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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Feb 14

Happy valentine's Day from little Gaeta the very relaxed, sun-bathing guide dog. #TGIF

A black Labrador Retriever is lying on a wooden floor, basking in the sunlight streaming through a window. The sunlight casts shadows of window blinds on the wall and partially on the dog. The dog appears relaxed with its eyes closed. To the left, there is a folded chair or ladder leaning against the wall, and to the right, part of a wooden piece of furniture is visible. A black Sony speaker is also seen next to the dog.

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Jan 29

Gaeta the guide dog and I are off to the office on this very snowy day, with style in her purple winter coat ....☃️

The image shows a black Labrador Retriever sitting inside a vehicle. The dog is wearing a winter coat which appears to be purple with some reflective or bright elements. The dog is looking slightly upwards with a calm expression. In the background, you can see part of the car's interior, including a door with a handle and a window with some stickers on it. The lighting suggests it might be daytime outside.

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Reposted by Natalie M

Eleanor’s Voice @erstollery.bsky.social · Jan 4

Born on 4th Jan 1809, #LouisBraille’s legacy is celebrated on #WorldBrailleDay. Today, Eleanor delivered the keynote speech @newcollegeworc.bsky.social for The Braillists Foundation, highlighting the vital role that #braille still plays in the modern world. #BrailleLiteracy #EleanorsVoice 🤩💜

Eleanor is standing at a wooden podium, speaking into a microphone with a yellow foam cover. She is wearing a bright pink jumper, dark blue jeans, and white trainers. Her long blonde hair is down. Behind her, there is a table with audio equipment and cables. The room has light-colored wooden flooring and gray walls, with a window partially visible. A framed picture of a pink flower is hanging on the wall to the left.

A picture of the Keynote Speaker introduction text sent out to all attendees that is titled in bold… “Keynote Speaker: Eleanor Stollery”, and then reads “Eleanor Stollery is a remarkable 13-year-old advocate for braille literacy. Blind from a young age due to an optic pathway hypothalamic glioma, Eleanor has already made an extraordinary impact on both the arts and accessibility. In 2019, at just eight years old, Eleanor made her professional stage debut as Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol at London's Old Vic Theatre, reprising the role in 2020 and 2021. She is also a talented voice actor, bringing the character Lark to life in the animated series Milo on Channel 5's Milkshake. Most recently, she was featured in ‘My Life: How I See It’, a CBBC documentary which followed her journey to audio describe a live show at the National Theatre. In February 2024, Eleanor became the first blind young person to deliver live audio description for a UK theatre performance. Collaborating with the National Theatre, she described a schools' performance of The Witches using a braille script and hands-free technology to operate the audio description console. As the keynote speaker for our World Braille Day Conference, Eleanor will share her unique perspective on the importance of braille and accessible technologies, telling us how she uses braille as a young blind student and actor.”

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Reposted by Natalie M

Troy Wilson @troystory.bsky.social · Jan 4

Don't wait until you know what you are doing.

A) You need to do to learn how to do.
B) You'll always look back and think you didn't know what you were doing (and you'll often be right).
C) No one knows what they are doing. Not them. And not them. And no, not even them.

Start now. And keep going.

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Jan 3

both! espresso throughout the day, tea in the evening. :)

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Jan 3

teachers,researchers and writer friends: alt text is a short written description you can attach to images you post. It's easy and ensures that #blind and #LowVision followers can enjoy your posts too. ✍️

RNIB @rnib.bsky.social · Jan 3

Don't tell anyone, but this is the first time we've posted about Bluesky's alt text reminder this year!

Find it in Settings > Accessibility and tick "Require alt text before posting."

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Dec 23

This was such a fun & informative webinar. As a #blind person, I know that some of my favourite childhood narrators from audiobooks stick with me just as much as the authors

12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge @12x12challenge.bsky.social · Dec 23

Who doesn't love getting access to a FREE webinar? Sign up for the #12x12PB email list and receive "WELL READ: Creating Stories That Read Aloud Well" with Matthew Winner directly in your inbox 📥

Joining our email list will also alert you immediately: https://buff.ly/3ZyTq8F

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Dec 23

Teacher friends, please continue teaching students about #GuideDog etiquette & access. Students are future colleagues, business owners, employers & policy-makers. Please let them hear from people with disabilities & have positive opportunities to address misconceptions that can later impact #a11y

Dr Amy Kavanagh @blondehistorian.bsky.social · Dec 23

When I get refused entry to restaurants because of my Guide Dog I’m often told it’s because my dog will be disruptive around food.

For reference this is Guide Dog Ava about 2 feet away from a rare steak.

When on duty assistance dogs will not beg for or try to steal food.

Guide Dog Ava a golden retriever is lying on her side snoozing. She wears her working harness. She has her face resting on the metal support of the table base

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Dec 23

We saw this and it was amazing - Plus shout out to the Segal Centre for having an audio described option! #a11y #blind #LowVision

Christine Long @christinelongctv.bsky.social · Dec 12

The Secret Chord is a tribute to Leonard Cohen with his beautiful music & his writings to give background on his sometimes mystifying lyrics. Super-talented artists reimagine Cohen’s work so well. It’s a lovely show to immerse yourself in…see it at The Segal Centre!

