Thank the nominator, and publish a post on your blog about receiving the Blogger Recognition Award.
Make sure to provide a link to the nominator’s blog in your post.
Give a brief story of how your blog started.
Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers. Nominate 10-15 other bloggers for this award, and inform them of their nomination. (I know I only did five. 😊)
Thank you, Melissa, for this award.
Why I started my blog: I started my blog almost ten years ago (in September of 2010) as part of a college course that I had to take for my journalism degree. I enjoyed sharing my life’s journey, including how I deal with my disabilities, that I couldn’t stop writing. Now I want to make blogging part of my career.
Two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
Network with other bloggers. It is a great way to get ideas for posts and for other resources.
Don’t give up, keep writing. Over the past nine to ten years of writing I didn’t stop writing. Even if it was just a small post to say hello, I reached out to my audience.
I nominate the following five bloggers for this award:
I was excited to receive a box of Canada treats to try. Thank you, Aunt Wendy, for the treats. 😊
The first candy I tried was a Big Foot Gros Pieds. The texture remined me of the fruit rollup snacks we have in America. I liked the fruit flavors of Banana, grape, and apple. I enjoyed this treat a lot.
The next treat I tried were chocolate covered almonds. I love chocolate and almonds. The candy was very sweet and it tingled even after I finished the sample. I liked the crunch from the almond. I am sure I will finish the box very quickly.
Sugar Shack Maple Candy Pastilles were next. I honestly feel that if I sucked on the candy longer, I could have enjoyed it more. However, I did not care for it right off hand. To me it was too sweet.
The next treat I tried was a hard candy that was in the shape of a maple leaf. Even though the candy shape looked unique, I did not care for the strong maple flavor.
The last treat I tried was a Canada milk chocolate bar. I loved the markings on the bar because it remined me of tree bark. I liked how sweet the bar was. It really was delicious.
Tell me what country I should try next by leaving me a comment below!
July moved so quickly, and soon we will be in August. That means that half of the year has come and gone. Where has the time gone?
Movement has really hit me this month. Have you ever found yourself complaining about completing a task? I have. I have learned that it is easier to complete a task than it is to blab about completing the task itself. That has happened to me time after time this month. I have found that I can complete more by just finding the energy to complete the task instead of complaining and walking away only to do it later.
I have more energy completing a task instead of walking away. It has helped me with my weight lost too. I am beginning to feel better about my body and how I look. 😊 I still need to keep an eye on my weight, but that is good health management anyway.
Patience has been hard. As you may or may not know I am working on starting my own freelancing business. For me to do that, I must work with my caseworker from a organization called, Vocational Rehabilitation. Every time I have a project or an idea I have to go and present it to my caseworker for them to approve it. This is true with my project. Just know that I am getting closer to allowing me to publish this project. I am very excited to be getting closer to letting the public see it.
Positivity has been a big part of my life this month. I have gotten some very special packages in the mail from some of my friends. I feel so amazing knowing that people care about me. I care about them too. I send letters to them from time to time. I found that being positive has helped my anxiety and depression quite a lot.
Remember you can achieve your dreams and goals! I believe in every one of you. 😊
I know the months have flown by and I left the Independent Living Skills series after we had the Christmas party. I meant to update the series as soon as I graduated, however life got in the way.
Let’s go back to December-Christmas break was a fun time and it was a time to get some rest. I got new glasses that has improved my vision somewhat. The issue is I am having problems with the glasses. My glasses need to be adjusted quite often because the lenses are so heavy that they fall down my nose. I know next time I get glasses I need to get metal frames instead of plastic ones. I know that I need to get rectangular frames because I can see further out. Currently I keep getting my glasses adjusted and I am doing the best I can with the vision I have.
When I went back to the training center my focus was on improving my cooking skills instead of my Orientation and Mobility Skills. My teacher, a few of my classmates and I enjoyed our cooking lessons. I learned how to cook and bake things such as baked vegetables, chocolate chip cookies, and banana pudding, etc. My cooking skills improved and I began cooking more meals on my own.
Since my time at the training center was limited by my Individualized Employment Plan. Which is a plan that outlines the skills to live independently which could rang anything from being able to cook a simple meal to finding employment. My main concern was learning how to use the local bus system rather than the disability bus. In fact, before I was accepted into the school, I had to write to the head of the department stating why I needed to appeal my caseworker’s denial for training. One of the reasons I wrote in the letter was the need to learn the local bus system so I could be independent while out in the community because our local disability bus is not reliable. On the last day of classes I asked the head teacher and my orientation and mobility teachers about teaching me the bus system. They said they couldn’t teach me because we had already learned some basics about the bus system and because that I am able to take the disability bus. Lastly, we were just out of time.
I did have one lesson on how to read the bus schedule and the layout of the bus station, however I wanted to learn how to actually take the bus for added security in case the disability bus failed to show, etc. I know that many of you probably are shocked that I did not fight for more training. The day this all happened I tried to stand up for myself. I explained why I wanted to learn the bus. I ran out of time, and it was not worth fighting for.
The last class was a sad one because I felt like my teachers were disappointed in the fact that my Vocational Rehabilitation caseworker and I were going to focus our energy on self-employment rather than community placement. I know that there is a lot of fears when it comes to self-employment.
I was going to miss my friends from school. Despite all this my grandpa and I enjoyed the smores I made in class that day.
The next week I received a letter from my caseworker that read:
“Dear Amanda:
I am writing to inform you that your case will be closed in the next 30 days for the following reason:
As we discussed on 3/15/2019, you agreed that you have received the services requested and have been unable to yet attain an employment outcome.
If you would like to discuss this issue or you would like your case to remain open so that you may pursue employment-based activities, please contact me prior to 4/15/2019. If I do not hear from you by that time, I will assume you are in agreement and will processed with closure.
I wish you good luck and continued success.
The next week I received a letter from the training center signed by the head teacher that read:
“Ms. Nelson,
I am writing to inform you that your case is now closed at (name of blind training center). We are pleased that you have completed your goals. You were a good student, and it was a pleasure working with you. We are very proud of your accomplishments. We wish you lot of luck in your career development. Enclosed you will find your certificates of your completion.
Take Care.
I know that many of you are probably feeling shocked that I did not fight for more time to keep my case open with my caseworker. I knew it was time to move on from the services that the organization provides. I have worked with many job coaches, including the employment coach that worked with my caseworker. These job coaches have yet to find me any solid leads because of my lack of a driver’s license and reliable public transportation. I have looked for employment for five and a half years.
Despite the organization closing my case I am still receiving support from another organization called Vocational Rehabilitation. This is due to my vision and other disabilities that I have. Vocational Rehabilitation can provide the same set of services that my other caseworker was doing. Right now, I am working with a caseworker to help me launch a successful business. I am currently working on a Nystagmus related product that I believe will benefit parents who have children with Nystagmus.
I am thankful for the support that my caseworker and school have provided me. I will continue to work with my Vocational Rehabilitation caseworker to achieve my goals and dreams of travel and self-employment because I believe in more movement, patience and positivity!
June has come and gone. I really used this past month to work on myself.
Movement-This is the first pillar of my theme for this year. Not only is it a reminder for me to exercise and to lose weight-which is an ongoing battle-but this pertains to movement in life. That is why, along with a friend, I worked through a self-help book. This book helped me work through my past. Now I no longer have to carry my past, and I feel happier and calmer. Along with working on myself I continue to work on my writing and my channel. I am still working on my Secret Project. It is slowly coming along. I finally bought an attachment for my microphone, and I feel that it has improved the quality of my videos.
Patience is the second pillar of my theme for this year. It is a value that I am still working on. To be honest, sometimes I feel stuck with my goals. Because I have felt this way, my friends and grandfather have been reminding me that I have to keep working on my goals until God moves me to the next season of my life. This gives me peace knowing that God will move me in his time and at his pace. Yes, it is okay to have patience.
Positivity is my third pillar of my theme for this year. I really had to get friends and family to remind me that being positive is going to make life easier. For example, Duke got a rash and grandpa and I had to take him to the vet. I was really worried about Duke. However, the vet was able to give him some medicine to help him feel better. He is now back to his old self. I am also very happy that SANE: Changing Mental Health for Good posted a photo and one of my blogs to their Twitter page. Life is good. I am eager to see what July brings.
Remember I believe in each and every one of you. You can achieve your dreams and goals one day, one step at a time.
