The Benefits of Being Blind or Visually Impaired

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The Benefits of Being Blind or Visually Impaired

On the WSB blog, we’ve talked a lot about tips and tricks for people who are blind and visually impaired. But one thing we haven’t touched on are the positives of being blind and visually impaired! This is a lighthearted post but we wanted to highlight some of the positives of being blind or visually impaired.

Here are our top 10 benefits of being blind and visually impaired: 

1.     The Community

One thing we hear from our graduates all the time is the sense of community they gain when they come to WSB. What people may not realize when they lose their sight is that they gain a community! The blind and visually impaired community is always there to help. There are so many different (virtual this year!) conferences, events, and groups you can be a part of if you haven’t found that community just yet.

2.     Taking Your Dog with you everywhere

Guide dogs bring so many benefits. But one big plus, if you have a guide dog, is that you can take your dog everywhere with you.  

3.     Never have to be the designated driver

Don’t worry about not being able to drive home after a few drinks. You’ll never have to be a designated driver as someone who is blind or visually impaired!  

4.     Travel perks & Discounts

There are plenty of travel perks for the blind and visually impaired. At the airport, you can skip the long security line and you can board the plane first! In our last post, we mentioned you can receive discounts for public transportation, which is definitely a plus.

5.     Unique View of the World

Being a part of the blind and visually impaired community gives us a unique view of the world (literally!). It’s estimated that only around 2.4% of the United States adult population is blind or visually impaired, which means our view of the world is even more unique!

6.     Read in the dark

If you’re a braille user, you can read in the dark! This also leads us to our next point…

7.     No need to worry if the lights go out!

If you ever lose power, no need to worry as a blind or visually impaired person! We’ve got the tools to travel in the dark.

8.     People more willing to help you

This benefit is especially helpful when traveling but if you’re a cane or guide dog user and you look lost people are more willing to help you.

9.     Better Listener

Whether you lose your sight later in life or have been blind or visually impaired your whole life, listening becomes even more important.

10.  Don’t Judge a Book by its cover

Unlike a lot of people, the blind and visually impaired community don’t judge people based on their looks because most of the time, we can’t see them! Based on our other benefits, like being better listeners, we are able to gain a better first impression of someone instead of basing it on how they look.

What are some of the benefits for you as someone who is blind or visually impaired? Let us know in the comments!

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Public Transportation Tips for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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Public Transportation Tips for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Using public transportation is a way of life for the blind and visually impaired community. In today’s blog post, we’re sharing tips on using public transportation as a blind or visually impaired person. Many of these tips can also be great if you’re traveling as a blind or visually impaired person but we’re bringing them up again in ways that can be especially useful for public transportation. Many of these tips are specific to the United States but they can still be applied if you are reading from another country!  

1.     Different kinds of Public Transportation  

There are several types of public transportation from buses, trains, paratransit, and even using rideshare services. Most cities have some kind of fixed bus route or train system while rural areas may not but it always worth looking into. Another option for public transportation is paratransit, which we will touch on later in this post. For getting farther distances without flying or using expensive rideshare services, Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses are a great option.  

2.     Discounts  

Did you know that public transportation offers (often pretty hefty!) discounts to the blind and visually impaired? Each transit system is different on the discount, for example, Little Rock Region Metro offers half-price 10-day or 31-day passes, whereas, in Atlanta, the fare for the metro and buses only costs $1 per ride, which is over a 50% discount. Each city is different and has different requirements but most require a form filled out by a doctor to gain access to a discount pass. Amtrak and Greyhound also have discounts for those with disabilities. If you are taking Amtrak or Greyhound, be sure to call to order your ticket to get the discounts as the website often does not work for the discount.  

3.     Plan ahead  

We’ve talked about the importance of planning ahead on the blog before, but it is critical to plan ahead when you’re taking public transportation! From knowing where the closest bus stop to your home is to what bus to take, it can take time to plan a trip using public transportation. Knowing what bus/train you need to take is important when traveling using public transportation. This not only helps you but can allow someone at the station to help you get to the right train or bus. Tricks like using street view on google maps before you go can help you identify where to go beforehand or if there are even sidewalks available, if you are low vision. But thats brings us onto our next tip…

4.     Download google maps ahead of time  

Google maps of specific locations have the ability to be downloaded so you can use the map of your city or town offline. It even shows you the bus or train stops in your area! They even have created detailed speaking directions if you are walking somewhere specifically for the blind and visually impaired.

5.     Download mobile apps for the train system you are using  

Many public transportation systems have apps you can use to help know when the bus/train will arrive, maps of the system, and even help with planning the best route!  Make sure you download the app before you head out so you can get the most out of your trip.

6.     Don’t be afraid to ask!  

While public transportation doesn’t provide the help that an airline might, there are still people at the stations who can help you find which train or bus you might need. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are lost! Many people are willing to help whether you’re looking for the bus or train.

7.     For Greyhound, print ticket beforehand.  

Greyhound has very specific guidelines for tickets. Make sure when you book your ticket beforehand that you print the actual ticket and not just the confirmation page. They won’t let you board if you just show the confirmation page.  

8.     Let your uber driver know ahead of time  

This might be a controversial tip and certainly one that is a personal preference, but when requesting a ride, you can let your uber driver know ahead of time that you are visually impaired/blind. This allows the driver to know that you might not be able to see them pull up or which car to look for. You can also just let them know where you are standing, whether it’s outside a specific store or at a specific corner.  

9.     Orientation and Mobility training  

If you’re moving to a new city or just need help to understand the public transportation systems, Orientation and Mobility training is a great option. WSB offers Orientation and Mobility training to those who receive training on-campus but Orientation and Mobility instruction can be provided through your local Vocational Rehabilitation services.  

10.  Paratransit  

Paratransit is available in cities with fixed bus/train routes for those with disabilities. Paratransit is available to those who are not able to use the fixed bus or train routes in the city. Paratransit allows you to schedule rides and they will pick you up and drop you off at certain locations.  

What is your favorite mode of transportation? Let us know in the comments!  

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Disability Pride Month | Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary!

July is Disability Pride Month and this year is the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act!

image by ADA National Network (adata.org) Image description: Red and blue text logo ADA 30 with stars around the year 1990 - 2020.

With July ending, we would be remiss if we didn’t have a post celebrating Disability Pride Month! This July is not only Disability Pride Month but also the 30th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act! Disability Pride Month was started as Disability Pride Day to commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities act in 1990. It has since turned into a whole month with the parade taking place in cities all over the United States. You can learn more about the ADA here.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." – Helen Keller

For Disability Pride Month, we wanted to share what Disability Pride means to our clients and staff at WSB. Below are several quotes from clients and staff on what disability pride means to them.

Disability pride means accepting the disability that a person has and making the best of every challenge.

“People are always going to bring you down, but it’s up to you if you let them.”

As a totally blind individual, I have encountered challenges and obstacles through life. Even though life is challenging, (and disability even much more so), we all have the ability to use our disability to keep us down, but we also have the ability to let our disability help us by allowing ourselves to be heard by the public. After all, no one can help those with disabilities if the person does not explain what is going on.

-Joshua G., WSB Client  

            “To me, disability pride means not being ashamed of the disabilities you have and living your life despite them. No one goes into life asking to be disabled, but those who take pride in their disabilities mean they acknowledge that they have disabilities, but they refuse to let them dictate what they are able to accomplish. People with disability pride see obstacles as challenges to overcome, and they face them with little or no complaints.”

-Austin N., WSB Client

“Blindness is a gift. It provides a different perspective of the world. I judge people based on their personalities, rather than superficial visual details which are not important in the grand scheme of things.”

-Christopher W., WSB Client

“I am not ashamed of my disability nor does my disability define me. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

-Keith W., WSB Instructor

When I think of disability pride I think of diversity.  Being proud of who you are and the obstacles you had to overcome to get where you are. No one asks to be different, but everyone is in one way or another.  It is the ability to appreciate the differences in others who don’t think, act or look the same as you. 

