In August 2017, there was  a total solar eclipse in the United States. I wrote about it for  VisionAware.  Now, it is time again and I am sharing  some ways people with vision loss can join in on this  celestial experience. On Apr 8 there will be another total solar eclipse. Solar eclipses occur somewhere on earth about once every year and a half. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks the disk of the sun. As a result, the day will darken, lasting for only a few minutes. It is an incredible sight to see but very unsafe to do so because of the radiation that is re ..read more

It is nearly Valentine’s Day  on Feb. 14. On this special day we express love  to others by giving gifts, flowers, cards, sweets or other tokens of affection. But Valentine’s Day can also be a time to focus on self-care. If you don’t love yourself it is hard to love others. Part of my own self-care ritual is  paying close attention to my eyes. So, when I read this article from Downtown Eyes , a privately owned optometric practice in Minneapolis, Minnesota, I thought it would be perfect  for this special occasion and listed their tips here. As we celebrate the day of love ..read more

It is the beginning of another year  and hopefully  you are starting off with a bang. This is the time to grow fresh new writing ideas. A time to cultivate inspiration   and motivation  for your craft. But, what if this is not your story? Perhaps your  new year is not starting off with much writing success. Maybe you are fizzing out before you really get started. Or maybe you are dealing with writers block  and losing your mojo. Don’t despair. Believe me I have been there. Not every year started off with excitement and laser-focus determination. I am current ..read more

January is Braille Literacy Month and  I ‘m going to share a positive experience I had at a hotel many years  ago. It was so wonderful I still remember it to this very day. It showed me  there are thoughtful people  still left in the world. It also showed me establishments  want to be inclusive and provide accommodations to  guests like me. Braille on Hotel Door Most hotels these days have braille numbers on their doors indicating each room. So, when I went back home to visit my family one summer and stayed in a hotel I was not surprised by the braille on my room ..read more

It is a brand new year  and with that comes new years resolutions. I have to admit I am not big on  resolutions  because  of their poor success rate. You know how it goes. You  make a decision to lose weight, exercise more, or change some other personal bat habit. Then by February  all of that is gone and out the door. Still, there are some things  that I have committed to do whether it is the beginning of the year or not. One of them is media literacy. I am not a major news junky but like to stay informed and up to  date on topics. Also, I have a journ ..read more

I recently watched the 1964 Christmas animated special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in audio description. I have enjoyed this holiday classic since I was a kid and never get tired of watching it year after year. For those who are unfamiliar with this story, Rudolph is one of Santa’s many reindeers who is shunned and driven away because of his bright red nose.  However, it is because of this very difference he saves Christmas  in the end. On the surface it’s one of those holiday stories that is cute and heartwarming. Yet has deeper meaning and value. In the last few years I have st ..read more

Editor’s note: A Version of this post was originally published  on the blog for Outlook Business Solutions. I have reprinted it here with some minor  changes and updates. The ability to drive is one of the most important parts of life and independence. Being able to jump into the car at any time and go anywhere provides incredible freedom of movement. However, as people get older, they experience hearing and vision loss. They may also experience a decline in cognition. These health issues make it unsafe to drive and a struggle to give up the car keys. The CDC says  In 2020, the ..read more

National Personal Space Day Today, Nov 30 is National Personal Space Day  which promotes kindness toward sensitivities and supports healing and self-protection by recognizing everyone’s right to decide when and how to be touched. This got me to thinking  about an incident where a well-meaning sighted person didn’t respect my space. It happened during my early days  of blindness when I was taking rehabilitation training. I was standing with my white cane at the corner of  an intersection waiting patiently to cross. Don’t Grab My Arm I was using what my mobility instructor ha ..read more

It is time to reevaluate your career path. Are you still moving in the right direction? Has your job gotten stale  and mediocre? Or are you struggling to stay motivated with your job searching? Monday, Nov 6 is National Job Action Day. This national observance promotes meaningful work, encourages self-reflection & development of job skills while celebrating camaraderie between colleagues. Here are my 5 action steps to celebrate National Job Action Day and give your career a boost. 1. Host  or attend a networking event These events are great ways to meet and connect with other pr ..read more

Editor’s note: Versions of this post were originally published  on the blogs of the Center for the Visually Impaired  and Outlook Business Solutions. I have reprinted it here with some minor  changes and updates. Halloween is traditionally known as the spookiest holiday of the year. People celebrate by dressing up in creative costumes, participating in fun activities and eating lots of sweet treats. This fall holiday is fun and encourages socialization and self-confidence for low vision and blind children. They can hang out with their friends, go to costume parties, trick-or-tr ..read more