Vision Riff Podcast

When was the last time you did something simple, and it had a profound difference in your life as well as someone else’s?

This holiday season, consider something new for the family – Audio Description movies.

The blind community have been enjoying movies on the big screen and through their library where the action and settings of scenes and frames of the movie brings the story to life.

My first experience of one such movie was Finding Nemo at an assistive technology event for youth.

My second experience was watching and listening to Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Wow, what an experience. It was better than watching it for the first time. I was experiencing it with a group, a couple of people being blind, one with some light perception and another with no light perception.

After the movie, we had a group recap of what we liked about the experience, didn’t like, and whatever else we wanted to share.

As this was my first experience in the movie with the descriptive headset. First, we went to like the concierge desk, requested the headset, then signed our names on a ledger with the headset number.

Obviously we assisted those who were unable to complete the ledger themselves.

My experience was:

On the internet, you can find more information on this:

As an But for blind and low vision audiences, these visual effects are often left a mystery at best unless there is audio description.
...
10 Movies to Watch with Audio Description

• Avatar.      ...
• Avengers:      Infinity War. ...
• Star      Wars: The Force Awakens. ...
• Frozen.      ...
• Inception.      ...
• Finding      Nemo. ...
• The      Shape of Water. ...
• The      Hunger Games.

Also on

· acb.org – American council of the blind

· nfb.org - National Federation of the Blind

· your state Assistive Technology center

· you local library or national library for the blind

· National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled

Are we asking the right questions, or , is this question offensive?

Talking with sighted people, people we can see, don't see, or can not see.

Such as On Zoom vs WebX, or talking to someone who has low sight or no sight.

Language we use, questions we ask, with our family.

Language we use, questions we ask, at work.

Language we use, questions we ask, with friends.

Language we use with someone with physical disabilities.

Language we use with someone who has low vision to no vision.

Language we use with our doctors, specifically eye doctors.

I'm looking inside at how I ask questions to those with disabilites and how they might feel on the receiving side.

Let me know your experience. Like this podcast and share it with a friend. Thank you.

Where do you begin to learn about resources when you or your loved one loses their eyesight? 

Two websites, acb.org and nfb.org, are great places to learn about resources for those in the low vision to no vision community. There are many ways to connect: phone groups, chats, and activities such as game nights.

As one begins experiencing blurry vision, connecting with like situation people makes the process less frustrating.

Start here for an introduction into navigating the low vision and blind community world.

Next, like this podcast and share it with a friend who knows someone who has a fear of losing their vision. Resources are the key to connections!

Alt is short for alternative, only when is the alternative a shortcut. This is explored in a short audio lesson of less than 7 minutes. An example of less is more, less time, more content.

No need to contact me at Katie@5StarEyeCare.com to let me know how much you enjoyed the podcast, just like it and share it.

Short cuts help us get from point A to point B faster, especially if we know how to use them.

The computer keyboard key Ctrl, often found at the bottom left corner of the keyboard, is short for Control. When combined with the letter S, it allows one to save the current document. The top of the keyboard also has shortcuts, allowing one to mute, increase, or decrease the volume of the speakers.

This short tutorial includes popular and not-so-popular shortcut key combinations using the Ctrl key.

Life lesson: Control your life rather than letting your computer control you.

Speech to Text (STT)  and Text to Speech (TTS) are becoming mainstream for those with visual disabilities. By the way, what is worse, saying visual disabilities or blind community?

Those who don't understand me, try understanding my assistant Alexa! She explains this in her words.

Seeing.ai is a life-saver for those with low vision to no vision. This podcast is an introduction into that app.

For more information on this topic or other types of resources for those struggling connecting with their vision loss, have a friend or loved one send me a note at Katie@5StarEyeCare.com.

Help -> Assisstance -> Assistive Technology -> Accessibility -> What is it going to take to make our lives easier? I go through each step within the Ease of Access on the Microsoft computer.

If you need assistance in setting up your accessibility features, contact Katie@5StarEyeCare.com.

Redirecting this podcast. If a person has a heart attact and survives heart bypass surgery, are they the same person?

If one changes their business perspective, are they and their business the same as before the change?

We look at what it takes so our audience hears our message. It's not about me, though I use personal examples, it's about us!

Defining Macular Degeneration central vision loss then exploring what we are not seeing in our business that is missing.
Using our peripheral vision as entrepreneurs and business owners, when unable to see centrally.

Join The New Technology in Macular Degeneration Webinar Wednesday, 5pm PT at https://bit.ly/2WNKRsO

Have you ever danced with the concept of adding something new to your life, and the two step became a tango?

When I worked with an Alexa and a Dot while employeed at Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii, I experienced many ways the device helps those with disabilities. I'm considering buying one, but learned that I could download the Alexa app on my phone for free. 

It was not a two step.You will hear my results. Instead of WYSIWYG, my experiment was WYHIWYG! It became a tango, a duo of Q & A.

This podcast integrates vision, vision statements, and visual diagnoses with the assistance of AI. The only abbreviation in the podcast is AI for Artifical Intelligence.

I hope you "LIKE" this podcast, so will say thank you in advance.

Make it a great day, Aloha.

What do vision statements and mixed astigmatism have in common? Two focal points points from different perspectives converging at the one sweet target spot focal point.

This podcast also includes stick-to-it-iveness, whatever it takes to reach the target or goal.

Enjoy and make it a great day, Aloha.

Bending ones perspective in business is like light bending through an optical lens - whatever it takes to hit the bullseye.

What happens when there are 2 points of light that need bending, or one point of light in only one meridian? Same in business. You may have one component hitting the target, but the other one misses.

This podcast introduces options to getting both perspectives hitting the bullseye.

What's happening in contact lenses today? Celebration and research.

Tip of the day is how clear vision applies to our business.

Make it a great day!

Cleaning contact lenses in your mouth happened with hard lenses, but don't do that with soft lenses.

This historical overview introduces in insiders perspective on contact lenses, wear and care, of different lens materials.

Next episode, I'll riff on where technology is taking contact lenses cosmetically and therapeutically.

For more information or you have a question, inquire at Katie@5StarEyeCare.com

What are you missing out, not seeing, in the distance and at near. Need assistance?
Assistive Technology magnifying digital devices features are explained along with the benefits of those items.

This episode also integrates Vision in a different context in our lives. You may want to take notes!

How do you assist your life through technology?

Assistive Technology is used in our daily life, helping us with tasks vision related or not. Today's episode integrates both. 

Magnifying Tools are introduced, helping us see better, assisting us in life.

When someone has Age related Macular Degeneration, it can be as frustrating as not being able to find the readers on top of your head or hanging from your shirt. AMD is central vision loss. That is the easy answer.

Let's say your business has a vision statement. Applying AMD, what if there was a blind spot in your business plan?

I'll be integrating medical and business concepts as I riff on Macular Degeneration. If you like this format, let me know at Katie@5StarEyeCare.com.

EyeCare paraprofessionals and patients, students and parents, ask - What is 20/20 Vision? This podcast answers non-technical questions, and adds some medical perspectives.

It addresses vision, the Big E is 20/200, legally blind means not being correctable to at least 20/80, and legal to drive is seeing at least 20/40. The podcast includes medical terms like myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

This sets us up for the next podcast on Macular Degeneration.

I needed a new platform to serve YOU, the vision, low vision to no vision community.

The idea came from a mastermind class where Dean Graziosi was talking about riffing on a topic. I had to look it up.

I thought, I can do that!

Immediately titles came from everywhere I could riff on:

· VisionRiff on 20/20

· VisionRiff on Assistive Technology

· VisionRiff on Myopia

· VisionRiff on Macular Degeneration

· VisionRiff on Contact Lenses

· VisionRiff on Eyewear Lenses

· VisionRiff on Dry Eyes

· VisionRiff on Short Arm Syndrome - Presbyopia

· VisionRiff on Progressive Addition Lenses

· VisionRiff on computer Lenses

· VisionRiff on Accessibility features on the computer

Let me know what you want more information on, and if I don't have the knowledge to Riff on it, I'll find a professional who can Riff on it!

Any questions, comments or suggestions, contact Katie@5StarEyeCare.com

Eyes On Profits – End of a Chapter

Thank you for joining me in this podcast journey. It is not Farewell. Today is opening space for a new podcast series. The name is exciting and opens the doors to video as well as audio recordings.

Until next week, make it a great day. Aloha.

Those of us who have been in the eyecare profession for many seasons of our lives know when we’ve hit a comfort zone in our career. One may have slid into automatic, and that is no longer possible; all the rules from COVID and post-COVID have changed how we do business. Our perception on business and marketing shifted, never to return to how it was. For our patients, some are benefiting from additional personalized care. With this, there is one piece of marketing that remains the same: Being seen. Patients need to find us and eye care professionals need to market themselves. Today’s podcast is an interesting lesson in perception.

To those in the low vision and blind community, Christine may be familiar to you. She operates a successful business. Publisher of resource handbooks for the blind and visually impaired communities. For more information you can visit her website. Two groups Christine is passionate about are Council of Citizens with Low vision International and Audio Internet Reading Service of Los Angeles. I challenge you to connect with Christine, then let me know what social media option worked best for you by sending me a LinkedIn message at https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-friedman-ldo-fnao-060616a7/

Eric shares stories from his daily motivational calls and his sales protégé programs. Some of those lessons include doing things in patterns. Eric made up for that by sharing fabulous valuable content. We discussed the value of an energy signature when seeking a mentor that is a good fit and the concept of getting a balanced viewpoint.

