To:
Subject: Workshops in Canada
Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010
Hello Daniel
I attended your workshop a few years ago at the CNIB in Vancouver Canada just after my dog guide retired. I want to let you know how much that information session opened up my world! I'm now using my version of flash sonar which would probably be considered pretty basic to you but it has pushed me forward into a new way of being. I no longer even want a dog guide and they actually tell me now they wouldn't give me one. My nephew walked around when he was about two randomly doing tongue clicks and he still does this even though he can see. He must somehow remember his Aunty clicking when I held him as a baby which basically stemmed from an intense fear that the sighted people around me would take him away from me for fear I would walk him into something.
I would like to attend a training program on flash sonar and I'd also like to explore things like biking and general mobility. I want to be more involved in the community and I'm sick and tired of waiting for sighted people to enjoy the outdoors with me. Have you had any Canadian students and where did they get funding? Right now, I'm thinking of attempting to adopt a child so I'm really wanting to get all the skills I might possibly need so that agencies can't tell me I can't do it because I'm blind.
Thank you again for your workshop! I practice in my apartment using the suggestions in your documentation and have found them extremely helpful. One of my odd quirks is that I'm sensative to noise and can't handle being around a lot of noise. Your suggestion of staying calm and making your brain focus on what is in your surroundings has helped me a great deal even if just to get out of the situation and to a place where I am able to move on.
Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I want to take my mobility and life in general to the next level!
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Michelle
From: "Michelle ...
Subject: Thank You from Michelle
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 2011
Hi Daniel
Wow, how can I ever thank you enough! This morning, I remembered that I'd ordered a book from a store in town. I pretty much knew the directions so I got up and simply set off. It made absolutely no difference that I had to move through areas that felt like open spaces and nore did I worry about knowing exactly where the street was I needed. Heck, I even found a Dairy Queen although a lot of good that's gonna do me! I felt freer than I have in ages! I used to think that the dog was liberating but this is so much of a deeper more profound liberation! It is like the finishing touches that I needed in order to function anywhere anytime! I had decided that today was adventure day and it sure was! Tomorrow I'm meeting my dad at a random Starbucks because he likes that sort of thing. I told him there's no picking me up or rescuing me on the way or anything like that.
Hope your travels go well. Thank you once again for my freedom! I will be telling everyone about World Access for the Blind! I even called my traditional mobility instructor at the CNIB and left her a voice mail about all the wonderful things one can do with echolocation and informed her how I was totally no longer worried about wondering whether I'd reach my destonation without wondering where I was during the route. I was sure smiling all the way down the street today even when I wasn't completely sure. Your work is absolutely life-changing! The other perk was I actually ended up meeting someone who is interested in checking out Nikken so see what happens when you wonder out into unfamilear territory? Wonderful and amazing things happen! Next thing you know I'll tell you I took the skytrain! It's like a whole new world with echolocation and there are so many wonderful new things to discover such as the fact that the library isn't square. It's some other kind of shape.
Take care and keep on doing what you're doing! I'm going to promote it all I can! World Access has another loyal fan!
Michelle
Date: Wed, 07 Dec 2011
Subject: Epoch Christmas Shopping!!!
From: Michelle
An Audio Message
Michelle
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011
Subject: FromMichelle
From: Michelle
Hi Daniel
Just wanted to wish all you folks at World Access for the Blind a Happy New Year! I hope and pray that 2012 will be a great year for you and that many many good things like lots of donations will come your way. Thank you for improving my life and I'm so glad to be going into 2012 with some hope. Usually I detested New Year because it always came with a whole lot of questions about my future which I could never answer. Now I can be free to live my own life rather than living the life expectations put on me by others. It's not often one meets someone who truly embodies a no limits attitude and it is even more unusual to meet someone who empowers others and yet still comes from a place of compassion rather than from a place of power.
…
Have a Happy New Year and I'm believing in you and sending tons of gratitude and positive thoughts your way!
Michelle
Subject: From Michelle, Who Took Her Niece for a Walk Today!
From: michelle ...
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012
Daniel!Where do I start? …
OK, so you'll hear my message but basically, I just wanted to write and say that now I did the one thing I never had an answer for as to how I'd achieve it. I did the one thing that everyone has lauded over me! I actually took my niece for a walk! I can't thank you enough! It's like I was walking and there was strength and determination coming from somewhere! When dad turned on the video I walked just a little more confidently! Now I truly believe in my heart that I can have children! I can be a parent and I can be bloody good at it! It's like my niece was there in this all with me. I bought her a Dora doll this afternoon and told her it was because she'd been so good while her big brother was in hospital but really, I'd have bought her ten of the damn things just for what happened today! It's like the kid knew! She didn't but wow, I'm going to be giving her lots of extra hugs!
I'm sure your ears must be ringing with all the gratitude coming your way right now! You'd be getting a big hug and and the best dinner I could come up with! … I sound totally random but you're lucky we're not having this conversation on the phone. Danielle just got the full version complete with tears and no, you can't finish having tea with your sister and her BF till I told you this one thing! … all I can say is that it has brought people's understanding to a new level. I never thought I'd see the day when my own father stood there and told our family doctor that Michelle is so good with kids! I never thought I'd hear those words out of anyone's mouth! When he told me as I left the car Ii almost burst into tears. If I didn't have a glass dish in my hand, I'd have made a run for it!
Well, today was another milestone day! Thank you! I think I may have just earned my place of respect back in the family. If things do return to normal, I know in my heart of hearts that I can have children and I can walk with them, take them out, buy them things, be a real mommy! If I choose to use assistance it can be on my own terms and the people can play by my rules. Now I truly believe it! Before I was just saying it and hoping it was true. I don't have to be one of those helpless blind mommies and the only real reason I didn't succeed when looking after kids is because I'm not in my own house! I've also had sighted people watching me. Yes, this is great! When I have kids, you're coming to visit because they absolutely have to meet you! … No matter what they do to me now, I know! The seed has been planted and I know! That can never be taken away!
Michelle