it clear that you are taking other people and what they say seriously. If you first attend to taking the other person seriously, he or she will be more apt to take you and what you say seriously. The more seriously they take you and what you say, the more your not seeing moves into the background. You know you are being taken seriously when someone tells you that they forget that you can't see. I know. You were expecting something a little more profound. Here's the thing. Being seen as blind can lead to people projecting a lot of their own feelings about what they couldn't do onto you. The result is that they may tend not to take you and what you say as seriously as you deserve. They don't get past blind. Listen and learn is not a magic solution to the blind prejudice of some people, nor is it a guaranteed path to always being taken seriously. It is rather the best way I know to improve your odds of being taken seriously, especially when you combine that with getting better and better at getting better and better at doing things in spite of not being able to see.
If you've been listening to the earlier episodes of Blind How, you know to focus on the 3 ups: Stand or sit up straight, look up at others when you or they are talking and speak up so others can hear you without needing to make any special effort. This is useful advice for anyone, but it's particularly important for those of us who can't see. Why? Because some of us who can't see, if not most of us, tend not to look at people with whom we are talking, are apt to not talk loudly enough and clearly enough to be heard easily and may get a little lazy and not sit or stand up straight. Why does it matter? We want to be taken seriously and may not be if we neglect the 3 Ups. It's no more complicated than that. There is a fourth element for effective communication that I'd like to tuck in as the fourth up, but I can't figure out any way to make it an up. Even so, it's pretty important, important enough to label it as the key to effective communication. Without it, the 3 ups still matter, but even if you look up, sit up and speak up, it is still hard to be taken seriously or to let others know that you are taking them seriously. It goes back to that blind thing. Certainly not everyone who can see, but many who can, make assumptions about blind people that are generally not true. Ask someone who can see to finish the sentence, “Blind people….” The likelihood is that they will finish the sentence with things that they assume blind people cannot do. The additional issue is that they likely don't personally know anyone who is blind. They probably know of a blind ccelebrity but still think of him or her in terms of what he or she can't do, seeing the celebrity's musical or other special talent as separate from his or her blindness. Blindness is typically not seen as a simple fact but rather as a complex handicap. Of course the same types of assumptions are made about people with other physical limitations such as not being able to hear or not being able to walk. This is the issue. People who can see, can hear, can walk, reflexively think of what they would not be able to do if they suddenly couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't walk. They then project their perceived inabilities onto those of us who can't see, can't hear or can't walk. It's worth noting that many people who see fine but then can't see later in life for some reason are apt to do the same thing; but they project their false assumptions onto themselves. They think of themselves as blind and unable to do much of anything. Since they haven't yet learned how to manage without being able to see, it feels like not being able to do much of anything may be permanent. I'll get back to that in future episodes of Blind How; but here I want to share the key to effective communication, when you can't see. Listen and learn. The single best way to be taken seriously in any conversation is to make it clear that you are taking other people and what they say seriously. If you first attend to taking the other person seriously, he or she will be more apt to take you and what you say seriously. The more seriously they take you and what you say, the more your not seeing moves into the background. You know you are being taken seriously when someone tells you that they forget that you can't see. I know. You were expecting something a little more profound. Here's the thing. Being seen as blind can lead to people projecting a lot of their own feelings about what they couldn't do onto you. The result is that they may tend not to take you and what you say as seriously as you deserve. They don't get past blind. Listen and learn is not a magic solution to the blind prejudice of some people, nor is it a guaranteed path to always being taken seriously. It is rather the best way I know to improve your odds of being taken seriously, especially when you combine that with getting better and better at getting better and better at doing things in spite of not being able to see.
If you missed the last two episodes of Blind How, let me take a minute to catch you up. (By the way, you can subscribe to Blind How wherever you get your podcasts or on your podcast player. That way you won't miss any episodes, along with getting the episodes you may have missed.) Back to catching you up. When having a conversation, look at the other person, whether you or the other person is talking. When you are talking, speak up, clearly and loudly enough for the other person to hear without any special effort. Look up and speak up. Sure, that's good advice for anyone, whether or not he or she can see. But for those of us who can't see, it's particularly important, since we may tend not to look at people when in a conversation and may not talk loudly enough or clearly enough to be easily understood. If you can't see but don't have any issues with always looking up and speaking up, way to go. I'm just mentioning it since I sometimes forget and thought reminding you can't hurt. Now for the third element to remember when talking with other people. Who knew that a simple conversation could be so complicated? Don't slouch. Stand up or sit up straight. Okay, if it's a casual conversation with a friend, not slouching is less important, but still makes a difference. For all other conversations or social situations, standing or sitting up straight and keeping your shoulders back matters a lot. It lets others know that you are interested, are engaged and are someone to be taken seriously. It also lets other people know that you are taking them seriously. There is one additional element that I'll get to in the next episode of Blind How; but for now, focus on the 3 ups: Stand or sit up straight, look up at others when you or they are talking and speak up so others can hear you without needing to make any special effort.
