SHARING 'TIP OF THE DAY'

Yesterday afternoon when I dropped into the supermarket (as you do) and from a distance, I noticed a lovely couple (70s - 80s) who were shopping together and were working so well as a team. As I looked again when I moved closer, I recognised who they were – a lady who I had provided Orientation & Mobility instruction 12 months ago for a re-introduction to the white cane and her lovely husband who had always been part of the team.
After chatting about the medical challenges they had experienced in one whole year, I asked the question about ‘the vision’. There was a definite hault to the conversation, one in which I was questioning whether I should have even asked. After a moment, the response she gave was “getting worse, and I can’t even read my own packaging anymore”.

Recalling the couple owning an iphone and a few app suggestions had been given previously, I asked them if they had one of the newest apps ‘Seeing AI’. They hadn’t heard of it. Out came the iphone from the husband’s pocket handing it to me and telling me I could download it for them. Excitement built and they were then calling their daughter for the ID password on the spot. I noted it down and attempted to download this amazing app all within a 10 minute period (for the process), not the talking time! Full steam ahead but of course, the downloading had to finish at home due to the need for more continuous wireless activity for a successful download.

I get a real buzz out of sharing information. I love to see people become motivated and encouraged from the simple action of someone sharing, to enhance someone else’s accessibility to information, options to enhance independence, discovering the new and finding the information sources. I didn’t charge for my ‘tip of the day’. I chose to pass on the information to enable someone to still be able to do something that she was feeling she can no longer do.

As a Professional, it is sometimes hard to understand why another Professional won’t share their knowledge with another eventhough we all are there wanting to achieve the same thing in our roles - to support, empower, provide, assess, inform and educate. I couldn’t imagine not sharing information to clients or families if it has some benefit.

My work and life experiences can all contribute to ‘the manual of life’ and empowering others with information is something I get so much out of and watching what people do with that information.

I know that knowledge is also considered ‘power’ and it may be the difference between enjoying my job and developing relationships with families who become empowered versus those who don’t share so much for the possible fear of their job becoming redundant as families become more empowered?
 
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