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 do not have my driver’s license, however I know that my future is a lot brighter. I have a bachelor’s of Arts degree and 53 continuing education certificates. I have different pieces of technology that help me achieve success every day.

However, many people still do not know what Nystagmus is. That’s why 20^th of June is celebrated as Nystagmus Awareness Day. This year’s theme is: Nystagmus in the open. This year’s theme is to get the general public to become aware of the condition and to get more people who have it talking.

Nystagmus is an eye condition where the eyes move continuously in either in a vertical, horizontal, or circular pattern even though sometimes there can be any mix in the patterns. There are two main types of Nystagmus. The first one is called Congenital Nystagmus, or in recent years renamed Infantile Nystagmus (IN) or rarely Early Onset Nystagmus. People who have Congenital Nystagmus are born with the condition and sometimes there is no known cause as to why someone has it.

The second type of Nystagmus is called Acquired Nystagmus. This impacts people later in life and sometimes has a cause; such as impact of medicine, a head injury, or having vertigo. Both of these kinds of Nystagmus impact people’s vision, which can range from being legally blind to having low vision. It impacts people differently.

Right now, there is no cure for Nystagmus, however I know that the Nystagmus Network is working with scientists, medical doctors and other professionals to improve our quality of life, and hopefully one day have a cure.

The Nystagmus Network does more than research, they also provide peer-to-peer support, family support, and different treatments. However, this can not be done without the help of the public. Please consider making a donation.

For more information about Nystagmus please visit: Nystagmus Network’s home page

To read more about how people with Nystagmus are amazing please consider subscribing to their newsletter, Focus.

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. I only had to follow the set-up menu via the app. During the set up process, I watched a short tutorial video which included information on the different skills and features (such as playing music via Bluetooth, using Google calendar, ect)

The last thing we did was allow me to explore the different skills. Some of the skills I chose for my Echo included: Weather, Flashlight, TED Talks, Sleep and Relaxation Sounds, CNN, and Meow meow. What Skills do you use for the Echo Dot if you own one? Tell me in the comments below.

I’m eager to receive my device, customize it, and to start using it.

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. Once that was over, we walked into the bus terminal. My teacher gave me information on the prices of tickets, passes (which I have), and how to purchase them. Then she gave me a brief orientation to the terminal itself.

We went outside and that’s when the hard work began. We watched as all the buses lined up for the next departure. My teacher explained that even though the columns were labeled, I should always check with the driver to make sure I was getting on the correct bus.

The sidewalk was noisy because of the buses and the crowd of people who gathered around waiting for their rides. It was a little disorienting at first, but I soon got use to the noise.

Once the buses left, my teacher and I walked the sidewalk to see how long it was. All that was left was getting a rider’s guide. We reviewed the guide over brunch.

I’m excited to actually take the bus next time. I am really gaining skills and feeling more confident.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amanda Gene Harris-freelance writer and Youtuber (@harrisinkwell)

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: Small or large quesadillas, burrito, or hand corn tacos. During the lecture part of the class, we discussed shopping on a budget, getting assistance while shopping, and basic types of spices that would be useful to have at home.

We were all eager to get cooking. For those of us who needed practice cooking meat, we got to brown the hamburger. I was one of the students, (3 of us) cooking it.

I learned to start cooking meat on high heat, then once it’s mostly cooked, it sizzles, and you can turn the heat to medium.

While the three students were cooking the meat, the remaining students chopped onions, bell peppers, and peeled and mashed avocadoes. The students who cooked the meat learned how to use paper towels on a plate to drain the meat. We also chopped vegetables too. I chopped an onion, tomatoes, and tried to peel an avocado. During the vegetable prep, the director of Division of Blind Services stopped by. It was nice to meet her, and to be able to show off my new skills, as well as share my professional achievements.

Once all the ingredients were chopped and the meat cooked, we got to choose either tacos, quesadillas, or a burrito. I had two hard-shell tacos, and I made a quesadilla for my grandpa. I had fun with this lesson and as always I look forward to advancing my cooking skills.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amanda Gene Harris-freelance writer and Youtuber (@harrisinkwell)

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 as set reminders, multi-timers, to-do lists, read audio books and play music.

I was able to practice asking questions, setting lists and reminders. Another part of the lesson that was useful was a brief over view about the application that goes along with it. It really is a neat device, and I’m excited to learn more.

