A simple 91裸聊视频渉ello91裸聊视频� 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 seniors91裸聊视频� homes across the south Island.

Martin, who is legally blind, is using her communication skills honed over nearly three decades as a server at Paul91裸聊视频檚 Motor Inn. The goal is to pave an easier path for others.

91裸聊视频淚t took me 23 years to accept my journey,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淚t was absolutely the hardest thing I did in my life,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� it taught her in part how to enjoy life differently than when she had her sight.

91裸聊视频淟osing my sight hasn91裸聊视频檛 changed me, but it91裸聊视频檚 changed the way I interact with the world,91裸聊视频� she said.

So she launched her business earlier this year. Martin teaches on apparent and non-apparent disabilities 91裸聊视频� noting nine of 10 are non-apparent 91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频� 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 it91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频渉ello.91裸聊视频�

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91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 one word that can make somebody feel included,91裸聊视频� Martin said. 91裸聊视频淧eople are quiet, they don91裸聊视频檛 know what to say. That91裸聊视频檚 not helpful for those of us who don91裸聊视频檛 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: 91裸聊视频淐an I help?91裸聊视频� and if yes, 91裸聊视频淗ow can I help?91裸聊视频�

Don91裸聊视频檛 be offended by a no.

In person, she also reiterates a few other messages that might seem as obvious as 91裸聊视频渉ello.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淎lways talk to the person, and not the person they91裸聊视频檙e with,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淒on91裸聊视频檛 grab us. That91裸聊视频檚 a real thing.91裸聊视频� Instead of a shout or a grab, verbalize. 91裸聊视频淟ady with the white cane, there91裸聊视频檚 a car on your right91裸聊视频� is far more informative, helpful and less terrifying.

Oh, and it91裸聊视频檚 OK to use the words see, look and watch in conversation.

91裸聊视频淲e see look and watch, just differently,91裸聊视频� Martin said, adding the example of 91裸聊视频渟eeing91裸聊视频� a pink rose through touch and smell. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 enjoying it differently.91裸聊视频�

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