If you missed the last two episodes of Blind How, let me take a minute to catch you up. (By the way, you can subscribe to Blind How wherever you get your podcasts or on your podcast player. That way you won't miss any episodes, along with getting the episodes you may have missed.) Back to catching you up. When having a conversation, look at the other person, whether you or the other person is talking. When you are talking, speak up, clearly and loudly enough for the other person to hear without any special effort. Look up and speak up. Sure, that's good advice for anyone, whether or not he or she can see. But for those of us who can't see, it's particularly important, since we may tend not to look at people when in a conversation and may not talk loudly enough or clearly enough to be easily understood. If you can't see but don't have any issues with always looking up and speaking up, way to go. I'm just mentioning it since I sometimes forget and thought reminding you can't hurt. Now for the third element to remember when talking with other people. Who knew that a simple conversation could be so complicated? Don't slouch. Stand up or sit up straight. Okay, if it's a casual conversation with a friend, not slouching is less important, but still makes a difference. For all other conversations or social situations, standing or sitting up straight and keeping your shoulders back matters a lot. It lets others know that you are interested, are engaged and are someone to be taken seriously. It also lets other people know that you are taking them seriously. There is one additional element that I'll get to in the next episode of Blind How; but for now, focus on the 3 ups: Stand or sit up straight, look up at others when you or they are talking and speak up so others can hear you without needing to make any special effort.
Can't See seldom equals Can't Do If I tell you that I am blind, what comes to mind? Now if I simply tell you that I can't see, how does the picture in your mind's eye change? Likely the change is significant. The point is that telling someone that I'm blind seems to bring to mind a mixed bag of ideas and emotions about what that means in general and about me specifically. For the most part, people think about what I can't do, causing them to feel sorry for me. Of course, not everyone is so limited in their understanding, but most are. If instead I tell them that I can't see, people are frequently not sure what to do or what to say. This is good news for me. They are then focused on what they should say or do next and not on ideas and notions they have about blind people that may be true, but often aren't true for me - or for most blind people for that matter. On BlindHow.net, I share tips about things I have done and can do. If you or someone you know can't see, the tips may be helpful. If you can see, they may help you get a better handle when hanging out with people who can't see. I hope the tips and discussion also help you be slower to pre-judge what people can and cannot do just because they can't see. I also invite you to ask any questions you may have about people who can't see, just how they do things they do, or whatever else comes to mind. If I don't know, I'll try to find someone who does. Just send your questions or suggestions to Tips@BlindHow.net. Since I don't know everything about people who can't see and how they are able to do what they do, please share your tips and suggestions with me and with others who visit the BlindHow.net site. This will give us the chance to learn together. Along with sharing what you know how to do without seeing, be Shure to let us know how you manage to do it. Just send your tips to Tips@BlindHow.net. For each new tip on BlindHow.net, I post the text version, along with an audio version that can be listened to as a podcast. I have one of my many voices read each tip so you can simply subscribe to the podcast and listen to it on your phone or computer. It is also available as a podcast on your smart speaker. Just search for Blind How podcast. If that has us in sync with the purpose of BlindHow.net and how it works, let's get on with it. I'll start with a few tips I have perfected over the years, and you can join with a question or tip as one comes to mind for you. Just pop an email on over to Tips@BlindHow.net and I will format it for BlindHow.net and post it as soon as I can. Also, if you disagree with any tip or want to clarify, an email to Tips@BlindHow.net is the best way to let me know. Thanks, and enjoy. Be well, do well and please join our adventure into a world where some of us can't see.
Can't See seldom equals Can't Do If I tell you that I am blind, what comes to mind? Now if I simply tell you that I can't see, how does the picture in your mind's eye change? Likely the change is significant. The point is that telling someone that I'm blind seems to bring to mind a mixed bag of ideas and emotions about what that means in general and about me specifically. For the most part, people think about what I can't do, causing them to feel sorry for me. Of course, not everyone is so limited in their understanding, but most are. If instead I tell them that I can't see, people are frequently not sure what to do or what to say. This is good news for me. They are then focused on what they should say or do next and not on ideas and notions they have about blind people that may be true, but often aren't true for me - or for most blind people for that matter. On BlindHow.net, I share tips about things I have done and can do. If you or someone you know can't see, the tips may be helpful. If you can see, they may help you get a better handle when hanging out with people who can't see. I hope the tips and discussion also help you be slower to pre-judge what people can and cannot do just because they can't see. I also invite you to ask any questions you may have about people who can't see, just how they do things they do, or whatever else comes to mind. If I don't know, I'll try to find someone who does. Just send your questions or suggestions to Tips@BlindHow.net. Since I don't know everything about people who can't see and how they are able to do what they do, please share your tips and suggestions with me and with others who visit the BlindHow.net site. This will give us the chance to learn together. Along with sharing what you know how to do without seeing, be Shure to let us know how you manage to do it. Just send your tips to Tips@BlindHow.net. For each new tip on BlindHow.net, I post the text version, along with an audio version that can be listened to as a podcast. I have one of my many voices read each tip so you can simply subscribe to the podcast and listen to it on your phone or computer. It is also available as a podcast on your smart speaker. Just search for Blind How podcast. If that has us in sync with the purpose of BlindHow.net and how it works, let's get on with it. I'll start with a few tips I have perfected over the years, and you can join with a question or tip as one comes to mind for you. Just pop an email on over to Tips@BlindHow.net and I will format it for BlindHow.net and post it as soon as I can. Also, if you disagree with any tip or want to clarify, an email to Tips@BlindHow.net is the best way to let me know. Thanks, and enjoy. Be well, do well and please join our adventure into a world where some of us can't see.
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