Traveling with a Visual Impairment, Part 2
Hadley's Debbie Good sits down to continue a conversation with author and visually impaired world traveler Dr. Wendy David. Together they explore a wide variety of helpful hints covering train, plane, and cruise travel as well as practical information on traveling internationally and navigating hotels.
Hadley
Traveling with a Visual Impairment, Part 2
Presented by Ricky Enger
Ricky Enger: Welcome to Hadley Presents. I'm your host, Ricky Enger, inviting you to sit back, relax and enjoy a conversation with the experts. Today's experts join us for part two of our series discussing travel from a blindness or low vision perspective. We welcome again Dr. Wendy David, author of Sites Unseen: Traveling Without Sight, and Hadley learning expert, Debbie Good. Thank you, guys, for coming back. How are you?
Wendy David: Great. Thanks so much for having me back.
Debbie Good: Yes, and I'm doing great too. I just came back from Paris and I'm all fired up.
Ricky Enger: So we had a huge list of questions and I've probably thought about 20 more since our last recording, but we only have time for a finite number of them. Let's jump right into that Debbie, shall we?
Debbie Good: Sure. In your book, you mention perhaps the first day that you arrive in the city, just getting your bearings, so then you can go off and see the sites more efficiently because you've taken that one day just to figure out where you are and what things are close.
Wendy David: And that's helpful for me. Often there's jet lag involved, too. If I have my dog with me, just finding the best relief area. We've had to be very creative. Some relief areas have had to be down in a parking garage in the middle of downtown. Some relief areas have had to be between two houses in an alley in Italy. Sometimes it does take a little while to kind of figure these things out. So if I can get those things figured out the first day, then the rest of the trip is a little less stressful for me and I can really get going on what I want to do.
Debbie Good: That makes sense. And you mention traveling with your guide dog. Are there any instances where you would not bring your guide dog, and use the cane instead?
Wendy David: First of all, I would say that I always bring a cane, whether or not I have a guide dog with me because there may be instances where the cane will be handy as well. For instance, on the airplane, the little teeny tiny bathrooms are often not possible to get you and a dog in and out. There's a story in the book about one of my dogs who had to stand on top of the toilet for me to open the door. I usually, from the get-go, train my dog to stay right at the seat or attach her to the seat post and then use a cane to go to the bathroom. But there's other places where maybe I just prefer not to take my dog. I recently started doing some third world travel. I hadn't done that before. It's kind of a whole different situation with very long trips.
A cane, you don't have to get out and relieve. A cane also can't get sick by eating something off the ground. Some of the places I've been to, the water you had to drink only bottled water. Some of them didn't have good drainage and so you were walking through lots of puddles and getting very wet. And some of the places I've been to such as Nepal has a very high rabies rate so it would not have been a safe place to take my dog. And I also felt that I wanted more sighted assistance as well. And so I went with a tour group. However, when I go to places that I feel I can navigate fairly well and it makes sense to take my dog, such as cruises or Hawaii or Europe, I'm very happy to have my dog and I feel much more confident traveling that way.
Debbie Good: And when you arrive at a place, then you go to a hotel, do you have any tips you could share with us about getting around in a hotel?
Wendy David: Hotels are interesting because they're not always what you think they're going to be if you just go by the website I want to know that I'm accessible and can get around fairly well and I do want to know that Usually I prefer to have a restaurant either in the hotel or nearby, possibly room service, not always. And at least someone there at the desk that I'd be able to ask if I have a question. And so those are sort of “before I get there” kinds of things.
But when you get there there's quite a few things that you can do that make it quite easy. I mention in the book some different tactics such as bringing a rubber band and putting around the doorknob, if it's an older place or in Europe where they don't have braille signage that could be helpful to find the door. As long as the maid doesn't take it off. You can take your key card, the electronic keycard and maybe bend a corner, put a piece of scotch tape or cut a corner. It's always good in your packing to carry a thing of scotch tape and maybe some extra rubber bands. I like to throw in a pack of Loc-Dots in case they have a microwave or something. Little easy things that you can take if you don't want to take Loc-Dots, which can get a bit pricey, are those little sticky reinforcements that you put on three-hole punched paper when the whole tears. You can just take a little reinforcement and stick it on something like a shampoo bottle, so you know the difference between that and conditioner.
