See The World Thru My Eyes

Accessibility: Antonia is leaning against a fence and smiling at the camera. Behind her is a beach. Her pink-handled cane is also resting against the fence next to her. I feel like in this blog I have spoken about how anxious I get going to new places, how my cane makes me feel more secure and how going to new places alone is not fun. As I am siting on a train headed to the airport by myself, I realize that all these things don't mean I am not independent or that I don't enjoy my independence. In fact, I love my independence! Growing up in a small town in rural Spain, I was able to walk anywhere I needed to go so, since a really young age, I didn't need rides to get to my destination. The thing was that the town was small and I knew it like the back of my hand. Most of its 6,000 inhabitants also knew me and had some idea of my vision impairment -even if they didn't understand what it meant. For as long as I can remember (and this is still somewhat true t...

Accessibility: close-up of Antonia, who has short platinum hair and transparent plastic glass frames. She is smiling at the camera. When you have a disability, you become really good at problem-solving. Every day we encounter things that are not accessible and we have to figure out how to do them. We become really good outside-the-box thinkers and can figure out more than one use for everyday objects. Not everything I use to make my life more accessible is specific accessibility tech. There are many everyday objects that can help me have an easier life as a legally blind person. In no particular order, here are some of those objects: Duct tape: I like using bright colored duct tape to mark things or to help me find things. For example, we had a black couch and expresso colored coffee table; I could never find our remote control because it was black and it would blend in. I used some neon duct tape and put it on both sides of the remote so that it would stand out. Smart s...

Accessibility: Antonia poses holding her cane. She is wearing a black jumpsuit with a  polka dot and flower pattern. A jean jacket over it. There are a lot of stereotypes out there -for everyone. However, I have found that since I started using my cane, people were more vocal about things they assumed about me, or blind people in general. These are some assumptions that have been made about me at one point or other. Don't assume I am totally blind. Sure, I am using a cane, but I also have some vision. In fact, over 90% of white cane users have some remaining sight and, believe me, we use it as much as possible. Just because I am using a cane and I can see, it doesn't mean I am trying to trick you into thinking I am totally blind. My cane is a mobility tool that helps me travel safely and I am not getting any special benefits out of using it. In fact, it is very inconvenient to always have a busy hand so, trust me, if I didn't feel a need for my cane, I would...

Accessibility: Antonia standing in front of a green tile wall. She is wearing a mint blazer and white lace top. I want to start by saying that I realize this is a contentious issue in the disability community and that there is no right or wrong answer. I think everyone should do what they feel comfortable with. That being said, I have an opinion that has changed over the years and I have experienced everything from not disclosing at all to being open from the get go. When I was younger, I was of the opinion I should not disclose my disability to a potential employer -ever. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, I am not required to disclose and potential employers, or employers, cannot ask. Of course, if I didn't disclose, I could not expect any reasonable accommodations. When I worked all my part-time jobs in college, I didn't ever share I had a disability. I didn't want to get a 'black mark' on my application and, what's worse, I fel...

Accessibility: picture of a beach, cliffs and the ocean taken from  a moving train. On Tuesday I woke up bright and early so that I could board Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner to Santa Barbara. I had never taken an Amtrak train in the States -let alone by myself. I will discuss how accessible it was at the end of my post. For now, I want to focus on the trip itself. The train was extremely comfortable and one of the conductors told me which side to sit on to get the best views. In the two and a half hour journey from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara we went through mountains and a gorgeous shoreline. The sea was roaring and some of the passengers got to see whales as they were migrating -I didn't, because... blindness. However, I certainly appreciated the beautiful scenery! Accessibility: street lined with trees and buildings in the Spanish-style architecture. I arrived to Santa Barbara at 9:30AM. Since I was just spending a half day there and didn't re...

Accessibility: Antonia sitting on a park bench on a sunny day. Her cane is leaning on the bench. If you are blind or legally blind, you become very comfortable with awkward. The fact that you can't see or pick up on someone's nonverbal cues can get you in some really sticky or embarrassing situations... You can do two things: 1) You can hate yourself for that (not too healthy!) or 2) You can laugh it off and decide that this is what makes life interesting. I decided to do the latter. I laugh at this situations, usually once I realize what's happening. However, that being said, not everyone is like me. Please, don't assume that if a visually impaired person gets themselves into a similar situation as me it is Ok to laugh -it's not! Wait for a cue from the person so you know how to react. So, I hope you will join me for some laughs in what certainly are cringe-worthy situations I have gotten myself into because I am legally blind. Is this not the girls...

I love traveling, always have. I am fortunate that I was able to travel so much from a very young age. For me, traveling is about so much more than just seeing new places and trying new food. For me, traveling is a chance to immerse myself in a new culture, learn new things about that place's history and gain a new perspective on the world. Accessibility: mountainous landscape with wooden houses reflected in the crystalline waters of a fjord. Norwegian Fjord. NORWAY: Some may say this doesn't count because I had the privilege of living in Norway for two years. However, in that time, I got to explore so much of the country. If I had to describe Norway in one word, I would say magical. Albeit seemingly cold, Norwegians are welcoming and eager to help in any way they can. I was impressed by how clean cities like Oslo and Bergen are. I loved to see the wooden buildings and the country's rich history. However, I think we can all agree that fjords are the most ...