Category: Special Observations
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Blindness and Disability are Popular Themes for October
The fall is my favorite season and time of the year. The weather is cooler. The autumn colors of brown, orange, golden yellow, dark red and green are on display. October is the month when all of this jumps off. But one other thing I recently noticed is the number of blind and disabled observations…
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Its a White Cane Not a Stick
The white cane has enabled me to travel safely and confidently by detecting stairs, sidewalk curbs, doorways and obstacles. It gives me the added security and protection I need so that I don’t stumble, fall or run into things. It identifies me as a person with a vision impairment. When people see my cane, they…
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Why I Don’t Have a Guide Dog
As a blind person people ask me this question often, “Empish, why don’t you have a guide dog?” Followed up by more inquiries of, “wouldn’t a guide dog be better to use than a white cane?” and “Wouldn’t a guide dog provide companionship and protection?” These are fair and valid questions. I answer them by…
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Strengthening My Body to Help Prevent Falls
Every since I lost my vision, I have become aware of my body and how it functions. When I went through my vision rehabilitation training program, I learned how to use my other senses to function and move in the world. As I have gotten older, I also recognized that the body breaks down and…
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Preparing and Planning for an Emergency During COVID-19
Every day When I turn on the news it seems that a natural disaster like a hurricane, flood or tornado is happening. The latest are the devastating wild fires in California. I remember when Hurricane Irma in 2017 hit and how I was caught a little unprepared. It wasn’t the hurricane itself but rather the…
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Thirty Days to Census 2020 Deadline
If you haven’t heard the news by now, the US Census Bureau is ending all counting efforts for the 2020 census on September 30, a month earlier than previously announced. So that means if you haven’t filled out your form time is ticking and the opportunity to be counted is quickly closing. I completed my…
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Hadley Provides 100 Years of Remote Learning to the Blind Community
For a century the Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired has provided remote learning to the blind community. This is an enormous accomplishment. Even more so in the midst of COVID-19 where distant learning, sheltering in place, social distancing and remote access are becoming the new normal. According to their website, the mission…
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Working and Writing in the Disability Nonprofit World
If someone told me in college while pursuing a journalism degree that 6 months after graduation, I would be visually impaired and later have a career in the disability nonprofit world I would have said they were ridiculous. But that is exactly what happened! During that time, I was laser focused and incredibly ambitious; obtaining…
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Every Day is Book Lover’s Day for Me
Today is National Book Lover’s Day but every day is book lover’s day in my world. If you have been reading my blog or know me personally you know full well how much I enjoy reading and I couldn’t let this day pass without saying something, right? Of course not. And it being the weekend…
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Eye Health is My Health During Healthy Vision Month 2020
This year The National Eye Institute is hosting healthy vision month in July. Usually it is held every year in May but because of COVID-19 it was moved down a couple of months. It’s the perfect opportunity to encourage you to make your eye health a priority — and to highlight the importance of preventing…
Empish J. Thomas 