Blind Skills Training with Gina

Five helpful tips when walking past those of us who are blind or low vision.

1. Please say “hello” to us because we cannot see your smile, wave or nod of acknowledgment. Your verbal “hello” is taken as that smile and friendly gesture, that we miss out on, visually😃

2. Please use your words by saying “I am passing on your left” or “ hello, have a nice day!” when you speak it alerts us that you are there. When we know you’re there, if any help is needed, you just opened the door for us to ask you. What is great about this tip is by saying “hello” you are treating us like everyone else and that is all anyone really wants.

3) If you notice low hanging branches or other objects that our head may hit, it is helpful if you let us know so we can duck or put our arm up to protect our face and head. Our canes alert us to low objects but not to objects above our waist. Yeling “look out” or “watch out” is not helpful because we do not see what we should be looking or watching out for. Be specific to be helpful.

4. When you see someone coming toward you who is using a cane or has a guide dog. Please move out of the way so we can pass. Please do not just be quiet. Your hello and letting us know you are there is very helpful. Never try to jump over our cane 🦯 if you miss and accidentally break the cane, that can be detrimental to those of us who rely on it for mobility and independence.

5. Please never grab or pull anyone especially if we are blind. When this happens it takes our ability to effectively use our cane and can put us in harms way, not to mention the grabbing could also cause injury. We visually cannot see your intentions and being grabbed or touched by strangers is not appreciated. Just use your voice, that is truly most helpful.

“Having a disability doesn’t change who I am it changes my interactions with the world!” Gina Martin

Curious about respectful interactions with people who have disabilities? We offer tailored training to classrooms and business and communities.
Practical, easy to implement strategies. Check out our blogs and all we offer.
DiverseAbilities.ca

Photo description
A lady is walking along a sidewalk using her long white cane.

Here’s the thing:
Accessibility benefits everyone, so why do we keep developing, designing and building products and spaces where accessibility is “added on later”? That is “if” it is added on later.

Why aren’t we creating a world where accessibility is just how things work?

The truth is…
Accessibility isn’t a niche thing, It’s not a charity project, It’s the blueprint for the future, allowing everyone to participate, leaving no one behind.

Why aren’t we building:

All public spaces with automatic doors or accessible washrooms or considering colour contrast or easy to read signage?

Having crosswalks with built-in audio, tactile cues (that work for everyone) and smart navigation, because some people can’t see flashing or signal lights.

Buses with ramps, audio and subtitles,so everyone can easily get where they need to go.

Hospital systems with screen reader-friendly check-ins and real-time interpreters for all patients, not just the ones who demand it?

Quiet spaces that allow many the opportunity to regulate or decompress from the busyness and noise that at times cause, overwhelm.

Classrooms where videos come with captions and descriptions by default, so every student learns without barriers?

Through my Youth aDAPT program, I get to teach kids this exact message: that designing with accessibility from the start doesn’t just include people with disabilities, it helps everyone. Kids quickly see that a ramp works for a wheelchair, but also for strollers, and bikes. Captions help a Deaf or hard of hearing student while also helping people with learning differences or who are new to understanding, English. When children grow up seeing accessibility as part of normal design, they build a future world, where no one is left out.

We already have the tools.
We have the people.
What we don’t have is the will or the leadership that truly starts with accessibility first. Teaching our young will shift how we design in the future.

Here’s the thing:
One day, the people designing today for “the average user” will age.
Their sight, hearing, memory, or mobility will change because aging is a natural process of life. We will ALL need some accommodation or assistance. That is a fact!

When today’s designers or someone they love, face disability through birth, accident, or illness… what then? Then suddenly, the “optional” features become survival tools. Disability can happen to anyone at anytime.

It shouldn’t take personal experience to care.
We already know better.
So let’s do better.

Let’s stop designing for “some.”
Let’s build for everyone, from the beginning.

Not as an afterthought.
Not as a side tab labeled “accessibility.”
Not as a checked box.
Not as a consideration.
This design should be the standard.

Because when we lead with access, everybody benefits.

Youth aDAPT teaches kids that disability is just a different way of navigating life. Youth who do not have disabilities may never have considered the topics or concepts this program teaches. When our next generation of creators, designers and builders can think “outside the box” we position them as leaders, the future to making the shift that create true, meaningful change, that benefits everyone.

“Having a disability does not change who we are, it changes our interactions with the world.” - Gina Martin

💬 I’m Gina. My work with Youth aDAPT helps kids and communities look at accessibility through a different lens, one that’s practical, human, and rooted in lived experience. Together we make inclusion more than a checklist. To learn more about this program or to sponsor a classroom, or school visit DiverseAbilities.ca





awareness

Photo description
Gina is walking with her white cane along a Mobi Mat on the beach .
Text reads when we understand each other, inclusion stops becoming complicated. It becomes something we all know how to do.

