The new look for 2024
May 2024
Welcome to our new look monthly tips where we are pleased to share a plethora of tricks and tips that are relevant to such things as technology, travel, managing your daily life, and much more.
So just come aboard, sit back, take a deep breath, and enjoy!
If you wish to contact us then please do not hesitate to write to us at info@sterlingcreations.ca and we promise to respond within 2 business days as long as technology allows us to do so.
Give us your feedback, comments, suggestions, and thoughts!
For it is only through you and with you that we are able to do this!
Table of contents –
1. From our 10 tips on technology series
2. From the pages of Donna’s travel diary
3. A bit of this and a bit of that from Donna’s did you know diary
4. From the scam watchers
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From our 10 tips on technology series
Hello everyone:
Welcome to my 10 tip series where each month I’ll be sharing 10 tips on various pieces of technology.
This would include tips on popular screen readers, office software, and browsers.
If you have any suggestions on what you would like me to share then by all means! Write to me at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca.
For this month:
10 tips for learning the Talkback feature on Android
If you’re referring to “TalkBack,” which is a screen reader feature on Android devices designed to assist users with visual impairments, here are ten tips for learning and using the TalkBack software:
1.
Enable TalkBack:
•
Navigate to your device’s settings.
•
Go to Accessibility.
•
Turn on TalkBack.
2.
Gestures:
•
Learn the basic gestures such as swiping, double-tapping,
and using two fingers to scroll.
Familiarize yourself with these gestures as they are crucial
for navigating the interface.
3.
Explore Tutorial and Help:
• Many devices with TalkBack have a tutorial or help section.
Go through these resources to understand the features and gestures better.
4.
Adjust Speech Rate:
•
Customize the speech rate to a speed that is comfortable for you.
You can find this in the TalkBack settings.
5.
Familiarize with Navigation:
• Understand how to navigate through your device using TalkBack.
Learn how to explore by touch and use swipe gestures effectively.
6.
Practice Typing:
• If you need to type, practice using the TalkBack keyboard.
It often involves swiping to the letters you want.
7.
Use Earphones:
• For privacy and a better experience, use earphones with your device.
TalkBack will provide spoken feedback through the earphones.
8.
Explore TalkBack Settings:
• Dig into the TalkBack settings to customize the behavior according to your preferences.
Adjust feedback, sound, and other options.
9.
Learn Context Menus:
• Understand how to access context menus.
Long-press on an item to bring up additional options specific to that element.
10.
Stay Updated:
• Android updates may bring new features or improvements to TalkBack.
Stay informed about the latest updates to enhance your user experience.
Remember that learning any new technology takes time and practice.
Don’t hesitate to explore and experiment with TalkBack to find what works best for you.
To contact me please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca
I’m Donna J. Jodhan (sight loss coach and accessibility advisor)
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Important tips from the travel table
From the pages of Donna’s diary
Choosing an accessible hotel
And here are some personal pointers from me.
* Depending on your mode of transportation, it sure helps to find a hotel close to the airport, train station, or close to the motor way or bus station.
* Make sure that the chosen hotel has good reviews for accessibility.
That is, friendly staff at the service desk, helpful and knowledgable.
* Restaurants that are located close by. That is preferably within walking distance and ones that offer menus containing meals that you like.
* Rooms that contain what you require. That is, type of bed, wi-fi, and that are clean and comfortable.
* A hotel that is located in a quiet location and safe for you to access and negotiate.
* A hotel without too much construction around it.
* A hotel that caters to service dogs if you are traveling with a service dog.
I’m Donna J. Jodhan enjoying my travels.
To learn more about me as a sight loss coach and author visit
http://www.donnajodhan.com
On your next trip you could enrich your down time with some of my audio mysteries. Take them with you wherever you go!
In the car, on the plane, on the bus or train, at the beach, anywhere!
And now you can listen to Donna’s weekly podcasts!
Ask donna – a plethora of tips from a sight loss coach along with book and product reviews!
Dining with donna – recipes and time saving tips for the kitchen!
Your mental stretch with Donna – how to recharge, renew, and get going! Save yourself from those dramas, traumas, and stress!
