Catching up with the coach!

May 2024

To contact me with your idea send your emails to me at donnajodhan@gmail.com

5) Best Of Helpful Hints: The Best Of Hints For Children

Teaching How To Put Shoes On

* To teach a child how to put the right shoe on the right foot, mark or tape the inside of the right shoe only.

_____

6) Best Of Helpful Hints: The Best Of Hints For Children

Graduating From Crib To Bed

* Eliminate fears of injury when your child graduates from crib to full size bed by putting the crib mattress on the floor next to the bed. If the child falls out, he/she will be startled but not hurt.

_____

7) Best Of Helpful Hints: The Best Of Hints For Children

Bathing

* When a child is past the baby stage, but too small for the tub, a plastic close basket with holes in it is ideal. Run several inches of water into the tub. Place the basket in it and set your baby in the basket.

* Cut small pieces of soap into a white sock and tie up the open end. Children prefer it to a bar of soap and it won’t slip from their hands.

_____

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

+++++++++++++++

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)

_________________________

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

_________________________

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.

_________________________

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.

_________________________

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

Ask the Coach!

May 2024

My name is Donna Jodhan and I am using my extensive experience as a sight loss coach as well as my lived experience to share and respond to questions that are submitted to me and I also invite you to share your thoughts on questions asked.

For this month:  a question from Brad in Billings Montana.

Brad is looking for a timer that has braille dots.

My response:

Brad, I may have a really good solution for you.

It is the Tactual Long Ring Timer

I bought this little gadget in 2023 and it is small, has a nice ring, and easy to set.

Moreover, there are Braille dots that denote the hour, the half hour, and the quarter after and quarter to hour.

This makes it easy to set the timer and it ticks as it works.

Give this one a try.

Of course there are many who will tell you to use your I device or you can even use good old Alexa.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Tell us what you think!  Share your feedback and let’s get more ideas cracking!

It’s important for us to share how we do things!

A question from Candice in London England.

Candice is wondering if there is such a thing as a talking scale?

My response:

Candice, most definitely and you can buy one of these nifty scales at most stores that sell products for the blind.

I have one and it is simply a part of my kitchen and also my bathroom.

It is so very easy to use.

All you need is to insert your battery and away you go.

The voice is so very easy to understand.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Tell us what you think!  Share your feedback and let’s get more ideas cracking!

It’s important for us to share how we do things!

A question from Beth in Copenhagen Denmark.

Beth is looking for an easy to use can opener and not a battery operated one.

My response:

Beth and here is my suggestion.

It is called the Ratcheting Can Opener and it is so very easy to use.

Easy on the hands and most comfortable for those with hand challenges.

It is easy to handle, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, durable, and easy to maintain.

I have a few of these in my kitchen drawer.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Tell us what you think!  Share your feedback and let’s get more ideas cracking!

It’s important for us to share how we do things!

To contact me with a question or a thought; please send an email to me at donnajodhan@gmail.com and I’ll be sure to respond in 5 business days at the most.

If you wish me to respond earlier then put the word important in your subject line and I’ll do my best to respond more quickly.

Until the next time then!

I’m Donna wishing you a pleasant day and thanking everyone for their insightful feedback and suggestions!

The Monthly News Round Up For Award Winning Advocate, Sight Loss Coach and Author Donna J. Jodhan

For the month of April 2024

Read about Donna’s external engagements

https://sterlingcreations.ca/current-affairs

Major news items can be found here

It’s all about Donna’s major initiatives for this month plus a lot more

https://sterlingcreations.ca/current-affairs

Donna’s first meeting with the Air Canada advisory group on accessibility issues

On April 23 Donna attended the initial meeting of this advisory group.

Several Air Canada staff were also present and the day long meeting consisted of

Presentations from senior Air Canada staff.

They presented on a wide variety of issues that highlighted Air Canada’s efforts to involve employees, customers, and management

In their initiatives to make accessibility an important part of their landscape.

Donna was extremely pleased to have been a part of this first meeting and looks forward to the next meeting.