11 amazing musicians & performers take a colourful curtain-call in front of a standing-ovation. Capacity crowd at The Segal Centre in MTL for “The Secret Chord” music & words by Leonard Cohen.

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Dec 11

Guide dog Gaeta and I are off to talk about the fun of #braille to a local group of older adults with #LowVision - Got my briefcase full of fun braille things: games, tactile picture books and slates, oh my!

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Dec 9

Video showcasing an important part of #blind history in Canada

Historica Canada @historicacanada.bsky.social · Dec 3

A version of our new Heritage Minute on Edwin Baker was made with Integrated Video Description in mind. This version has added narration from our lead to describe the scenes in better detail. Check it out here: youtu.be/XnurPB4h5Zk

Integrated Described Video (IDV) | NEW Heritage Minute: Edwin A. Baker

YouTube video by Historica Canada

youtu.be

Reposted by Natalie M

Walter Wittich @walterwittich.bsky.social · Dec 9

What it's like to do a PhD while #blind - and how your sighted supervisor can be an ally: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.... with @nmart.bsky.social

A Duoethnography on Disability and Allyship Within a Vision Science Doctoral Program: Perspectives on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility - Natalina Martiniello, Walter Wittich, 2024

People with visual impairments (those who are blind or who have low vision) continue to experience an unemployment rate of 70% or higher across all sectors but ...

journals.sagepub.com

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Dec 7

#blind & #LowVision friends and colleagues. This week I'll be teaching a class about the future of vision rehabilitation. What is one thing you'd like future blindness & low vision professionals to know? I'll share some comments without names. :) Thanks!

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Dec 4

braille / TVI / Vision Rehab / access tech friends: still time to reach out if you're interested in a #research Masters or PhD with a focus on #braille & #a11y under my supervision - with funding. Contact me to learn more - thanks to all who have been sharing!

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Dec 3

Looking forward to seeing old & new friends at the Vision Science Research Network annual meeting & to presenting pilot data on #braille reading performance across different braille display designs #VisionResearch #blind #LowVision #rehabilitation #a11y

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Reposted by Natalie M

SF Said @whatsfsaid.bsky.social · Nov 25

Every single school should have a library & a librarian, to help every single child find the books that will make them readers, and give them all the lifelong benefits of literacy. Libraries & librarians change children's lives FOREVER!
#literacy #libraries #librarians

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Reposted by Natalie M

Frederic Fovet @ffovet.bsky.social · Nov 24

We need more of this. #UDL will remain teacher centric unless the exploration of UX becomes a mindset in education link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Accessibility, Usability, and Universal Design for Learning: Discussion of Three Key LX/UX Elements for Inclusive Learning Design - TechTrends

In this paper, we aim to provide readers with three critical concepts that can maximize inclusivity of learner experience (LX) and user experience (UX) design: accessibility, usability, and universal ...

link.springer.com

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Nov 24

so true! It is also possible for the same #blind reader to enjoy hardcopy #braille, electronic braille & audiobooks at different times, sometimes at the same time, & for different reasons. Having access to & opportunities to learn different methods provides choice and choice equals equity #a11y 📚

Kate Harding @kateharding.bsky.social · Nov 23

I'm going to blow your mind: It is possible for the same person to enjoy paper books, ebooks, AND audiobooks, all for different reasons and at different times.

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Nov 22

#braille #a11y & #blind hive: interested in pursuing a PhD under my supervision with a focus on #braille technologies? Currently recieving expressions of interest. Email me if interested https://recherche.umontreal.ca/english/our-researchers/directory-of-professors/researcher/is/in36760/

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Nov 22

exploring the use of smartphones & tablets among #blind & #LowVision users: Are mainstream tools replacing traditional assistive devices? https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10400435.2019.1682084

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Nov 22

The shifting landscape of digital #a11y for students with visual impairments in k-12 schools: #UDL #blind #LowVision #braille https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/the-shifting-landscape-of-digital-accessibility-for-students-with-visual-impairments-in-k-12-schools/353179

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Nov 22

Enablers & barriers encountered by working-age & older adults who learn #braille: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638288.2020.1833253

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Nov 21

I'll be presenting at CSUN this year so Disney Land is on the soon to visit list

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Natalie M @nmart.bsky.social · Nov 21

Have you visited any of the Disney Parks? We went to euro disney and it was lots of fun. somehow we got there before the U.S. ones lol.

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Reposted by Natalie M

Steven R. Shaw, PhD @shawpsych.bsky.social · Nov 20

Every academic:
“Yay. My proposal was accepted.”
1.73 seconds later, “Oh, shit. Now I have to do this project. Can I do this project?”
I dunno. But it is something to celebrate.

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