And then I try to get as good an orientation as I can to the room when I first go in. And usually I'll give the person a fairly good tip if they've spent some time with me, making sure that I know if the curtains should be closed or not. Because sometimes people can see in and you don't realize it. Maybe where an exit, fire exit is or the staircase if I need to get out and the elevators aren't working and if it has room service, perhaps what the hours are. But a lot of those things you can find out from the front desk staff also. And also, it's helpful to know how to retrieve your voicemail in case you're expecting calls if you're meeting up with people or that sort of thing. Sometimes it's little buttons that you push and that's another nice use of Loc-Dots or the little sticky reinforcement to just put something on the button that you might be using quite a bit.
Debbie Good: Thank you. Can you tell me again the name of the dots?
Wendy David: Oh, the Loc-Dots? They're just little raised dots, I have them on my microwave, I have them on my washer and dryer, that kind of thing so you know where to turn the dial.
Debbie Good: Now let's talk about how to get to your hotel. Each type of transportation that you might use: bus, train, airplane, boat or a cruise ship. If you could just give a few tips on each form of transportation.
Wendy David: Some of this may depend too upon where you live in the country and what's most available to you. For buses, I take the city bus all the time, but I'm not that experienced in long range travel on the bus such as with Greyhound, Bolt, Mega Bus, those various ones. I know that in other parts of the country people do take those quite a bit. I just talked to a friend of mine who did take a BoltBus to Canada from Seattle and they found it really great. Buses, I think they work pretty much like train stations you want although some of them aren't open. Sometimes the bus doesn't even stop in a building. It might stop behind. Your guide dog is, of course, welcome on the bus at your feet just like on a train or a plane and it's a good idea to maybe keep track of your own luggage if you can so that you don't have a luggage catastrophe.
I always put my business card in inside and outside pockets as well as I have the gaudiest suitcase. It has bright flowers all over it and it's very easy for anyone to see it and spot it. Some people use luggage locators and some people train their dogs to sniff out their food. I always have had Labradors, they'll sniff out anything, so that hasn't quite worked for us, but everybody can kind of find their own way. But I think the more that you keep it in your control and conspicuous, it can make your travel a lot easier.
Debbie Good: Let's go onto trains.
Wendy David: There usually is a lot more room. It's easier with your luggage. I think most of the time you can take it either on with you as carry-on above you. I did find out once they did allow for extra baggage for the guide dog food and that was really nice. I found the people on the train to be very friendly and very helpful and it just again depends on where you're taking the train. European train travel and US train travel can be very different, but I think pretty much universally now, assistance is available depending on where you catch the train or depart from the train. It may or may not be a manned station and so you may want to find that out ahead of time, but the same rules with them apply if you do want to have additional assistance, it's always good to let them know ahead of time, although you're not required to.
Debbie Good: Let's go onto airplane. I know we could probably do a whole talk or two just on airplanes, but anything you want to tell us about air travel?
Wendy David: Air travel I think is getting consistently more challenging. Fortunately more airports now have dog relief areas inside, although they may not be to your dog's liking. It's very important I think when you’re doing air travel to really know what the law is and know what your rights are. Because oftentimes flight attendants, will tell you where you have to sit and that's not necessarily where you have to sit. You cannot sit in an exit row and you cannot block an aisle. Those are basically the two rules.
The more you can do on your own, the better. But if help is available and you want it, that's always fine too. But just know you're not required to sit in a holding room. You're not required to wait for help if you choose not to have it. You're not required to go in a wheelchair. And if they refuse to take you, what I do is I throw my carry-on in the wheelchair and just walk beside it with my dog. I think deescalating what otherwise could be a very tense situation, I think it is stressful for the people who work there and the stress carries over to the passengers and expect crowded planes. No more are the days of lots of empty room.
Debbie Good: Let's go now to boats and or cruise ships.
Wendy David: I'm leaving on a cruise in about three weeks. I'm very excited. Cruising, I think for blind people, if you like being on the water and you like diversity of culture and different experience, I think it's a great way for blind people to travel. We have some friends who are blind, and we only see them maybe once a year and we take a cruise together and it's wonderful because none of us have to cook, none of us have to clean. We get around the boat, we can be as independent as we want or do things together as we want and it's really fantastic. We enjoy it. You can do it as little or as much as you like. Most of the cruise ships that port in the United States do have to abide by the ADA. Used to be that if they weren't registered in the United States, they didn't have to, but they do now.
And so when you're traveling, if in fact you're traveling with a dog guide, it's very important to know where you're going to be stopping and if you need to have specific requirements for the dog. And some of those change. And so it's always important to look at the current requirements. We are going to be stopping in Mexico, they've changed the law. The dogs have to be, you get this special worming within 10 days of going. Neither of our dogs have worms, but we have to do this in order to go, even if we don't take the dogs off the boat because we'll be in that country's waters. So it's a lot of extra hoops to jump through traveling any foreign place with a dog guide, including on a cruise ship. But I'll tell you it's really wonderful to have the dog on the ship and they will accommodate you. They will put out relief boxes. You do need to request it ahead of time. You do need to do deal with their accessibility department. But I have found that if you deal with them in plenty of time and you continue to follow up and be as friendly as possible, we've had very good responses. I think it's really important that blind people continue to ask for accommodations. I've noticed that on many cruise ships and programs I've been on, deaf people now automatically have interpreters on every cruise. Blind people are very spottily now getting audio description and I think it's important that it's continued to be asked for because the cruise ships aren't necessarily feeling it's a requirement. You will have to request, if you want braille documents ahead of time. Sometimes they provide them, sometimes they don't.
But one thing that we have found super helpful is to bring a thumb drive and they want one that's not been opened yet so it has no contamination. And ask them to transfer the activity schedules, the menus, all the different information that you get piled up on your bed at night, to put all of that on the thumb drive every day and then we can read it with our braille devices and that has opened up a lot of great opportunity and taken some of the onus off of having to ask people to read stuff for us.
Then the other thing is to just don't be afraid to get out and explore. There's always people around, they're always happy to help you. We've met some really lovely people on cruises from different countries. Sometimes we've gone to different countries. I've met people from Seattle. It's just amazing who you'll meet, and it can be so much fun.
Debbie Good: Wendy, we were talking about traveling to other countries. Do you find that people are surprised in other countries that you as a blind person is traveling by herself?
Wendy David: Sometimes that is the truth. A lot of it depends on each country. It depends on their attitudes toward disability. It depends on how accessible the country is, which usually in Europe, Europe is old and most of the streets are cobbly and lots of steps and they don't have the same kinds of traffic laws and patterns and things like that that we have. And many of their hotels and accommodations don't have braille signage. And so it can be very challenging at times and it can also be really enlightening, and sometimes blind people find it a little too onerous. And so they often don't see a lot of blind people traveling solo.
I often, especially if it's a foreign language as well and foreign currency, I'll take several different wallets and I'll label them, so I know, okay this is euros and this one here is going to be pounds and this one here is going to be whatever. I can sort of keep that in mind.
I find that it helps me sometimes to have certain phrases written out on flashcards, like this is a dog for the blind, please show me where the restroom is. I'm gluten free. Things like that that I know I'm going to need to express to people and I don't trust my language skills always. But I think the more that you can try to maybe learn a few phrases, say hello to people in their language, always say thank you in their language, they really appreciate that. I just think it's a wonderful opportunity to expand our world, our personal world, and to really start seeing all that the rest of the world has to offer.
Debbie Good: And can you tell us one of the biggest challenges you found or how you resolved it?
Wendy David: It was interesting when we went on our Mediterranean cruise a few years ago, my husband and I decided that we would go a few days early. It was taking a place out of Rome and we wanted to spend a couple days in Rome. And so, we had our two guide dogs and we looked up all these different places that we wanted to stay and none of them would accept the two guide dogs. And so then we went to the pet friendly sites. But the pet friendly sites often are for small dogs and one dog per room. And a place that was actually quite a big chain that said they accept service animals then told us we couldn't have two service animals in one room. We would each have to have our own room. We felt very limited in where we would be able to stay. But we finally found a place that did allow both of our dogs in the same room and once we got there, we had no problem at all anywhere.
Debbie Good: And tell us what one of your favorite destinations is.
Wendy David: Oh my gosh, there's so many. It just depends on what it is I'm wanting out of that trip. If it's the people and the culture, I'd say Nepal. If it's relaxation and just being totally immersed in the beautiful environment I would say Hawaii by the ocean. If it's the food, I would say Paris. It's just it, it just really depends. If it's if I really want a great adventure or something, I would say skiing in Colorado. It just, I have so many favorites and maybe they kind of fit into different categories. I don't think I could say I have one favorite overall. And I think travel is getting more accessible. I think people are becoming more aware. I think it's easier to get out of our comfort zone a little bit because there's more help out there. And I don't think, again, like I told you in the first podcast that you have to jump into the deep end initially. Ease into it, get some help, join a tour, join a group. There's lots of availability for travel out there. The travel industry is going to become smarter and smarter and want to make it more accessible for us as well.
Debbie Good: Thank you so much Wendy. You've given us lots of tips and inspired us to go out and see the world.
Wendy David: Oh, fantastic.
Ricky Enger: I feel like just hearing about someone else's experience kind of makes travel seem a lot more approachable to somebody that's kind of hesitating and thinking, well, I don't know. What about this? What about that? And just to hear from someone who's thought about these things and actually gone through the experience of doing it, not just in one place, but a number of them, really is very inspiring, I think. And I appreciate you're sharing your stories with us. For those who might need a refresher from the first podcast or for some reason didn't hear it, which if you didn't, you should go back and listen. But for those who are looking to keep up with both of you, let's start with you Wendy. Where can people contact you?
Wendy David: Probably the best way to contact me is through my email, which is dr.wendydavid, W-E-N-D-Y-D-A-V-I-D, all one word @gmail.com.
Ricky Enger: And Debbie, how about you? Where can people find you?
Debbie Good: Well, you could email me at Good… My last name is Debbie Good, no E just G-O-O-D @hadley.edu.
Thank you both again for joining us and happy travels.
Got something to say? Share your thoughts about this episode of Hadley Presents or make suggestions for future episodes. We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at podcast@hadley.edu. That's P-O-D-C-A-S-T@hadley.edu. Or leave us a message at (847) 784-2870. Thanks for listening.
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Books
Sites Unseen: Traveling the World Without Sight (2010)
By Wendy David. Available on Bookshare and BARD. Email Wendy at dr.wendydavid@gmail.com.
All Episodes
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Episode 106
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Episode 105
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Episode 104
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Episode 103
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Episode 102
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Episode 101
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Episode 100
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Episode 99
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Episode 98
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Episode 97
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Episode 96
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Episode 95
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Episode 94
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Episode 93
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Episode 92
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Episode 91
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Episode 90
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To learn if getting a peer connection is for you, call us at 1-800-323-4238. -
Episode 89
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Episode 88
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Episode 87
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Episode 86
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Episode 85
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Episode 84
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Episode 83
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Episode 82
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Episode 81
Join us as we take a dive into the features of the BlindShell cell phone.
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Episode 80
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Episode 79
Join us to learn about how ScripTalk technology translates medication labels into speech and where you can find a participating pharmacy.
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Episode 78
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Episode 77
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Episode 76
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Episode 75
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Episode 74
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Episode 73
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Episode 72
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Episode 71
Learn how CVS pharmacy customers throughout the US can access a free service that reads aloud prescription medication information.
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Episode 70
Join us as we chat with author Hannah Fairbairn about the tips and tricks she has learned to take some of the stress out of holiday get-togethers, no matter your vision.
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Episode 69
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Episode 68
Whether you like to read for enjoyment or need to check your mail, reading is an essential part of your day. We're sharing tips and tricks for how to continue reading, the best low-tech and high-tech gadgets, and the benefits of learning braille.
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Episode 67
Chief Innovation Officer Doug Walker chats with us about the launch of Hadley's newest podcast, Insights & Sound Bites. This new podcast will offer short stories shared by listeners. By tapping into the power of our community, we hope to share ideas, discoveries, and moments of inspiration along the journey through vision loss.
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Episode 66
Jim Hoxie and Joanna Jones join us to discuss their children’s book, "Grandpa's White Cane." Jim shares how vision loss shaped his life and how he and Joanna, a retired teacher, began instructing children about the importance of white cane awareness and the do's and don'ts for helping people with visual impairment.
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Episode 65
Blogger and social worker Jeff Flodin talks about his personal journey with vision loss and how his passion for helping people led him to blog about his experiences.
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Episode 64
Hadley has partnered with the National Eye Institute (NEI) to offer a Spanish-language version of our popular cooking workshop series. Devina Fan, director of the National Eye Health Education Program at NEI, joins the podcast to talk more about this new initiative, NEI’s expanding Spanish content, and the importance of connecting Hispanic and Latino communities to important vision resources.
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Episode 63
A change in your vision may make some parts of your job more challenging. But with a bit of help and some new skills, you may be able to stay in your job. Hadley Chief Program Officer Ed Haines and Learning Expert Steve Kelley join the podcast to talk about our new Working with Vision Loss workshops and to share tips for where to find support and how to ask for what you need.
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Episode 62
Certified accessible travel advocate Melvin Reynolds joins the podcast to share tips for getting the most out of traveling, no matter your level of vision. Melvin gives advice on what to research ahead of a trip, considerations for traveling with a guide dog, and how a certified accessible travel advocate can help.
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Episode 61
Karen and Dan Leonetti share how vision loss has changed their relationship and the advice they have for other couples.
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Episode 60
Rabbi Lenny Sarko joins us to talk about how his vision loss journey led him to create a first-of-its-kind braille Sefer Torah that people around the country can access.
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Episode 59
Actor and artist Bruce Horak talks about his personal journey with vision loss, how he got interested in painting, and his role in the new television series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
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Episode 58
CEO of Eschenbach Optik of America Ken Bradley joins the podcast to discuss how Eschenbach has adapted through the pandemic to help people with visual impairment access low vision devices remotely. Through their "Telelowvision" program, you can try out magnification devices from the comfort of your home to find what works best for you before you buy.
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Episode 57
Scottish radio broadcaster and podcaster Steven Scott loves finding and talking about tech stuff. He's especially fond of apps and gadgets that make life easier for him and others with vision loss.
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Episode 56
NYT Columnist Frank Bruni returns to the podcast to talk about his new book. Frank describes his personal experiences with vision loss and how, with time, his perspective has grown.
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Episode 55
IT professional and stand-up comedian Todd Blenkhorn talks about his personal journey with vision loss and how his passion for stand-up helped him find and share the humor in daily interactions.
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Episode 54
In this episode, we're sharing highlights from previous interviews with a glaucoma specialist, retina specialist, and a low vision doctor. Listen in to learn more about common eye conditions, treatments, and what to expect at these specialist appointments.
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Episode 53
Master Gardener Sue Brasel and Hadley's Chief Program Officer and gardener Ed Haines join us for a chat about gardening, no matter your level of vision or gardening experience. They share tips for how to get started, common challenges, and the many benefits of gardening.
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Episode 52
We're joined by Carol Mackey, an avid discussion group participant, and co-host Debbie Worman to chat about what Hadley groups are, how to join, and what you can get out of them. With 10 groups on a variety of topics, there's something for everyone. Listen in or chime in – it’s up to you.
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Episode 51
Bold Blind Beauty blogger Stephanae McCoy joins us for a chat on beauty, style and confidence. Stephanae talks about how vision loss shaped her life, and then shares some of her favorite fashion and beauty tips.
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Episode 50
Hadley staff share their favorite kitchen gadgets and tips. Whether you're an experienced home chef or a total novice, you're bound to pick up a few ideas that fit your vision needs and make your time in the kitchen more productive (and fun).
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Episode 49
We sat down with Kim Walker, co-director of research and development at Hadley, and Mark Andrews, one of the Hadley advisors who reviewed our exciting new approach for adults with vision loss to learn braille. From labeling items in your home to identifying buttons on an elevator, braille can be a wonderful tool for everyday use.
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Episode 48
New York Times Best-Selling Author, Gretchen Rubin, chats about her research on how tapping into different senses can enrich our lives and connect us to each other in surprising ways.
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Episode 47
Twin sisters Jenelle and Joy join the podcast to share their personal experiences with vision loss and adjusting to it emotionally. While they look identical, their perspectives and journeys differ, highlighting their mission to show that "there is no right way to go blind."
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Episode 46
Hadley learner Sharon Noseworthy shares tips and tricks for hosting get-togethers of any type or size, no matter your vision. Sharon has always loved the role of hostess and has learned to adjust her approach now that her own vision has declined.
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Episode 45
We're joined by Teepa Snow, occupational therapist and founder of Positive Approach to Care, to learn more about the challenges of having both vision loss and dementia. Teepa addresses common misconceptions about dementia and shares practical tips for supporting someone with both conditions.
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Episode 44
We sat down with several Hadley staff members and asked them about their favorite tech tips, apps, and gadgets. Whether you consider yourself a tech expert or novice, the group recommends a variety of high-tech and low-tech options that fit your comfort level and interests.
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Episode 43
Judge David Tatel has served on the second most powerful court in the country since 1994. He also happens to be blind. Judge Tatel joins us to share his story on building a law career and family while dealing with changing vision, the technology and resources he's found useful, and what made him consider getting a guide dog in recent years.
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Episode 42
In honor of White Cane Safety Day today, we're joined by Hadley learner Larry Carlson and Orientation and Mobility Specialist Elijah Haines for a conversation about this important tool. Larry shares what made him decide to use a white cane, and Elijah shares tips for what to consider and how to adjust to using a white cane.
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Episode 41
Supriya Raman, manager of the Disability and Multicultural branches of the TSA, shares tips on traveling among shifting COVID restrictions. Supriya covers what to expect at the airport and what resources are available for people with visual impairment.
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Episode 40
Photographer Michael Nye chats with us about his latest art exhibit, "My Heart is Not Blind," a collection of photos and audio interviews of people with visual impairment. Through these stories, Michael provides a look into what he calls "our shared humanity and shared fragility," as well as common misunderstandings about blindness.
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Episode 39
Champion blind golfer Chad NeSmith talks about how vision loss shaped his life, and how he shares his passion for golf with others with vision loss.
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Episode 38
Doug Walker, Hadley co-director of R&D, and Ed Haines, Hadley Chief Program Officer, chat about the making of Hadley's "Adjusting to Vision Loss" workshop series. The series guides people through the emotional aspects of vision loss. Doug serves as the series' personal storyteller and narrator.
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Episode 37
In this episode we chat with ophthalmologist Dr. Angela Elam from the University of Michigan. Dr. Elam addresses common questions and concerns, and shares her advice for returning to the eye doctor among shifting COVID restrictions.
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Episode 36
Dorrie Rush, OE's Chief Content Officer, joins us for a chat about this wonderful online resource chock full of tips for living well with vision loss. You'll find great articles on using tech tools, tips for health and well-being, stories from others living with vision loss, a terrific podcast, and more.
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Episode 35
Learn about a new service that’s just launched in 2020 called Accessible Pharmacy. Accessible packaging and labeling and personalized customer support all free of charge to the end consumer, and specifically designed for those with vision impairment.
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Episode 34
Audio Describe the World! That’s the mantra of UniDescription: a free smartphone app that provides audio descriptions and navigation tips for US National Parks and other public places.
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Episode 33
In this episode, we chat with low vision optometrist Dr. Mark Wilkinson from the University of Iowa. Dr. Wilkinson answers common questions and shares his advice for getting the most out of low vision optometry appointments.
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Episode 32
Jan and Elgie Dow share how vision loss has changed their relationship and the advice they have for other couples.
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Episode 31
Join Hadley advisor Eddie Becerra as he shares about losing his sight from diabetic retinopathy, and how he gained a new perspective on life.
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Episode 30
Classically trained chef Regina Mitchell shares how vision loss shaped her life. Regina worked her way back into the kitchen and is now helping others cook with confidence, no matter their vision.
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Episode 29
In this episode we sit down with the director of Well Connected, an organization that offers free, call-in groups for adults over 60 on a wide variety of interest areas: games, music, meditation and more.
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Episode 28
Support groups can be a great way to connect with others who "get it." Listen in as as low vision support group leaders Lynndah Lahey and Judy Davis describe how their groups are run and what their members get out of them.
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Episode 27
World-renowned artist John Bramblitt describes how vision loss has shaped his painting and his life.
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Episode 26
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Tim Murray of the American Society of Retina Specialists. Dr. Murray treats eye diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. He answers common questions and shares his insights into the future of treatments.
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Episode 25
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jullia Rosdahl, a glaucoma specialist from the Duke Eye Center, and ask her some of the many questions we’ve heard about glaucoma, its risk factors, and how to treat the disease.
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Episode 24
Hadley learning expert Jessica Smith shares her experience raising a puppy that may eventually become a guide dog. She covers what she’s learned and things to consider if you’d like to volunteer to help out a guide dog school.
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Episode 23
October 15 is White Cane Safety Day, a day to recognize this important tool that empowers people with visual impairment to travel safely and independently. It also brings attention to the general public to be mindful of visually impaired neighbors, giving them additional consideration and right-of-way when needed. We sat down with Kellee Sanchez, an orientation and mobility specialist, to talk about the history of White Cane Safety Day, and how a white cane can help those with vision loss.
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Episode 22
Be My Eyes is a free smartphone app that connects visually impaired users with sighted volunteers for help with visual tasks. We sat down with Will Butler from Be My Eyes to hear how the app started, tips for using it, and exciting new features that provide specialized assistance, including with Hadley.
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Episode 21
Tracy Simon from Eye2Eye peer support program shares her story of vision loss, how her program works, and the benefits of connecting with and supporting each other.
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Episode 20
Ophthalmologist Dr. Lori Provencher chats with us about how the coronavirus pandemic has changed doctor's visits. She shares tips for staying safe, questions to ask, and what to expect before, during and after your next office visit.
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Episode 19
Mindfulness expert Tiffany Guske returns to the podcast to share tips and insights on how to cope with life's challenges, such as vision loss or an illness, building resilience and focusing on self-compassion instead of judgment.
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Episode 18
Author of "When You Can't Believe Your Eyes," Hannah Fairbairn, chats with us about how to communicate in everyday situations when you can't rely on visual cues. Hear Hannah's own story about losing vision, her practical tips on adjusting to vision loss, and advice she has on regaining confidence in social situations.