Good intentions are common. Disability awareness is not.

Most people want to be respectful, but many of us were never taught how to interact comfortably with people with disabilities. That gap often leads to awkward moments, assumptions, or silence, when what is really needed is simple awareness.

If you remember nothing else, remember this. Respect is not complicated.

Here are ten practical do’s and don’ts that change how interactions feel for those of us living with disabilities.

Speak directly to us. Always address us, not the person with us. It acknowledges us and keeps us part of the conversation.

Ask before helping. Please do not jump in, just ask us first. If we decline, it is not personal and No to help this time does not mean it won’t be appreciated another time. Independence matters. If we say yes, then ask how we would like help and follow our lead.

Communicate like you would with anyone else. There is no need to raise your voice or slow your speech unless asked. To. We do not appreciate being spoken to like children or pets.

Respect our space. Do not touch us or our mobility aids without permission. These devices are extensions of our bodies and critical to our safety and independence.

Accommodations are not special treatment. They are tools that allow people to participate, contribute and succeed.

Accessibility is more than ramps and parking spots. It looks different for everyone and learning what it truly means requires curiosity and openness.

Avoid patronizing praise. Comments like “good job” or “you’re so inspiring” can feel dismissive. Acknowledge our skills and contributions, not our existence.

Do not question our disabilities. Asking if someone is “really” blind or deaf is hurtful. Our lived experience does not need validation.

Say hello and goodbye. A simple greeting matters. If you leave a conversation with someone who is blind, let us know so we are not left speaking into empty space.

Use everyday common language. Words like “see” and “hear” are fine. Shared language creates connection, not offense. (We see, hear and walk only different. )

Inclusion is built through small, intentional choices. When we know better, we interact better. That is how classrooms, workplaces and communities become spaces where everyone feels welcome and belongs.

“Having a disability doesn’t change who we are, it changes our interactions with the world.” – Gina Martin.

KindnessMatters

Image description
There are three people engaged in a conversation. One gentleman has headphones around his neck, a lady is wearing dark sunglasses and holding a white cane and a third gentleman is smiling. Text reads good intentions are common… Disability awareness is not. 10 dues and don’ts to remember!

If you have seen me at a networking event and did not come say hello, you are not alone and you are exactly who I wrote this for.

I attend many networking events around town, including my favourite event with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, where rooms are full of driven, enthusiastic and successful people ready to connect and grow.

I show up to these spaces as a woman entrepreneur who is blind and trying to rebuild my business in a brand new city.

That means I walk into every unfamiliar room alone, unable to assess the space, without being able to recognize a single face, read a name tag, catch the subtle cues that guide every other interaction in the room.

No eye contact.
No wave across the room.
No “I think I know that person.”

I rely on my orientation and mobility training, sound, memory and courage.

The truth is, these spaces are not designed with me in mind.

My biggest barrier at these events is not my vision loss.

It is the hesitation from those around me. The social stigmas, the built environment and that people who navigate life differently are not considered in the planning of these types of events.

I know what often happens.

You see my white cane.
You are not sure how to approach.
You do not want to do the wrong thing or unintentionally offend me.
This creates avoidance.

What you may not realize is this, I want to connect with you just as much as you want to connect with others in that room.

The difference is, I cannot meet you halfway unless you take the first step.

So here is how to make it easy.

If you see me at an event, come up to me, get my attention by saying,

“Hi Gina, I am Mya nice to meet you.” (Often we have name tags on ).
If we have met before saying “Hi Gina, it’s Miranda” and tell me where we met. This helps me recognize where I know you from because I cannot identify you visually.
If you extend your hand to shake mine and I do not notice, just say “I am extending my hand to shake yours,”

That is it.

Say my name so I know you are speaking to me. (These events can be noisy so if I do not respond, get my attention please)
Tell me who you are so I am not guessing.

By doing this you have just turned an uncertain moment into a meaningful connection.

Inclusion is not complicated.
It is not expensive.
It is not something we only talk about in policies and strategies.

It happens in real time, in rooms like these in simple human interactions.

I show up to these spaces with vulnerability and determination every single time.

Not because it is easy but because I know I belong in these rooms.

If you are someone who wants to create a more inclusive and welcoming experience in your business, this is where it starts.

With awareness.
With intention.
With small actions that change everything.

“Having a disability doesn’t change who I am, it changes my interactions with the world.” – Gina Martin.

Inclusion is not always about big changes. It lives in the smallest moments.

If you want to create spaces where every client living with a disability feels seen, valued and welcome. I can help you get there.

Take your team from uncomfortable to confident in my IDEAL Team building program. Changing how disabilities are viewed and understood through real, honest and authentic conversations. Connect with me and learn more 👇🏽
DiverseAbilities.ca

Photo description
Gina is standing on a path in a park. She is wearing dark sunglasses and standing with her cane, smiling.

A white cane does far more than help someone walk safely. Here is what most people do not know.

The cane is white so the general public knows that the person using it is blind or has low vision.

A white cane is something we lightly tap and slide from side to side or it stays in constant contact with the ground. The tapping sound the cane makes when using the two point touch (tap and slide) can work like echolocation for the user. Our cane is usually 3 to 6 feet in front of us and that tapping and contact gives us information about what is ahead, changes in surface, drop-offs, obstacles, and landmarks. Our cane alerts us to what our eyes may not see or see clearly. It gives us independence to navigate the world with more confidence.

Did you know white canes are not all the same?

One cane does not work for every person. Length, tip, handle, weight, and material all matter. What works well for one person may not work at all for another. One cane also does not work equally well on all surfaces or terrains.

White canes are white for an important reason. The colour identifies to the public that the person using it is blind or has low vision. This helps others understand why we may be navigating differently and encourages safer interactions.

Some canes are all white. Some have red on the bottom portion. Some of us decorate our canes because the cane becomes an extension of who we are.

The red on the bottom of the cane means different things in different countries. In Canada, most of us are given the same cane from the main service provider, if you are blind or low vision here, the bottom is red for those canes. With Canada being a snowy country the red helps with colour contrast in the snow.

A red and white striped cane has a specific meaning. It indicates the person is both hard of hearing and has low vision, or is DeafBlind.

Some canes fold and some do not. They can be made of aluminum, carbon fibre, or graphite. Each material changes the weight and feel of the cane. Some canes are measured based on height, while others are chosen based on comfort, travel style, or personal preference.

Cane tips also vary widely. They are made from materials like metal, ceramic, or plastic. Some tips roll and some stay fixed. Each type gives different feedback about the environment, including texture, vibration, and surface changes.

Handles are not all the same either. They can be plastic, foam, cork wood or rubber. Some are thicker, some thinner. Some have grooves for fingers. Comfort and grip matter, especially for daily use.

A white cane is our mobility device. For those of us who use one, it represents independence, safety and freedom to us. Please do not step over it, grab it, touch it, or move it. Doing so can disorient or endanger us.

It is called a cane, not a stick or a pole. If someone who uses one calls it something else, then you know for that person. In general, calling things what they are shows respect.

Do you have any questions about white canes or how they are used?

“Having a disability does not change who we are. It changes our interactions with the world.”-Gina Martin

Looking for an educational and practical program that breaks through barriers and bridges gaps between society and disability? Check out our Community aDAPT program DiverseAbilities.ca



Photo description
Text readsa white cane is not a prop it is how we detect obsticals, understand our environment and move safely through the world.
Finds obsticles, Detects drop offs. Surface changes guides us forward. There is a white cane with a rolling tip and a cane handle in the image.

Inclusion happens when we stop asking people to “fit in “ and start learning how each of us moves through life in our own way. 

Accessible Seating: Every Chair Tells a Story

Next time you walk into a waiting room, clinic, school, or community space, take a moment to look at the chairs.

Are they all the same?

Many spaces have one style of chair, either all with arms or all without. It may seem fine at first glance, but not every body, age, or ability can use the same type of seating.

A chair that feels “standard” to one person can be too low for someone with hip or back pain, too narrow for a plus-size person, too deep for someone of smaller stature, or too soft for someone who needs stable support to stand. A parent with a baby might need a sturdy chair with arms. A senior or person using a mobility aid may need a taller seat to help them rise safely. A child might simply want to sit beside a sibling.

Accessibility isn’t only about ramps, elevators, or signage. It’s about choice. It’s about creating an environment where everyone can comfortably take a seat without having to ask, wait, or wonder if the chair will support them.

Imagine a space with a mix of options: a few wider chairs, some with arms and some without, a taller stool-style chair, and a sturdy spot for someone plus size or a parent and child. Add a mixture of chairs and space for wheelchair users so every person feels welcome and can sit comfortably. That’s inclusion in action.

Every chair tells a story about who is welcome and who was forgotten. What story do the chairs in your space tell?



Photo description
5 black chairs line a wall with a window. 1 taller chair, 2 with arms, 2 without arms, one of them larger and sturdy.

What if we taught every child to read the world with more than just their eyes?

Imagine a classroom where braille, sign language, and print were all taught together from day one.
Where a blind child and a Deaf child could talk to each other in hand-over-hand communication because everyone learned the same shared languages from the beginning.
Nobody would be “different.” Nobody would be left out.

But that’s not how we built our schools.
For years, people believed that children who were “different” needed to be taken to a separate room to learn.
Braille, sign language, and other adaptive tools were seen as something only certain people needed so nobody else learned them and that’s exactly how separation begins.

