Interviews to Empower Presents: S. J. Wells

Hello, and welcome to the last edition of Interviews to Empower. Anita here with you, and I am so glad you are with us today. These interviews have inspired me and my colleague, S. J. Wells, and we pray that they have been an encouragement to you. As it is our last post, I thought I would interview S. J. So, without further adue, here is author of Christian fiction and my friend, S. J. Wells.

Q: What is your eye condition, and how long have you been blind?

A: I was born with congenital glaucoma, catteracts and scar tissue. I had some vision in my left eye for 21 years, but the summer of 2000 my pressure went down to 4, and I lost my remaining vision.

Q: I remember now; you had to have an eye removed. How did that affect you and your family? Was it a hard decision, or was it just a necessity?

A: Losing my vision was the hard part; losing the eye was easy. I was in pain, and the eye did not look normal. I think it was harder on my family, though, than it was for me. And, I had only been married for a few months, so my husband got to hear me complain more than the rest of them. The person who hurt the most over it, I think was my mom.

Q: Are you the only one in your family who is blind?

A: Yes. I am the oldest of 4 girls, and except for needing glasses or contacts, I am the only one considered blind. My parents didn’t treat me any different, though. Mom taught me to wash dishes and clean house alongside my sisters, Dad taught me to ride a tricycle, and blindness was never an excuse for bad grades. :)

Q: How old were you when you started to receive orientation and mobility?

A: I was introduced to the cane when I was 10. It made me feel different than my classmates, so I wouldn’t use it, though. Then, in 7th grade I was taught to use it properly. I used to rely on friends to be sighted guides, but when my dependence on them kept them from wanting to be my friend, I gladly took up the cane and became more independent.

Q: Did you go to public school, then?

A: Mostly. I attended public school until my junior year of high school. Then, I went to the West Virginia School for the Blind. I graduated from there in 1997 as Salutatorian of my class.

Q: Did you attend college?

A: For a semester I went to Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA, but I got home sick and begged my parents to bring me home. I took some independent living classes from the West Virginia Rehabilitation Center, such as cooking, O&M, and computers. Those 3 months of intense O&M were important and would become the single most useful blindness skill in my life.

Q: You use a cane, then?

A: Yes, but I did have a guide dog from 1998 to 2006.

Q: Let’s talk about now. What do you do for a living?

A: Well, I got married in 2000, so I am a wife. My first daughter was born in 2005. My youngest was born in 2007, so I am a mom. I homeschool my girls, I attend church with my minister husband, and I write books.

Q: Tell us about your writing. What made you want to be an author?

A: I used to get books on records or tapes from my local Library Commission, and for years those books were my best friends. Then, when I was 15, I thought, why not write a Christian story like these Westerns I’ve been reading. That idea over the next 15 years became my first novel, “Wild Heart”

Q: A reader driven author. But, you didn’t stop with “Wild Heart”, which, BTW, I remember helping you with in high school.

A: No, I didn’t stop there. :) “Wild Heart” needed a sequel, so I wrote one. It’s called, “To Tame A Heart”. Then, I wrote a Scottish, time travel romance called, “A Moment in Time”. My 4th book is “His Yankee Wife”. Last May I published a book based on a true story about a man who became paralyzed when he dove into a 4 foot pool called, “Caleb’s Story”.

Q: Wow! And, folks can read more about you and your books on your website?

A: Yes, it’s www.sjwellsauthor.com.

Q: What made you decide to come on board with our book, “Ducking into UEB”?

A: First, I knew the book would be good and helpful for students and teachers, alike. Your love for your students comes out in everything you do. Also, I love writing kids’ fiction, even though I don’t feel it is my strong point. I wanted your book to succeed, and I wanted to be a part of it. I wrote “A Quackin’ Adventure” one night after telling the story to my girls before bed. But, I had no plans for it, and I was having difficulty finding an illustrator. So, when you asked if I had any fictional material lying around, I gave it to you, willingly. I am thrilled to see it doing so well.

Q: So, what is next?

A: I’m currently working on my 6th book called, “You Belong to Me”. It’s about a man who is called by God to go preach in the colonies who is captured by pirates and sold to a sharp-tongued woman desperate to save her farm.

Q” Sounds interesting. Can folks follow you on Facebook, too?

A: Yes. facebook.com/sjwellsuathor/

Q: If you were to give any advice to someone facing sight loss, what would it be?

A: Don’t give up. There is always a way. Trust in God; He will not fail you. Get in touch with those in the blindness community, and learn all you can. Don’t be afraid of your cane or of your blindness, but embrace your differences and learn to laugh.

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

A: Yes, there is. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing on this blog with you. I have been challenged and encouraged by those whom we have interviewed and by you pushing me out of my comfort zone. I may not have ever tried to get a book published, if you had not believed in me all those years ago. Thank you for being my friend and for being tough on me.

Well, I have learned a lot from this writing project with you. And, faithful readers, keep in mind that while we will not be posting any new material to this blog, it will remain up for you to come back to as often as you want.

Thank you, S. J. Wells for being the interviewee this time.

Thank you, Anita for allowing me to be a part of your project.

Together we make a good team. :) Y’all come over and be with us on Facebook, okay? facebook/com/adkinsandwells/ and you can always email us at adkinsandwells@gmail.com

Blessings to you all

Anita Adkins and S. J. Wells

Authors of “Ducking into UEB”

Interviews to Empower Presents: Kristen Witucki!

Welcome! We are so glad you are here! Today’s entry is another edition of Interviews to Empower, and our interviewee will surely inspire you to never give up. Allow me to introduce Kristen Witucki!

Q: Hi, Kristen. Thank you so much for being with us today. First, how long have you been blind, and what caused it?

A: I’ve been blind since birth from an eye condition called microphthalmia, as well as hypoplasia of the optic nerve. I was born premature, which caused the blindness; no one else in my family is blind.

Q: Did you attend a public school or school for the blind, and did you participate in any extracarricular activities?

A: I attended a pre-school for children with disabilities, though I was the only blind child in the school at that time. After that, I attended public school throughout my education. Outside of school, I participated in as many bands as I could, (I played piano, clarinet,

bass guitar and percussion), and I also worked in community service and debate activities. I tried our literary magazine, but I didn’t like it. One really great aspect of schools for the blind that I learned about when I taught in one was their equal access to sports. I wasn't the best at sports anyway, but that was one area in which my

public school was also mostly unequipped to adapt.

Q: When did you start receiving orientation and mobility training? Do you use a cane today or a guide dog?

A: I began learning the cane when I was three, I think! For most of my life I've been a cane traveler, though I did travel with a guide dog for seven years and might do it again someday. Right now I don’t travel enough to use one, but that might change. 

Q: Where did you attend college and what was your major? What challenges

did you have. How did you overcome them?

A: I attended Vassar College where I majored in English, minored in German and also earned certification to teach English to students in grades 7-12. My teaching internships were challenging at times, but I learned a lot from them and from my students and cooperating teachers.

Q: What jobs have you had and where are you working now?

A: I’ve worked in various positions in membership development and customer support at Learning Ally. For two years, I taught English, creative writing and some braille to secondary students at the West Virginia School for the Blind. Now I'm the curriculum and content editor for Learning Ally's College Success Program, I mentor college students through a program called New Jersey EDGE, and I teach braille to a high school student.

Q: What do you like to do for fun?

A: I can usually be found chasing my children around, but when they’re asleep, I love to read, write, or listen to music. I also enjoy a conversation with a good friend.

Q: What are the challenges of both you and your husband being blind? How

do you two manage?

A: If the kids are quiet, they usually need one of us to investigate what they're doing, unless they've told us first. :) I don't feel that our family has any extraordinary challenges, though ask me when my kids are older! My sons are seven and two years old. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to raise them. Most of the time, I think of myself as their mom, and I'm also very lucky to live in an area in which our parenting is respected. The only time it seemed harder was when my

first son was born. Some doctors and other hospital personnel were skeptical. It's a relief not to interact with them anymore!

Q: You mentioned writing. Tell us about your book.

A: My book, Outside Myself, took ten years to write, on and off! It cycles between the points of view of two characters: Tallie, a young girl who first obsesses about being sighted and later grapples with what being blind in a sighted world really means; and Benjamin, an older customer service representative who looks back on his life, the incredible misunderstanding he endured as he tried to fit in and his complex feelings about becoming blind.

Q: If you could give any advice to someone facing sight loss, what would it be?

A: I read or heard somewhere that blindness is the most feared "affliction" after cancer and AIDS. I'm not sure if that's still true. But there will be a time "after the adjustment," and that time really has the potential to be good, if not great! Hang onto a good opinion

of yourself, and seek out individuals who can help you to maintain that!

Q: When life gets you down, and you feel like you just can’t go on, what keeps you motivated?

A: My family and friends, birds and crickets singing, the wind in the trees, the ocean, probably most of nature. And curiosity about what is going to happen next!

Kristen, thank you again for allowing us to feature you here on the blog. And, thank you, faithful readers for being with us today. Check out Kristen’s book, “Outside Myself” here.

We hope you have enjoyed today’s post, and we would love it if you would leave us a comment below. Be sure and come back every second and fourth Thursdays for more encouragement along this journey. Until next time, be blessed.

On Apps and Babysitting

Hi, there. Welcome to the blog. Anita here with you today, and we’re going to talk about using apps to help in everyday life.

This week's blog might be short. My 22-month-old cousin, Alex, just climbed up on my lap to help me write it, and he even touched the braille as if he was reading. :) I will be babysitting him and his four-year-old brother, Drake, tomorrow while their parents work.

This makes me think of school and how all of my students have a toolbox of technology and adaptive devices. I, too, have a toolbox of apps on my iPhone. For example, I use Seeing AI and Cam Find both for identifying various items. I like Blind Square and Ariadne for my GPS apps. BARD Mobile, IBooks, and Kindle are all great for reading. And, when I asked Drake what to write about just now, he said, "It's raining today, and so we can't play outside in the sun.”

While it may be raining now (which Drake thinks of as today), it was sunny most all day. And, this reminds me I also have Weather Office and Deep Weather in my app tool box.

For recording, I use the camera app, and another great app called HT Recorder. Neither app is blind-specific. What I really like about HT recorder, though, is that it produces good sound quality, and I can record in different environments. I am always taking pictures of my cat, cousins, and such and sharing on Facebook with my friends, many of whom are family. But, I, too, want a way to remember happy times from the past, and pictures don't do that for me.

So let's take a brief tour of HT recorder since you, too, could use it to record family occasions and the like. Remember, it is polite to always ask before you record other people, and to respect the answer you receive. I like to get lifetime permission because sometimes I record people when they know it, but some of the best recordings are made when people forget they are on stage, so to speak. I also ask before sharing with social media. Many times, I just use the recordings for myself. One more thing to remember, before we begin, I am specifically talking about using this app with Voiceover on an iPhone.

HT recorder has a library where recordings are stored and where they can be shared. To reach it after launching the app, touch the bottom right edge of your iPhone screen and swipe to the left until you reach it. Then, double tap. Now, if you touch the top, right corner of the screen, you will hear the filename. This initially is a date and time of some sort. Swipe right to get to the share button. The compress, move, and folder buttons follow the share button. If you continue flicking right, you will reach the list of your recordings, and several other choices. Or, instead of flicking right, slide your finger straight down, and you should land on the "Show all Recordings..." button or words to that effect. Now, just flick right to reach your recordings.

If you decide to share a file, you can choose email, the one I use most often, or iTunes or Dropbox and maybe a couple more choices.

When you are in the library, the play button is now at the very bottom right of the screen. If you touch this and flick left, you will eventually reach a rename button, which is cool because it makes it easier to remember a special occasion if you name it something that summarizes the occasion.

If you keep flicking left past the rename button and beyond, you will reach the current audio mode. Doubletapping this choice will change your modes from conference room to auditorium, to music, to very close. These choices work differently in different environments, but I prefer conference room for recordings I make in my living room and auditorium for recordings I make during school performances or for church services. Note that sometimes during doubletapping to change modes, you might land off this button. So just touch the bottom right of the screen and flick left until you get to it again. Also if you continue flicking left past it, you will eventually reach a new button. I am not sure why there are two of them, but if you doubletap the button, you will begin making a new recording.

Note that thenow HT recorder acts like a phone, and so to hear VoiceOver, you have to hold it close to your ear, one of the few negatives of HT Recorder. After you press stop recording, VoiceOver will once again sound through the external speaker. There is also a play button so you can listen to your recording. Remember that if you press record, you are adding to the recording you have already created. To make a new recording, you must press new. If you do not select library, you see many of the same choices, but not your filenames. 

This app has more advanced features, such as editing your recording, but I won't get into those tonight, partially because I have to walk through the steps in the app as I teach you about them and partially because Drake is supposed to be going to sleep here in our living room campsite, but so far he has not. :)

I hope you give HT recorder a try, should you decide to play around with audio recording on your iPhone. Note that this app may also work on other iDevices, but as I only have an iPhone, I am referencing it. You can always check in the app store as it should tell you what devices and software versions and how much space a given app takes.

Thank you for joining us today. We hope you are having a fantastic summer. If you enjoyed this post or have a question, post a comment below. We would love to hear from you.

In two weeks, we will be back with another edition of Interviews to Empower, so mark your calendars for Thursday, July 26. You won’t want to miss it.

Until next time, stay cool and don’t be afraid to try something new.

Blessings.

Interviews to Empower Presents: Chris Westbrook

Hello and welcome! We are so glad you could join us today for another edition of Interviews to Empower where we all get to meet everyday folks, living everyday lives while blind or visually impaired. Our guest is one who will inspire you, so without further adue, allow me to introduce Chris Westbrook.

Q: Tell us a little about your self.

A: I am 34, and live in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. I am a computer programmer for an advertising agency. I am a christian and am very involved in my local church. I also enjoy playing violin and sometimes saxophone. In addition to my blindness, I have a hearing impairment so I wear two hearing aids. I also use a quad cane because one of my legs is weaker than the other one due to a herniated disk in my neck that developed later in life. Despite these challenges, I am still able to live independently and live a fulfilling life. I live by myself and have a lot of good friends. I like helping others, so I hope answering these questions will help someone.

Q: What is your eye condition, and how much vision do you have?

A: I was born premature and suffer from a detached retina as a result. I have no vision, not even light perception. I have been that way since birth. The hearing loss came on early as well due to some of the medicines I was given. I have worn hearing aids ever since I can remember.

Q: What blindness specific training have you had, and do you feel it has been beneficial for you?

A: I was pretty fortunate growing up that I had good parents who were able to incorporate daily living skills into normal life growing up for the most part. I did attend a local training center in Pittsburgh for a few weeks one summer that was modestly helpful, though it probably would have been more helpful if I had applied myself a bit better. I think any blind adult/adolescent should be able to take care of themselves and present with reasonably good appearance barring some other major special needs, and I am fortunate that my parents taught me to do this, even if I didn't always listen at the time. :)

Q: What about educational experiences?

A: I attended public school, though in the early years of my education I was in a special resource room for most of the day learning Braille, etc., which I think was helpful though I don't know if that is done much these days. Learning Braille has been extremely important to me. after high school, I attended a college hear in Williamsport for two years and then transferred to Juniata, where I received a bachelors degree in information technology.

Q: How do you compensate for your disabilities when it comes to hobbies?

A: I play violin. Even as an adult I still take lessons. I record either the lessons themselves or pieces my teacher will play for me on my iphone and then listen to them and learn by ear through the week. Sometimes the teacher will take my hands and show me things he wants me to work on like positionning, etc., but I don't think this is much different than a sighted person. Same goes for the saxophone, although I am not taking lessons with that anymore. I am involved in my church with youth ministry. If i am teaching a lesson, I write the bible verses I am going to use ahead of time in my iphone and then read them with a braille display as I am teaching. I also enjoy reading both with synthetic speech and with my braille display depending on what mood I am in and what I am reading.

Q: What kind of work do you do? What accommodations do you need for your job?

A: As I have said, I am a computer programmer for an advertising agency. I also write reports and deal with our employees if they have issues with our system. I can do most things independently except for designing the visual layouts of screens and sometimes reading screenshots people send me with error messages. Generally the accommodations I need are pretty trivial, and they can just be handled by other colleagues.

Q: Are you a member of any blindness specific organizations? Why or why not?

A: I am a member of the National Federation of the Blind. Though I am not particularly active because we do not have a local chapter around here, I do go to state conventions. I think it is important to associate with other blind people so you can help others and learn from others how they get along in the world and so you can advocate for things that need done to make our lives livable in this modern world. I also think it is essential that we have sighted friends and participate in the sighted world around us

Q: Could you share with us your most embarrassing Blindness experience or your most meaningful blindness moment?

A: I think looking back my most meaningful moment/time period was when I was able to get my own place and start living independently when I knew I could really live on my own.

Q: Do you have any advice for our readers?

