When we were house hunting last year I came across Zillow and loved their website and App. It's clear and easy to read, great for a low vision person like me, and their search feature and filters are so easy to use. When I found houses I was interested in, I could email the Realtor directly, which again helps a deaf person like me. We found a great Realtor and was able to just email back and forth and embed a listing from Zillow to him and say "we want to see this one".

So if you're searching for a home, or rental, check out Zillow, and their App too.

Happy Househunting!

Tracy,
One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon

I've decided to delete the Cooking/Crafts blog part as it turns out it's complicated to start 2 separate RSS feeds and double entries, etc. etc. I'll just start posting them here on the regular blog page.

If anyone has suggestions on what you'd like to see here (Tutorial page for Signs, Low Vision Living, Printables, E-book suggestions, etc.) please let me know in comments.

Thank you for your patience as I experiment some more.

Tracy,
One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon

Just wanted to add some more things to my Post from last week that people who have commented.

Another alternative to internet relay and video relay for Deafblind would be to use a SSP (Support Service Provider) or they're also known as CF (Communication Facilitators) to assist with phone calls. This could help with scheduled calls as the SSP/CF has to be scheduled ahead of time, but this wouldn't help with things that have to be dealt with that day (emergencies, school, work).

If you're upset with the internet relay shutdowns, you can file a complaint with the FCC through this form - Disability Access Complaint. It lists several methods, online, phone, fax and mail. We need our voices heard and not be left behind again!

I'm still open to suggestions on best video relay service, what options each company offers, if they're deafblind friendly or not, "size" of screen adjustment options, etc.

We need to explore other communication options and stop the cutbacks that affect the Deafblind community.

Tracy,
"One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon

I just got the news that my regular Relay Service I use to make calls (ip-relay.com) will be shutting down on November 14th due to changes in FCC Codes. (For an explanation of Relay Service check out my old post). 

This is disheartening since I have poor vision I opt to use text relay instead of video relay 

There's only one Internet Relay Provider left and that's through Sprint.. I could go back to using Video Relay but I haven't used one in many years and do not know which provider is better. 

I could also use my CapTel phone which works like a standard phone but has a screen for a relay operator to type out the other person's conversation. Because of this there's an "unnatural" delay as I wait for the captions to appear and understand what's being said. So even after explaining to the caller about my phone and my "deaf accent" I still get a lot of hangups. Some days I get phone phobia and just rather not deal with any phone calls at all. Don't get me started on Government directories! By the time I find out what Option 1, 2 and 3 are, they've hung up!

It would be so much easier if there were more:

• Pop up Live Chats on Company Websites
• Directed Corporate e-mail service to go directly to the right department. I finally got an e-mail reply to a question I sent....a year ago!
• Listings of Telephone Option Directories, so you can find out what buttons you'll need to push before you start the phone call.
• Updated Technology at Companies, they've got dedicated "TTY" phone numbers for Deaf users, but I can't remember the last time I've used one!
• Patient people!

I guess I'll have to keep researching video relay companies to find which is a good fit for me.

Til then...I'm not answering the phone!

Tracy,
"One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon

About a month ago we moved to a new place. It's in the same town as the kids like their schools. It's bigger, actually has a garage now, and a it's a bit closer to Hubby's work.

Even though it's been a month, I'm still unpacking things. It's not that we have so much stuff (I still wonder how we fitted all this into 875sqft. at the other place), it's that my health doesn't "permit" me to dive right in. With Chronic Kidney Disease it's like having a beautiful Dodge Dart (ok, ok a dilapidated Minivan) and having a clogged oil filter. The car'll run for a while, then it will get get sluggish and even seize up and shut down. I only have a limited energy level to do and there's cooking, cleaning and other "Momma Chores" to do besides unpack. Some days I have great energy and can get a lot done, other days I need to take long naps.

To find out about #CKD check out this link - Stage 4 Kidney Disease
To help out please check out this link - Saint John's Medical Center

Also coming up this Sunday will be my Post on Deaf Insight's Blog Under My Fingertips where I'll talk about Low Vision adaptations for the new house.

Until next time...on to the next Box!

Tracy,
"One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon

Most of the time at Doctor's offices if you received bad news such as Cancer, or a life-threatening disease, you're given aftercare resources that include counselling and emotional support, etc. But what about after a major Hearing or Vision Loss Assessment? They just go "Here's your new glasses/hearing aid" and send you off. 

Some may refer you to places that sell Assistive Devices. Sure, that's great but these doctors need to realize there's an emotional impact here too. There's no such thing as "being prepared" for a major hearing or vision loss. Losing your Hearing or Vision has such an emotional punch and you can feel things such as:

• Losing me Independence - You'll start feeling like you won't be able to do the most basic things anymore and everyone will have to do everything for me.
• Losing my Privacy - I'll have to have someone else do all my banking and bills and they'll know everything about me.
• Losing my Self Confidence - I never needed to depend on anyone before, 'll be nothing but a burden on everyone around me now.
• Losing my Job - I'll have to quit now, how am I going to support myself, my family?
• Losing Love Ones - I'll lose family and friends because who wants to be around me now?

Now those of us who are already Deaf, Blind or both will look at this and go, as my Dad would say, "That's Bull-Pucky!" We can do everything independently and MORE! We'll do it a different way, and may take longer to do it but dammit we get it done! Sure, sure we'll need a little "help" once in a while, but we're not curled up on the floor drooling like some "newly diagnosed" people might think, Heh.

Anyway, my point is that Doctors and Professionals need to realize the emotional impact these diagnoses have on their patients. Make a list of local agencies that serve the Deaf, or Blind community. Refer them to websites such as VisionAware, or ALDA, or a multitude of other websites, as well as Counselling services.

If you're newly diagnosed yourself.....then trust me, it ain't that bad.

Tracy,
"One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon