TIME...

Light box displaying 'EYES AND INDEPENDENCE' on a table with background resources

We all know these days that the time spent on social media/devices/gaming is an ongoing discussion (a bit like 'Words with Friends', Multiplayer activities, Opinion Polls). I certainly use them to a large degree but know cutting down my time (on particular facebook pages, discussion groups, email forums, or unsubscribing to ones I never knew I signed up for) is important for me, my family and my business. Work/life balance is another discussion and probably needs to be ongoing to keep reminding us to stay balanced.

On my personal page, I have many friends but in addition to that, I have a connection with 22 public groups – 113,751 members in total of those groups I follow!  These do include a few for personal interest, others are ‘business related’ to learn, gain information, share resource ideas, and the great temptation to respond to all that is asked or needed. You might ask why I have those groups on my personal page but it’s because having a business page doesn’t always allow me to do that and to initially join or like them, I am required to do it under my name. Below is a list of some of the groups that I am part of:

• Friends of Moreton Bay Inclusive Playspace
• iTeach Special Education- iDevices in Special Education
• Retinitis Pigmentosa Support Group (The RP Family Group )
• Teaching Preschool Children with Blindness and Visual Impairments
• Assistive Technology Community for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Supporting Dual-Media Instruction for Children with Low Vision
• Australia & New Zealand Accessible Graphics Group
• iPhone and iPad Apps for the Blind And Visually Impaired
• Assistive Technology Community for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Braille: Learning and Networking for sighted people learning Braille

You know, as I have been writing this, I have chosen to opt out of some of the groups as members are more US based as I find I am so tempted to respond to so many questions that are asked about kids and adults with VI but know that it just starts to consume me and I need to concentrate on our country, our State (Queensland) where I can probably make more of a difference). As a result of looking through my FB pages, I have been distracted of course noticing something of interest, a good video to post, events coming up, etc. So now back to focusing on this…..

On average, 350 people follow my FB ‘Eyes and Independence’ page which I’m pretty happy with. I created a Queensland group too so that if there were posts that only really applied to local activities or information, I didn’t want to get the rest of the world too excited. The majority of the Qld group are clients or their parents or a person I know personally with a vision impairment who can offer lots of information about their experiences. This is often what I consider to be lacking – the basic information a person wants to ask another that doesn’t involve paperwork, a set appointment or a monthly wait to see a ‘specialist’. I have seen many adult clients recently and my purpose for the visit is to work on an Orientation and Mobility goal. While I’m there though, they have also had an issue arise on their phone, can no longer read their mail, questioned what was making the constant backyard noise. Being informed is important for all but to what degree is based on what personality type you are. I too, have to remember my role on this particular day (other days can be a lot broader), love to offer all kinds of assistance but I definitely want to empower them. I want that person to be able to call the library to ask about an ebook course being run. I would love to see that person meet up with another with similar vision challenges. I would love to sit there all day, discussing, planning, brainstorming ideas to enable this person to participate.

Then I realise the time, and inform the person I have to go. I might have another appointment with someone else to distribute a new cane, or it could be a flight to catch, the big drive back home before peak traffic. It all takes time. I love to share information, share my knowledge about the latest piece of equipment, the free app to use for a magnifier, refer you onto another provider who can answer a few more questions if I don’t have them all, or tell you about the next useful facebook page!

Offering my services as an individual in my specialist business, does enable me to be broad in what I offer. Goals are still required but can be discussed, changed, reconsidered, expanded on and of course achieved. I am responding to your needs and love the fact that ‘Eyes and Independence’ can offer this kind of service with a minimal waiting list, flexible hours and in a broad area of Queensland (school holidays can offer intense programs on request). Less travel of course would allow me to provide more hours directly with clients. North of Brisbane near the highway does allow me to get started on the road quickly (depending on traffic) but remember I can come to you or your child. If you have read this entire post, thankyou and you will have done so through my webpage. There are a lot more pages to view at your leisure (all created myself), just by clicking on the button to open other tabbed pages. ‘Like’ what you read, watch, and learn and I too can enjoy the discovery of another new person interested in what I can offer and share. Time’s up  for my blogging  – and I’m supposed to take Sundays off !