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Episode 17
In this episode, we continue the conversation on living during the COVID-19 pandemic with a visual impairment. Listen in as we share some experiences, tips, and strategies for coping during these difficult times.
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Episode 16
The COVID-19 crisis has brought a wave of change and uncertainty to our everyday lives. Listen in as we share personal experiences, resources and some helpful tips...all from a blind or low vision perspective.
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Episode 15
Assistive technology experts Ricky Enger and Steve Kelley review BlindShell, a mobile phone built for those with visual impairment. They discuss the basic features, how it differs from a traditional smartphone, and how to decide if it's right for you.
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Episode 14
This week we sit down with Dan Roberts, author of "The First Year-Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed" and founder of MDSupport website and support group. Hear Dan's own story about being diagnosed with macular degeneration and what prompted him to reach out to others facing similar circumstances.
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Episode 13
Listen in as we explore the basics of using hand tools with a visual impairment. Gil Johnson, a visually impaired home repair expert, shares tips on everything from measuring, to leveling to hammering.
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Episode 12
Elections are right around the corner. So we gathered a panel to talk about options for voting no matter your level of vision. Listen in as we explore everything you need to know, from registering to vote to the many ways you can cast your ballot.
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Episode 11
Ricky sits down with Android Accessibility Product Manager Brian Kemler to discuss what is available on Android phones for those with visual impairment. From adjusting font size and color, or opting to listen with TalkBack instead, the commitment to making these powerful tools more useful to a wider audience is clear.
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Episode 10
In this episode, we chat with Gil Johnson, an experienced home repair and woodworking enthusiast about things to consider when undertaking home repair with blindness or low vision.
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Episode 8
In this episode, Ricky Enger chats with Joe Strechay, associate producer on the Apple TV+ series SEE. The show takes place in a future where, after a viral apocalypse, all humans are blind. Joe takes us behind the scenes of the show and his work to help build an inclusive set for the cast and crew, including those with low to no vision. From casting to costumes, scripting to scenery, hear how Joe helped create a science fiction world that strives to be authentic to life with vision loss.
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Episode 7
Hadley's Debbie Good sits down with travel author Dr. Wendy David in this latest episode. In part one of this two-part interview, Debbie and Wendy discuss tips for traveling with confidence as a blind or low vision person, advice on picking destinations, considerations for traveling alone and in a group, and more!
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Episode 6
Ricky Enger is joined by Hadley's Debbie Worman and mindfulness expert Tiffany Guske in this latest episode. Debbie and Tiffany talk about what mindfulness is and the specific benefits that mindfulness can offer for those living with vision loss. Tiffany then walks listeners through a short mindfulness exercise.
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Episode 5
In this episode, Ricky Enger speaks with New York Times columnist Frank Bruni, who shares the story of his sudden vision loss from NAION. Bruni speaks candidly on his adjustment to the change, maintaining a realistic attitude towards his vision loss, and the failure of medical professionals to provide resources after diagnosis.
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Episode 4
Listen in as we share practical tips on how to keep your handwriting readable. This resource-packed episode includes many useful techniques and solutions to common handwriting challenges. Hadley Learning Expert Jennifer Ottowitz chats with Sue Dalton, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.
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Episode 3
In this episode, Hadley's Steve Kelley speaks with Kendra Farrow, from the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, located at Mississippi State. The episode serves as a guide for those new to vision rehabilitation, including determining who is eligible for services, key differences between the medical and social services models, and how to locate services in each state.
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Episode 2
In this episode, Ricky Enger chats with Microsoft's Jeremy Curry, a Senior Program Manager with the Windows Accessibility team. New vision accessibility features are now available in Windows 10 for low vision and screen reader users.
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Episode 1
In the inaugural episode of Hadley Presents, Ricky Enger and Jonathan Mosen of Aira chat about the ways in which a visual interpreter service, such as Aira, can be used to gain valuable visual information and enhance travel and leisure activities for blind and low vision users.