VIP Coaching In The Dark

  • Lying Eyes Part One

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    Your Brain Is Making Stuff Up and Committing To It With Confidence If you’ve ever waved back at someone who absolutely was not waving at you…Or confidently grabbed the “sugar” that turned out to be salt…Or had a full half-second of “oh good, there’s a person there” before realizing it’s a coat on a chair……

  • Basic Disaster Preparedness Part 2

    When You Need to Leave (Evacuation Planning That Actually Works) Sometimes, the safest choice is to leave, and when that moment comes, there usually isn’t much time to think or make a last second plan to escape. Knowing Where to Go Part of your plan is about knowing where to go, how to get there,…

  • Basic Disaster Preparedness Part 1

    Staying Informed & Staying Put (When You Can’t Leave Yet) Emergency planning doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be intentional. When something unexpected happens, most of us don’t rise to the occasion, we fall back on what we already know and have ready. This first part of your plan is about…

  • It’s Allergy Season!

     Here in western Oregon, we are now into our spring allergy season. I’ve become more aware of it when I’m talking with a group of friends and I’m now struggling to hear them. Though I have year-round allergies, for some reason spring brings fluid into my ears. If you have seasonal challenges like me, here…

  • The Inadvertent Influencer

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    These days many of us are aware of “Influencers” on social media, these folks have made a name (and money) for themselves on the internet by working at selling themselves. I have come to understand that there are other influencers in the world who have been around long before the internet, life influencers. I have…

  • Lake Lemonade Part 3: Tools, Practice, and Building Confidence

    In Part One of the Lake Lemonade series, Desirée shared a kitchen mishap that many people with changing vision can relate to: the moment when depth perception doesn’t behave the way you expect. Along with the story came some foundational do’s and don’ts for pouring safely. In Part Two, we explored practical techniques—using sound, stable…

  • Lake Lemonade Part 2: Techniques for Safe and Confident Pouring

    Pouring liquids whether it’s a cup of morning coffee, a pot of boiling pasta water, or a glass of juice that turns into a puddle on the floor—can feel intimidating when vision is limited. But with the right techniques, tools, and mindset, it becomes a safe, smooth, and empowering part of daily life. This guide…

  • Lake Lemonade Part 1

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    After my cataract surgery, we chose to operate on only one eye because I’m at high risk for retinal detachment. The replacement lens has fixed magnification. Intellectually, I understood that newly changed vision would affect my depth perception. I anticipated it in theory. In daily life, however, anticipation and embodiment are two very different things.…

  • The Secret of the Sound

    Click Plunk plunk Squeak squeak squeak Clump clump clump clump    I’m re-learning the world around me, one sound at a time. I didn’t realize how much my hearing had declined over the years until my new prescription hearing aids re-awakened my wonder at the forgotten nuances of sound. The click of the electric baseboard heater…

  • Riding with Confidence

    A Guide to Local and Regional Bus Travel Bus travel can be a powerful tool for independence, connection, and confidence—especially for blind and low-vision travelers. Whether you’re riding across town or heading to another city, having the right information and a solid plan makes all the difference. Here’s a guide to help you decide what…