Visit www.donnajodhan.com/youtube
and subscribe for free
Follow me on Twitter @accessibleworld and at author_jodhan
And like me on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/donnajodhan and at www.facebook.com/authordonnajodhan
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A bit of this and a bit of that from Donna’s did you know diary
Welcome to my Donna’s did you know diary for May and pleased to share the following with you.
Here’s what I learned for this month.
1) All about bird songs
“You might have noticed that often the smallest birds have the most interesting songs. The various wrens, for example, are among the smallest birds in North America, but they have incredibly loud voices and many complex songs. On the other hand, while bald eagles are among the largest of all birds, their “song” and calls are unremarkable unless threatened by some predator. Eagles are indeed loud, but they have a limited vocabulary.
Have you ever noticed in early summer that the hills are alive with the sound of birds singing? These beautiful creatures made for our enjoyment actually sing for many different reasons. There are basically two categories of bird sounds: songs and calls. Singing primarily happens around mating and nesting season. Calls happen all the time and mainly communicate messages to other birds, often in shorter and clipped chirps. Songs are usually longer and more complex.
Birds sing to stake out their territory, defend their turf, identify themselves, attract the opposite sex, stimulate nest building, and encourage the female to incubate her eggs. Some studies also show that birds sing just because they like to sing! Biologists have also discovered that birds have accents; the same cardinal in Indiana might sound slightly different than one in Florida.
2) Okay, here is something to help you with the cold and it is called Vicks vapour rub
It comes in a jar and its scent is wonderfully strong.
Rub a bit of this on your throat, your chest, and at the bottom of your feet.
Insert a we bit of it into your nostrils and voala!
It works like a charm!
3) Different types of vacations?
Vacation = a holiday.
Staycation = spending vacation at home.
Worcation = combining work and play.
4) An important tip for both men and women enjoying their drinks:
If both a man and a woman are enjoying the same amount of drinks then please remember that if they are doing this under the same circumstances
Women will become intoxicated more quickly because of their biological make up.
That is on the whole, women way less than men.
5) So which part of the lobster is the meatiest?
Why! It is the tail of course!
6) Want to learn more about holiday spending in America?
Here are the top 7 holidays along with spending trends.
“The top seven holidays for extravagant spending are:
7 – Halloween, share of total holiday spending: 2.6 percent.
6 – Father’s Day, Share of holiday spending: 4.5 percent.
5 – Easter, Share of holiday spending: 6.1 percent
4 – Mother’s Day, Share of holiday spending: 6.5 percent
3 – Valentine’s Day, Share of holiday spending: 7.7 percent.
2 – Thanksgiving, Share of holiday spending: 13.4 percent.
1 – Christmas, Share of holiday spending: 59.2 percent.”
7) What is a good tea to drink when you are having digestive problems?
Try drinking a cup of hot camomile tea.
8) Here are some home grown tips about dogs!
Normally their noses are cold and wet to the touch.
If their nose happens to be warm to mildly hot then they may be having a fever.
Female dogs normally have a 3 week period when they are in heat.
The important week to note when they are most likely to become pregnant is during week two.
If you are attempting to mate them then make sure to note the position of their tail when they meet the mail.
If their tail goes down then they are not interested
But if their tail goes up then they are interested.
Female dogs take approximately 9 weeks to bring their pregnancy to fruition.
They usually come into their calling or heat period every six months.
Finally, if you wish to get an idea of how many pups the female may be having then count the number of protruding nipples.
There is normally 1 nipple for every pup on the way.
It normally takes 9 weeks for a female to be pregnant.
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From the scam watchers
Don’t relax too much when it comes to thinking that scammers and their scams take time off; and not for the month of May.
O no! They are busy at work conjuring up their next scheme and for the month of May it all has to do with scammers doing their level best to get you to buy fake graduation clothes for your graduating kids.
Be very careful when you go shopping for graduation dresses and suits for your kids.
Check to make sure that stores and reps are legitimate and take care to make sure that you get what you pay for.
And do not forget to keep an eye out for those fraudelent limo companies.
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Contact info:
Visit our websites at www.sterlingcreations.ca
www.donnajodhan.com
www.sterlingcreations.com
Email us at info@sterlingcreations.ca
Or call us at 416 491-7711