I love my dog. Isla is sweet, friendly and endlessly curious. Her independent yet loving nature makes her easy to be around and we have adapted very well to one another over the last six years. What started off as one very bouncy, sensitive dog combined with a teenager who barely had a hold on…
This post was adapted from a comment I wrote to a parent who was unsure what technology their blind child should be using at university. It’s a question I frequently see being asked by both parents of blind children and blind teenagers who are preparing for university. The truth is there is no singular package…
You are not a burden when you ask for documents in a format you can read. You are not a burden when you need them to clear the accessible changing room. You are not a burden when you assert your right to enter a business with your service dog. You are not a burden when…
The phrase “blindness skills” is one the blind community knows well. From the moment you experience vision loss, whether because you are born blind or lose vision in later life, emphasis is placed on teaching you necessary blindness skills to navigate your environment. These include orientation and mobility training, cooking, matching your clothes and doing…
I have been a self-advocate since I can remember. “Please can you read to me?” “Can I have a braille copy?” The act of being disabled, of requesting adaptations that allow me to participate fully in society taught me how to advocate for myself and for others. From the moment I realised I would live…
When I was a child I knew no blind adults. Sadly that isn’t an exaggeration. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I met older blind people and only a very small minority of them were in work. I had no real idea what kind of jobs blind people could do, the few ideas…
Blindness has never been a barrier for me when going to the theatre. For as long as I can remember I’ve loved both getting up on stage and watching other performers. I don’t feel like being blind has diminished my experience and I will often fill in the gaps using my imagination when I’m watching…
I’ve always been an avid reader and have searched for accessible libraries that I can use as a blind person. Here is a list of such libraries, which is not exhaustive but should get you started if, like me, reading is an important part of your life. The following is a list of libraries which…
I hope for many things in my life. I hope I will graduate with a good degree, that I will find a job, that I will start a family some day. I hope for happiness and friendship and lots of laughter. We all hope for different things. I have friends who are blind like me…
When you first get your period, it can be really confusing, especially if you haven’t been prepared for it. I know many parents struggle to know how exactly to prepare their blind child for this stage of their life. How much should they explain? What resources will be useful? Are all products useful and accessible…