After a quick lunch, I had a short Orientation and Mobility lesson. We worked on crossing light-heavy traffic and upper protective protection technique. My teacher was happy that I knew the basics of upper and downward curbs, as well as some basic parallel traffic crossings. I am already gaining more confidence. I can’t wait for the next lesson.

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 in life and your blogging?

I am inspired by the author Rick Riordan because he touches lives with his diverse characters and shows that it’s okay to be yourself, and YouTuber Joy Ross because she shows me how independent I can become.

4. Besides writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Besides writing in my spare time I like to draw, read, (i’m a huge bookworm), hang out with my animals, hang out with my family, and make YouTube videos.

Name a bad habit that you have?

I have a bad habit of not drinking enough water.

Name your best quality?

I would have to say that one of my best qualities is that I am an open-minded person and that I don’t judge people.

If you could interview anyone living or dead who would it be and why?

If I could interview one dead person it would have to be Edgar Allan Poe because I would like to know some of the thought processes behind his poems. A person that I would like to interview that is alive would be Joy Ross because I believe she is a great role model and more people need to see her story.

What is your college major/Minor?

My major is early child education because I want to become an occupational therapist. I’m also thinking of majoring in journalism because the other night I was watching this TV show called “The Bold Type” and they are all journalists and watching them made me think, “I want to do that and that’s what I’m pretty much doing on my blog right now.” I have two majors now.

What school (college or university) did you go to?

I’m going to be starting college in the fall at my local community college.

What is the title of your blog?

The title of my blog is VIBlindResources.

When and why did you start your blog?

I started VIBlindResources nine months ago and I created it because I want to help people and to show that you are never alone!

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years I hope to see myself as a published author, having a guide dog, dating or in a serious relationship, having a bigger following on VIBlindResources, and having a job as an occupational therapist.

What is the name/cause of your visual impairment?

My visual impairment is called retinopathy of prematurity, I have a detached retina in my right eye and a partially detached retina in my left, so I have zero vision in my right eye and low vision in my left and you can learn about how it was for me growing up with it by reading “My True Experience Growing Up Visionally Impaired”

How does your visual impairment effect you on a daily basis? Some ways my visional impairment affects me on a daily basis are light sensitivity, (so I wear sunglasses when I’m going in and out), i’ll get migraines easier if I’m on my iPad for too long, I navigate with a cane, I read braille. If you want to see what my day to day life is like watch: The VIBlind experience and vlogs.
What do other people feel about your visual impairment?

My family treats me the same as my siblings and my friends treat me how they do any other friend.

If you had to give one piece of advice to others about having a visual impairment what would it be?

My advice to those who are visually impaired or blind is that your disability does not define you, so remember that we are all made up of multiple parts and we can do anything we set our mind to!

Where can other people find you on Social media (Please list and provide links)

If you like to be featured on VIBlindResources please email me at: viblindresorces@gmail.com

Website: https://viblindresources.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtorb__ooFW8Ytk7ZbucVyg

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/viblind/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/viblindresources

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/viblind

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/viblindresourc.

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 do well? Would I graduate in time? What would happen if I found employment in the middle of my training? Even though all these questions were going around in my mind, I felt comfort knowing I knew some of the staff and instructors, and two of my classmates from previous classes.

I woke up bright and early Tuesday morning; I quickly dressed and was ready for the bus way ahead of schedule. I waited and waited; when the bus did not show up for the arranged time, I called the company. Come to find out, the company had a computer problem and I was scheduled to be picked up on Wednesday. I had to cancel my ride, and my grandpa took me to the school.

I was still early for class, so I hung out in the conference room and talked with my classmates and staff.

Soon our lecture on safety and cooking meat began. I learned all kinds of things about the safety of cooking meat.

Spaghetti was on the menu. Soon we were adding our sauce in our pans. One of the goals I identified during my pre assessment was that I need to improve my chopping and dicing skills. I was able to peel and chop garlic, along with chopping and dicing one large green bell pepper and two mushrooms. One thing that I learned was that cutting on a clear cutting board was not helpful because of the contrasts. I ended up using a solid white cutting board. Once my ingredients were ready, I added it to my sauce and I let it cook, stirring as needed.

Once the sauce was finished, the teachers added in the spaghetti and hamburger that was already precooked. We stirred everything together.

The dish came out tasty and we were able to enjoy it for our lunch. We even got to take some home to our family.

I can not wait to share the rest of my journey with you and to acquire new skills and to grow in my confidence.

The sauce that I made.

The final product :)

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: