Author Archives: dbilpuch97

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About dbilpuch97

I am completely blind, and, a disability rights advocate in my state.

My Self Care Tool Box By Dawn

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My Self-care Toolbox


What do you think of when you hear the term "Self-care,"
Spa days, mani-pedis, long vacations, something else?
What's the first thought that comes to your mind when you hear the term "Self-care∘?
how expensisve it is, "That's not in my budget!" "Self-care is just an excuse!" "I can barely afford to live! What in the world makes you think I'm able to afford to indulge in self-care?!" "It's too cookie-cutter. These types of approachs don's fit my needs, lifestyle, etc." "My job doesn't leave much time for self-care, or, at least, not enough to make an impact." "Only someone like Zuckberg can afford self-care!" some form of, "I'm all right! I don't need self-care."
Is there some other thought?

You're probably sitting there thinking "Who the heck is she to talk about SELF-care?! She doesn't know a thing about me or my life, my needs, etc!"
You're right, while I don't know about your life, circumstances, needs, etc, I do know a couple things.
1. I have some of these same thoughts.
2. Cookie-cutter appoaches do not fit every one!
3. I know and understand more than you may think or realize, especially as an advocate for disability rights.


This is why I decided to write about my self-care toolbox (or toolboxes?) and maybe even add a few surprises and ideas!
But, first, we'll lay some groundwork, talking about what self-care is, and can be, and why it's important for advocates to indulge in self-care.


What the heck is self-care anyway?

The World Health Organization's (WHO's) working definition of self-care is:

"The ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health-care provider".


What Self-care Can Be

Self-care isn't always about spa days, cruises and long vacations, mani-pedis, and other things of this nature. While it can be about this, it doesn't have to be! It can be something as simple as going for a walk or doing a quick deep-breathing exercise in between calls, grabbing some lunch, spending time virtually or in-person with people you love, or any other number of things! The best part about this, is that unlike a lot of other things in life, self-care can be tailored to you, your lifestyle, circumstances, needs, and so forth. This is another reason why I wanted to approach it from this angle. I wanted to give some ideas to help you build your own self-cste toolbox, or toolboxes.


Now, we come to the $1,000,000 questions. What are the benefits of self-care, and why is it important for advocates to indulge in a little self-care?

Self-care can bring several long and short-term benefits. Some of the short-term benefits include:
• Reduced stress levels
• Increase self-worth and feelings of belonging and love

Some of the long-term benefits you could reap include:
• Reduced stress levels:
Whether we want to admit it or not, life can be and is stressful, and stress loves to attack us on multiple fronts. Whether it's the every day humdrum of life, or increased in workload, or going to war with insurance because of a denial, or any of a laundry list of other circumstances. This can have short and long-term affects, from increased worry and mood changes, to affecting relationships and a higher risk of worsening of existing heabbth conditions, or the development of health conditions.

• Management of chronic health conditions:
When chronic conditions are managed, it allows people to live the lives they want to, and can have ripple-affects across all areas of life.

• Prevention of diseases and chronic conditions:
Remember when I said that stress can have long-term affects, and how one of those could be the worsening were existing conditions or spur their development? When you practice self-care, your stress levels get reduced, and when that happens, your body and mind are very thankful!

• Better relationships:
When you're stressed, have a bad day/week, or anything else is happening, a simple conversation about what to have for dinner, can easily turn into a battlefield. When you practice self-care, no one has to avoid figurative landmines as much.

• Reduction of burnout:
This one is a huge one, no matter what your occupation or disability. Burnout is a very real and serious concern. People in certain professions, such as advocacy are at a heightened risk. For advocates, we face burnout that can be caused by various factors, whether it's due to our disability(ities) or advocacy itself. This makes it paramount for advocates of any kind to practice and implement self-care tools and strategies.


Why Self-care Is Important For Advocates


As I stated, it is paramount of advocates to practice self-care, for many reasons.

This job can and will change you, in more ways than you can ever expect, and in ways you won't realize until later. It will change your mind and psyche, because you will have scars ripped open, and you will have some new scars. Sometimes, the ripping open of old scars, and the making of new/fresh scars, will happen publicly. Some people and their actions can trigger your trauma, and it will feel the affects for a long time afterward. You will and do see, deal with, hear, way more than you should ever have to in this job, whether it's the callousness of policymakers, or abuse and neglect, among other things. You will hear and see things in your head, day and night, especially when you lay your head down to sleep, including the ghosts from your past, the voice of a person on a call you were on whose in desperate need of mental health support, the list is endless. Not everyone will understand, see or appreciate you, what you do, why you do it, the nature of it, or anything else about disability, advocacy, etc. 
This can and will drain your batteries quickly, and lead you to ask yourself a lot of hard questions. Some of those people will be people you are closest to, or some of them may even be people you would expect to, but don't. 
We clean up a lot of emotional and mental vomit as part of our job, sometimes, owe do this even when we're either trying to clean up our own, or when we're vomiting emotionally and mentally. sometimes, we hold people's hair back while this is going on, and sometimes, the emotional and mental vomit gets all over us.
You will come home wearing the emotional and mental gore of your day, and the job. Figuratively speaking, you will get blood on your hands, and it will come from many different sources. Sometimes, it will be very hard and even impossible to wash it off. This job is public service, which means you're always on the clock. This can and does take a toll on you, mentally, emotionally, maybe even physically and spiritually, and you may not realize how much until you've been in it for a while.
This job will push you to the brink mentally and emotionally, it will push you to your breaking point, and even past it at times. You will seriously think about leaving, and might even be driven to form your exit strategy.
You will relive your trauma over and over again, and sometimes, it will be in the public eye, and sometimes it will be at night.

Last but certainly not least, we fight battles on several fronts in several different battlefields at times. We're often the reenforcements and backup that get's called in whenever someone is trying to get services and supports, whether it's for themselves, or a loved one, or they need to find a resource, or any number of things. On top of that, we're trying to fight for ourselves, whether it's battling our chronic conditions, having to educate people about our disability when we're at our most volnerable, and shouldn't have to, or just trying to live and survive with the services and supports or lack thereof that we have.

Now, I want to pull out the self-care toolbox, (or is it toolboxes?) and show you some of the tools of the trade.
My Self-care Toolbox Has:

1. My fidget spinners:
I use these for a variety of different situations. I play with them when I'm thinking, stressed, angry, or to help pay attention sometimes. I'll even play with one while I'm thinking about something for instance, when I'm creating a flyer for my NFB. Ohio devision's weekly virtual happy hour. There's several different ones that I use, the it depends on what situation I'm in, or what activity I'm doing. Amazon is a great place to find some different fidget toys and spinners.

2. My stuffed animals:
Sometimes, when I need some comfort, I'll snuggle up with one of my stuffed animals that I have. Recently, I took a virtual training that was several hours long, and very intense. During this training, they showed videos and talked about various situations, and some of them were very triggering for me. One of these times, was when they showow a video that brought back memories of a very traumatic event that happened to me, I was able to grab my sloth, and hug it.

3. my books:
Reading has been one of my main coping mechanisms for years! It's great no matter what situation you're in, and it offers an escape hatch.

4. My cats:
I like to start my day off of some chocolate the  Coke on ice, and, spending some time with my cats, and giving them attention. If I can't start my day by seeing them, whether it's due to my schedule, or them not wanting attention at that time, I will carve out time in my day, or wait til the end of my day, and spend some time with them. It's safe to say that if I don't get to see them, my day is incomplete.

5. My bed massager:
This is a recent addition to my toolbox, thanks to an aunt. It has different settings, I can choose which parts are activated, and it has different modes. It even has a heating element. I can't even begin to describe how relaxing it is to lay down on that thing, when laying down for a nap, for instance!

6. Naps
Speaking of laying down for a nap, naps are another tool in my toolbox. It allows me to recharge my batteries, and get a power boost to get through my day, among other things.
7. My support system:
Whenever I'm having a difficult day, need something converted down, or anything else, having people I can lean on is a great comfort. They give me an ear, shoulder, and so much more!

8. My headache wraps:
Whenever I have a bad headache, which is common as I have severe allergy/sinus issues, I'll strap one of those to my head, and, it allows me to get some comfort, and relief. It has also made it possible for me to get through a busy workday, when I can't rest.

9. Music in all its forms:
Music is very important to me, and, I listen to a variety of stuff. I listen to music on the radio, on CD. or using technology such as an Iphone or smart speaker. I'll talk more about that later on. 

10. Braille:
This one is a cornerstone for me. It's my preferred way of accessing things and information, whether it be electronically, or in hardcopy. Plus, I can comprehend it better. It allows me to do things that are a component of self-care, such as eating, because I can heat up something in the microwave since it's brailled.



My Self-care Technology Toolbox:


I know that this is and will be a controversial topic. While tech can be a double-edged sword, it is a tool that can be used as part of your self-care toolbox. In fact, there's so many tools you can use in your self-care tech toolbox, that I decided to make a whole separate toolbox. Also, if you don't like something, such as an app, there's a plethora of others out there to try. If you like multiple apps for different reasons, that's ok too! Also, you can put whatever tools you want in here, including assistive technology! With this in mind, here's the contents of my self-care tech toolbox!


1. My Braille display:
This is a very important one. It allows me to read my books in electronic braille, as well as other things. It also allows me to do things on my Iphone and Ipad, and have greater independence in doing them. It also reduces stress at work, because I can have information in the way I want/need it, and I can write the way I prefer to. I access books from the NLS. and Bookshare, which is another service that offers ebooks in accessible formats.

2. My Amazon Smart Speaker:
Amazon doesn't call these smart speakers for nothing! You can play games, listen to books, set timers, listen to books and podcasts, listen to music, and so much more! For instance, you can set a timer for meditation, and a reminder to meditate. You can listen to a podcast it enjoy, or listen to a book. You can play many kinds of games. The list is endless!
One thing I use is the Sleep Jar skill, which plays different sound affects. My favorite ones to play ste the waterfall or the babbling brooke.

3. My Iphone and Ipad:
I use my Iphone and Ipad to do various things. I use it to read books using the Kindle app, listen to audiobooks using the BARD. Mobile app, from The National Library Service For The Blind And Print Disabled, the Libby app, which allows me to check ebooks and audiobooks from my local library and several other state libraries. Yes, you read that right, getting a library card (or several) is a form of self-care, and it costs you nothing! What better time to do it, since this month is Library card month and self-care month!     

I use them to listen to music, whether through the Spotify app, or the YouTube Music app, or the YouTube, or an app to listen to live radio stations, such as TuneIn.
I also use them to stay connected to my support system. Whether by making a phone call, or using the Zoom platform, email, text messages, or some other means of communication.

                                   



I also use a feature called focus. It allows you to have different notification settings for apps, designate who can and who is forbidden to bug you at certain times of the day, or when you're at certain locations, or when you're in certain apps. You can even have customized lock and home screens that show up when these focuses are activated! You can even automate it, having it start when ever you open your meditation app for instance. If you need time-sensitive notifications, you can even set if those appear too! I have focuses set up with reading, listening to music, listening to podcasts, and another one called meeting, as well as the oldie but goodie do not disturb. My meeting focus is set to only allow notifications from certain apps, allows certain people like close family and friends to call or text, and a couple of other things. All of these focuses are automated, mean that when I open aary of the apps that go with that focus, the focus starts automatically. You even can use these settings in reversed too! To set it up, head over to the settings apps, and choose focus option, and look at what options you have. I think you'll be surprised. Don't worry though, these settings are not set in stone, you can change them at any time. Also, if you have people that you may not necisarily want to give an all-access pass to, but, you want them to be able to get ahold of you in an emergency, you can have them call cack within 3 minutes. When this happens, it will go through, regardless of focus settings.
I also use them to listen to podcasts sometimes, and I use different podcatchers, such as the built-in podcasts app!

You can use them for various other things such as journaling, meditation, and so much more, and some apps, such as YouTube, and TuneIn are stulti-purpose, which means they can be used for different things all in one app!

4. My noise-cancelling headphones:
I have sensory issues, and, they help me block out noises such as fireworks, or they can dull them down. While they don't block everything, they're a godsend. One situation they helped with, which was the original reason we purchased them, is during Independence Day weekend. They were able to block out the sound of the fireworks, and muffle the sound of my radio.
I can have them on, and just block out the noise of the word when I need a break as well.


5. A new addition to my toolbox:

This one is a new addition to my toolbox. I know that this one will be controversial, however, it's an unexpected use-case, and, if used responsibly, I think it could work for some people. The newest addition to my self-care tech toolbox, is AI. more spicifically the Gemini app.
I use it to journal and explein what's going on in my head, and my day, and life. What's nice, is it asks questions back at you sometimes, and you have the opportunity to answer them. While it's not a real person, it does open the lines of communication, and can help explain feelings, thoughts, etc, that you can't put into words. This is especially important for me, because this $ and has always been a struggle for me. This has opened the lines of communication between me and a close friend of mine, whose a vital part of sty support system. What I will do, is show him the prompt, and the response along with it. I'll put it all in a document, and share that file with him. It has helped in more ways than I can explain.


An item that's not part of my toolbox, but, wish it was, and why it's not

Originally, I was not going to put this here, but, because this month is also Suicide prevention and awareness month, along with self-care awareness month, I decided to put this here.
I've been on the hunt for a good mood tracker app that is accessible with VoiceOver, and have not found one yet. This search has been going on for years. The ones I've found either were inaccessible, or they were somewhat accessible, or they required so many workarounds, that it defeated the purpose of the app.

More advocacy needs to be done to make these and other mental health apps accessible for people with disabilities. For instance, having these apps classified as health devices and their compamies classified as healthcare companies. This way, they would fall under the ADA. which has provisions for healthcare of people with disabilities. Or even putting them in the Digital Accessibility Act, or some other form of legislation.



Final Thoughts

I hope this gives you some ideas of what you can put in your self-care toolbox, or different types of toolboxes you can make. What's in your toolbox, do you have more than one? What tools would you recommend adding to self-care toolboxes? What does self-care mean to you, what are some things you think of when you think of or hear the term self-care? Feel free to discuss all of this and anything else related to self-care, and how it relates to advocacy in the comments!

To Update Or Not? A Way To Make A More Informed Choice By Dawn

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It seems like every day some piece of firmware or svtware needs updating. Whether it’s the operating system on our phones or computers, or an app or program. When that happens, we often hear and ask the million-dollar question. “Should I update, or not?” If I had a dollar for every time I’ve asked this question aloud or to myself, I think I’d be quite rich! For most people, updating isn’t a big deal. There may be changes in how things look, or work, and enhancements and bug fixes, and some bugs. While some bug bites are more severe than others, most of the time, the bug is found and squashed quickly, or, they may only fly around your head and annoy you. So, for the most part, the answer is black-white, and, a little more clear-cut, and, it’s an easy choice for people to make. 

However, for people with disabilities, things can get a little more complex. If our devices got infested with bugs, a bug bite could be at best annoying and easily dealt with and worked around, and, at worst, the effects can be severe. This could range from not being able to use apps or software, or, accessibility features, such as VoiceOver, and support for assistive tech such as braille displays being broken as well. Because of this, we have to use caution, and, oftentimes the word update makes us cringe. Some people might even consider that word to be on the same level as a swear word. So, we typically either don’t update until we’re forced to, or, we watch and wait to see what bugs people are getting bit by. This is the approach is the one I take, along with asking others. For Apple users, the best place to go to track bugs that are and aren’t related to accessibility, is AppleVis. Every year, their team tests beta software, and, they report on the new features and bugs that they got bit by. 

However, because their team is small, they couldn’t test every use case. Then, people can and do comment on the post, and, if they wish, people can subscribe to it, receiving notifications through email. At times, this can become… overwhelming. This is what I do, because it’s the best way for me to keep track of all of it. Plus, reports are scattered throughout the site such as in their forums where people can go to give and receive help. However, AppleVis has pulled the curtain back on something that will hopefully make it easier to make an informed choice. They will be launching a community bug tracking initiative to give the community an opportunity to talk about bugs they have been bitten by.

If you would like to read more about it, you can click the link below:

The initiative is expected to launch in the second week of June, just in time for Apple’s Worldride Developers Conference, where they announce upcoming software releases.

The spicifics are still being worked out, however, they are anticipating it looking as follows:

• The program will be open to anyone using either the IOS. or Mac-OS. betas.

• You will be required to submit reports of any and all bugs that are found to Apple through their Feedback app. This is so that Apple can be made aware of them, which will help make it easier to squash them. When you report a bug through the Feedback app, you will get a Feedback number, which you will provide when reporting a bug. No submissions will be accepted without a feedback number.

• Participants will fill out a form with the following information:

* The issue that was encountered

* The platform the issue was encountered on

* The steps to reproduce the issue

* The Apple feedback number

• The AppleVit team will see if their device(s) are infested with that bug, by attempting to reproduce the issue, and see if they get bitten. If they do, they will report the bug to Apple, and, keep track of it throughout the beta cycle. If the bug is still present in the Golden Master of the beta, which is the version that will be released to the consummers, then AppleVis will include it in its bug report, which lists and details new bugs, and, bugs that have been squashed.

• If they’re unable to reproduce an issue, they will not be able to track it internally, or put it in their bug report. However, people are welcome to post about issues and bugs they’re experiencing in the comments section, as well as in the forum, as has been done previously.

• If a user-submitted bug is included in the report, that user will get mentioned. However, you can remain anonymous if you wish.              

• Program participants will be featured in the final announcement release, however, you can choose to remain anonymous if you wish.

AppleVis has been publishing these bug reports since as least 2012, and, many blind Apple users, including myself, have and still do heavily rely on these to help us make the decision to update or wait. I have directed people to AppleVis in the past whenever they have asked that million-dollar question. However, because they’re an independent editorial organization, they have a small team. This means that testing eferts can only go so far. I will say though, that they have done an amazing job, and, they continue to. In 2022, they evolved their guidelines to allow for posting about beta software in their forums, and, created spaces in their forums for this. This is an excelent way to broaden the scope of testing, tracking and reporting of bugs, and will hopefully give a clearer picture of each release. This will in turn, help us better weigh the pros and cons, and, in general, make a more informed choice. Also, while some people may not either agree with me, or, not think or realize this, being a beta tester, tracking and reporting bugs is a form of advocacy. When you beta test an app or piece of software, as a person with a disability, you are using your assistive tech, such as a braille display, or, accessibility feature(s) such as VoiceOver. This is a very unique perspective that most developers, engineers, etc, don’t get every day, unless they use these features day in and day out. This means that they can track whether the bug is occurring for users of a Focus Braille Display from Vispero, or, a Brailliant BIX. series braille display from HumanWare. You’re educating them on how the disabled community uses their devices every day, and how they help us live our lives. Also, if multiple users are reporting getting bit by the same bug, then, it’s likely that the bug will get fixed. As the saying goes, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. In other words, this is a unique way to make your voice heard.

I hope that this will be expanded to include all of Apple’s softoware releases. Although I’m sure that will happen at some point in the future. I also hope that it gets opened up to users who are not beta testers as well. Because not everyone can be a beta tester for many reasons. For example, some people either don’t have a backup device, or, their device(s) are mission-critical, meaning they’re needed for school, work, or other reasons. I usually don’t beta test Apple software, however, I do and have beta tested several apps. However, this initiative is making me think about jumping in.

I want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on this initiative? Have you ever been a beta tester, and, if so, did you test an app or a software version? Are you still beta testing? If you have an Ios. device or a Mac, are you thinking about being a beta tester, and/or participating in this initiative? If you are a beta tester, what would you want both new beta testers, and people are are considering being beta testers to know either before or when they jump into the deep end of the pool so to speak? Feel free to share these and other thoughts in the comments section of this post!                                     

Voting With A Disability In Ohio by Dawn

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Voting In Ohio: What Ohioans With Disabilities, And The People Who Support Them Need to Know


It's a new year, and, that means a lot of new things, beginnings etc. Some of those new things and beginnings are a new legislative cycle, a new budget season, and, along with that, the start of a new election season. In fact, there's an election coming up in Ohio on May 6th. With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to write about voting in Ohio, and give some good information for Ohioans with disabilities, and the people that support them, such as family members.

I attended a presentation today on Advocacy Wednesday with OSDA. on We Thrive Together where Brett Harbage, the ADA. Cordinator for The Ohio Secretary Of Ate's Office, talked about voting for people with disabilities. I want to give you some of his insights, knowledge, and tips, as well as my experience, along with some tips and resources that I've found helpful when voting as a person with a disability. However, I also want to hear from you! What has your experience been as a disabled Ohio voter, and, did you vote in-person, or absentee? Also, what tips and resources do you have that you think might be helpful?


Advocacy Wednesday With OSDA. is a weekly virtual presentation on We Thrive Together, with a different topic every week. If you'd like to attend, or access past recordings of presentations, you can go to:


www.wethrivetogether.org




This week, Brett Harbage, the ADA. Cordinator for the Ohio Secretary Of State's Office stopped by, to talk about voting in Ohio for people with disabilities. He covered various aspects, including, registration, what to expect on Election Day, and, the various options that Ohioans have for voting. First, I'll start with the key takeaways:

1. Both the Boards Of Elections, and the Secretary Of State have rights and responsibilities to make voting accessible for people with disabilities. However, voters also have rights and responsibilities.
2. There's several options for registering to vote in Ohio, including the ability to do it online.
3. There's also several options for casting your vote in Ohio, including absentee voting.


With that in mind, let's get into more detail about different aspects of voting in Ohio as a person with a disability.

Rights And Responsibilities Of Board Of Elections, And Secretary Of State


In Ohio, all 88 counties have a board of elections. They, along with the Secretary Of State's Office, have the responsibility to make sure that disabled Ohioans have what they need to vote as independently as possible. For example, making sure polling locations are accessible, and that pollworkers are trained on how to use accessible voting machines. This could also mean resolving issues if and when they occur. However, as voters we have rights and responsibilities as well.


Your Rights And Responsibilities As A Voter


As a voter, we have various rights and responsibilities. This includes:


1. Know and remember deadlines.
Knowing and remembering deadlines is very important as a voter. For instance, you must be registered 30 days prior to the election. For instance, if you wanted to vote in the election on May 6th, you'll need to have your voter registration application in by April 7th.
That will be here before you know it, so, be sure to have a reminder for that date, such as creating an all-day event in your calendar app.


2. Double-check and make sure you're registered, and that the information is up-to-date.
It's crucial to check and make sure you're registered to vote, and, that your information is up-to-date. Life happens, and as such, that could mean some information may have changed. You may have moved, or, you may have gotten married and changed your name. That means you will have to update your information, so that it's accurate and updated when you cast your ballot.


3. Know what your options are.
You have several options for casting your ballot. You can vote absentee, take advantage of early voting, or, you can go to your polling location and cast your ballot, or take advantage of curbside voting. Make sure you know where your Board Of Elections office is, and/or your polling location! It's also important that you know what your options are for registering to vote. You can pick up an application at your local license bureau, request for an application to be mailed to you by your board of elections. Some libraries may also have voter registration forms, and, you can also register online. Yes, you read that right. You can register to vote from the comfort of your couch, bed, no matter where you are. You can also update your information online. We'll get into more detail about all of that later.  


4. Educate yourself on the issues and candidates.
This election will be a primary and special election. That means that you will be choosing the candidates that will be on the ballot for the November 4th election, as well as voting on issues that are spicfic to your town, city, municipality, county, etc. This is one reason why it's very important to keep your voter information updated. It's important to know who you're voting for, and what your voting on.

There's several ways you can do your research. It's always good to do research on all candidates and issues. When I go to vote, it's a several day process. Because I dive deep into researching the candidates, and issues. I will use everything from non-partisan sites such as On The Issues, which talks about some candidates stand on a wide variety of issues such as crime. I will also sometimes use Ballotpedia for biographies on candidates, however, I'll sometimes go to their social media (mainly Facebook) pages. I also sometimes look at newspaper articles, depending on the content. Also, I let past experience speak for itself too.
I also listen to any debates or interviews that I can. I'd also try and see if you can find audio interviews on The Sound Of Ideas, which is an NPR. program. You can go to:


https://www.ideastream.org/

 
 
 
One time, during mid-term elections, I found interviews of candidates that were running for state office in my district, and listened to them.
Also, another thing that might be helpful especially for the local issues and candidates, is if there's a Meet The Candidates Night being broadcasted. There's 2 local radio stations that cover my area. The city I live in has a local radio station, and there's also a radio station that covers my county. Meet the candidates nights have been broadcasted on both of those in the past, and, I'll listen to them. During those programs, the facilitators/moderators will ask questions and give each candidate a set time limit to respond. Sometimes, the candidates responses to the questions, and how they are, and if they show up, have factored into my decision.
 
 
Here's an example of what I type into Google when doing research on a candidate:
 
John Smith Ballotpedia
 
 
Or, let's say that I want to know John Smith's stance on an issue, here's what I would type into Google:
 
John Smith crime OnTheIssues
 
You can also put:
 
www.ontheissues.org




If you are under guardianship, you still have the right to vote, unless a probate court judge has spicifically stated that you can't. However, it is a rarity for this to happen.

He also talked about all the options you have when you cast your ballot. I'll give you a run-down of your options, and how to access them.


1. Voting at your polling location on Election Day
You can go to the polling location on Election Day from 6 AM. to 7:30 PM. and cast your ballot. There, you will have an accessible voting machine, or a paper ballot for instance. You can bring someone with you to help you vote. For instance, I bring mom to help me vote, and, we just tell them that she's here to help me vote. Make sure you bring proper identification, and name your address, and you can sign your name.

2. You can take advantage of early voting.
You can also vote early, before Election Day. Early voting starts the day after the voter registration deadline. So, for instance, it will start on April 8th, for the May 6th election. There are state hours, and, during the last 2 weeks, there will be evening and weekend hours for you to vote early.
This is the option that I usually take advantage of, for a number of reasons. 
I can go to my board of elections office and vote! I know that not only will they have the accessible voting machine there, but, they will also have someone there that's trained on how to use it, and, set it up. This means that I can vote independently. I just need someone to drive me to and from the election office, and take me to the scanner to put my ballot in, and take me to the accessible voting machine, help me find the headphones, and, fill out and date the paperwork. Plus, I can take my time, and, in my experience, there's never been a line, and, we don't have to wait!


3. Curbside voting
You can go to your polling location, and, there are designated parking spots for curbside voting. These spots are usually marked with signage. Just pull in, and, call them, and let them know you need to vote curbside. You can also call ahead, and, 2 pollworkers, one from each party, will come out to your vehicle, and bring your ballot to you.

5. You can request an absentee ballot.
You can apply to get an absentee ballot sent to you in the mail. You can apply online. Once you get your ballot, you, or someone you trust can fill it out, and either bring it to a drop-off box, or drop it in the mail, and send it back to the Board Of Elections Office in your county.
You can also request an accessible absentee ballot, that you can fill out on your computer. However, be aware that you will have to print it out, and mail it to your board of elections office.


He also talked about what to expect on Election Day. For instance, there may be accessible parking at your polling location, and, you may see campaigners. You will need to present your identification, and give your full name and address. If you don't have an ID. you can go to your license bureau and get one for free. There may also be a line as well. You will also need to sign your name.


While I hope that you don't run into issues casting your ballot, I know that it does happen. If you have any issues, you can ask for the manager for the polling location. If you are still having issues, you can call your Board Of Elections Office. If you are still having issues, you can call the Secretary Of State's Office, and ask to speak with the ADA. Corddinator. You can also send him an email at:


bharbage@ohiosos.gov


I've had a great experience with my county board of elections. In fact, ironically enough, when I spoke up about my experience, Mr. Harbage agreed, and, had just gotten off the phone with the director of our board of elections office!


Lastly, I want to give you some resources that I think might be helpful for people.


1. The Vote Ohio web site


This web site is Ohio's hub for all things voting. You can update your registration, register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and, so much more! They even have sections for voters with disabilities, and, hospitalized voters. You can also view the 2025 elections schedule there as well. If you'd like to go and check it out, you can go to:


https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/


2. An app to help you read your ballot, and find your polling location.

There's an app for Ohio voters that's free, called Ohio Voter Info, and, it's available on the apple App Store, and, google Play. When you install the app, you put in your name, and select the county from the spinner to set it up. From there, you can find your polling place, and, your sample ballot. To do this, find and activate the view sample ballot button. From there, you can choose from a list of sample ballots. Once you have the one you want, you will also find a button that lets you view an accessible ballot. Keep in mind that the ballot for this upcoming election may or may not be up yet. However, I was able to view a ballot from a past election. If your county is not listed, you can contact your County Board of elections office and request that they have their information be added to the app. You can even choose what party ballot you want as well as your municipality. This app does work with VoiceOver, but, there are some unlabeled buttons, and, getting it to work can be a little finicky, but, it is doable. If you'd like to download this app, you click on one of the following links.
To get it from the App Store, click here:


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ohio-voter-info/id1062335875


To get it on Google Play, you can click here:


https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.triadgsi.dev.ohiovotes&hl=en_US



I know it can be overwhelming, but, once you do it the first time, it will get easier each time you do it. Remember, don't be afraid to ask for help. Let's go out there, and put in our 2¢ worth!

   
     

					

		
		
	

							
	

				

			
						

				
			

										

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From The Lips And Thoughts Of An Advocate: What We Want To Say by Dawn





From The Lips And Thoughts Of An Advocate: What We Want To Say


As advocates, we hear and see a lot of heavy and beyond painful stuff. This is on top of the stuff we deal with in our day-to-day lives. Recently, I've heard a lot of heartbreaking and gut-wrenching stories, desperate pleas for help, and so much more from people. I've heard a lot in my 2 almost 3 years as a disability rights advocate. From the person whose worried because their Medicaid is at risk because of redeterminations being done during Appendix K. unwinding, to the person whose in desperate need of care providers, and everything in between. Sometimes after a day of conference calls, meetings, phone calls, etc, it weighs on us. For me, sometimes, it brings me to tears, makes me angry, and it makes my heart ache, squeeze, and break. That's putting it mildly! Especially when you hear and see the callousness, and the unwillingness to help or care, and so much more, including the inability to fix it on a call, or meeting. At night, when I go to sleep, it all weighs on my mind and heart, and, there's no off switch. So, I bury myself in work, listen to music, or do any other number of things to distract myself. Maybe I'll talk to someone about it, but, oftentimes,  Then, I get up and go back into the trenches the next day. But, there's so much I want to say, and, so much I wish I could do. So, I dedicate this piece to everyone needing help, everyone whose story I heard, whether it was theirs or their child's or family member's story, and everyone I've helped, and wish I could or could've helped, or done more for. This is what I want you all to know.

I want you to know that your story, situation, etc, will stick with me. I'll never forget your name, voice, story, situation, outcome, etc. It replays in my head every day, on loop. I hear your pain, desperation, and so much more, even after the day is done, the call is over, etc. Each story, call, or whatever it is, leaves a mark. One that won't go away, and that I won't forget.

I want you to know that you're not just another case, at least not to me. You have a name, a life, a unique story, and set of circumstances, and so much more. I don't and will never treat anyone as "just a case" I'll go above and beyond the call of duty. I will take your story, situation, circumstances, and everything else into account when looking for resources, or referring you to agencies or organizations. I won't just refer you to anyone or anywhere. I'll either refer you to agencies/organizations I trust, or that I have contacts in. I'll only refer you to people that I trust, and know will do right by you. Not only that, but, I'll keep an eye on you. Whether that means reaching out to follow up, or, just listening, or, even asking someone I know that will have a connection. I will sit on the phone with you as you make the calls, or I'll make the first call, and sit on the phone with you. I will even work in off-hours, and/or weekends to help find resources, or whatever.
If there's an issue, I want to hear about it, because, I want to and will do my best to get it resolved. I will celebrate your highs, victories, and more good things and happenings with and for you. However, I will also give you my ear to listen, and my shoulder to cry when you're at your lowest, have hit rock bottom.

Can every situation be fixed on a conference call, or meeting? No, and, I'll be the first to accknowledge that. But, please know that I want to follow up with you afterward, and do what I can. But, also know that I'm sending tons of empathy, sympay, compassion, hugs, and so much more your way.

There's so much more I want to say, and, I might consider elaborating on it, and writing another post about this. However, I want to hear from you! What would you want to say?

					

		
		
	

							
	

				

			
						

				The 2025 Budget: One little-known Way To Survive The Storm by Dawn
			

										

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The 2025 Budget: One little-known Way To Survive The Storm


The beginning of the year is a time for many things to happen, such as goal setting, transitions, and so much more. This year is no different. Once again, it's time for budget season in Ohio, where we will be transitioning to the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This means writing and/or submitting testimony, attending many calls and meetings, and really ramping up advocacy efforts. It can also mean being volnerable, and sharing personal experiences and stories. On top of that, each budget cycle is different. Things such as self-care, and seeking support when needed are great tools to have in your advocacy toolbox. However, there is another way you can save your sanity, and, it's one of those lifehacks in advocacy that either isn't talked about, or, if it is, this particular aspect of it isn't.

That life hack is called ADA Accommodations , more specifically , getting a copy of the budget in a format that's accessible to you. Yes, you read that right. You have the right to make a request for ADA. accommodations for the budget bill... or, any piece of legislation for that matter, as well as any documents or materials such as written testimony. Don't worry, it's not as painful as you might think it will be. We'll cover the process, the response, and my experience. But, first, I'll give you a crash course on why you may need to ask for accommodations for the budget bill or any other bill, and any associated material such as documents, and written testimony.

 But, before we get into that, here's some things to keep in mind. First, the main operating budget bill has been introduced this week, which leads to the second thing. The sooner you request the accommodation(s) you need, the better, because they need time to process your request, get it into an alternative format, among other things. This way, you can be up-to-date with everything that's going on, and take action, whether that means submitting testimony, reaching out to legislators and representatives and senators, or something else. Also, everyone has different needs, abilities, and use-cases and daily set-ups, and, that's ok! That just means that we'll all need different accommodations, and, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to this. Now, let's get into the ADA Accommodations request process.

Let's start out with the reason(s) why I asked for accommodations, and why you might want to as well. For starters, the bills are posted on the My Ohio Legislature web site, which is not accessible for screenreaders users such as myself. Then, if you do manage to find the bill you want, for instance, the budget bill, guess what format it will be in? If you guessed PDF. then, you are correct. While the PDF. file extension stands for portable digital format, or picture digital format, for people with disabilities, especially screenreader users, such as myself, PDF. can and does stand for a myriad of other things. Some of which may not be appropriate to put in a blog post. For me, PDF. stands for picture digital frustration, among other things.
But, all kidding and jokes aside, PDF. files in my experience, do not play nice with screenreaders or braille devices. Or, if they were made to be accessible, typically, people didn't do it correctly, or, there were other elements in it such as images that either made it inaccessible, or the elements themselves were inaccessible, or, it wouldn't work on the device someone uses. I could tell you many horror stories about dealing with PDF. documents, and, I'm sure a lot of you have your own bad experiences. Then, there's the file size. To give you a baseline, HB. 33, the last budget bill was 9200 pages, or, 8 megabytes. The bigger the bill, the ligger the file size. Which could mean that you could have a hard time converting it into an alternative format, whether you do it yourself, or have someone else do it for you. Especially because a lot of conversion software and web sites have file size limitations. You may even have a hard time opening it on certain devices, or in certain apps, even with large storage thresholds. Or, if you have a device that has file size limits, and that's the only device you have, not to mention is part of your daily set-up, things could get dicey.
This is what happened in my case. When I tried opening the budget bill for last year, I ran up against file size limitations on my braille display that I use, and the application I normally use. Even opening it on my Ipad and Iphone which have more resources, it was still a struggle if not impossible. While I could've had it in hardcopy braille, that would take a long time, and they may have had to ship it here on a semi truck, not to mention it would take up a whole lot of space. Because braille is thicker than print.
There may be other reasons why you might want to ask for accommodations. Let's get into the request process.

Before you submit the request, think about what your needs are. While I know what I need, and do an ok job of expressing those nethes, I realize that might not be the same for everyone, especially if you've never went through this process before. Some people may know what they need but, don't know how to express it. Some people may not necisarily know what they need. I recommend writing your needs down on a piece of paper, or on your computer, tablet or phone. For instance, if you know what file formats work on your braille display, write that down. Then, go through those formats, and think about what's worked in the past, and what hasn't, then, jot that down too. Then, think about what other needs you have, such as if you need it in plain language, or, if you make notes to yourself on things you need to follow up on or watch closely, for instance. Then, think about what format(s) you prefer, and write them down in the order of preference. For me, I prefer: BRF. (braille reading/ready file/format) TXT. or, DOCX. I can read RTF. files, however, I only use this as a last resort.

Then, find who you need to contact. In this case, since we're requesting a copy of the budget bill in an accessible format, we'll go to the Ohio Legislative Services Commission web site. Then, you'll need to find a link that says "Key Contacts" and click on it. When requesting ADA. accommodations, a good general rule is to look for an ADA. cordinator, or Equal Opportunity Employment Coordinator, or something similar. The next best thing, is to find the director or head of whatever office, agency, commission, etc that are making the request to. In this case, you'd reach out to the director of the Ohio Legislative Services Commission, Wendy Zhan. Here is a link to the Key Contact page on the Ohio Legislative Services Commission's web site:


https://www.lsc.ohio.gov/about/key-contacts


Here is Director Wendy zhan's email:


Wendy.Zhan@lsc.ohio.gov


This page is accessible for screenreader users, you can navigate by heading to reach the contents of the page, by link to access the contact informan, and staff directors. For that, I want to give a lot of kudos to them, because their site is one of the very few government web sites both in the state, and nationally that are accessible.

Then, once you find the name of the person to contact, you can click on it to open your email program. You are now ready to write your request!
Here are some things to keep in mind and tips for this process.
Be kind, but firm, however, don't back down. As the old saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I do understand the frustration, irritatation, etc that can come with advocacy, not getting your needs met, and all the shananigans we have to go through both in advocacy and as people with disabilities. However, it's always best to start out with kindness, and patience, among other things, but, you can also be firm. If you're coming up against obstacles, or barriers, then it's time to get firm. Also, don't give up! Lean on other people for support, file an ADA. claim if you have to, as a last resort.