I asked Eric about not wearing glasses anymore, so he shared his experience and perspective with LASIK refractive surgery. Like he said, ‘sometimes we just need a change’. If you are ready for a change in your business, check out Eric Lofholm at ContinuousSalesImprovement.com. His Free programs include: CSI Master Class, CSI Daily Motivation, CSI Community Networking, and the first chapter of The System. Eric can also be found on LinkedIn, Facebook, and CSI YouTube channel. Tell Eric you heard him on the Eyes On Profits Podcast.

(Note: please excuse the messy audio quality on my end – I'm still making some adjustments to my recording setup!)

This podcast introduces leadership in terms of the team. How do you show up in organizations? Whatever role you play, hopefully you own that role. In this episode, I introduce four roles along with some of my leadership learning experiences. Following this podcast are a line-up of excellent leaders sharing their tips and resources for their success, with their Eyes On Profits.

Now that you met Roy Harris in the previous episode, this continuation of the interview will make sense. Making a career from something you love doing, laughing so hard that you can taste tears, and making lemonade from obstacles we face — that's life. This episode checks in with reality, mine and yours. Welcome business owners, entrepreneurs, eye care professionals, sighted, low vision and no vision listeners to Eyes On Profits, Series 4.

How are you doing with your New Year’s Resolutions? How about New Year’s Goals? I’ve been challenged in both arenas! And I have an explanation that can be narrowed down into one word. Enjoy the first podcast of the new year.

As we round the corner of a challenging year, I reflect on my new direction as an Optician, and new skills learned regarding language. Primarily, I reflect on where to put the adjective when describing a person. For instance: a 'blind person' becomes 'a person with low vision or no vision', or a 'deaf person' becomes 'a person with hearing loss.' I reflect on change, such as starting podcasting just a few months ago, as recommended by a mentoring program. Next year, I plan to develop my social media and update my business based on your feedback. That is how the Low Vision to No Vision series began! Let me know your vision interests, questions, and concerns at Katie@5StarEyeCare.com.

It's a time of reflection, of ourselves and our businesses. Have you started the process of your personal and business inventory? It's time to count... What can you let go of? What can you open, allowing a space to receive? I'm letting go of unused stuff that was once valuable to me. Physical and mental stuff that is now dead weight. I'm opening the space to working with new people in adding value to their lives.

How does your end of year look? My podcast career in review. A tip for doctors and consumers. The idea behind the title, Eyes On Profits.

Let me know what you think. Katie@5StarEyeCare.com

Concluding our series on Low Vision No Vision, guests Dianna Jones and Christine Chaikin join me in an informative and insightful conversation about “Connecting.” We cover a broad scope of how the three of us got connected, how one connects (or doesn’t connect) with their doctors, and how to connect with resources in the blind community. I prefer using 'Low Vision to No Vision' rather than 'Blind' because as one’s light fades or becomes very fuzzy, there is a fear associated with the word blind. Even so, we share great resources on this podcast.

This podcast is about twice as long as the usual Eyes On Profits podcast, and it has at least twice as much info for your enjoyment. It will conclude this initial series on Low Vision to No Vision. If you want to learn more about Low Vision to No Vision, contact Katie@5StarEyeCare.com.

#insightfulpub #lowvision-novision #blind

Once a person becomes blind, there are several resources in terms of hardware and software resources. Blind at birth, Tammy Robar is joining me as a person who proficiently uses all types of no vision low vision devices. She shares a personal experience that triggered the hairs in my neck to stand out. Doctors, you have a profound affect on your patients lives, besides vision.

I’m enjoying interviewing all these dynamic women, and today’s guest is no exception. Tonya’s story of how she took a negative situation and turned it into an entrepreneurial business venture.

When someone is low vision, and considered blind, they still can see. According to Scheiman, Scheiman, and Whittaker (2006): “Low vision is a condition caused by eye disease, in which visual acuity is 20/70 or poorer in the better-seeing eye and cannot be corrected or improved with regular eyeglasses.” Hence, when one is diagnosed with being blind, it doesn’t mean no light perception!

Dr. Richard networks with Ophthalmologists and Traumatic Brain Injury doctors at the local hospitals for referrals to her low vision practice. My experience with her demonstrates the value of active and creative networking, all under the umbrella of compassion and a true interest in making a difference for her patients and the low vision community.

While in optical college, I wrote a paper on Low Vision Aids. Since then, I have always incorporated magnifiers in optical shops I managed. Recently, I gave a presentation to high school English students answering the question, “What is 20/20”. We also discussed blindness. This episode is an intro to the topic Low to No Vision.

Cases are practical and can add value to your practice if one wants to market them. Other items such as readers and sunglasses can be viewed the same way. Consider how you promote your optical department, then consider a marketing budget for that that compliments your goals for that department. Think of accessories as the ‘would you like to supersize your order?’