Today’s guest post is from my friend Alexis. Alexis runs a Facebook page all about her guide dog, Yankee. Be sure to check out her Facebook page to learn more about Yankee. 🙂 Thank you Alexis for being a guest.
What is your name? My name is Alexis Read
Age?: I’m 37 years old.
Who has inspired you the most in life and your blogging?
My teacher of the Visually Impaired, Phyllis LeDosquet, inspires me as she was such an excellent teacher. Her teaching inspired my work with others with vision loss. When Phyllis was my teacher, she taught skills and concepts using real examples. For example, when I didn’t know about sizes of fruit in late elementary school, Phyllis took me to a grocery store to show me various fruit. She also had a brilliant idea when I was so negative. She had slips of paper where each negative comment was written. Phyllis had all of these comments on one side of the desk. As each comment was read, Phyllis explained why the trait is positive. She then moved the trait to the opposite side of the table. This activity helped me develop my own teaching tool for a 10 year old student in the summer of 2003. Another person who inspires me is a man from Louisville, KY. He’s blind and has a variety of physical disabilities. His arms and legs are unable to be bent so he’s unable to walk independently. He plays the piano and trumpet as well as sings. He has a message of positivity and setting achievable goals. His PAT acronym is something I use regularly when setting goals. PAT stands for perseverance, passion, patience, attitude, and trust.
Photo of Alexis and guide dog Yankee. Photo credit: Vicki Curtis Stoner. She’s a local photographer.
Besides writing, what do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time, I enjoy reading, playing with my guide dog Yankee, and listening to music. Some of my favorite authors include Jodi Picoult and John Grisham. I also enjoy learning more about forensic science.
Name a bad habit that you have? A bad habit is using scientific words with people who aren’t familiar with the terms,
If I could meet anyone living or dead, I’d love to meet Patrick Henry Hughes. This is the young man from Louisville described above.
6. Name your best quality? My best quality is my attention to detail.
If you could interview anyone living or dead who would it be and why?
If I could meet anyone living or dead, I’d love to meet Patrick Henry Hughes. This is the young man from Louisville described above.
What is your college major/Minor? I have a BA in psychology and English literature with a minor in German. These degrees were obtained from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. My master’s degree is in vision rehabilitation therapy. I obtained this degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI.
What school (college or university) did you go to?
What is the title of your blog? I don’t have a blog, but my guide dog Yankee has his own Facebook page. I decided to start this page because I thought it would be fun to write from his perspective.
When and why did you start your blog?
Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope to be working at a university with students with disabilities. This would be very rewarding because I believe college education is important for individuals with disabilities.
What is the name/cause of your visual impairment (or other disability that you may have)? My vision loss was caused from optic atrophy and nystagmus.
How does your visual impairment (or other disability that you may have) effect you on a daily basis? I have more central vision than peripheral vision. I use a guide dog for independent travel. He’s a sweet and smart yellow Lab. I use screen reading technology to access the computer and my iOS devices.
What do other people feel about your visual impairment (or other disability that you may have)? Others appear to accept my vision loss, but acceptance isn’t a universal theme. There are people in Society who seem not to accept people with disabilities. Society’s ignorance is the biggest barrier to success for those with disabilities.
If you had to give one piece of advice to others about having a visual impairment (or other disability that you may have) what would it be? If I could offer any advice to others with disabilities, I’d advise young people to find a field they enjoy and that has good job prospects. I also would advise people to have good blindness skills like daily living, travel, and assistive technology skills. Being competent in the skills of blindness will serve you well in life.
– What caused your visual impairment? The cause of my visual impairment is a condition called congenital Nystagmus. I also have Night Blindness and I have light sensitivity.
– What can’t you see? I can’t see details that are far away very well. I also struggle to see small print and my computer when I am not using ZoomText.
– What can you see? I love to see my family and friends and the day when it is sunny outside.
– What is your favorite piece of technology and how do you use it? I love my Amazon Echo. I got my Echo last year. I love it because it helps me with keeping up with my shopping lists. I also use it for spell check.
– What do you want the sighted world to know about visual impairment? That just because I wear glasses that does not mean that it will fix it. Right now, there is no cure for Nystagmus.
I would like to tag the following people to complete this challenge:
