A simple 含羞草研究社渉ello含羞草研究社� 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 seniors含羞草研究社� homes across the south Island.

Martin, who is legally blind, is using her communication skills honed over nearly three decades as a server at Paul含羞草研究社檚 Motor Inn. The goal is to pave an easier path for others.

含羞草研究社淚t took me 23 years to accept my journey,含羞草研究社� 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.

READ ALSO:

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.

含羞草研究社淚t was absolutely the hardest thing I did in my life,含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社� it taught her in part how to enjoy life differently than when she had her sight.

含羞草研究社淟osing my sight hasn含羞草研究社檛 changed me, but it含羞草研究社檚 changed the way I interact with the world,含羞草研究社� she said.

So she launched her business earlier this year. Martin teaches on apparent and non-apparent disabilities 含羞草研究社� noting nine of 10 are non-apparent 含羞草研究社� 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 含羞草研究社� 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 it含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社渉ello.含羞草研究社�

READ ALSO:

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 one word that can make somebody feel included,含羞草研究社� Martin said. 含羞草研究社淧eople are quiet, they don含羞草研究社檛 know what to say. That含羞草研究社檚 not helpful for those of us who don含羞草研究社檛 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: 含羞草研究社淐an I help?含羞草研究社� and if yes, 含羞草研究社淗ow can I help?含羞草研究社�

Don含羞草研究社檛 be offended by a no.

In person, she also reiterates a few other messages that might seem as obvious as 含羞草研究社渉ello.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淎lways talk to the person, and not the person they含羞草研究社檙e with,含羞草研究社� she said.

含羞草研究社淒on含羞草研究社檛 grab us. That含羞草研究社檚 a real thing.含羞草研究社� Instead of a shout or a grab, verbalize. 含羞草研究社淟ady with the white cane, there含羞草研究社檚 a car on your right含羞草研究社� is far more informative, helpful and less terrifying.

Oh, and it含羞草研究社檚 OK to use the words see, look and watch in conversation.

含羞草研究社淲e see look and watch, just differently,含羞草研究社� Martin said, adding the example of 含羞草研究社渟eeing含羞草研究社� a pink rose through touch and smell. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 enjoying it differently.含羞草研究社�

READ ALSO: