Blind Inspirationcast Inspirations

In this follow up to her White Cane Podcast, Colleen addresses more techniques and resources for traveling independently with a visual impairment.  Answering some great feedback, she also shares some personal views and tips on the importance of gaining independent living skills.  Keep the comments and questions coming this way!

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Colleen shares some global statistics and definitions surrounding visual impairments today, bringing light to some of the international efforts to prevent and care for the visually impaired, and striving to inspire people to open their minds and hearts to all.

World Health Organization

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This podcast reveals some of the mysteries and misconceptions about The Long White Canes used by the blind and visually impaired. Colleen goes into the basics of why canes are used, how to get them, how to train with them, and what to do once you have one. For sighted listeners, this is a fun and informative sneak peek into observing and helping cane users!

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Happy Halloween, everyone, and we hope you had a wonderful Disability Awareness Month.  Remember to continue disability awareness all year long.

Colleen reflects on her recent speaking engagement at Cox Communications for a Diversity Council event. She had a great time at the event, and in this episode she relays some of the information she discussed such as her own philosophies, the rise of the HR quotas, and job placement for disabled persons.  Also she and Cheryl both want to extend thoughts and support to any who were affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Do you like Disability Awareness Month? What are your experiences with disabilities in the workplace? Email or comment below.  Thanks for listening!

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Turner Classic Movies’ The Projected Image: A History of Disability in Film is running each Tuesday evening in October.  Of particular interest to Colleen is the 1942 film Eyes in the Night, which follows a blind detective in his thwarting of a group of murderers and thieves.

Colleen and Cheryl discuss the film and its portrayal of blindness, as well as its overall plot.  They really enjoyed watching it as a film in itself and appreciated the somewhat realistic portrayal of a person living with blindness.  The main character even uses his blindness to outwit the bad guys, who underestimate him and his seeing eye dog.  This is a very fun film and Colleen and Cheryl both reccomend it to anyone who enjoys detective dramas and/or old movies.

Don’t miss the rest of the TCM series.  Click for the film lineup.

Eyes in the Night was made in 1942, was directed by Fred Zinnemann, and stars Edward Arnold, Ann Harding, Donna Reed, and Friday the Wonderdog.

Welcome back from a hiatus! Colleen has been performing in The Producers recently, and brings that experience to this podcast episode. She talks about how she has learned to perform with her visual impairment, the importance of asking for help, and what other actors can do that might help a cast member with a visual impairment.

Colleen also reminds the listeners, that we can all do anything.  Don’t feel like you can’t do something just because of a disability!  You can do anything, perhaps just a bit differently than fully sighted people.

Do you have an experience being or working with a visually impaired or blind artist?  What challenges and benefits did you find?  Email or comment below.  Thanks for listening!

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In this episode Colleen Connor is joined by 2 friends, Kelly Verdon and Cheryl Cordingley, to discuss a “Ted Talk” they watched on visual hallucinations.  The lecture is given by Oliver Sacks.  They delve into some of the science behind these hallucination, called Charles Bone Syndrome, and discuss the main points of the lecture, including the differences between visual and psychotic hallucinations. These hallucinations by definition only occur in people who are blind or visually impaired. These particular hallucinations are not symptoms of any sort of mental disorder, and if you experience these, you should tell your doctor.

Have you or someone you know ever experienced visual hallucinations? Email or comment below.

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Turner Classic Movies, a television channel that focuses on classic films, has partnered with Inclusion in the Arts this October to bring you The Projected Image: A History of Disability in Film. This program will showcase films up through the 1980’s that deal with disabilities of all sorts, including blindness, deafness, intellectual disabilities, psychological disabilities, and newly disabled veterans.

Colleen gives a run-down of some of the headliners, some of her thoughts on the line-up, and explains some of the big players behind the program. She is really excited about the event and what it will cover in terms of society’s perception of people with disabilities.

Check out TCM’s website for the full schedule and more information.

Are you excited about this event? Which movies will you be watching? Want to hear Colleen’s thoughts on any of them in particular? Email or comment below.

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