-Jerri-Ann M., WSB Assistive Technology Instructor

What does Disability Pride mean to you?

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If you have any topic you would like us to cover on the blog or are interested in writing a guest post, please contact Development and Communications Manager, Lee Rogers, at lrogers@wsblind.org

5 Easy Tips to Make Your Kitchen Accessible

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5 Tips on How to Easily Make Your Kitchen Accessible

For many people who have experienced vision loss, getting back into the kitchen can be extremely intimidating. We wanted to share a few easy tips on how to make your kitchen accessible and safe. Having low vision, or no vision at all doesn’t mean you can’t cook. It just means you need to prepare a few steps ahead to do it safely! We’re bringing you some great tips from our very own Techniques of Daily Living Instructor, Doris!

 1. Be Organized

Organization is key when trying to make an easily accessible kitchen! Oftentimes you don’t need anything fancy but a system to know where everything is, so it is readily available. Pen Friends or braille dots can help keep things organized. With those tools, you can keep items labeled and know exactly where everything is in your kitchen.

2. Fire Safety

Cooking with fire can be an intimidating experience for those who have lost their sight. One tip is to use the back burner of the stove, so it is more difficult to get too close to burn yourself. A crucial tip for fire safety is to know where your fire extinguisher is and to keep one on hand.

3. Google Home is your friend

Google Home can be an incredibly useful and accessible tool in the kitchen. It can tell you the time, start a timer, tell you the next step in a recipe, and so much more! They can also be fairly inexpensive, especially the mini version.

4. Use convenient appliances

Most people probably don’t realize that appliances like Keurigs and induction cooktops are extremely useful for the blind and visually impaired. Using single-serving coffeemakers or induction cooktops can let you have the freedom of cooking or making a cup of coffee without the worry that you’ll burn yourself. If you are worried about things spilling or need help with steadying items, there are even bowls that grip to the table! Talking microwaves are another great option and we even did a review of talking microwaves you can watch below:

5. Plan ahead

Planning ahead is crucial when you’re getting back in the kitchen. Before you even get started cooking, make sure you have everything you need within easy access (going back to our first point!). Set up any bowls on the counter you might need or set up the pots on the stove before starting the burner.

 If you feel like you or someone you know would benefit from some Techniques of Daily Living training, be sure to check out our Life Skills training programs page! WSB offers comprehensive life skills and vocational training on-campus and online!

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Running for Office With a Disability

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Running for Office With a Disability

Today is an exciting day on the WSB blog! Today we have our first guest post. Today’s blog post is written by Ed Carter of Able Futures.

A little bit about Ed Carter

Ed Carter thinks everyone, regardless of abilities, deserves the opportunity to serve according to the abilities that are innately in them. The future is made and each of us has the chance to make it better than today. Ed created Able Futures to help people with disabilities prepare for a secure and stable financial future.

The following post is by Ed Carter on running for office with a disability:

If you’re looking for ways to better connect with your world, running for a local or state office is a great way to start. Getting involved in your community helps you keep tabs on what’s going on around you while tapping into your inner passions. Plus, if you are a person with disabilities, it’s an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and teach that our differences do not separate us, but instead are what form our world.

The Early Stages

Chances are, you won’t get very far if you just decide to run for an office without preparation. And even if you do decide to throw in your proverbial hat, your chances of success without a little forward-thinking are slim.

Unless you’ve been around politics as a volunteer or community organizer, you likely don’t even know where to start. Fortunately, as Kiplinger explains, first-time candidates have access to many community resources. Political boot camps are an example. During these programs, you’ll learn the basics, such as how to target voters and assemble your team. You can also take advantage of career training opportunities that can help you master things like Microsoft Office and customer service.

What Team?

We mentioned learning how to assemble a team moments ago, and it’s important to know what that might look like. There are a few different people that you need in your corner, starting with a campaign manager. This person will need to be trustworthy, have leadership qualities, and must understand how to steer your campaign.

Depending on the office for which you are running, you may also need someone to handle finances and work as a volunteer coordinator. Even if you’re only running for a small, local office, you’ll also want to hire a social media marketing consultant to help you accurately convey your message across different platforms—and do so with accessibility in mind. You can network to fill any of these roles, or you can take to sites like Upwork to find a freelance professional with expertise in your particular area of need.

Ground Game

When you have your team together, it’s time to work on your campaign strategy. This should include, above all things, what’s known as a ground game. This is essentially how you get out and physically interact with the voters. Vox explains that, sadly, voters aren’t seeing enough of this grassroots-style interaction. You can use your ground game to get your name, face, and cause in front of the people that matter, and then your social media manager can use that to your advantage to bring even more attention to the campaign.

Little Reminders

If executed well, your campaign will leave a mark on voters. But you’ll also want to leave them with a physical reminder of your time together. This is especially important when you’re running as a person with disabilities so that your strengths significantly overshadow any potential perceived weaknesses. Flyers, buttons, T-shirts, and other trinkets with a great political slogan, along with your name and voting date, can help.

Cash Crunch

If you provide promotional materials, you will either have to pay out-of-pocket or raise money. When you do the latter, you must proceed as ethically as possible. During any political fundraising event, maintain honesty, financial transparency, and respect for your donors as well as the general public. You may also contact your party’s local headquarters to find out if there are any specific rules or regulations that you must follow, such as special accounting practices.

When you are passionate about a cause, the best way to get results is to take action—and there are few better ways to take action than to run for an office. Whether you’re an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities or simply want to make your home town a better place, running for public office can give you the boost you need to better your world. But remember, preparation is the key, and the actions you take now and the team you put together will direct your success.

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Thanks so much to Ed Carter for the guest blog post! Check out Ed’s work at Able Futures!

If you are interested in guest blogging for WSB or have any topics you would like us to cover, please contact Lee Rogers at lrogers@wsblind.org or 501-664-7100

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What to Consider Before Getting a Guide Dog

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What to Consider Before Getting a Guide Dog

Deciding to get a guide dog is a big and life-altering decision. We wanted to share a few things to consider before you decide to get a guide dog.

To preface, we want to mention WSB is completely tolerant of guide dogs. We accept anyone with a guide dog and will tailor our O&M instruction to you and your guide! In this post, we interviewed several WSB staff members and clients with guide dogs, all with different experiences and dogs from different guide dog schools.  

Why a Guide Dog instead of a cane?

Before you even consider applying for a school, it is imperative that you have good cane skills. If you have some difficulty with Orientation and Mobility, a dog can’t fix all of those problems.

The main reason everyone interviewed said they wanted a guide dog was for the independence and freedom a guide dog can bring. Unlike a cane where you have to use tactile cues to navigate through a crowd for example, a guide dog views people as obstacles, so they are able to maneuver through the crowd without bumping into people.

We wanted to mention why specifically those we interviewed decided to get a guide dog.

Eric Yarberry, our Director of Education and Training, has had his guide dog for just over a year now. He decided on a guide dog because he knew with his position at WSB that he would be traveling more, and he wanted to feel more independent and approachable. At an airport, he is more approachable with his dog and is able to weave through crowds much easier than with a cane. Rebecca Reid, Director of Recruiting at WSB, also wanted the freedom a guide dog could provide. She doesn’t love using a cane but loves the freedom of traveling with a dog!

Jerri-Ann Morrow, our Assistive Technology Instructor, was unsure if a dog was right for her but once she finished the training, she came home with a wonderful dog.

Jen Morsch, a WSB graduate, has had several guide dogs. Jen always had dogs growing up and loved them so she knew working with a guide would be a good choice for her.

What are the Pros?

All of those interviewed mentioned the freedom they experienced once they worked with their dog. Everyone mentioned the speed at which you can travel is unparalleled. Jen specifically mentioned the confidence and safety she feels when working with a dog.

Jen mentioned, “For me, guide dog travel is akin to receiving very focused, streamlined information.  With a cane I feel like you often have to filter through extraneous environmental information while navigating a space that you don’t always need.”