Send your request in writing. While you can call the office, it's better to send an email. With emails, there's a paper trail, and, I also suggest making use of the blind carbon copy field as well. This way, you can have a copy of the email that's off-site, which will help in many situations.

I recommend having a few options if you can. While I prefer TXT. I'll also take a DOCX. file if TXT. isn't possible. I can also use RTF. files, however, due to formatting sometimes being iffy, I only use them as a last resort. then, if someone sends me a file in RTF. format, I send it to a friend of mine, who converts it to TXT. format. This way, I can get that converted down to a TXT. format. Another reason is if and when TXT. isn't possible or feasible, DOCX. has worked ok as an alternative in the past. Again, list the formats you want in order of preference. Although as a heads-up, the Ohio LSC. doesn't have the ability to produce files in BRF. format.

Let them know they can reach out and where and how they can contact you with any other questions is also a good idea too. When I was submitting my request, and, trying to figure out the best option that would work for everyone, I offered to set up a phone or Zoom call as well. I'm open to that, because they can give you a list of what resources they have, and, you can tell them what your needs are, and you can find a solution that will work for all parties. Plus, in the case of a bill, they might be able to tell you how things will be laid out, formatted, etc, which can and at times does factor into the equation. Also, it gives them an osportunity to learn about accessibility, and alternative formats, screenreaders and braille displays, and the like.
Keep an eye on your inbox. They may send you emails asking questions about your needs, etc. Be prepared to answer them. Also, if they find another way to convert the bill into an accessible format, that's great! Also, when they respond, they may copy another staff person on the reply. If they do this, I recommend hitting the resly all button. If you do this, it will go to everyone on the to field of the email, including those in the CC. field. Keep in mind it will not get sent to people you put in the blind carbon copy field. Although I recommend blind copying everyone on the replies you send, and forwarding anything that you get.


I will say, that for me, the process is ongoing. We had to work out some stuff related to file size limitations, as I stated earlier. However, I gave a couple schggestions/options, and, even offered to set up a phone or Zoom call to have further discussion if needed. It also doesn't hurt to let them know that these are the only device(s) you have. We were able to find a solution that will hopefully work, by breaking the budget bill into sections, with file sizes being no more than 1-2 MB. in size, and putting them in a zip folder. I should hear something and know more soon, !stce the operating budget bill has been released this week on February. I would like to publicly thank director Wendy Zhan, and her colleague, Megan Cummiskey for their assistance, and going above and beyond. They have been doing an awesome job, and, I'm more than greatful for their help, and willingness to work with me on this.

I know that this might seem overwhelming, especially if you've never had to do this before or very much. With that in mind, I've put together a couple of resources that may help you. One is a template that you can use when writing your email. You can customize it however you like, including what accommodations you need. I've also put together a little worksheet that you can fill out with different questions, such as what your needs are. You can also customize this however you like, and, you can write down your answers, or, type it on your computer, phone or tablet. Both documents will be in TXT. format to make things as accessible as possible.

If you have knowledge, experience, etc regarding this, I highly encourage you to share that with others in the advocacy community. I got my knowledge about this from another fellow advocate, and, I cannot thank her enough! Now, I'm paying it forward, by writing a blog post about this, and, passing on not only what I learned, but, my experience so far. Remember, you have the right to ask for accommodations under the Americans With Disabilities Act, and, there's nothing wrong with asking questions, and, asking for help. Asking for accommodations or help doesn't make you any less of an advocate or person. In fact, it does the opposite. Asking for accommodations, help, etc, is a sign of strength, guts and courage


I want to hear from you! Have you requested ADA Accommodations, and, is if so, what was your experience? Who and/or what agency or organization did you request accommodations from, and what materials did you request accommodations for? Did you get your accommodation(s) you needed? If not, what alternatives if any, did you utilize? Did you run into any barriers, and, if so, how did you overcome them? Do you have any other tips, knowledge, suggestions, etc to share?                    

					

		
		
	

							
	

				

			
						

				
			

										

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My Thoughts On Meta's Recent Accessibility Fixes, and Their Continued Work With The NFB.
By Dawn





My Thoughts On Meta's Recent Accessibility Fixes, and Their Continued Work With The NFB.
By Dawn


Whether we like it or not, both technology, and social media are parts of our lives, both at work and at home. Many people, especially people with disabilities, use it to communicate, connect with friends and family and get peer support.  Techildrenlogy and social media are also great tools to use for systemic and self-advocacy efforts, when used wisely. Social media has also become a way to pass the time for people as well. I think we've all been guilty of saying "I'll check Facebook for a few minutes, and then cook dinner" for instance, and then realizing that it's 7 PM. and you still haven't cooked dinner yet!

While tech and social media can be a good thing for people with disabilities, when there are access barriers, such as an app not working with screenreaders, or accessibility regressions, things can become problematic. Meta is a prime example of this.

For a while now, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has had accesssibility regressions. It all started when the MBasic Facebook web site was depricated. Originally, this web site was designed for mobile browsers with limited capabilities. However, it gave blind people a huge advantage, because it was text-based, which made it easy for blind people to use. This was important, because the main Facebook site is inaccessible for people who use screenreaders.
Due to security reasons, meta depricated the MBasic Facebook site. Sadly, this caused some unintended consequences for blind and visually impaired people. As a result, Facebook became an accessibility nightmare for screenreader users on laptops and desktops.
Now, before I go any further, it is my belief that this was unintentional, and, this was one of those scenarios where good intentions backfired. I also think that there was a lack of awareness and/or understanding or both on the effects this would have, as well as how it was being used by the blind and visually impaired community, and why.
The reason why I believe this, is because in October of 2024, the National Federation Of The Blind approached Meta about aessibility regressions with Facebook, with the web site being the most critical area of concern. Meta has been working with the NFB. to identify and fix issues, and they are open and willing to continue to work with the NFB.

Recently, Jonathan Mosen, the diraector of technology advocacy initiatives for The National Federation Of The Blind, shared an update regarding the advocacy efforts with Facebook. If you'd like to read the article, you can click the link below:


https://nfb.org/blog/making-meta-accessible-update-latest-improvements



To summarize it, NFB. and Meta have made progress toward fixing some issues, however, there are some caveats you should be aware of. Plus, there is still a lot of work to be done. 
Here is a summarized list of improvements.
1. The Facebook Site:
Facebook has created a URL. that will force the  current Facebook mobile site to work with modern desktop and lapto browsers. If you'd like to take a look at it, click the following link:


https://www.facebook.com/?force_mobile=1



While this is great news, there are caveats. First and foremost, this site is not designed for mobile browsers, and, there may be more issues that NFB. hasn't encountered yet in their testing.

2. The page scrolls continuously, which could make things confusing, because there isn't a set number of posts on a page.
3. There's also no easy way to navigate by post. NFB. offered the suggestion of making each post a heading or landmark, which would make navigating with screenreaders easier and smoother.

This is not perfect, however, Meta is committed to making the desktop browser accessible.
This link is available to use now, so, feel free to bookmark it, or save it to your desktop.

The news wasn't all bad though! The NFB. has received feedback about accessibility issues with Facebook for IOS. I will get more into how they have effected me, in a little bit, as well as other accessibility issues, and their impact on me, and my thoughts on the latest developments.

Meta has rolled out a fix for an accessibility issue where a profile picture was getting read as a separate element by VoiceOver, which meant that instead of only needing one swipe to navigate posts, you needed to use two. In my case, I use a braille display, which made navigating a lot harder. I had to press my thumb keys more to be able to get past the profile picture, to get to the post content, plus navigating the content of the post. Although I was able to tolerate it, it was annoying, and, I'm proud to say that it is fixed!

Another accessibility issue that NFB. identified, was a bug where any text you typed into the text field to write a post was not being recognized by VoiceOver. Meta has said that a fix is on the way that should resolve the issue.
I have gotten severe bites from this bug several times. Whenever I type something into a text field, I could type the first word, however when I hit the spacebar on my braille display or onscreen keyboard, it would disappear. If I typed any more, it would be turned into nothing but uninteligible jibberish. This happens no matter what I'm doing, whether it's writing a birthday wish on someone timeline, or, making a post on my personal or the Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat Facebook page. This has happened when I write something on a link that I share as well on my personal and our Facebook page. It doesn't matter what typing method I use. I've tested it with my braille display, using the onscreen keyboard, and also braille screen input, which is an onscreen braille keyboard that you can with type on using your Iphone or Ipad.
The only workarounds I've found are:
Write posts for our page using the Meta Business Suite IOS. app, and just share links from the Facebook IOS. app.
Use dictation if writing a post whether it's on my personal page, or our page. This was not ideal because that came with its own challenges, mainly that you couldn't edit or correct any mistakes dictation made. When I would try editing it, it would just get turned into jibberish.
I have also sent people messages using the Messenger app, but, have only done that to a select few people. So, I've had to avoid writing anything on people's timelines. Or, I would just share a link, and reach out to the person if possible and let them know about what I shared, and why.
I have also turned Voiceover off and had Mom whose sighted, write the posts for me.

I have heard of other blind and visually impaired people using apps such as the Notes app to write what they wanted to say, then doing any needed editing, and copying and pasting the text into post. I was and still am uncomfortable with using this method, for fear of what I wrote still being turned into jibberish. Also, to me, that is an unnecessary step that should not be needed. I had to do this a while back when there was a bug that made focus jump around randomly for users of braille displays. Because I rely heavily on email, and write and send a lot of emails, it was beyond frustrating, and beyond time-consuming, among other things. Using the onscreen keyboard was not feasible, as that would slow me down even more. Plus, braille is a huge cornerstone in my life, and, it is part of my daily set-up. Using other apps gave mixed results. Either the bug would be present there, or, the interface was not user-friendly.


Meta has committed to keep working with the NFB. on making further accessibility improvements to things such as Facebook, and the Rayban Meta Glasses.


If you are having accessibility issues with Facebook, you can send an email to Jonathan Mosen at:

jmosenanfb.org


You can also fill out the Inaccessibility Tracker Form, which was made by the National Federation Of The Blind to track accessibility issues with web sites, and other technology. You can access the form by clicking here:


https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-access/inaccessibility-tracker-form


NFB. has also put together a self-advocacy toolkit, which you can use to make constructive approaches to technology companies, app developers, etc, to resolve any accessibility issues you're having. The kit includes a webinar that demonstrates how to implement the toolkit, and gives demonstrations, sample letters to send to companies and service providers, their inaccessibility tracker form, and more. To access the toolkit, you can go to:

https://nfb.org/programs-services/center-excellence-nonvisual-accessibility/self-advocacy-toolkit-and-tracking-form


If you'd like to hear a demo on how to use the Facebook workaround, the Access On podcast hosted by Jonathan Mosen, and the National Federation Of The Blind, has recently published an eppisode talking about these issues, and giving a demonstration of the Facebook workaround for desktop and laptop users. If you wish to listen to it, you can click here:

https://accesson.pinecast.co/episode/be7f8c4c/meta-rolls-out-some-accessibility-fixes-to-facebook-audiom-provides-accessible-maps-and-learning-a-language 



I'm very pleased that progress is being and has been made. Meta is continuing their work and partnership with the NFB. and is willing to continue to work to address issues and regressions. While the workaround for the site is not perfect, it's better than nothing. I'm sure that more issues will be addressed, as more testing is done. As with any new or updated thing, there's always bugs, especially on the first version. I'd like to thank both Meta and the NFB. for working together to address these very serious issues. This is a great example of what can happen when companies and advocates and advocacy organizations and groups come together.

With that being said, I do agree that there is still more work to be done. There's other accessibility issues that me and I'm sure other screenreaders are being plagued with. One issue that I'm running into, is links not showing up on posts using Voiceover. When I find a link, all the cells on my braille display are blank, and, Voiceover doesn't announce the link, it just clicks and stays silent. This makes it hard if not impossible to find and click on a link.

At Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat, we're committed to accessibility. We believe that accessibility allows for more voices to be at the advocacy table. To mediate and work around this issue, whenever a post is made about a blog entry, we will put the link in the comments section of the post. If you are having accessibility issues, and you use VoiceOver, you can do the following:


1. Open the post with a 1-finger double-tap.
2. When the post is opened, swipe right with 1 finger until you get to the comments section.
3. From there, swipe right with 1 finger until you hear something like:
"Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat author commentted, if you are having accessibility issues, you can click here, and then the link"

4. From there, do a 1-finger double-tap, or, you can do a 2-finger double-tap, which is also known as the magic tap to bring up a list of options.
5. From there, swipe right with 1 finger until you hear something like: 
"open link attachment".

6. From there just do a 1-finger double-tap, and the link should open, and behave as normal.  

There's also issues with the Meta Business Suite app, with unlabeled buttons, and elements not showing as being clickable at times. I've also seen some things that weren't labeled correctly. The chart and insights aren't very accessible either. All I see are numbers, but have no idea what the numbers are or what they correlate with. These are just a few things that need fixed. This latest progress report does give me hope though! I will continue to monitor this situation, and give updates whenever I can. Right now, we should give Meta some patience, grace, and brownie points.


I want to hear from you. What accessibility issues are you having with Facebook, and what operating systems and platform(s) are you seeing them on? What screenreader are you using? Have you found any workarounds? If so, please give a walkthrough as detailed as possible. Have you tried the URL. yet, and have you found any issues with it?  Are you having any accessibility issues on other Meta platforms? If so, where are you seeing the issue, and if you have workarounds, please let us know. Feel free to leave a comment. All I ask is for everyone to be respectful    

                 

					

		
		
	

							
	

				

			
						

				Why Braille is Beautiful by Dawn
			

										

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Why Braille Is Beautiful


January is a big deal for a lot of reasons. It's the start of a new year, and an opportunity for new beginnings. It's technology month, and, self-care month. But, for the blind community, there's a couple very big reason why this month is so important. On January 4, 1809, a boy named Louis Braille was born. He lost his sight at the age of 3, after playing with one of his father's tools. He wanted to read and write just like every one else. But, back then, blind people were cut off from communicating, reading and writing. He attended The Royal School For Blind Youth in Paris France. There, he learned about a system called night writing, which was made up of dots and dashes that soldiers could feel and read on the battlefield. From that code, he invented a system of raised dots that is still used being used today. We use this system to read, write, and communicate. This year, in particular, marks an especially important milestone. This year, braille has been around for 200 years. Braille has opened up the world for the blind and visually impaired community. This is what makes braille so beautiful. Helen Keller, a deaf-blind disability rights activist, once said that we the blind are as indebted to Louis Braille as mankind is to Guttenberg for the printing press. In my view, there are no truer words! With that being said, here are some other reasons that braille is so beautiful.


1. It fosters independence
This for meeath is a huge one! Whether it's putting a label on your spice containers so you know which one is which, or putting braille on your microwave, it's a wonderful not to mention essential tool in the independent living toolbox. Plus, getting crucial documents you need in braille such as bank statements, is a blessing!

2. It helps us navigate
When you go in an elevator, the panel is brailled. It helps a blind student navigate their school building, and know which classroom they are entering. Per the ADA. all public buildings are required to have braille signage.

3. It increases your chance of getting employed
In the U.S. and around the world, the unemployment rate for blind and visually impaired is very high. However, braille can be a factor in whether someone gets employed or not. If a blind person knows braille, they're 90% more likely to get employed. This is because braille allows us to read and write with our sighted peers. This means that we can write emails and other correspondents related to work. Plus, if you have a refreshable braille display, your productivity will be even better.

4. Reading is more than just listening
While audiobooks are great, and can be an excellent way to access reading materials, you may be limited on what you can access. But, with braille, your world is significantly more open. With braille, you can access books on Bookshare, or through NLS.'s braille-on-demand program, which allows you to get up to 5 hardcopy braille books sent to your home per month. Also, if you have a refreshable braille display, books, newspapers, and magazines will be litterally at your fingertips!


I could go on and on about this topic, but, I want to hear from you! Why do you think braille is beautiful? How are you celebrating Braille Litteracy Month?


If you would like some braille resources, including how to get braille materials, The National Library Service For The Blind And Print Disabled has put together a page celebrating the 200th aniversary of the invention of braille. This page includes a list of NLS's braille litteracy initiatives, and ways to get access to braille materials. To find it, go to:


https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-200/






Also, as a bonus, please enjoy this song by James Brown And The Cane Tips, and The National Federation Of The Blind, called Braille Is Beautiful.


https://youtu.be/-_AEO0WBKt4?si=_3IFe4ScId-qKa0m

					

		
		
	

							
	

				

			
						

				
			

										

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When Caring For You Means Doing Something Hard By Dawn 





When Caring For You Means Doing Something Hard By Dawn 


How often have you heard the phraise you cannot help anyone else until you put on your own xygen mask? I've heard this saying before, in defferent ways. To say that 2024 was a difficult year for me, would be an understatement. I faced a lot of obstacles, challenges, and many more things. One of the things that I faced was mistreatment. For the sake of privacy, I won't go into any details. All I will say, is that because of it, I had to makke the difficult decision to step back from some things, for mental health reasons. It wasn't something I wanted to do, it was something I had to do.

Well, this year, started off with me having to make a similar decision. Someone that would be chairing a committee I would be on, had an issue with something that happened in an event we both attend regularly. This person was angry, and not happy about the situation, and expressed those feelings in an inappropriate way. Then, the next day, they called me, and took their feelings out on me, instead of taking it out on the person in charge. The person in charge intervened and stepped up, and we resolved the situation. However, it left me with some questions, fears, and worries.
I had been in a similar situation before with this person, plus, it reminded me of things that I had experienced before. After thinking about it for a few days, I made the dificult decision to call the person in charge of committees, and step down from that committee. I know that people are disappointed, but, I had to make the right decision for myself. We were able to find a way that I could still do stuff to help out, just in a different capacity.
This was a hard call to make, but, I'm glad I did it. By doing that, I held boundaries, and set the tone for how I would like to treated.
As advocates, and public servants, we get a lot of crap thrown at us on a daily basis. Whether it's from people we work of, people in the various systems, or any other source, we have to take a lot of stuff. I'll admit, I was always one of those people that just took it, and tried working things out, and stayed in the bad situations. However, this time, I stood up for me. I took care of me.
Because another reason I stepped back, is because of time commitments. I'm transitioning into a new elected role, and I want to focus on other projects such as Heartbeat, plus I have other things going on in my personal life. Things are changing and shifting, and, I'm not sure where things will fit, or what this year will look like for me.
Also, I want to have some time to recover from 2024, and find a way to either heal, or live with the scars, and deal with some things that are still going on, and put my personal and professional lives back to rights.
It's important to have and stick to boundaries, stick up for yourself, both as a an advocate, and a person. It's not easy, and sometimes, it hurts, and it can be scary the first time or few times you do it. However, I'm speaking from experience, today, when I got off the phone, I felt lighter, and yes, empowered. I even felt proud of myself. Maybe I'll be able to work on this committee in some capacity at a later time, and maybe not. But, I'm sure that things will work out, no matter how the chips fall. Remember that things like this could be blessings in disguise. Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat is a prime example of this. While last year was painful for me, Ohio Advocacy Heartbeat was what came out of that pain, and, it's still growing. Plus, as a bonus, I get to work with a top-notch advocate, who I am honored to call a friend.

I want to hear from you, and, make space for people to know they're not alone. Have you had to do this type of thing before? Are you still working on it? What advice would you give to anyone struggling with this, both personally, and as an advocate? Do you have any stories like this, that you would consider blessings in disguise? I want to hear from you, and, I want to give you all a space to share your own thoughts. 






					

		
		
	

							
	

				

			
						

				
			

										

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Unite, Don't Fight: What Advocates Can And Should Do To Foster Unity By Dawn





Unite, Don't Fight: What Advocates Can And Should Do To Foster Unity


This world has a lot of problems, famine, war, the list is endless. There's also a lot of discourse, uncertainty, etc in this country and the world right now, especially politically, socially, and in advocacy. There's also a lot of issues in disability rights, and advocacy, both nationally and in this state. Such issues include but aren't limited to, digital accessibility, voting access, rideshare denials, and ending sub-minimum wage, just to name a few. This year, things will be even more intense, due to changing administrations, and in Ohio, this year it's budget season once again. While discourse and disagreement is good, there's a lot of in-fighting, partisanship, etc, which isn't good for anyone. As advocates, we need to unite, not fight, and, yes, foster some new relationships, and maintain relationships with current allies, whether policymakers, or other advocates.

This post is not meant to be political, nor endorse any particular person or party. I want this to be people and advocates together. Here are some things we can do as advocates.


1. Find some common ground we can work together on.
The National Federation Of The Blind, and the American Council Of The Blind, are 2 very different groups, and as such they have different advocacy styles, and advocate on different issues. However, they have found some common ground. A big example of this, is when they came together for a protest outside of Lyft's and Uber's headquarters in San Fransisco California. All too often, while there's common ground, we are not in agreement about how things should get done, etc. Let's look at big issues whether it's state issues, such as the direct care workforce crisis, or national issues, such as digital accessibility, and find ways we can work together, and unite.
I'm not saying that we can't work separately, but, if we can work together on various parts of an issue, or even an issue, it will foster a lot of unity.


2. Maintain Relationships With Current Allies in Policy and in the legislature
As advocates, we have a lot of allies, whether it's our family, friends, careworkers, or anyone else no matter what relationship they have with you. However, some of the most important allies we have, are the policymakers and our legislators. These are the people that can help us get things done, and make changes that can have a positive impact both nationally and at the state level for disability rights. Therefore, maintaining the rapport you have with or legislators is another way advocates can foster unity. These will be especially helpful once budget season starts.

3. Build Reltionships with new and incoming legislators
This year, there will be some new legislators in office in certain districts, both in Ohio and throughout the United States. For some, that may mean establishing new connections. This can be scary, and intimidating, on so many levels. But, we should at least try and reach out, and build a rapport with them, no matter what side of the aisile you both are on. You may be on the left, and sy may be on the right, but, that shouldn't matter. When it comes to advocacy, I check politics at the door. I'm not saying there isn't politics in advocacy, because there is. However, when it comes to disability rights, advocacy etc, we should be willing to work across political, social, and other lines. This is what I try to do. I try and overlook differences, and see where agrements can be reached. We're not going to agree with every one on every thing, and that's ok! In fact, it's what makes this country so great! But, if we can find common ground, and be civil when we disagree, we will get a lot more done. If you have new reps and senators in your districts, reach out and introduce yourself to them. Educate them on what life is like for people with disabilities nationally, in Ohio, and day-to-day. Educate them on the waiver systems in Ohio. Educate them on the issues that are important to you. Who knows, you may find more common ground than you thought you'd find, and you may find a new ally!

These are just a few ways we can foster unity. With budget season starting, and, various other changes that will be happening politically, it's more important now more than ever to come together. I'd like to hear from you. How else can we foster unity in the disability and advocacy community? How are you fostering unity and bringing people together? I want to hear your thoughts. Again, let me reitterate that this is not meant to be political post, nor is this post meant to endorse anyone. The goal of this post, is promote unity.