Interviews to Empower Presents Kerri Kosten

Welcome to Interviews to Empower! We’re so glad you came to be with us this week. Our interviewee this time is an inspiring individual who is totally blind, partially deaf and yet does not allow her fears and anxieties to dictate her day-to-day life. Come and meet Kerri Kosten, a sports writer who is blind.

Q: What caused your blindness?

A: I was born prematurely, so I have Retinopathy Of Prematurity.

Q: What about your partial deafness?

A: When I was very young, I became ill. My parents thought and were told it was the flu. However, it was Meningitis, and the high fever that I had left me partially deaf. I only have hearing in my left ear.

Q: I imagine that makes travel difficult, as people who are blind rely on their hearing a great deal. Can you tell us about that?

A: Yes. When I was at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, I was taught to mental map. Basically, I learn directions before I go and remember them so I can map my way back home. This was not taught to me until I received O&M at LCB. Also, I learned to call ahead to ask for bus fare, directions, availability of cabs and such. It is much safer to travel using transportation such as buses, cabs and even Uber, rather than walking, as I do not have to cross as many streets. Another thing to keep in mind is to ask for assistance often.

Q: Speaking of cane travel, when did you learn blindness skills?

A: I learned braille when I was four years old. Today, I can read about 200 words per minute. I didn’t learn good cane skills until I went to LCB.

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

A: Both. I attended public school until fifth grade, then went to the WV School for the Blind for a few years. I actually graduated from University High in Morgantown, WV. As a younger student, I liked going to the blind school in Romney, WV. However, when I got older, the city girl in me missed the city. LOL

Q: So, what got you into the world of sports writing?

A: When I was fifteen, I listened to a basketball game on the radio. It was my first game, and I found I loved the energy of the game and announcers. After that, my passion for It grew. I was like a kid in a candy store, and I knew I wanted to do something in sports; I just didn’t know what. As far as writing, I didn’t like it, at first. However, I knew that as a blind person, writing about sports was something I needed to concentrate on. So, I majored in journalism at WVU. Then, I wrote for 1440 WAJR on their website. It was a volunteer position, but it taught me so much. I really enjoy putting stuff about sports into words, and I like that a person can do this job whether they can see or not.

Q: Are you still writing for WAJR?

A: No. Today, I write for The Dominion Post here in Morgantown. I research athletes who do not choose to go to WVU, then interview them. I really enjoy this job. It has helped me to get out of my comfort zone. At first, I was very nervous about talking to people I didn’t know. But, now I am more confident and comfortable when interviewing people. I feel that because of this job, I am more mature and patient. I wish all people who are blind could get this opportunity.

Q: You mentioned going to the Louisiana Center for the Blind. What types of classes did you take there?

A: Wow, I did so much, I could go on talking forever. :) It is a nine month program, so I was there from April of 2012 to January of 2013. I took cane travel, shop, computers, cooking, home maintenance, home management and braille.

Q: Wow, talk about a busy schedule. First, because we don’t often hear of blind people taking shop, tell me some of the things you learned in that class.

A: I learned how to use a lot of different tools including a drill press and a ban saw. My final project in that class was to make a set of braille blocks.

Q: How about home management and home maintenance?

A: In home maintenance we were taught things like how to clean, how to take off a door knob and put it back on, how to use a screw driver, how to turn a breaker box on and off, how to shut the water off at the valve of the toilet, how to unplug a toilet, and how to find something that may have fallen down a sink drain.

In home management we were taught how to cook. We made brownies from scratch, homemade pasta, fried chicken in a fry daddy, stir fry in a wok, homemade bread, hand cranked our ice cream, made waffles in a waffle iron…just everything. LOL At the end of the program, I had to make a meal for eight and another meal for forty. I had to write invitations on a slate and stylus, give out invitations, shop for food, cook food and serve the food like a waitress would. My meal for eight was chicken baked in the oven with Italian dressing, peas, green beans, baked potato and salad. For dessert I made a dump cake. My meal for forty was pasta with garlic and herb sauce.

Q: Let’s talk about cane travel and some of the trips you took.

A: Well, we certainly got out and about. We went to a Louisiana Tech game. Then, a friend and I went to Oklahoma to watch the Sooners against the Baylor Bears. We had to plan our trip and figure out bus fare and everything. It was an amazing trip, and both my friend and I are blind. No one sighted went with us. Other activities at LCB were rock climbing, horseback riding, zip lining, trips to the movies, the peach festival and shopping. My last trip was a solo trip from Ruston to Monroe. I went shopping at the mall in Monroe.

Q: What advice would you give to someone new to sight loss?

A: Never give up. Blindness is not the end of the world. Get good blindness training. You can still do all the things you used to, just in a different way.

Q: What would you say to a student who is blind who is just graduating high school?

A: Try to meet as many people as you can. Learn to network. Don’t give up. Get involved with those things you are interested in. Don’t allow anyone to tell you “you can’t”.

Q: Is there someone you look up to?

A: Yes. My O&M instructor at LCB. His name was Roland Allen, and he paved the way for blind O&M instructors. He believed I could do anything, and therefore, I believe I can do anything.

Kerri, thank you so much for allowing us to interview you. Just talking with you inspires me.

To read Kerri’s pieces, you can find them in The Dominion Post www.dominionpost.com

Thank you, faithful readers for being with us today. We apologize that this post is late. But, we will be back on Nov. 9 with more inspiration, so come back and be with us. Want to see us on Facebook? We can be found at facebook.com/adkinsandwells.

Blessings.

The Long White Cane

Just about every sighted person has seen one, either on the streets of their hometown, while traveling in a big city or on television. Most folks know without being told that it is a cane used by people who are blind or visually impaired. Some speculate that it will grow out of use before too long, taken over by guide dogs or guide ponies. Some people who are blind think that by using a long white cane they are presenting themselves as disabled. Others embrace it as the tool it is and are even proud of it. But, where did it come from? Why do blind people use it? Why is it still as effective as it was nearly a century ago? Hi, there. S.J. Wells here with you today, and since White Cane Safety, AKA White Cane Awareness Day is October 15, I thought I’d share some of the interesting facts about the long white cane with you, our faithful readers.

History tells us that blind people used all kinds of sticks, shepherd’s staffs and canes to detect objects in front of them. However, the mobility cane we know today didn’t come about until around the time of World War I. A man named James Biggs from Bristol was said to have created a version of the long white cane in 1921 after an accident took his sight. Feeling threatened by a growing population of motorists, he painted his walking stick white so it would be more visible to drivers. Ten years later in February, 1931, Guilly D’Herbemont launched a scheme for a national white stick movement for blind people in France. It wasn’t long until the folks in England got wind of it, and soon they were launching a campaign that basically said persons who carried long white canes would be recognized as having visual impairments.

Meanwhile, in North America, a member of the Lion’s Club saw a blind man walking across the street using a black cane. The Lion’s Club member painted the man’s walking stick white in order to make him more visible. In 1931, the Lion’s Club International began a national program, promoting the use of white canes for persons who are blind. During that time, most folks who used a cane, held it in a fixed, diagonal position in front of them, and it worked primarily to alert sighted folks that he or she was blind. However, when blinded veterans returned from World War II, things changed for the better, as these men were not content to stay home and be cared for. They wanted to rejoin the work force and began using their canes to get around, rather than just carrying them.

In 1964, a joint resolution of the Congress HR 753, was signed into law authorizing the President of the United States  of America to proclaim October 15 of every year to be White Cane Safety Day. President Lyndon B. Johnson was the first to proclaim the October 15 as White Cane Safety Day. No longer was the long white cane just a symbol of a person who is blind but a tool to assist them to live as independently as they so wished.

Once made of wood, canes are now made of several materials ranging from aluminum, graphite, fiberglass and sometimes a mix in between. Whether they are rigid or folding, folks now can order them in other colors rather than white. Some patterns of color symbolize a difference between blind and blindness with a hearing impairment. Whatever the material, whatever the color, the cane does not define the one using it. Rather, the person defines the cane. As a chef uses his/her favorite knives to slice and dice, just as a car mechanic prefers the tools in his/her own tool box to get the job done, just as a minister uses his/her favorite version of the Bible and reference books to get the message out to the congregation, so a person who is blind uses his/her cane to navigate the world around them.

If you or someone you know needs a white cane, the National Federation of the Blind has a form on their website that you can fill out and get one for free. Just go to nfb.org,  and you’ll find it. If you want more information than I’ve provided here about the long white cane, be assured that Google is speech friendly, so go on your own internet search. If you’re not sure on how to use your cane, the NFB also has articles explaining how. Don’t be afraid to try new things or to ask for help. People who are blind and familiar with the cane will be more than happy to share their knowledge.

So, this coming Sunday, October 15, remember the long white cane, and use yours to show the world that, like those veterans returning home from war without their sight, you aren’t going to sit back and let others do for you anymore; you’re a force to be reckoned with.

Thank you for being with us today. We hope you’ll come back on October 26, as we have an interview to inspire your socks off. Ever heard of a blind woman who writes about sports? Well, you have now. Mark your calendars and be sure to come back in two weeks. Also, don’t forget, we’re on Facebook at facebook.com/adkinsandwells/

God bless.

Interviews to Empower Presents Robin Ayers

Hello and welcome to another edition of Interviews to Empower. We’re so glad you are with us today. This month’s interviewee worked at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind for thirty years. Her advice is applicable whether you have a disability or not, and her experiences will give you a smile and encourage you to keep going. Come with us as we introduce to you, Mrs. Robin Ayers.

Q: What made you decide to work with students who are blind or visually impaired?

A: A position came open, and I was the only one on campus who could fill it. I was asked/talked into taking it.

Q: Some folks give strange looks when we say “Home EC”. Did they call it that when you were the teacher?

A: By the time I took the position in 2000, the name had changed to Family and Consumer Sciences.

Q: What changes did you notice over the years in what types of things you taught?

A: The basics of clothing construction and meal prep became less the focus as more emphasis was placed on nutrition, family management, and careers. Essentially, the focus seemed to shift from teaching mostly in-home tasks to including more outside the home needs. 

Q: What were some of the challenges of teaching children who could not see like you?

A: 1. Remembering to walk in each student's shoes to determine his/her needs and how to teach them

2. Placing enough labels in Braille around the classroom

3. Giving directions more accurately. For example, telling someone that something is to "the right of the doorway" rather than "over there" 

Q: What were some high points during your time at the school for the blind?

A: Omigoodness. Senior dinners prepared by the kids for their selected guests, Preparation for the Superintendent's Tea/Open House, which started in November, successful meals prepared and served by ProStart students, a totally blind student learning to use a paring knife safely, another student trying to bake his pizza upside down on the oven rack, construction of individual pillows sewn by hand, production of nutritious goodies to stock the school store

Q: What advice would you give to new teachers of the visually impaired just coming out of college?

A: Get to know your students well. Craft your lessons meet their individual needs as much as possible. Focus on what the CAN do rather than what they CANT do, and focus on those strengths.

Q: What advice would you give to parents or caregivers of children who are blind concerning home economics or daily living skills?

A: They should be expected to take care of their own needs just like any other kid. Just adapt the environment so it makes that possible. This old thing of "if she just sits in the chair all day and behaves herself is all that's expected" is bullhockey! Parents doing everything for the child just doesn't cut it. Those parents will not likely be around forever and that child, who is then an adult, better be able to fend for himself! One of my biggest fears was that some situation would occur where the parents couldn't get to the kid, like a flood or snowstorm, and the child would just sit there and starve to death!

Q: Finally, what advice would you give to students today?

A: Learn to do as much as possible for yourself. People aren't always going to be around to help you. 

