Amanda Gene Harris, author and owner of Harris' InkWell

Nystagmus Awareness Day 2018: Nystagmus in the open

As I sat there in our living room with tears running down my cheeks, I asked my mom, when I was 15-years-old, “Why aren’t the doctors looking for a cure? I want to be able to drive.” My mom did not know the answer about any treatment plans. Now at age 30, I still doContinue reading “Nystagmus Awareness Day 2018: Nystagmus in the open”

Final Echo Dot Lesson (independent living skills series 5)

This week was an exciting week for me. I am now a proud graduate of the first ever Echo Dot training class. For our final class, my teacher had me disable, and then re-enable his Echo Dot. This will help me once I get my own Echo Dot next week. Setting it up was simple.Continue reading “Final Echo Dot Lesson (independent living skills series 5)”

Basic Bus Skills (independent living skills series 4)

Today, because of the threat of a tropical depression, my Orientation and Mobility teacher and I decided to do a short lesson on basic bus skills. Before we even started the lesson, outside of the bus station was a beautiful flower on a bush; It was really pretty, and it had a nice smell. OnceContinue reading “Basic Bus Skills (independent living skills series 4)”

Cooking Mexican (independent living skills series 3)

After a short bereavement period, I decided to return to school in my grandma’s honor. I was nervous the night before because I had missed class the previous week, but I had a lot of support from the staff and classmates. Today we were learning how to cook Mexican. We had the choice to make:Continue reading “Cooking Mexican (independent living skills series 3)”

Echo Dot and Orientation and Mobility (independent living skills series 2)

The nervousness has died down quite a bit since I’ve gotten over my first lesson. Today I had assistive technology and Orientation and Mobility lessons. The first lesson of the day was an introduction of the Amazon Echo Dot. I learned how to address it, some basics of what the dot could do such asContinue reading “Echo Dot and Orientation and Mobility (independent living skills series 2)”

An Interview with Chelsey VIBlindResources (Guest Blog Post)

What is your name? I’m Chelsey Zumpano and I created a website, YouTube channel and various social medias to prove that we as visual impaired and blind people can do anything and to provide resources for our community. Age? I’m 22 and will be 23 in August. 3. Who has inspired you the most inContinue reading “An Interview with Chelsey VIBlindResources (Guest Blog Post)”

First Day of Class: Cooking (independent living skills series 1)

For those who do not know, I am enrolled in cooking, Orientation and Mobility (O and M), and Amazon Echo Dot classes at a local training center for the blind and visually impaired. I was nervous as a frantic mouse who was trying to get away from a cat the night before. Would I doContinue reading “First Day of Class: Cooking (independent living skills series 1)”