A: Learn all the blindness skills you can. Learn Braille. Be kind to others. Fairly compensate those who help you, and allow others to help you at times even if you can do it yourself just to make things easier. Try not to become too dependent on any one person. That can lead to unhealthy situations. Above all, be thankful and be generous to others.

Thank you so much, Chris for chatting with us today. And, thank you, dear readers for being here. If you would wish to contact Chris, he has generously provided his email adress. It is westbchris@gmail.com. He says “I would love to hear from parents and/or students with questions, or other blind adults for that matter. I am concerned that younger blind students are not being allowed to be independent and do things for themselves, and I hope my answers here will allow others to see that they can live independent lives. Thank you for the opportunity, and I look forward to hearing from your readers.”

There you have it. :) We hope this interview has empowered you in some way. We would love to hear from you, as well. You can either drop us a comment or send an email to adkinsandwells@gmail.com. Be sure and come back each 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month in order to catch all our posts.

Until next time, be blessed and enjoy your summer!

Money, Money, Money

Hello and welcome! :) How is your spring so far? Anita here with you this time, and we’re going to talk about money and safe ways of using it as a person who is blind or visually impaired.

Recently, I had to suggest to one of my students that it isn't a good idea to announce in public that one has money in one's possession. As adults, most of us know that. But, as blind people, how often are we tempted to ask a stranger to help us with money identification? And, I also think about how using low vision or a money identifier in public to do this task is just the same as loudly saying we have money.  This tempts the less trustworthy of the general public to snatch it.

Summer is upon us, and I know I will be out and about. Fortunately for me, I do not often carry cash. When I do have it, however, I make sure to carry small bills. If I only have fives, then I don't have to worry about accidentally handing someone a 20 when I intended a five.

If you do decide to carry various denominations, then using a consistent money folding system is essential. I fold my 20s in half lengthwise, my tens in half widthwise and then half that, my fives in half, and leave my ones straight. Then, I can reach into my purse or wallet and pull out the right amount without pulling all of my money out. It is hidden inside, and I am also less likely to lose it. When the cashier hands me my change, I make sure I verify how she gives me the money. For instance, I'll place my hand on the top bill and say "This is the five, right?”

Usually change is given with the largest denomination on the bottom, but you can't always count on it. Don't rush; taking your time means you are less likely to lose your money. The person in line behind you will most likely be a patient person, and if not, they needs to learn patience anyhow.

I prefer to use my bank card for most purchases. I'm not fond of signing on the screens, and so I choose to accept the debit option, which requires me to punch in my pin number. Have you noticed that most of these number pads have a raised dot on the number 5 key? Remember as you type in your pin, hold your other hand over the one that is punching in the code so people can't see what you are pushing. However you pay, be the one in control of your money. It may be easier to accept help in identifying your money or punching in your code when in public, but doing so may result in your money being stolen from you.

Many ATM's have a talking feature, and a voice guides you through your transaction. The machine has a headphone jack so only you hear the speech. Also, the machines I've used have an option to darken the screen, which I always select. If you haven't used them before, ask a trusted family member or friend to go with you to show you how they work. Often, braille and tactile symbols are present to assist in your orienting yourself to the machine, and so be on the lookout for them. Until you are familiar with the process, listen to the audio guide and take your time. Using a talking ATM machine is similar to using the automated system on a phone in that it tells you which button to press for a given option. But unfortunately, my phone has never spit out any cash for me, smiley.

Speaking of using the phone, I also use it to pay bills and make purchases. A computer with Internet access can also be used for this. For example, I dial Penny Mack's toll-free number and use the automated system to pay my mortgage each month. I pay my Mom's insurance and a couple of other bills by having them automatically deducted from my checking account each month. And, I use the Internet to shop. Unfortunately, my EBay app on my cell phone is very accessible, and I shop there way too much. I have bought dolls I am collecting from my childhood, parts I needed for my Roomba vacuum cleaner, and more. I have even bought groceries from them. A friend uses amazon.com to purchase her groceries. These companies ship your purchases to your home. Remember, never give out your personal information over the phone, Internet,  or through email, unless you are the one who decides the company is legitimate. Companies will never contact you for personal information, such as your bank account number or social security number. Yes, I had to fill in bank and some personal information for EBay and Amazon, but I knew who I was giving the information to. Also, I will never respond to them if they request information from me, even if they tell me I am owed money or have won a prize. Doing so is not wise because a scammer is the one behind the request.

