A simple 香蕉视频直播渉ello香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 Motor Inn. The goal is to pave an easier path for others.

香蕉视频直播淚t took me 23 years to accept my journey,香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淚t was absolutely the hardest thing I did in my life,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播� it taught her in part how to enjoy life differently than when she had her sight.

香蕉视频直播淟osing my sight hasn香蕉视频直播檛 changed me, but it香蕉视频直播檚 changed the way I interact with the world,香蕉视频直播� she said.

So she launched her business earlier this year. Martin teaches on apparent and non-apparent disabilities 香蕉视频直播� noting nine of 10 are non-apparent 香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播� 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香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播渉ello.香蕉视频直播�

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香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 one word that can make somebody feel included,香蕉视频直播� Martin said. 香蕉视频直播淧eople are quiet, they don香蕉视频直播檛 know what to say. That香蕉视频直播檚 not helpful for those of us who don香蕉视频直播檛 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: 香蕉视频直播淐an I help?香蕉视频直播� and if yes, 香蕉视频直播淗ow can I help?香蕉视频直播�

Don香蕉视频直播檛 be offended by a no.

In person, she also reiterates a few other messages that might seem as obvious as 香蕉视频直播渉ello.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淎lways talk to the person, and not the person they香蕉视频直播檙e with,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淒on香蕉视频直播檛 grab us. That香蕉视频直播檚 a real thing.香蕉视频直播� Instead of a shout or a grab, verbalize. 香蕉视频直播淟ady with the white cane, there香蕉视频直播檚 a car on your right香蕉视频直播� is far more informative, helpful and less terrifying.

Oh, and it香蕉视频直播檚 OK to use the words see, look and watch in conversation.

香蕉视频直播淲e see look and watch, just differently,香蕉视频直播� Martin said, adding the example of 香蕉视频直播渟eeing香蕉视频直播� a pink rose through touch and smell. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 enjoying it differently.香蕉视频直播�

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