Robin, thank you so much for allowing us to interview you. We truly enjoyed reading your answers. And, thank you, faithful readers for being with us today. Remember, we’re still on Facebook, so come over to facebook.com/adkinsandwells/ and join the discussion.

Note: Beginning today, Sept. 28, 2017, we will no longer be posting once a week. Instead, we will be posting entries on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month. If you have a question you would like us to address, contact us via the blog or send an email to adkinsandwells@gmail.com and put “question” in the subject line. If you know of an individual that you would like us to interview, someone who will encourage those of us who are blind or visually impaired, let us know. As always, be encouraged to try new things and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Have a fantastic weekend, and we’ll see you back here on Oct. 12.

Blessings.

Be an Overcomer

Hello. Anita here, and this week we’re going to talk about challenges and overcoming them.

Recently, I have become a new foster mom. It has been a challenging and rewarding experience. I have learned that being a mom involves way more than just watching the child. I have already made so many phone calls and accompanied the child to an appointment. Due to confidentiality, I will not share with you any details about the child in this blog. But, I do want to tell you about the key challenges and how I have overcome them as a blind person.

One challenge is dealing with the misconceptions about the capabilities of the blind. And, I will not share a lot about that on this blog for privacy reasons. But I will say that the social worker and my home finder have done an excellent job at holding high expectations for the blind. They have entrusted me to care for a very special child. They are not the ones who have presented this challenge. However, as a caregiver, I need and want to know their concerns. I told the social worker to feel free to ask me any questions. I am an educator, and I do want what is best for the child. One of their concerns was that the child tends to be active and run a lot. When the social worker expressed this to me, I explained that I had locks on my doors that can only be opened with a key. This assured her the child would be safe with me. I also talked with her about other ways I will keep the child safe, including using a bear that she wears like a backpack. It has a leash, which I put on my wrist. At church and other places out of my house, it will keep her from running away from me.

What they did not tell me was that the child takes a great deal of medication, and more importantly, that it requires two people to ensure she takes the medicine—one to administer it and the other to hold her hands so she does not grab the syringe or push away the person trying to give her the medicine. If they had told me this before I accepted her, I would have told them to find another placement for her because I live alone. Fortunately, my pastor, his fiancee, and my cousins are assisting me with this. The social worker is exploring other options, as well.

Even though this challenge is not related to blindness, I wanted to share it with you because it is important that, as blind people, we know our strengths and weaknesses. We need to know when to take on a challenge and when to say no. Really, this is the case, regardless of vision. Knowing who we are and our talents and strengths will enable us to be productive and will also enable us and others to stay safe. If we lack confidence or feel we are incapable, we should consult others in the blindness community for their input on how we can do a task we really want to do. It is probably possible, but blindness training may be necessary before we can accomplish it. Our other option is to teach ourselves, which I love to do. But, be sure safety factors are considered and adhered to before self-discovery occurs.

To give an example, my brother and I taught ourselves many years ago how to walk to a nearby college. One of us would wait at a point while the other walked further and explored. If someone were injured, the other person would be able to call for help. Also, this helped us to always find our way back to the apartment we lived in at the time. Experimenting with techniques and tricks we think of is a great way to conquer new skills. But, accepting our limitations is also important. Considering other factors that require a "no" answer to performing an activity is important, too. Here are some questions to help you determine if you should try an activity and conquer barriers related to your blindness.

1. Why do I want to do this activity? If the answer is to help others, because I would enjoy it,  or because it is necessary, then you should probably figure out a way to do it. If the answer is pride, you may still be able to conquer the challenge, but be careful. Pride alone should not impact your decision.

2. Do I have the skills to accomplish this goal? If not, then conduct some research to learn how and where you can get the necessary training. It might be a blindness training center, like the one at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland or the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Or, it might be a week-long visit to a blindness rehabilitation training center in your state. Or, maybe it is an online tutorial or a friend or family member that can give you some pointers and walk you through the steps of a given task. Most important, be informed and weigh your options so you can select the best one.

3. Finally, is fear keeping you from conquering the challenge? If so, then you will need to build confidence. Confidence is built in small steps. A training center can help with this, but, consistently doing things for yourself will be the most beneficial.

You might also think about how to start an activity. For example, before using the table saw, I asked my instructor to turn it off and unplug it. This way, I knew I could explore it without it turning on. After that, I felt more comfortable in using it because I had a mental picture  of what it looked like. Learning other prevention steps and safety techniques is also important. For example, I lacked confidence in frying foods. For safety, I asked a friend and some family members to be with me in the kitchen and to show me how much grease to pour in when frying potatoes. I received a little experience and built confidence with this in a training center, as well  and then more after practicing at home. I also found online safety tips.

So, what challenges are you facing? What are you going to do to overcome the ones that matter to you? Yes, with determination and the right tools and techniques, you can do it!!! Have fun trying!

Have any examples to share about overcoming challenges? Drop us a comment below. We’d love to hear your story.

Beginning in October, this blog will be changing to a twice a month blog, rather than once a week. With school starting back and with both of us busy with new projects this year, we want to concentrate our efforts on bringing you informative posts that will help and encourage. We feel the best way to do this is to post only twice a month. Until then, though, we’ll be right here, posting every Thursday.

And, speaking of every Thursday, be sure and come back next week for another edition of Interviews to Empower. We have an interview all ready for you. Until then, have a fantabulous weekend, and hop on over to facebook.com/adkinsandwells/ and “like” our page.

Blessings.

After the Convention and Some Other Stuff

Hello and welcome to the blog. Anita here with you this week, talking about independence, the WV NFB convention, some technology and anything else that pops out of my head. LOL Read on; we’re going to have fun.

I’m tired. But that's a good thing, because it helped me realize, taking a toddler bed to my basement by myself might not be a wise decision. Fortunately, I know when to forge on with endless determination and when to wait for someone to help me. I haven't always known that, and even now, I will still unwisely do things I really shouldn't. For example, while waiting at High Street, I take a chance and cross before I confirm a standstill has occurred. I'm not intentionally walking out in front of a moving vehicle, but at the same time, I'm taking a risk. I know when it is and isn't safe to cross a street, but when I'm in a hurry, the Lord continues to protect me, for which I'm thankful. But what I'm trying to say to you is that many times it is when we get in a hurry or tired of waiting for someone else that we tend to make errors. Still, my motto is: I am glad to accept assistance with this activity, but since no one is offering or available, I will conquer it on my own. I hate waiting on other people to do things for me, and I try not to rely on others for activities I can safely do on my own, if I can avoid it. I do ask for help when I need it and accept assistance on occasion in order to respect someone who is only trying to be kind. I will also accept it to open a door that will allow me to develop a relationship that will give me the opportunity to teach a lesson on blindness.

That might sound radical, but I just did return from the West Virginia State National Federation of the Blind convention after all. :) My favorite parts of the convention were seeing my friend, Shannon, meeting Peggy Hoy who is editing and assisting with putting “Ducking into UEB” on Create Space, and exploring the technology exhibits. I also enjoyed the reception and saying hello to acquaintances and friends.

I enjoy learning new skills, and I especially love playing with new technology. The newest version of the BrailleNote was on display, and I was given the chance to sit and play with it for a while. Because I heard it was an Android-based device, I arrived with the notion I didn't want it personally or professionally. But I have an open mind, which is a great thing. It feels like a BrailleNote Apex, but the keyboard lifts up to reveal a touch screen, which provides a visual display for instructors, and a fabulous touch keyboard for its blind users, like me. Surprisingly, this keyboard is quite accurate and I could braille fast with it. Don't worry; it still contains physical keys for those of us who still prefer that method, but the touch keyboard is quieter, and thus, means the romance  novel you are writing during a boring history class is less likely to disturb the other students. :) That reminds me of my Kutztown University teacher from many years ago saying, "Geography lives, amen." I don't remember his name, but I did think he was friendly. While he lectured, I wrote a story about two guys in Southern WV who were trying to solve a crime. He never noticed, or he never said so if he did. But I received a d in the class, and not a dime for that never-published story. To get back on topic, I loved the BrailleNote Touch, and I plan to share information about it with the school where I teach.

The goal of blindness organizations is to advocate for and conduct legislative work to benefit its members and also nonmembers who are blind. My least favorite part of the NFB convention was sitting in the general sessions. This is partly because the speakers are ones who are regular presenters and because I am not the right audience for the remaining presenters as they were geared toward people interested in attending blindness training centers. I am a strong advocate of these centers, but information in these speeches were not relevant to me. Some of the speakers also talked about the legislative process, and I am not as interested in that process as some, even though I know and value the work done by our organization since it has provided me with many freedoms I would otherwise not have. If you want more information about the National Federation of the Blind, visit their website, nfb.org.

I bring up this convention because I just attended it. Also, the American Council of the Blind convention is coming up soon. And, after reading about the activities, I am not sure I will attend. It will have a technology time also, but I will be at work during that time. I might join them for dinner that evening, but as I am about to foster a little girl, that decision to attend is not as likely as it would have been a couple of weeks ago. Still, I would like to go since it is right here in my hometown. I want to know more about how NFB and ACB are alike and different, and this would give me that opportunity. Both organizations benefit the blind, but they have some different views on things. I like to learn and to be informed, and so I may just stop in and see how the ACB impacts me.

If you are interested to learn more about the ACB Convention in WV, some info is provided below.

Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Mountain State Council of the Blind’s annual convention at the South Branch Inn, 64 Heritage Circle, Romney, WV 26757; phone (304) 822-2444

For questions about the convention or MSCB, please call (304) 933-9540, or email Donna Brown at dandmbrown@atlanticbb.net or president Kevin Maynus at president@mscbwv.org

Did you know Adkins and Wells is on Facebook? Yep, and we would love for you to come over and “like” our page. It can be found at facebook.com/adkinsandwells/

Thanks for being with us today. Drop us a comment or question below. We would love to hear from you. Until next time, have a blessed weekend.

Assistive Technology, Then and Now

Hello and happy Thursday. We’re so glad you could be with us today. Anita here with you this week, and I’m going to be talking about the importance of assistive technology and the ways it has changed over the years.

I can remember way back before the Internet was so accessible to me and I shopped only at a physical store. Many customer service personnel were friendly and helpful. I used to go to Walden Books. Someone would read the title, author, and a little description of the book for me. Or, I would go into an electronics store and get customer service to assist me in searching for what I hoped to acquire. Nowadays, I can do all of that on the Internet. Though  I still love to go into a physical store as it allows me to tactually examine items, I am so thankful I can independently browse items as a way of "window" shopping and especially to purchase an item.

Last Sunday, I turned 40. And, though I'm still quite young, a lot of communication styles have changed during my lifetime. When I was a kid, I learned to type on a manual typewriter. Soon, I was introduced to the electric typewriter. I like a typewriter better because the way it feels as keys are pressed during typing helps me to keep rhythm. In seventh grade, I began to learn how to use a DOS computer. Windows came out before I graduated, but it was not accessible to me at the school for the blind at that time, though kids with usable vision could use it. The first braille embosser I used felt equivalent to a braillewriter. One sheet of paper was inserted, and commands from the computer caused it to emboss. The user had to physically change the paper if more than one page of braille was to be embossed. Next, I used the Juliet embosser. We always joked around in school because Romeo, another embosser, was also in our computer lab.

To step a little out of the computer lab and into my classroom, I used a Perkins brailler, still in use today. I also used a talking calculator. Braille textbooks were also available for me. However, unlike students today, I did not have a notetaker until I was a senior, and even then, I did not take it from class to class with me. I did use the skills I learned on it to operate the Braille 'n Speak that was purchased for me to use in college. Eventually, after trying out a couple of different colleges and learning as I worked and played, today's technology began to become more popular. I learned to use Windows and mastered the use of several different screenreaders. I taught technology and other blindness skills at a blindness rehabilitation center. Finally, I graduated from Frostburg State University with a degree in Elementary Education. Now, I teach braille  and integrate the use of notetakers and refreshable braille displays into the lessons I teach my students. A lot has changed since I was a student, but I am thankful I had the opportunity To experience both worlds.

Questions or comments? Tell us below. We would love to hear from you.

Prayers for S.J. and I as we gear up for our presentation at the NFB Convention of WV on Saturday. We’re going to be talking about writing, teaching, books, homeschool, and much more. If you are in the area, come see us. The presentation starts at about 11:00 AM. We’ll be at the Holiday Inn and Suites 400 Second Avenue Charleston, WV in the Montgomery Room. The event is free, however, to attend the entire convention and have a room and meals, you will need to register, and there is a fee for that.

Thanks so much for being with us this week. We pray you have a blessed weekend and come back next Thursday.

On Trying New Things and an Upcoming Event

Hello and welcome. S.J. Wells here with you today. Last week I decided to try another platform for my author blog. Blogger is great, but there are a few things about it that don’t fit my needs. What I want is an actual website that I can update as I am able. So, what I have learned from the experience is what I’m going to share with you today.

Note: For those who use screen readers, I am using Voice Over on a MacBook. My internet program is Safari.

Remember KWL charts from school? Yeah, well, I didn’t either, but that’s probably because charts don’t help a person who is blind as much as they might help a sighted person. But, as a homeschool mama of 2 sighted children, I’ve learned about them. In the spirit of a KWL chart, here we go.

K (What I already know)

1. How to use Voice Over and Safari
2. How to create a blog
3. What I want out of a website

W (What I want to learn)

1. Is this new platform friendly for screen readers?
2. Will I be able to enter the information by myself?
3. How much does it cost?
4. Will it be pleasing to sighted people’s eyes?

L (What I learned)

1. Wordpress is speech friendly, mostly.
2. Yes, I could enter the information by myself. However, I did need sighted assistance choosing a theme and color for the font.
3. When at first you don’t succeed, wait a while and try again with less frustration.

As you can probably tell, it wasn’t a quick process. I had to practice and keep trying until I got the results I wanted. What I needed in big supply was patience and time. I had to learn how my speech program worked with the software. Sometimes, this meant losing the content of a page and having to create it all over again. Sometimes, this meant fixing a page more than once to get the desired result. Sure, I got frustrated. No, it didn’t work out great every time. Yes, I needed help from someone who can see. But, I kept trying, and now I have a new website, and I think it looks pretty good. Go check it out for me, and tell me what you think. The address is

sjwellsauthor.com

This passed week seems to be a time for new things. My family just took in a kitten who will be 8 weeks old on Sept. 2. I never took care of a kitten before, but my daughters wanted one, so I am trying to be patient and learn. This process, as far as the kitten is concerned, takes using my hearing as often as possible.

My encouragement for you, faithful readers is to keep trying, no matter your disability. Try, fail, learn from your mistake and try again. Don’t be afraid of something, just because it is new. Embrace it and use it for your good. Blindness, deafness, paralysis, all of these do not have to define you, if you don’t allow them.

Now, for some upcoming news. We, the Adkins and Wells team will be presenting at the WV Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind in Charleston, WV on Saturday, Sept. 9 at approximately 11:00 AM. We will be talking about writing, blogging, education, homeschool and our project, a textbook for children called, “Ducking into UEB”, a book that teaches Unified English Braille to children in grades 4-12 and older readers. If you’re interested to come and hear us and want more information, check facebook.com/adkinsandwells/. We will be creating an event, there.

We hope you have enjoyed today’s post. Questions or comments? Please feel free to drop us a comment below or contact us via email at adkinsandwells@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you. Here’s wishing you many blessings and a wonderful weekend. Catch you back here next Thursday.