If every child learned braille and sign language right alongside print, we wouldn’t need all these barriers.
We wouldn’t need to rely on a single interpreter or a few specialists to bridge the gap.
Kids would grow up able to help each other, communicate with each other, and understand one another.
Inclusion wouldn’t have to be “added in”, it would already be there.

I remember when schools used to teach daily life skills things like cooking, budgeting, sewing, or even taking care of a pretend baby. Those lessons taught us how to care for ourselves and others.
Teachers were like second parents back then, giving kids the tools to be capable adults. Now, those programs are gone.
And we wonder why so many kids grow up not knowing how to navigate the real world.

I once attended a fundraiser that was supposed to support the blind community, but instead I watched the speaker take the mic and say,
“Braille is yucky, no one should ever have to touch that.”
Then she used the statistic that only 10% of blind people read braille as a reason not to support it.
I had just finished a $500 painting for their cause, and I realized then how far we’ve drifted from what really matters, human connection, communication, and respect.

As our world changes faster than ever, we have to ask ourselves: what will the next generation actually need.

Written by Danielle Frampton

Visit our website to learn more about what we do.
DiverseAbilities.ca

Photo description
Eight different symbols representing disability. A symbol of a person using a wheelchair, TTYL, hearing aid , sign language, braille, close, captioning, person using a white cane. 

Let’s Talk About Discomfort
If you didn’t grow up around disability, I want to talk to you for a moment.

You may have been taught:
“Don’t stare.”
“Don’t ask questions.”
“Just ignore it and move on.”

I know it came from a place of trying to be polite.
But too often, that silence becomes distance and that distance becomes a barrier.

Here’s the truth:
Disability isn’t something to be pitied or feared.
It’s part of being human.
Some of us are born with disabilities.
Some acquire them through accident or illness. If we’re lucky enough to grow old, all of us will experience, changing abilities.

Different does not mean broken.
Support doesn’t mean weakness.
It means we’ve found ways to adapt and keep going.

You don’t have to have the perfect words or know exactly what to do, what matters is your willingness to see us, listen, and connect. We are people first, we just accomplish daily tasks, differently

So instead of looking away, look closer.
Instead of being afraid to offend, be open to learn.
Instead of assuming, engage respectfully.

Tip if the only thing you do is say “Hello, Have a good day” you will treat everyone with respect. This is an easy tip to remember and it applies to everyone. 👋🏼😃

At Diverse Abilities Programs Inc., we break down barriers one conversation, one classroom, one team at a time.
Because inclusion starts with awareness and grows with empathy.

Let’s stop being uncomfortable around disability.
Let’s start building a society where all people are treated with dignity, regardless of how they move, communicate, or navigate the world.

We’re all in this together.
We will all age and our abilities will change.
Let’s make space for each other.

“Having a disability doesn’t change who we are, it changes our interactions with the world. “– Gina Martin. 

Visit DiverseAbilities.ca to learn more about how we teach practical, respectful ways to build inclusion.

Photo description a shadow of a young girl is releasing a heart shaped balloon Into a swirling sky of colours. Text Reid’s..
One of our greatest powers is simply being kind to each other 

All we want is to be seen as a person, not just our disability.

People often assume the hardest part of living with a disability must be the physical pain, the mobility challenges, or the daily discomfort.

For many, the deepest pain comes from something else. It is the loneliness, the isolation, and the moments when we are overlooked, misunderstood, or treated as less-than human.

It is the quiet ache of watching others form bonds, build friendships, and make plans while we remain on the outside looking in. Not because we do not care and Not because we are not trying. It is because too often, people see our disability before they see us.

They assume our world is too different or too complicated. They step back, not out of cruelty, but out of uncertainty.

Many people simply do not know what to say or do when meeting those of us who navigate life differently. They worry about doing or saying the wrong thing and offending someone. They also do not want to look awkward so it is easier to just, avoid. For those raised with messages like “do not look, do not stare, do not ask,” silence can feel safer than connection.

Here’s is the truth. Most of us do not want your pity, we want connection. We want to laugh with friends, talk about everyday life, go on adventures, and try something new. We want to be included in moments that have nothing to do with our disability and everything to do with being human.

Having a disability does not mean we are not capable, it means we may do things differently. We might use tools or technology, or take a bit more time or space, but we are still learning, growing, and fully human.

So the next time you see us in the community, say “hello.” Ask how our day is, not only how our condition is.

Sometimes the most powerful healing does not come from medicine or therapy. It comes from knowing we truly belong.

“Having a disability does not change who we are, it changes our interactions with the world.”-Gina Martin
DiverseAbilities.ca

Photo description.
Text reads be gentle, not every battle is visible. Kindness is the language we all understand.