Inclusive Physical Therapy: Best Practices for Treating Patients With Dual Sensory Impairments

Inclusive Physical Therapy: Communicating Effectively with Patients Experiencing Hearing and Vision Loss

As a physical therapist, you support patients through some of the most important aspects of their daily functioning—mobility, balance, strength, and independence. For many older adults, these areas are significantly impacted not only by physical conditions, but also by progressive hearing and vision loss.

Dual sensory impairment is far more common than most clinicians realize, yet rarely addressed thoroughly in professional training. As sensory abilities decline, patients may struggle to follow instructions, lacking understanding to do exercices, or seem unengaged.

Understanding how to communicate effectively with these patients is essential for providing ethical, culturally competent care—and for helping them achieve the best possible outcomes.

Dual Sensory Loss (DSI): An Overlooked Factor in Mobility & Safety

Many older adults experience both hearing and vision changes, often referred to as dual sensory loss (DSL). Research shows that DSL is associated with:

• Higher fall rates

• Inability to follow movement cues

• Reduced confidence in movement

• Reacting with anger or frustration to raised voices (it doesn’t help anyway)

• Difficulty understanding safety instructions

• Lack of engagement and compliance with therapy

As PTs, recognizing DSL can help us anticipate needs, prevent injuries, and build stronger therapeutic rapport.

A 2022 Frontiers in Oral Health study (applicable across healthcare settings) emphasizes that older adults with sensory loss experience more difficulty accessing care, greater anxiety, and reduced health outcomes overall.
Read the full research summary here:
👉 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9615611/

When patients cannot hear instructions clearly or interpret visual cues, they may feel unsafe—especially during exercises involving balance, gait training, or transfer practice.

Practical Communication Strategies for PT Sessions

Even small adjustments can transform a patient's therapy experience:

1. Start With Orientation

Before beginning treatment, describe the room layout, equipment location, and what you’ll be doing.
Clear orientation reduces anxiety and improves trust.

2. Modify Verbal Communication

• Lower your pitch instead of increasing your volume.

• Move closer to the better ear.

• Keep your face visible to support lip-reading.

• Use different words or tactile cues.

3. Strengthen Visual and Tactile Cueing

• Demonstrate exercises slowly and repeatedly.

• Offer safe, consent-based tactile cues when needed to guide movement.

4. Make Home Exercise Programs Accessible

Patients with vision loss may benefit from:

• Large print

• High contrast diagrams

• Recorded audio instructions

• Apps that read text aloud

The Takeaway

Physical therapists are uniquely positioned to support older adults and individuals with sensory loss. By strengthening communication methods and understanding the lived experience of hearing and vision impairment, you can:

• Improve patient safety

• Boost exercise adherence

• Reduce frustration and anxiety

• Enhance therapeutic outcomes

• Build a more inclusive, accessible clinical environment

Compassionate communication is an essential part of high-quality physical therapy. Equipping yourself with the right tools ensures your patients feel understood, safe, and supported.

Continuing the Mission of Access and Understanding

Adaptability for Life’s cultural competence - ethics continuing education courses focus on helping psychologist, nurses, dentists, doctors, chiropractors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals and families better serve individuals with vision or hearing loss, blindness, deafness and combinations of sensor loss through culturally competent, practical, and engaging continuing education. These are approved by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

For those seeking to enhance their skills in communicating with those who have vision or hearing loss, consider enrolling.

2-Hour Cultural Competence CE: Effective Communication with Clients Who Are Hard of Hearing
4-Hour Cultural Competence and Ethics CE: Understanding the Diversity of Legal Blindness, Impacts & Solutions
6-Hour Cultural Competence and Ethics CE: Providing Culturally Competent Healthcare for Those Aging with Dual Sensory Impairments

Each course blends over 25 years of experience in rehabilitation counseling and disability services with lived insight and real-world examples. You’ll walk away with tools that help prevent social isolation, improve connection and communication, and foster hope—even in the face of progressive sensory loss.

What You’ll Gain

• Strategies to prevent social isolation and despair

• Tools to support clients experiencing progressive loss

• Skills to improve communication and connection

• Easy, low- or no-cost accessibility techniques

• Real-world examples you can apply immediately

About the Instructor

Deb Marinos, MS, CRC, LPC, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor, and CMBM Mind-Body Skills Group Facilitator. She brings decades of teaching experience with health care professionals and other working with individuals navigating sensory loss and disability. Her courses are designed to be interactive, helpful, and will give you more comfort in your work.

Take the Next Step

If you’re ready to strengthen your skills, deepen your empathy, and make your practice more inclusive—join Deb and Olaf on this journey.

👉 Explore the Cultural Competence & Ethics accredited continuing education courses and sign up today at Adaptability for Life


Adaptability for Life LLC
21887 SW Sherwood Blvd. STE C
Sherwood, OR 97140
deb@adaptabilityforlife.com

Why Stress Management and Connection Are Essential for People with Vision and Hearing Loss

In a recent interview with Leader Dogs for the Blind Collaboration Event, Deb Marinos, MS, CRC, LPC Oregon shares both the critical need for ways to discharge the chronic stress of living with a disability and easy ways to release the emotions that arise. See recording here: Adaptability for Life LLC "Using mind body skills to reduce chronic stress"

Stress doesn’t always look like a crisis. For those living with changing vision or hearing loss, or both, stress is just part of everyday tasks. A simple life can be hard for anyone to achieve, yet sensory loss adds layers most people fail to recognize. There’s the constant pressure to prove you're able to live and do what others do. The frustration of having to explain how you get things done as if it is impossible or magical. The fatigue that comes from navigating systems that assume you can see or hear. Needing to do extra steps to access print or audio information.

Some especially annoying comments:

“Technology that talks makes blindness easy now.” Until it fails.

“You don’t look blind” Even totally blind people. What does that really mean?

How do you live alone?” Blindness does not need to be barrier. Training removes barriers.

“I can’t imagine how you do that job?” Educating the public is part of everyday.

“Let me help you” Even if you are fine and enjoy doing for yourself.

All these questions and many more, though often not meant to be harmful, combine to create irritation, discouragement, low self esteem, and exclusion. Better ways to gain information or offer help, is to first identify who you are, and first ask if help is needed. Be courteous and avoid unnecessary questions.

This chronic stress takes on the body and shows up as tightness in the jaw, tension in the shoulders, exhaustion, and a nervous system constantly on alert.

That’s why learning to manage stress isn’t a luxury. It’s a health intervention.

Mind-body skills offer quick, grounding techniques to interrupt stress before it becomes illness. One of the simplest is called the Soft Belly breath developed by Dr. James Gordon, founder of The Center for Mind Body Medicine.

Soft Belly is used at the beginning of every mind body skills group I lead. These groups run for 8 weeks and include 10 additional tools—movement, imagery, expression, quieting the mind—all taught in a supportive, confidential space with people who understand sensory loss. Because connection is part of healing too.

Continuing the Mission of Access and Understanding

Adaptability for Life’s cultural competence - ethics continuing education courses focus on helping psychologist, nurses, dentists, doctors, chiropractors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals and families better serve individuals with vision or hearing loss, blindness, deafness and combinations of sensor loss through culturally competent, practical, and engaging continuing education. These are approved by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

For those seeking to enhance their skills in communicating with those who have vision or hearing loss, consider enrolling.

2-Hour Cultural Competence CE: Effective Communication with Clients Who Are Hard of Hearing
4-Hour Cultural Competence and Ethics CE: Understanding the Diversity of Legal Blindness, Impacts & Solutions
6-Hour Cultural Competence and Ethics CE: Providing Culturally Competent Healthcare for Those Aging with Dual Sensory Impairments

Each course blends over 25 years of experience in rehabilitation counseling and disability services with lived insight and real-world examples. You’ll walk away with tools that help prevent social isolation, improve connection and communication, and foster hope—even in the face of progressive sensory loss.

What You’ll Gain

• Strategies to prevent social isolation and despair

• Tools to support clients experiencing progressive loss

• Skills to improve communication and connection

• Easy, low- or no-cost accessibility techniques

• Real-world examples you can apply immediately

About the Instructor

Deb Marinos, MS, CRC, LPC, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor, and CMBM Mind-Body Skills Group Facilitator. She brings decades of teaching experience with health care professionals and other working with individuals navigating sensory loss and disability. Her courses are designed to be interactive, helpful, and will give you more comfort in your work.

Take the Next Step

If you’re ready to strengthen your skills, deepen your empathy, and make your practice more inclusive—join Deb and Olaf on this journey.

👉 Explore the Cultural Competence & Ethics accredited continuing education courses and sign up today at Adaptability for Life


Adaptability for Life LLC
21887 SW Sherwood Blvd. STE C
Sherwood, OR 97140
deb@adaptabilityforlife.com

New Leader Dog, Olaf joins the team!

Olaf, a 18 month old yellow lab, who has been carefully trained by the staff and volunteers at Leader Dogs for the Blind has now joined Adaptability for Life LLC in October 2025. His job is to keep Deb safe as she travels in the world.

Have you ever wondered what makes a good Leader Dog?

It takes dedication, time, and heart to raise a Leader Dog. Each puppy is selected for their temperament, curiosity, and focus. From their first days, they’re socialized to stay calm in public spaces, learn complex commands, and make judgment calls to protect their handler’s safety.

By the time a dog like Olaf graduates, they’ve completed months of specialized training, which includes guiding through busy streets, navigating curbs and obstacles, and responding to environmental sounds or cues. Their goal isn’t just obedience—it’s partnership, built on trust and communication.

Leader Dogs for the Blind, based in Rochester Hills, Michigan, believes every person who is blind or visually impaired deserves the tools to live independently. Their programs extend far beyond guide dog training—they also offer:

• Orientation and Mobility Training: Short-term courses that teach individuals to travel safely with a white cane before getting a guide dog.

• Teen Summer Camps: Building independence and confidence for young people with vision loss.

• Accelerated Mobility Programs: Intensive sessions designed for adults looking to refresh or expand their travel skills.

All these services—including training, room and board, travel within the U.S. and Canada, and equipment—are provided free of charge. Funding comes entirely from individual donors, Lions Clubs, corporate partners, and foundations. Thanks to this generosity, Leader Dogs for the Blind provides both dogs and mobility training at no charge to their clients.

If you’d like to learn more or support their work, visit Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Continuing the Mission of Access and Understanding

Adaptability for Life’s cultural competence - ethics continuing education courses focus on helping psychologist, nurses, dentists, doctors, chiropractors, therapists, and other healthcare professionals and families better serve individuals with vision or hearing loss, blindness, deafness and combinations of sensor loss through culturally competent, practical, and engaging continuing education. These are approved by Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

For those seeking to enhance their skills in communicating with those who have vision or hearing loss, consider enrolling.

2-Hour Cultural Competence CE: Effective Communication with Clients Who Are Hard of Hearing
4-Hour Cultural Competence and Ethics CE: Understanding the Diversity of Legal Blindness, Impacts & Solutions
6-Hour Cultural Competence and Ethics CE: Providing Culturally Competent Healthcare for Those Aging with Dual Sensory Impairments

Each course blends over 25 years of experience in rehabilitation counseling and disability services with lived insight and real-world examples. You’ll walk away with tools that help prevent social isolation, improve connection and communication, and foster hope—even in the face of progressive sensory loss.

What You’ll Gain

• Strategies to prevent social isolation and despair

• Tools to support clients experiencing progressive loss

• Skills to improve communication and connection

• Easy, low- or no-cost accessibility techniques

• Real-world examples you can apply immediately

About the Instructor

Deb Marinos, MS, CRC, LPC, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor, and CMBM Mind-Body Skills Group Facilitator. She brings decades of teaching experience with health care professionals and other working with individuals navigating sensory loss and disability. Her courses are designed to be interactive, helpful, and will give you more comfort in your work.

Take the Next Step

If you’re ready to strengthen your skills, deepen your empathy, and make your practice more inclusive—join Deb and Olaf on this journey.

👉 Explore the Cultural Competence & Ethics accredited continuing education courses and sign up today at Adaptability for Life


Adaptability for Life LLC
21887 SW Sherwood Blvd. STE C
Sherwood, OR 97140
deb@adaptabilityforlife.com

How Pharmacists Can Improve Medication Safety for Patients with Hearing and Vision Impairments

Making Medication Instructions Accessible: Communication Tips for Pharmacists Serving Patients with Hearing and Vision Loss

As pharmacists, we know that ensuring patients understand how to take their medication is just as important as dispensing it. But when patients live with hearing and/or vision loss, communication becomes more complex. Labels may be unreadable. Verbal counseling may be missed. And the risks—from non-adherence to adverse events—rise significantly.

Why Accessibility Matters in Pharmacy

Hearing and vision loss increase with age and socioeconomic factors. Many older adults live with dual sensory loss (DSL), where both hearing and sight are diminished. Studies show that patients with DSL often experience higher levels of frustration, fear, and anger when communication breaks down—making it harder for them to follow their care plan and trust their providers.

For pharmacists, this means that cultural competence and accessibility aren’t “extras”—they are critical components of safe, ethical, and compassionate care.

Practical Tips You Can Use in the Pharmacy

Here are strategies that can help bridge the gap:

Labeling Medications Safely

• Tactile cues: One rubber band, bump dot, or sticker can signal once-daily dosing; two can indicate twice daily. This also helps patients track which bottles are “active.”

• Large print and color coding: Increase readability with high-contrast, larger fonts.

• Technology:

  • Audio & RFID tags allow patients to hear instructions.

  • Apps like Be My Eyes AI can read labels aloud, though pharmacists should caution patients that AI may make errors.

  • ScriptTalk (talking prescription labels) is now available in many states and helps ensure accurate, independent medication use.

👉 For more details, see the American Foundation for the Blind’s Guidelines for Prescription Labeling.

Communication Best Practices

• Lower your pitch instead of raising your voice. Yelling actually distorts soft consonants like p, s, t, th, making speech less clear.

• Check for understanding. Don’t just ask “Do you understand?”—invite patients to repeat back instructions in their own words.

• Orient and guide. If patients are unfamiliar with your pharmacy layout, provide verbal cues to help them navigate safely.

• Involve caregivers when appropriate. Reinforce instructions with family members or aides, especially if multiple medications are involved.

Legal & Regulatory Context

Most states—including Oregon—require pharmacies to provide accessible prescriptions upon request. Staying compliant not only avoids legal risk but strengthens patient trust and ensures equity in care delivery.

Continuing Education for Pharmacists

For those seeking to deepen their skills, specialized CE courses in cultural competency and accessibility can be highly valuable. These courses not only fulfill licensing requirements but also provide tools you can use every day in your practice.

• 2-Hour CE: Effective Communication with Clients who are Hard of Hearing

• 4-Hour CE: Understanding the Diversity of Legal Blindness, Impacts & Solutions (also approved for 4 CE hours in Ethics)

• 6-Hour CE: Providing Culturally Competent Healthcare for Those Aging with Dual Sensory Impairments

These courses, taught by Deb Marinos, MS, CRC, LPC, combine over 25 years of professional and personal expertise in rehabilitation counseling and disability services.

These courses are practical, experiential, and filled with real stories. You’ll gain concrete strategies for supporting clients with progressive hearing or vision loss, recognizing denial, and fostering hope.

What You Will Gain

• Prevent social isolation and despair

• Understand how to support progressive loss

• Improve connection & communication

• Use easy, low‑ or no‑cost strategies to increase access

• Apply real‑world examples and solutions immediately

About the Instructor

Deb Marinos, MS – Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor, and CMBM Mind‑Body Skills Group Facilitator. With over 25 years teaching continuing education and working directly with hundreds of people experiencing sensory loss and disability, Deb brings practical, engaging, and compassionate training.

Take the Next Step

You can learn enough in these courses to make a real difference for yourself, your clients, and your community. Explore the options and register today:

👉 Explore Courses Here

Final Takeaway

Pharmacists play a critical role in making healthcare accessible. By adopting simple strategies—like tactile labels, accessible technologies, and culturally competent communication—you can dramatically improve safety, reduce errors, and empower patients living with hearing and vision loss.

When patients can truly understand their medications, they’re more likely to use them correctly—and that means better outcomes, stronger trust, and safer communities.

