A simple 害羞草研究所渉ello害羞草研究所� goes a long way in kicking off communication with someone whose sight is limited, says Gina Martin, who educates all generations through her Diverse Abilities Programs and Training.

The business is based in her Saanich home, but programming spans primary school classrooms to seniors害羞草研究所� homes across the south Island.

Martin, who is legally blind, is using her communication skills honed over nearly three decades as a server at Paul害羞草研究所檚 Motor Inn. The goal is to pave an easier path for others.

害羞草研究所淚t took me 23 years to accept my journey,害羞草研究所� said Martin, who began to lose her sight in 1993.

Facing different opportunities and abilities, no two people have the same experience and it comes down to the individual on how they navigate life.

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She herself did not want to use a cane or in any way draw attention to herself. She hit a turning point in 2015 when she met two confident women who had attended a comprehensive program at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Inspired, she attended the nine-month program the next year.

害羞草研究所淚t was absolutely the hardest thing I did in my life,害羞草研究所� she said, noting it includes blindfolded rock climbing, white water rafting, bowling and more. But it has a high success rate, with 85 per cent of people who graduate meeting or exceeding expectations, she said.

Martin is among those successes 害羞草研究所� it taught her in part how to enjoy life differently than when she had her sight.

害羞草研究所淟osing my sight hasn害羞草研究所檛 changed me, but it害羞草研究所檚 changed the way I interact with the world,害羞草研究所� she said.

So she launched her business earlier this year. Martin teaches on apparent and non-apparent disabilities 害羞草研究所� noting nine of 10 are non-apparent 害羞草研究所� and universal design.

Hoping to change perspectives for both those with sight loss and without, her key message is communication.

She took that message to social media recently, hoping to end the silence of awkward interactions on the street or in shops.

The seven key points garnered an impressive response 害羞草研究所� shared more than 4,000 times, with more than 100 comments of appreciation.

Someone who is blind or partially sighted can often be recognized by a white cane, service dog or even sunglasses. While it害羞草研究所檚 important to not make assumptions on their level of sight, the smiles and nods that sighted folk offer and recognize on the street likely go unseen by someone with sight loss.

So say 害羞草研究所渉ello.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 one word that can make somebody feel included,害羞草研究所� Martin said. 害羞草研究所淧eople are quiet, they don害羞草研究所檛 know what to say. That害羞草研究所檚 not helpful for those of us who don害羞草研究所檛 see well. It can be unsettling.

So say hi. And if you know them, say their name, maybe offer yours and maybe a context of how they know you.

If it appears help might be needed, just ask: 害羞草研究所淐an I help?害羞草研究所� and if yes, 害羞草研究所淗ow can I help?害羞草研究所�

Don害羞草研究所檛 be offended by a no.

In person, she also reiterates a few other messages that might seem as obvious as 害羞草研究所渉ello.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淎lways talk to the person, and not the person they害羞草研究所檙e with,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 grab us. That害羞草研究所檚 a real thing.害羞草研究所� Instead of a shout or a grab, verbalize. 害羞草研究所淟ady with the white cane, there害羞草研究所檚 a car on your right害羞草研究所� is far more informative, helpful and less terrifying.

Oh, and it害羞草研究所檚 OK to use the words see, look and watch in conversation.

害羞草研究所淲e see look and watch, just differently,害羞草研究所� Martin said, adding the example of 害羞草研究所渟eeing害羞草研究所� a pink rose through touch and smell. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 enjoying it differently.害羞草研究所�

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