Eric loves that with his guide dog, he can easily go into a store and navigate freely and much faster by relying on his hearing and his guide rather than tactile clues. Rebecca also feels she has much more freedom working with a guide dog than a cane. It feels “more natural and relaxed” to do things she used to do before losing her sight. With a dog, she can lead her most independent life as a person with low vision.  

Both Eric and Jen love the approachability a dog brings to their life and workplace. People are much more eager to approach you and talk to you with a dog than a cane, which can be a blessing or a curse!

One major pro of a guide dog is Safety Disobedience. Jen gives a perfect example of what this means:

“This occurs when you are about to or in the process of crossing a street.  You give your dog the command to cross and say an electric or hybrid vehicle approaches that you do not hear or someone drives erratically.  If you have not stepped off the curb, the dog has been trained to ignore your command, thereby, disobeying you for your safety.  If you have in fact stepped off said curb, the dog is trained to either push or pull you out of harm’s way.  I have had more than one guide of mine do this.  Thor, my current guide, did this several months ago during WSB’s walking/running club twice within the same intersection.  The third time we had to cross, he guided me across like nothing had ever happened.  I was so proud of him!”

Another pro is the general companionship a dog can bring. After all, at the end of the day, they are dogs and can provide great love and support!

What are the Cons?

With everything, there are some cons to getting a guide dog.

Everyone said a con is the cost of a guide dog. Rebecca mentioned that her previous guide dog, Shaggy, had to have prescription food, which can cost upwards of $150 a month. You want to give your dog the best care because they are out all the time working with you. Jerri-Ann’s guide has had unexpected health issues, which have cost a lot.  Guide dogs also have to be groomed frequently, which can be another added cost.

Another con is that a guide dog does not last forever. They all have to retire at some point or have unexpected health problems. And it is devastating to lose them as they are not only a pet, but a tool and you are trusting your life in their paws every single day.

Jerri-Ann mentioned that at times, she can feel as a target for other dogs attacking her and her guide. This may not be a common occurrence or one that happens to everyone, but it is definitely something to consider when getting a guide.

Rideshares can also be a hassle, but it is also an occurrence that depends. Eric said he has only been denied a ride once while Jerri-Ann has mentioned it happening several times.

How to Choose a School:

The most important factor when choosing a school is to do your research.

Eric stressed the importance of choosing a school that is in a similar environment to your own. For him, he chose Leader Dogs because where they train and are located is similar to Little Rock whereas someone else might need a bigger city feel to receive training.

Jen has had several dogs, the most recent from Occu-Paws out of WI. Occu-paws offers home training, which Jen mentioned she preferred to away training now that she had several guides already. Jen appreciates that with home training, “The fact that the dog is familiarized with their new home and work environments from the word go.  You can also still keep working on some level during the training process.  In-home training is also very individualized:  it’s you, the dog and your trainer”.

As you can see, there is a lot to consider before getting a guide dog! It is a very personal choice, but we hope this blog post gave you some insight into why getting a guide dog may or may not be for you!

Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2020

Today, May 21, 2020, is Global Accessibility Awareness Day!

We’ve covered on the blog before about how to make your social media accessible but today, in honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we wanted to share a few reasons why accessibility is so important and how WSB is committed to accessibility for all. Accessibility is more important than ever, with even major news forgetting to include it.

Creating accessible content benefits so many people throughout the world including those with vision loss, hearing loss, motor impairments, and cognitive impairments. Everyone deserves a chance to experience the web and accessibility helps to achieve that. Accessibility removes barriers and gives those with disabilities a first-rate experience on the web. And it is more important than ever to create accessible content during a time where so many things are moving to online from remote jobs to shopping for groceries online.

WSB is committed to providing accessible content for people with all kinds of disabilities. And there are a few simple things you can do to help those with disabilities access information easier on the web, which we mention in our blog post about creating accessible social media content. If you already have a website, you can use the WAVE accessibility checker, which can help you correct minor issues with your accessibility (and can help you know what to fix for next time!).

We wanted to take today, Global Accessibility Awareness day, to remind everyone the importance of web accessibility!