Cultural Competence Education for Social Workers CE NASW - OR , CRCC, OHA Approved

How Social Workers Can Identify & Respond to Hearing and Vision Loss

Supporting clients with hearing and vision loss as a social worker can feel daunting in today’s fast‑paced care environments. Yet, even mild sensory changes can disrupt mood, communication, and daily life—and often go unrecognized. Social workers are uniquely positioned to spot these challenges early and provide practical support.

Why This Matters

As people age, hearing and vision loss often contribute to miscommunication, withdrawal, and difficulty maintaining relationships. New research shows links to serious health outcomes beyond isolation:

• Increased risk of dementia

• Higher rates of cardiac conditions

• More injuries from falls

For social workers, unrecognized sensory loss can silently undermine therapeutic alliances and client progress. Social workers can gain free screening tools for hearing and vision loss that only take a few minutes to administer.

Common Signs and Challenges

• Clients appear withdrawn or “non‑compliant” in groups or sessions

• Repeated requests for clarification, seeming distracted, or “not listening”

• Reluctance to admit changes due to fear, denial, or stigma

Without awareness, these behaviors can be misattributed to mood or cognitive decline.

Practical Strategies and Tools

The good news: Many solutions are low‑cost or free, and social workers can integrate them easily into practice.

• Screening tools: Quick, no‑cost tools can identify whether referral for hearing or vision support is needed.

• Practical Communication strategies for Social Workers: Simple changes—facing the client, reducing background noise, using plain language—improve connection.

• AI support: Apps like Be My Eyes now include an AI feature that can describe pictures instantly, helping clients find items or read signs.

• Free groups and community resources: Education and support groups can reduce isolation and increase coping skills.

Example: Charles Bonnet Syndrome

As vision declines, some clients experience visual hallucinations—a phenomenon called Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). The brain creates images or patterns that come and go. Without reassurance, clients may fear “losing their mind” and keep silent. Your awareness and support can prevent unnecessary suffering and build trust.

Training Options with CE Credit

If you want to deepen your skills while serving those aging with dual sensory impairments there are three OHA‑approved, on‑demand courses available, all designed for social workers and related professionals:

2HR Cultural Competence CEU OHA approved | CRCC Ensuring Effective Communication with Clients Who are Hard of Hearing

2HR CE: Effective Communication with Clients who are Hard of Hearing

4HR CE: Understanding the Diversity of Legal Blindness, Impacts & Solutions

• OHA Pre‑Approved Cultural Competence CE

• Approved for 4HR CEU Ethics by CRCC

6HR CE: Promoting Culturally Competent Health Care for Those Aging with Dual Sensory Impairment

• OHA‑Approved for Cultural Competence CE

• Approved by NASW‑OR & 6HR CEU Ethics by CRCC

These courses are practical, experiential, and filled with real stories. You’ll gain concrete strategies for supporting clients with progressive hearing or vision loss, recognizing denial, and fostering hope.

What You Will Gain

• Prevent social isolation and despair

• Understand how to support progressive loss

• Improve connection & communication

• Use easy, low‑ or no‑cost strategies to increase access

• Apply real‑world examples and solutions immediately

About the Instructor

Deb Marinos, MS – Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor, and CMBM Mind‑Body Skills Group Facilitator. With over 25 years teaching continuing education and working directly with hundreds of people experiencing sensory loss and disability, Deb has personal and professional experiences which allows for practical, engaging, and compassionate training.

Take the Next Step

Social Workers can learn enough in these cultural competence training courses to make a real difference for those with hearing and vision loss in your caseload. Explore the options and register today:

👉 Explore Courses Here

Questions? Contact Deb directly at deb@adaptabilityforlife.com.

Adaptability for Life LLC
21887 Southwest Sherwood Blvd. Suite C
Sherwood, OR 97140

Shayne, my guide dog star and friend

I was honored to be interviewed by Rebecca Alexander for the Usher Society “Sense Stories”. We talked about many things; of the reality that life can be quite fun, and that some tools, like a guide dog, are super important. Especially when you have both hearing and vision loss. It is hard to explain what you need in words, but a dog doesn’t need words. Together you make a team that can go wherever life takes you, safely.

Click on this link to view interview.

And you can see our short video clip about Shayne!

Free Cultural Competence Podcast on supporting clients with vision loss.

Recently, Clearly Clinical did an interview with me to learn more about what it is like emotionally to be unable to see like everybody else. To be another - the odd duck. You can watch it here: https://clearlyclinical.com/podcast/ceu-social-work-clients-visually-impaired

I was struck with a few observations as I did the very kind & skillful interview.

• It really is painful to not be believed.

• The idea that if you are anxious or fearful because a lot of sudden surprises happen every day, might be interpreted as an MH issue keeps folks away from counseling.

• That progressive - chronic loss is hard to grieve. Everybody says - but you can still see some! With good coaching - skills you can learn to grieve whenever it comes up. This promotes healthy growth.

• When and if ( likely you do) you have people in your practice with progressive vision loss, it is really important for you to know what is or isn’t related to blindness. And to not say - “ Are you sure? You don’t look blind. ” In truth, totally blind folks with good blindness skills look sighted as well. Yet as you can imagine, facing and slowly encroaching threat of not being able to see is really hard to face alone.

• In truth blindness need not be a barrier to independence or employment - anything really. With training and emotional support for those very real unseen events, life can be very good.
  

• Full of purpose & functionality.
  

Blindness Bias and It's Cost - Insights for Mental Health Professionals

When someone with vision loss asks themselves, "Am I blind enough to use a cane or have a guide dog?" it's often the result of doubt that has crept in because of an experience and commentary they received about their sight. Maybe a mental health professional, personal friend, colleague, or stranger questioned if they were "blind enough" to warrant a cane or guide dog because they were able to see their watch or push a button somewhere. The important thing to note is that other people cannot determine this.

There is no specific number that dictates the need for a guide dog or cane.

Rather it's a matter of the ability to function safely. And that will be different for each person. Even I as a person with significant vision loss questioned if I was blind enough to have a guide dog.

I had to learn to advocate for myself and my needs. The general rule of thumb now for me is, if I understand that something would help me function better and be safer, then I am "blind enough" to warrant having and using that resource, tool, etc.

Every mental health professional needs to be aware of the subtle interactions that occur every day can impact your clients who are dealing with varying levels of vision loss. These people are often given so much conflicting feedback that they miss getting the support and reality check they need to be safe and function optimally in the world.

General guideline: If it helps someone be safe, then they need it.

Become Culturally Competent

To explore how to identify and interact with those dealing with significant vision, check out my latest cultural competency course:

https://www.adaptabilityforlife.com/cultural-competence-training

Do you know how to help a Person that is legally blind?

What do you do when diagnosed with progressive blindness?

When I was 14 my sister, who is 18 years older than me,  was diagnosed with RP - which stands for retinitis pigmentosa, a form of progressive blindness that slowly steals the field of vision from the outside, eventually leading to total blindness. It was strange, as it was a family secret. We all wondered what it meant, how to tell if it was worse - and we could not imagine life being normal ever again. My dad talked constantly about the tragedy - was sure that she would need to be cared for.  We could see her grieving which came out as being uptight and short-tempered, yet we had no clue how to help. We feared the worse in a vacuum of information. In truth, she lived independently and was an employed, gifted teacher until age 76, in spite of being totally blind for 25 years. Fast forward to now, I am 62, and still can see a little bit.  I also have RP and like her and my other sister, have Master’s degrees, live independently, and work successfully. We live full, productive lives. I have learned much through my experiences in staying independent and changing careers from a successful electrician, then teacher, and now a counselor. I know that blindness can be adapted too, and it need not be a barrier. I have had the honor of helping over a hundred people with different levels and types of legal blindness as a vocational rehabilitation counselor. I helped them gain employment and independence. 

Yet, I learned that there is an unnecessary barrier that is hard to fight. The attitudes of people who cannot imagine that this adaptability is possible - who spout their misinformation about the future as fear, doubt, and discouragement. Not believing that with hard work, specialized training, and support - anything is possible. In spite of the thousands of people who are blind, who have proved them wrong. It would seem that these uneducated-sighted people are blind too. 

Now, I am invested in preventing others from the pain of isolation and lack of knowledge about how to make the adaptations to living full and productive lives, no matter how much they can see.  To help those family members and professionals who interact with them to have hope and confidence in the possibilities. To relieve the fears about losing independence and employability. That they have the ability to pursue their dreams no matter how much they can see with their eyes. 

I do this by teaching seminars by allowing people to learn what is hard, and what can be easy if done differently. I show practical examples of easy, low-cost ways to make print accessible. I tell real-life stories to illustrate the difficult dilemmas of being legally blind that open the doors to understanding and support opportunities.  I talk about this odd phenomenon of - not being blind enough.  It goes like this. A person uses a long white cane after extensive training and vetting that they are legally blind - yet a random person accuses them of faking.  They say, hey, I saw you look at your watch or your phone or whatever. You are not -really - blind?! Which, if believed by the person who is legally blind, is the worst negative feedback a person who is trying to maintain function and safety in blindness hears. In a way, this prejudice based on ignorance steals their right to live their lives successfully. Essentially, shaming them for using the white cane that gives them freedom and safety.

I am determined to educate people about the truths about legal blindness. I do this 1:1 or through interesting- experiential seminars for groups. I write blogs and provide free resources to professionals. 

I have a company called Adaptability for Life LLC. I work with people to be able to communicate more easily and know how to provide the right support based on the different types of blindness. I also provide coaching or counseling depending on the needs of individuals, whether they are blind or have a family member or client that is struggling with loss of vision. 

For more information - or sign up for a seminar so you can help not unknowingly hurt or disconnect email deb@adaptabilityforlife.com

or go to my website https://adaptabilityforlife.com

Smart stress release

Mind Body Self Care Skills - Shaking & Dancing

Have you ever been so frustrated and just don’t want to yell, but yet you need to let it out somehow? Or maybe you did something big, set a boundary or were really vulnerable, and you are feeling that shaky, weird energy? This is where shaking with or without dancing is helpful. It sounds too woo-woo, and maybe a bit scary. Hang on, it is actually pretty simple, can be done anywhere, and can be quite effective in letting your body recover from life’s upsetting events. It is my most favorite self-care mind body skill - at the moment. :)

According to research you can find at The Center of Mind Body Medicine at this link https://cmbm.org/research/published-research/ These techniques done regularly really do work to heal many chronic illnesses, post-traumatic stress disorder and more. It works by helping your body deactivate the flight or fight center of your brain, so you can feel more peaceful, and think better.

So how and when do you do it? Preferably, frequently at least daily, or whenever you feel tense or frustrated, or even when you need to focus, like before a test. Shaking is best to be done somewhere you will not feel judged, or worry about what body part might jiggle. You can even do this in the bathroom stall. Typically takes 10 minutes yet if you do a shorter version, three minutes can make a positive difference. Be aware, that this can be a way to release powerful emotions, just keep going through the tears, or anger or joy if you do not block the feelings. It is OK. Let the emotions flow through. Trust the process.

Step 1: Turn on Shaking Music, it really helps to have strong rhythm, with drums for the shaking such as a cardio workout track, remix or meditation. The dance music can be light and airy, or fast and definite, or bouncy easy to dance to music. This choice will change with your needs. Plan on a few minutes at first and try to work up to about 6 minutes of both shaking and dancing music.

Step 2: Close your eyes, standing is best, though you can do this in bed or sitting too, if that works better for you. If your balance is poor with your eyes closed, use a fingertip to touch the wall, or the back of a chair.

Step 3: start jiggling your ankles in your shoes, see how loose you can make them, and work your way up through all your joints. Do not forget your jaw and head. Breath normally, though you might want to focus on letting your tummy jiggle too. Jiggle as hard as your body can without harming yourself. At first you may notice twinges as the vertebrae and other parts of the body release their tension. Keep going until the music stops.

Step 4: Then pause for about 30 seconds of silence, turn on dance music, and let your body move how it will, let it guide you.

Step 5: Continue for about 3-6 minutes depending on your level of fitness and endurance.

Step 6: Take a few full breaths, how do you feel now? You may want to note or journal your experiences.

Let me know what you think about this mind body skill.

New York City Sunset Cruise - Orange sky and black buildings