Be very cautious when handling your money and your personal information. And, enjoy your shopping!

Thank you for being with us today. We hope we have been a help to you. Drop us a comment below or send us an email at adkinsandwells@gmail.com, and let us know how we’re doing.

In just two weeks we will be posting another Interview to Empower, and you won’t want to miss it, so mark your calendars for May 24. Until then, get outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Blessings.

Interviews to Empower Presents: Joy

Welcome to another edition of Interviews to Empower where we feature folks whom we believe will inspire you to keep on keeping on. This month we are trying something different. We have asked our interviewee to tell her story in her own words. So without further adue, let me introduce you to Joy.

Hi. My name is Joy. I have 2 kids who are grown and 2 wonderful grandbabies. I am a cook at a local restaurant, and I have two cousins who are blind. I was asked to talk about what it’s like having cousins who can’t see, so I will try my best.

I was 8 or 9 when my cousin J was born and about 10 when his sister A was born. They were just babies when my family noticed something was wrong. When my mom told me they were blind I was sad, because I wanted them to be able to enjoy the world like I do. I was afraid they wouldn’t be able to.

My mom, stepdad and I lived with my aunt V and my cousins, because my mom took care of Aunt V before her babies were born. Then, when we found out the babies were blind, Aunt V needed us even more.

We lived in a very rural part of West Virginia and didn’t know if there were opportunities for kids who were blind. So when Aunt V decided her kids needed to go to the school for the blind, we all move to Romney, WV. I was upset, because I didn’t want to leave my family and friends. But, Mom said we had to do what was best for J and A and Aunt V. Today, as I look back I am so glad we moved up here and gave my cousins the chance to learn.

As I was 10 years older than my cousin, A, I was the one who did a lot of babysitting. I guess you could say we all grew up together. But, when it came to having a social life, I sure did get annoyed. Playing hide-and-go-seek with the kids when my boyfriends came over, J answering the phone and telling stuff about me to my boyfriends, yeah, having cousins who are blind sure did interfere with my social life. But, you know, it would have been that way even if they had perfect vision. They were just normal kids.

I am embarrassed to admit this, but when my daughter was born I was scared to let my cousins hold her at first. I was afraid something would go wrong with them not being able to see. But, unknown to me, Mom would let them hold and feed her behind my back. I have pictures of them holding my babies, so I guess I got over that fear. It was just something all new moms go through, I reckon. Today, A babysits my grandbabies when I need help, and nobody could take better care of them than she. Not only that, J is married with 2 little boys of his own.

I always treated my cousins like everyone else. The fact that they couldn’t see, while sad was not the end of the world. After all, my grandpa was blind, I had a great grandmother who was blind and a few other relatives with vision problems. I knew even as a teenager, the ability to see or not didn’t make a person more or less special. Which reminds me of those times when I was lazy and didn’t want to walk J and A all the way to the blind school across town. I would try to talk them into skipping school. J was all for it, but A made me walk her to school. LOL I guess that’s why A graduated at the top of her class.

The hardest thing about taking care of my cousins was worrying about whether they would run into things. Aunt V was always moving furniture around, but my mom rarely did that. Then, once she did move furniture around, and J came in and tried to sit down in a chair. Turns out there was a table in that spot, so he sat right down on the table instead. LOL Now whenever I visit A, I never know where her furniture is going to be, because she likes to change things around. I guess all kids grow up to be like their moms, no matter what.

The funnest part of growing up with my cousins was just being with them. I took them wherever I went. When my own kids were young, A taught them braille, and it made me so proud they could learn something so neat. A person never knows if they will need to learn it. I mean, what if they went blind later in life? I tried to learn, but it took several hours just to learn how to write my name that I gave it up. I probably grew up faster, taking care of my cousins and aunt the way I did, but I wouldn’t trade those times for anything.

If I could give advice to someone facing blindness in the family, I guess I would say make sure they go to a blind school or get blindness skills training so that they can live as normal a life as possible. Also, remember to encourage them that they can do anything they set their mind to.

Joy, thank you for your story and your honesty. And, thank you, faithful readers for being with us today. If you or someone you know has an inspiring story, let us know at adkinsandwells@gmail.com.

That concludes our post for today, but we’ll be back the second Thursday of May, so be sure and come join us. Until then, remember to take hold of life and face it with a grin.

Blessings.

An Update and Some Thoughts on Preparing for a Job

Hello, everyone. I hope this first, full month of  spring finds you well. Anita here with you today, and Spring has been a rather snowy and busy one here in WV. Goalball season has recently ended, and gives me a small break. Spring break has also allowed me a chance to rejuvenate for school, but I have been very busy at home.

My Mom, who lives in a nearby nursing home, came to spend the weekend with me. We played cards and fried potatoes. Ruth Ann, my cousin, stopped in to visit us as well. Then, Joy, my cousin came over to spend the night. Then, I went to her house to spend the night. While there I Took advantage of her WiFi and updated my iPhone. I  put Word Pro on my new MacBook, but at the moment, it is about to be thrown out the window. I couldn’t figure out how to save an article I wrote, though I did eventually succeed. So my brain is foggy just now.

During my break, my friend, Nancy, and I spent a day shopping at the mall. My bank account is way lower, but I have a couple of new bowls and a new kitchen gadget to play with. It is a rice cooker. I found a pasta rice cooker that is useful for all kinds of things a few months back, and I wanted another one. It is so frustrating when something I like disappears from the shelves at Walmart.

Anyhow, the point here is that I’ve been busy. Generally, I like to cook on vacation, but I haven’t had a lot of time for that. Currently, I have a hash brown casserole in the crockpot. When I was preparing it, I decided to add in bacon bits. I found a little bag that felt like the bacon bits. After opening it, I realized it was nuts. I had used Seeing AI, an app on my iPhone designed to tell me barcodes and read text, and while it couldn’t find the barcode, it did read something about almonds. I didn’t believe it because I don’t remember buying any almonds. I should have listened to it though because almonds they were. LOL

This blog post is really me ranting to you. I just wrote an article about "DUCKING INTO UEB", the book S. J. Wells and I wrote. In the article, I mentioned how I wanted to get a job like my sighted family members way back in the ’90’s. As blind people, obtaining a job is more difficult. It is important that we have the skills, training, and opportunity to do the job. Also, accessibility needs are important. Yes, the law requires that reasonable accommodations be made for us. But what does reasonable mean? And, it is a sighted world. A sighted person could apply for and potentially acquire a job in the local area easily enough, though it may be a minimum wage position. But a person who is blind requires accessibility to be included with the package.

I remember years ago in Parkersburg when I wanted to work at a call center. The software at the time was not accessible for screenreaders. Maybe nowadays, I could tackle the challenge of insuring such accommodations were met, but back then, I did not possess the knowledge or bravery. And, I’m glad I didn’t because working at a call center is not where I feel the Lord wants me to be. Still, I sometimes feel that a realistic job option be a consideration. What would I do if I was suddenly rifted from my current position as others have been? What skills and training would I need to acquire employment? Could I still live here in the town I consider as my home? Truth is that most people must relocate in order to be employed. But could their possibly be virtual jobs in the education field for me? Or, are there other career options I haven’t explored? I do not plan to leave my current position in the near future. But where will I be in ten years or so? If I want to make a career move, I need to plan now so I can be properly trained for the transition. And, if I decide to stay in this position forever, educating myself about other careers and even completing some of the training will not be a waste of my time. 

Part of my reason for bringing up this topic on this blog is because on one of my facebook lists, someone wanted to know what jobs are out there for blind people. There are not specific jobs for blind people. There are jobs in the field of blindness. There are companies that focus on hiring blind people, such as Industries for the Blind. But a person who is blind should really focus on their strengths and weakness and job interests. Filling out a job inventory is a great first step. Getting in touch with blind people in an interested field is also important, though not required. 

The ACB, www.acb.org and NFB, www.nfb.org both offer mentorship programs to people who are blind and visually impaired. AFB, www.afb.org also has Career Connect, a program that matches one with someone who has a job in the interested field. Finally, determining the accommodations is key. And, while the employer is required to make the reasonable accommodations, any accommodations we can make on our behalf will help to make us more successful candidates. Blindness skills training and training required for the specific career are also appropriate steps. Have fun searching! In the mean time, here is a link that will allow you to search virtual jobs. The site also allows you to search for jobs that require your physical presence. https://www.indeed.com/q-Virtual-jobs.html

That's it for today, but be sure and come back in 2 weeks for another edition of Interviews to Empower. Until then, be safe and remember to laugh often.

Interviews to Empower Presents: Heather McComas

Hello, and welcome to another edition of Interviews to Empower where we hope to inspire you by introducing you to everyday people doing everyday things with or without sight. This month’s interviewee is a long time friend who doesn’t know the word “can’t”. Come along and Meet Heather McComas.

Q: So Heather, tell us a little about yourself and how you became blind.

A: Well, I have a real hard time describing who I am. Many people tell me that I am pretty amazing and all of that, but I feel as if I am just an average person trying to live their life as simple and drama free as I possibly can. These days it is not that easy, but I stick to my little corner of the world and keep my nose on my own face. I am someone who would do anything for my friends and family. I will also do my very best to do for those who are  less fortunate  than myself. I became blind when I was about three-months-old. I was diagnosed with “Retina Blastoma.” Which is cancer of the eyes. I had a little vision in my left eye until I was about twelve-years-old and then went totally blind.

Q: Did you go to public school or the school for the blind?

A: I went to public school for a very short time during my kindergarten year, but my teacher and parents made the decision to send me to the school for the blind.

Q: What types of extra curricular activities were you involved in at WVSB?

A: Does reading count? :-) I did do a lot of that. I was in band, chorus, student counsel, Girl Scouts and on the goal ball team my junior and senior years.

Q: Did you go to college and are you working today?

A: Yes I did go to college. I got my Associates Degree in Information Technology and in 2016 I finally completed my Bachelor’s Degree. It really didn’t end the way I really wanted it to, but I do have a degree. I am hoping to get over my fear of rejection and move on to my Master’s Degree. I am working now; I work at Heritage Farm and Museum in Huntington, WV. I am what you would call a “In House Artisan.” I weave baskets and educate our visitors on the history of baskets and blindness. I sometimes find it hard to tell people that I sit and weave all day. Though, I am very thankful for this opportunity and I love where I am working.

Q: We know you do a lot of volunteer work, can you tell us a little more about that?

A: I volunteer every now and then for the VA here in Huntington. I had the opportunity to teach a couple of our veterans how to read basic braille so that they could read the labels on the buttons of the elevators. I was on the Board for Cabell-Wayne Association of the Blind for ten years; the last four I was President. I help teach basket classes to the consumers of CWAB.

Q: How did you get into weaving baskets and starting your own business?

A: It all started out being a girls night out for my sister, mom and myself. We would go to a basket class that was taught by my sister’s exmother-in-law. I was very nervous and was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to do it, but I took right off; if I remember correctly. I was so happy to  find something to do. I was not involved in anything and  it was nice to have something to keep my fingers busy. The business part is still to this day a mistery to me! I would make baskets for my professors, notetakers, and advisors at Marshall University, and then people would ask me how much a basket was. My dad gave it its name “Three Blind Mice.” I do not make enough to live on from selling my baskets. I barely make enough to pay for the materials. Since I have started (1999) to today, the price of the materials has more than doubled. Also, I am more than generous when it comes to pricing them. I hate feeling like I am ripping someone off. Would I like to make a supplemental living off of my baskets, yes.

Q: What advice would you give students just graduating who are blind or visually impaired?

A: I would tell them to believe in the words, “I can” rather than the words, “I cannot.” There will be road blocks and there will be those who do not see past the visual impairement, but be strong and be willing to put forth the extra effort it will take to prove you are more than capable to achieve your college degree or to land that job you applied for.

Q: When times get tough, what inspires you to keep on keeping on.

A: Keeping a positive attitude. No, it is not easy at times, but me being blind is not going to change, so why should I sit around feeling sorry for myself?

Heather, thank you so much for allowing us to interview you. You are an inspiration just by being yourself, and your baskets are beautiful.

And, a huge thank you to you, our faithful readres for being with us today. If you would like to see pictures of Heather’s baskets, you can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/heatheremccomas?hc_ref=ARRTKrrLIk_EQg-OcZbSjT8__JjSjE4UUiucl-0mZu14WhUE9ZK_3tpcYrGubfQ6qHg

To learn more about the Cabell Wayne Association of the Blind, CWAB, check out their website at www.cabellwayne.org

That’s it for today, but be sure and come back on the 2nd Thursday of April. We don’t know what we’ll be talking about, but we will be here, and we’ll have something to say. :) Until then, drop us a comment below or send us an email at adkinsandwells@gmail.com

Blessings.