You can start by taking a tour of Donna’s personal diary by visiting

www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com

Donna posts 3 times weekly and her posts gives you great insights into her daily life, challenges, and perspectives as a blind/vision impaired person.

Blogs posted for this month

To the www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog page

The expiry date syndrome

https://sterlingcreations.ca/blog/the-expiry-date-syndrome-time-to-call-out-the-guilty-ones

The inexcusable excuse

https://sterlingcreations.ca/blog/the-inexcusable-excuse-time-to-put-up-or-shut-up

The compensation crunch – agencies guilty of paying with gift cards instead of real compensation

The Compensation Crunch – Agencies Guilty of Paying with Gift Cards Instead of Real Compensation

You can also view previous selections here.

Contributions From Founder and Advocate Donna Jodhan

Donna has also posted other articles of interest on her

www.sterlingcreations.com/blog page

for this month.

News round up for March 2024

Read Donna J. Jodhan’s news round up for March – unstoppable Donna

Hottest tips from the Sterling Creations Business Desk

The latest Sterling Creations monthly tips is a must read – April 2024

Latest news from the Apple Vis online newsletter

Check out the Apple Vis March online newsletter – hottest and newest accessible apps

A review of the Air Canada services

Blog

A bit of this and a bit of that from Donna’s latest did you know diary

https://sterlingcreations.com/blog/from-the-pages-of-donnas-did-you-know-diary-a-bit-of-this-and-a-bit-of-that-2

Catch up with Donna’s expert page at

https://sterlingcreations.ca/ask-an-expert

and for this month

10 tips for learning the voiceover software

https://sterlingcreations.ca/ask-an-expert/ask-an-expert-april-2024-ten-tips-for-learning-voiceover-software

Read Donna’s author’s tip for this month

Birds calling to each other

Ask an Author – April 2024 – Birds Calling to Each Other

And catch up with previous author’s tips

https://sterlingcreations.ca/ask-an-author

Read Donna J. Jodhan’s articles on ask the coach for this month

Overcoming online banking challenges, best way to order from restaurants, how does a blind person know when a bulb is blown

https://sterlingcreations.com/blog/ask-sight-loss-coach-donna-j-jodhan-ways-to-overcome-online-banking-challenges-best-ways-to-order-from-restaurants-how-can-a-blind-person-tell-when-a-bulb-is-blown

Read Donna J. Jodhan’s tips and hints for catching up with the coach for this month

For Children: Crystal Clear Baby Bottles, safety tips, Baby’s First Pair Of Shoes

See an archive of all of her product reviews at

https://www.toptechtidbits.com/news.html

Listen and catch up with Donna’s podcasts

Week 1 – ask the blogger

(on bullying;

Tips on entrepreneurship;

Scams and scammers;

Donna’s thought for today;

Week 2 – ask the coach.

Week 3 – ask the home maker.

Week 4 – book and product reviews and the business writer’s review.

Read and listen to the March Ask Donna podcasts at:

Ask the Blogger –

Ask the Sight Loss Coach –

Ask the Homemaker –

Ask the Reviewer –

https://youtu.be/Fe6nnkohjBY

Read and listen to Donna’s April podcasts at:

Ask the Blogger –

Ask the Sight Loss Coach –

Ask the Homemaker –

Ask the Reviewer –

“ask Donna”( )

Ask Donna YouTube Playlist: https://donnajodhan.com/askdonna

“dining with donna”

March 2024

Week 1 – Dining With Donna | Barbecued Spareribs:

Week 2 – Dining With Donna | Chalupa:

week 3 – Dining With Donna | Cranberry Stuffed Balls:

https://youtu.be/IezufK8_r6o Dining With Donna | Ham a la King: https://youtu.be/fureE4aUnpc

Week 4 – Dining With Donna | Ham a la King

https://youtu.be/fureE4aUnpc

Read and listen to Donna’s podcasts at:

Week 1 – Baked Potato Soup: https://youtu.be/vcnrNyrvC2o

Week 2 – Creamy Queso Soup: https://youtu.be/0UfTGwzombo

Week 3 – Indonesian Curried Soup: https://youtu.be/XTLVzoyAzYE

Week 4 – Spicy Pumpkin Soup: https://youtu.be/Q1cpspcFxXI

( )

Dining With Donna YouTube Playlist: https://www.donnajodhan.com/dwd

Finally!

Donna has resumed posting to the Access to Information News weekly online newsletter

Sponsored by Mindvault Solutions!

The expiry date syndrome

https://barrierfreecanada.org/the-expiry-date-syndrome-time-to-identify/

The inexcusable excuse

https://barrierfreecanada.org/the-inexcusable-excuse-either-comply-or-get-out-of-the-kitchen/

The problem with packing at supermarkets

The Problem With Packing At Supermarkets – Time To Identify!

To learn more about Donna  as an award winning  sight loss coach and advocate plus more visit www.donnajodhan.com

That’s it for this month.

Don’t forget to drop me an email at donnajodhan@gmail.com

Don’t be shy!  Share your thoughts and feedback!

April 2024

A bit of this and a bit of that from Donna’s did you know diary

Award winning sight loss coach, author and advocate

You can contact me via email at donnajodhan@gmail.com

Practical and natural!

Welcome to my Donna’s did you know diary for this month and pleased to share the following with you.

Here’s what I learned for this month.

• The difference between Tylenol and Panadol?

Medically nothing.

Tylenol is manufactured in North America

And Panadol is manufactured in the UK.

• Want to find ways to stretch your laundry soap liquid or your dish soap liquid?

Easy!  Just dilute with a bit too water.

Not too much however.

Just remember that as a whole, both laundry soap and liquid soap are both very soapy in content.

So no harm could come from adding a bit of water.

• What’s this about down trodden Mondays?

Absolutely just a false belief.

No, Mondays are no better nor worse than any other day!

• And about thumb prints?

Well, I recently found out that our individual thumb prints are unique.

Your thumb print is different than mine and so on.

• An important tip when someone appears to be choking!

Give them a morsel of  bread to eat.

The hard morsel of bread will push down the offending bit of food that is causing you to choke.

• And what’s this about taking your cough syrup?

According to some pharmacists, you should not take cough syrup for more than 7 days in a row.

• And it’s all about the rocking chair!

Babies simply love to be rocked by their moms especially when they are being nursed.

• If you have ever dropped your I device or hearing aid into water then you can certainly revive it!

And how?

Fetch a small bowl of uncooked rice.

Make sure that it is at room temperature.

Then gently place your I device or hearing aid in the middle of your rice.

Leave it be until all of the water has been drained out of it.

Presto!  Your I device or hearing aid is as good as gold!

• Some trivia about the magnificent Albatross bird!

A few facts about this amazing bird include:

* Average Lifespan in the Wild: 30 years

* Albatross Has the Largest Wingspan of Any Living Bird

* The albatross  can fly 500 miles in a day and maintain speeds of nearly 80 mph for eight hours straight without even having to flap its wings.

* Part of the secret is locking elbow joints, which enable the bird to keep its wings extended for  long periods at no energy cost from its muscles.

* They Can Go Years Without Touching Land

* They Can Live and Raise Chicks Into Their 60s

* They Mate for Life (With Some Wiggle Room)

* They Can Smell Food In the Water From 12 Miles Away

* Finally, these amazing birds are at risk of Extinction!

• About earth quakes?

I recently learned that the first shock is more pronounced than the after shock.

A Review of Air Canada’s Services
by Donna Jodhan, award-winning advocate and sight-loss coach

Introduction:
I would say that on the whole end to end Air Canada services are very good and I consider them to be more than acceptable and above the call of duty.

So how would I rate their services? With 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest, here are my ratings.
Service desk assistance – 5
Assistance for travelers with special needs – 5

Remarks :
Service at the check in counter was extremely good.
Staff was friendly and welcoming.

About airline staff:
Very accommodating, friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.

Any suggestions?
Just keep up the good work.

Contact info:

To learn more about me as an award-winning sight-loss coach and advocate, visit www.donnajodhan.com and access the coach page to learn about the services that I offer.

The new look for 2024
April 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

+++++++++++++++

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 voiceover software

Learning voiceover software can significantly enhance your abilities to record, edit, and produce high-quality audio. Here are ten tips to help you get started with voiceover software:
1.
Select the Right Software: There are various voiceover software options available, such as Adobe Audition, Audacity, Pro Tools, Reaper, and more. Choose software that aligns with your needs, skill level, and budget.
2.
Familiarize Yourself with the Interface: Spend time exploring the software interface. Learn about the different tools, menus, and features available. Most software platforms offer tutorials or guides to help users navigate the interface effectively.
3.
Understand Audio Basics: Learn about audio terminology, such as EQ (equalization), compression, noise reduction, and gain. Understanding these basics will help you use the software more effectively.
4.
Practice Recording and Playback: Start with simple recording exercises. Practice recording your voice and playing it back to understand the software’s recording capabilities. Experiment with microphone settings and input levels.
5.
Editing Skills: Learn basic editing techniques such as cutting, trimming, splitting, and moving audio clips. Practice editing your recordings to remove mistakes, pauses, or unwanted noises.
6.
Effects and Processing: Explore the software’s effects and processing options. Experiment with adding effects like reverb, delay, or EQ to enhance your voice recordings. However, use effects judiciously to avoid overprocessing.
7.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Familiarize yourself with keyboard shortcuts. They can significantly speed up your workflow and make editing more efficient. Learn common shortcuts for tasks like cutting, copying, pasting, and zooming in/out.
8.
Noise Reduction and Cleanup: Understand how to use noise reduction tools to clean up your recordings. Learn techniques to eliminate background noise, pops, clicks, and other unwanted sounds.
9.
Mastering and Exporting: Learn about mastering techniques to ensure your audio is balanced and optimized for different playback systems. Practice exporting your final recordings in various formats suitable for different platforms.
10.
Seek Tutorials and Resources: Utilize tutorials, online courses, forums, and user guides specific to your software. YouTube and other online platforms offer a wealth of free tutorials covering various aspects of voiceover software.
Remember that mastering voiceover software takes time and practice. Start with the basics, gradually build your skills, and don’t hesitate to experiment to discover new ways of using the software to improve your voiceover recordings.

To contact me please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca
I’m Donna J. Jodhan (sight loss coach and accessibility advisor)

_________________________

Important tips from the travel table
From the pages of Donna’s diary
What makes for an accessible travel website?

In my humble opinion, an accessible travel website is one that enables and allows a traveler with a disability the freedom and convenience to browse, book, change, and garner information for their trip without having to seek the assistance of someone else to help them perform these tasks.

In short, the ability to access said website independently, anytime, from anywhere, and to do it in comfort and style.

No having to seek the assistance of a travel agent. The ability to seek and receive assistance online or by calling a phone number obtained from the contact page, and to be able to submit complaints if necessary.

This is what I would call an accessible travel website.
And this certainly helps to make travel more enjoyable and meaningful!
I would also say that airlines websites should be a part of those websites classified as travel websites and the same would go for cruise company websites.

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

_________________________

A bit of this and a bit of that from Donna’s did you know diary
Award winning sight loss coach, author and advocate

Welcome to my Donna’s did you know diary for April and pleased to share the following with you.

Here’s what I learned for this month.
1) About keeping your passport up to date!
When you travel overseas, make very sure that your passport is valid for at least the next six months.
For if it is not, then you run the risk of being refused the ability to travel.

2) When staying at a hotel:
If you wish to have room service clean your room then here are some useful tips.
First, put the sign outside your door with the card showing that you require cleaning services.
Next, if you wish to have clean fresh towels placed in your bathroom,
Then take your old dirty towels and place them on the floor of your bathroom.

3) Okay and here is a tip on how colds start!
They begin in your nose believe it or not and from there they travel along your body to other parts.

4) About caring for orchids?
They should be placed in a sunny spot in your home.
The window sill is a great place for them.
Water them once weekly and you can use ice cubes to do the trick.
About 3 ice cubes per week.
Do not over water them.

5) Warming food in your microwave versus your toaster oven!
In the microwave, food tends to soften.
In your toaster oven, they tend to get hard.

6) What exactly is a de-influencer?
Well here is what I learned!
A de-influencer is the opposite of an influencer.
For whereas an influencer influences by encouraging us to do something, a de-influencer encourages us not to do something.

7) If you need to ensure that yours is a true self test for covid!
Please ensure that you insert the probe provided in your kit far enough up each nostril.
For if you do not; then your covid test will not be authentic.

8) And here are some benefits to eating pears!
They contain vitamin C
And they are filled with fibre.

9) What’s this about when is the best time to take a vaccination?
Well, make sure that you are not sleep deprived.
At least six hours of sleep.
Do not take a vaccination after coming off a night shift.

10) If you are looking for a laptop with a CD rom?
They are becoming more and more difficult to find!
You’ll now need to use an external CD rom drive.
Why is this?
Because manufacturers are building laptops with more usb ports and sd card ports.
The good old desktop computer still comes with a CD rom drive.

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From the scam watchers

And for the month of April the scam watchers advises you to be on the look out for 3 specific types of scams.
1) Someone with either an email or a phone call telling you that they can help you to complete your tax returns.
Just simply ignore; delete emails and hang up the phone.
2) Someone with either an email or a phone call telling you that you owe money to the Inland Revenue service or Revenue Canada.
Again, ignore; delete emails and hang up the phone.
3) You may also see a scam telling you how you can recover unclaimed funds.
Delete and hang up the phone.

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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

Ask the Coach!

April 2024

My name is Donna Jodhan and I am using my extensive experience as a sight loss coach as well as my lived experience to share and respond to questions that are submitted to me and I also invite you to share your thoughts on questions asked.

For this month:  a question from Bruce in Lewisville Kentucky.

Bruce is looking for ways to overcome online banking challenges.

My response:

Bruce, I can guarantee that every bank offers a variation in their online banking system.

Some banks offer more accessible online banking than others.

Then, we need to factor in the technical abilities of each individual customer along with the technology that they use.

Some customers use their computers while others use an I device.

While still others get assistance from their banking officers while others ask a friend or family member to help them.

So what I am saying is that it all comes down to what best fits one’s needs.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Tell us what you think!  Share your feedback and let’s get more ideas cracking!

It’s important for us to share how we do things!

A question from Melissa in Kansas City Missouri.

Melissa wants to know what is the best way to order from restaurants.

My response:

Melissa and again; it all depends on how comfortable it is for you to place an order with a restaurant.

You can either use an app to do your ordering if one exists and you can check for the availability of said app by visiting the App Store to see if you can find it there.

If it is available, you can download it but then you need to ensure that it is accessible and user friendly and navigable.

It all depends on how comfortable you are with using apps.

Then there is the good old way by using your phone to place an order.

Believe it or not, many restaurants still offer the phone option.

However, using an app is often much quicker when it comes to delivery.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Tell us what you think!  Share your feedback and let’s get more ideas cracking!

It’s important for us to share how we do things!

A question from Maria in Atlanta Georgia.

Maria wants to know how can she as a blind person know when a bulb is blown?

My response:

Maria, if you can reach your bulb then it is not too difficult.

Just place your hand gently and gingerly over the bulb and if it is warm then it is still working.

If it is cold then it is blown.

It is often difficult to know if a bulb has blown if you are unable to reach it unless you check your bulbs regularly.

For sighted persons, not a problem.

For a vision impaired person, not so.

If you really want to keep tabs on if your bulbs are working then you will probably need some sighted assistance if you are vision impaired.

You can also you an app on your I device to help you detect whether or not there is light coming from your bulb.  Or there is a hand held light detector on the market as well.

Finally the Envision glasses offers an option for detecting light.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Tell us what you think!  Share your feedback and let’s get more ideas cracking!

It’s important for us to share how we do things!

To contact me with a question or a thought; please send an email to me at donnajodhan@gmail.com and I’ll be sure to respond in 5 business days at the most.

If you wish me to respond earlier then put the word important in your subject line and I’ll do my best to respond more quickly.

Until the next time then!

I’m Donna wishing you a pleasant day and thanking everyone for their insightful feedback and suggestions!