¶ Discussion About Blindness and Accessibility
Hi everyone , welcome to All About the Joy , the private lounge . And with us is our friend and neighbor , our cool part of the crew , our namesake Joy .
How you doing . Joy , I did really well tonight .
So I know that a lot of people know your story . A lot of people have seen you on the show and if they haven't , they should , because you're on pretty much regularly now , at least once a month with Andrea and Cynthia and Tony , and of course , you're welcomed all the time because you're part of the crew there . But we wanted to have a conversation .
You had reached out to me because you really wanted to talk about something that was dear to you and something that you're working on . But I first want to apologize to you , and I know you probably have no idea why I have to apologize to you and I'm going to do it on air and this is going to be in the podcast .
You know I am always doing the show and I'm just talking , talking , talking . You know it's part of what I do . And the other day I don't know if it was the last time you were on or before we were trying to figure out why Cynthia couldn't see you .
Right , she couldn't see you on her screen , and we kept saying can you see us , can you see us , whatever ? And then I said , joy , can you see us ? And you said yes , but everybody so when I'm editing , everybody else in the room is like their face is cringing , and I didn't even .
I didn't think anything of it at all , didn't even think about the verbiage I used , and so I want to apologize to you and ask you what the appropriate thing is to do so , for people who don will share with us later why this is a big deal . But when I said to you , can you hear me ? I mean , can you see me ? Can you see everyone ?
Was that offensive to you or did it bother you , or Absolutely not .
No , that's actually a little bit of a compliment because , yes , I'm blind . However , that's only a small part of my life . No , if somebody forgets that I'm blind , which a lot of my friends do , it's actually .
I take that as a compliment , you know , because I don't want to just be known as oh Joy , that's the blind girl , you know Right , because there's so much more to me than just being blind or visually impaired .
Right . I think that that was kind of one of the things that I really like about you is that you don't get uptight about people making a mistake or people . Just I mean I love that you're saying it's like a compliment . I don't think Cynthia knows , I don't think Mario knows .
They might have an idea , but I don't think they fully know unless they were on the show with you and you explained it a few times . But I think that's what I like about you is .
I mean , maybe if I were with you I would notice it more or not , I don't know , but at some point it must just become part of all of your friends and your family's lifestyle . It's not like the only thing about you , it's like me being Black and Latina . It's not the only thing about me , you know , but maybe I'm wrong about that .
No , I think you're right . Yeah , because you know if we're out and about , I use my cane , so naturally . Well , a lot of alcohols say naturally , if they see the cane , they'll know . Oh okay , she's blind .
Yeah , and there are some people who don't know what a white cane is Really , doesn't it sometimes have red at the end ?
Yes .
It has some coloring .
Yes , a lot of times , and I actually have two right here . This is a tiny we call this tiny tin because it's really small . This one actually can fold up oh what , six , seven inches , right , and it folds out to 52 inches . So , and this one , I do believe , has the red on it .
It does , it does .
Now , however , canes are changing . They are changing . I have canes that are different colors and also now this is the one that I use . This is my brand new cane .
Okay , it has blue at the end it's actually , it's purple .
it's like purple , but even the white part changes . You can customize them , or actually I use duct tape to customize some of my canes .
Oh , why do you use duct tape ? Is there a texture thing , or is it just ?
No , actually you can get duct tape in the craft department . That's just so many different patterns , so many colors , oh , OK .
Yeah , ok , you're just feeling funky so you might use a different type of tape or whatever . Do you have many of them like ? Is it stylistic thing ? It must be like fashion statement , it is ? That's awesome ? Yeah , it should be . Well , I , I appreciate you . I would never intentionally do anything to hurt anyone .
And I thought it was like because I do the editing afterwards and so I'm always watching , going back and replayinging and I'm like why are they doing that ? Like I thought maybe I missed something in the chat you know what I mean , which often happens but then I realized they were shocked that I had said you know , can you see everyone Meaning ?
Are you comfortable hearing everyone ? And I didn't even think anything of it . So , but anyways , thanks for clearing that up Now . Oh , go ahead . Were you going to say ?
something else . Yeah , I was just going to say this . You know , I say I watch TV , I read books , but you know I'll have the TV on but I'm listening or have audio description on and read a lot of books . So , and I'm totally reading but I'm actually listening to it . That's OK , right .
Yeah , I mean I guess it would be hard to always have to conform to what , you know , main society is always doing , and the only thing that I can relate to in that is being a woman of color . But I think for you not that there's a right or wrong or better or worse , right Whenever , I mean , we all have issues we need to deal with .
But I would think you know it makes me more aware of the things . I think I shared a story once where I had had my hip surgery and I had a cane for a while and I started noticing something I never noticed before how uneven the sidewalks are .
I noticed how hard it was to get like fast across the street when they don't have the signals that , like , I just noticed these things I never noticed before because I had a small tiny , temporary , you know infringement and I thought to myself my goodness , we really as a society do not do our due justice to make this comfortable for everyone , you know , and so
it was just an interesting thing . So , but thank you for allowing me to apologize and letting me know that it was okay and it actually gave you a compliment . I don't know what a blind person acts like , so I assume they act normal , just like me .
So it was an interesting question that came to me , like you weren't supposed to say that and I'm like say what ? I was so confused so , but , thank you , but what did you want to talk about ? I'm so intrigued by this nonprofit that you brought to my attention . Why don't you tell us how you got into it and a little bit about it ?
Yeah , absolutely , the organization is called you Can Give .
¶ Global Outreach and Accessibility Mission
In 2015 , my good friends James and Wendy Boehm created this organization . That's a nonprofit , and what they do is take old canes that people no longer need , or , if they're broken or in need of repair , they will take them , refurbish them , and so far it has gone out to over 33 different countries .
Yes , that's amazing . Now do they give them to other people who can't maybe afford them , or do they just fix them for people ? Okay ?
Now , how this works is because in other countries a white cane which would normally be $50 in the US , can cost up to $300 in another country . $300 ? And more ? Yes , and if you're blind , chances are you're going to be poor . You just can't afford that .
Okay , wait , wait , why ? And again , this is me really not knowing enough about this entire part of our community and the world . I'll just say I don't know enough about the blind community . So why would blind people most likely , or more likely , be poor ? I've never even thought about that .
Yeah , because in other countries it's not like the US that has the ADA law and that's American with Disability Act .
Right .
Have that type of program . So a lot of this , and not only black people but people with disabilities Right , are pretty much passed aside . So they can't , you know , function , they can't travel independently , they a lot of times don't hold jobs , but , you know , a lot of times they are in an impoverished community .
Right .
So , and it is it's very difficult to climb out of that hole once you're there .
Yeah , and I would assume also that in other countries and I'm just assuming you probably might know more about this , is third world countries especially wouldn't even have the right kind of things you need in order to travel easily or read easily or understand things easily .
And then , on top of it , you can't purchase a cane very well , because you don't have a job , or I mean it just seems insane , wow .
It is , it really is , and what they've done is they also have donated over 450 solar Bibles , which not only contains the Bible , but it actually contains instructions on how to use a webcam .
What's a solar ? Did you say solar Bible ? Yes , I don't know what that means . I apologize .
Okay , and what that is is just basically a little handheld device that is solar powered .
Oh , and so it does audio . Yes , it does , oh , yes , wow , I learn . Yes , it does , oh , yes , wow , I learn something new every day . That's great .
You know we can just like pop in a couple of AA batteries or whatever . But you know , in a country that is lacking , you know , basic necessities , you know they don't have that privilege . So they have the sun , so the solar bibles and players work best .
Wow , that's fantastic . So they've donated . How many again ? Of those of the solar Bibles that also contains instructions for the canes ? Yes , that's over 450 . Now , where do they get most of their funding , is it ? I mean , is there any grants available to them , or are they just asking for the public ? How do they do it ?
It's an incredible thing they're doing so yeah , a little bit of both .
Right now we're trying to find a grant writer that would possibly donate their time and help write some grants so they can get more funding to you know be able to help more people , right ?
I think that's amazing . And do they have a website ? Or do they have a GoF fund me page or anything like that ?
Yes , it's called
¶ Clarifying Website Domain Donation Instructions
. You can give dot org .
You can give dot org .
No , you can see , oh , I love it .
We're going to keep this in , though , because that'll help clarify it . You say it again , you can .
You can give dot org . Say it again you can , you can giveorg .
Okay , so you Y-O-U , c-a-n-e give G-I-V-E dot O-R-G org . Yes , oh , that is fantastic , because I even how I say cane , it came across the other way . Right , it was . I was saying the other word , which we're not going to say , to mess it up .
I will make sure to post that where people can go and give and donate and see if people you know there's a lot of grant writers out there that would love to do something like this . It's such a great thing to do , number one , but it's also a great thing to put on your resume .
So I hope anyone and everyone who's listening on LinkedIn who really wants to help a great organization doing a great great thing , will turn around and just go to the website or reach out to me and I'll put you in touch with Joy and just you know , let's help other people . You know what I mean .
Let's do something that can really change people's lives , because a cane does what for someone in the blind community . Joy , can you explain how a cane might work for ?
someone who doesn't know Absolutely . And let me just give you a little bit of my backstory along with it , absolutely . And let me just give you a little bit of my backstory . I know , in six years ago , seven years ago , I was trying to get more cane training and I kind of fell through the cracks .
I was needing more training to more orientation and mobility . They call it O&M for short .
I had never been properly trained , even though that I was using a cane , I was still not properly trained on how to safely cross the street , because we have to do it just slightly different , and so I actually searched high and low from one end of this country to the other , literally , and because I kind of fell through the cracks with vocational rehabilitation ,
I didn't qualify for O&M training because I didn't have a job at that time .
Oh , my goodness Okay .
So I was having trouble finding a job because I needed the O&M training .
It's like a vicious circle .
It was a vicious circle , and so I searched the web and found an organization called Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Francisco . I've heard of them , yes , black House for the Blind . So they joined together to do an intense when I say intense , it was an intense week of O&M training .
So it was an intense week of O&M training and it was geared towards getting a guide dog , which at that time I was . That was my goal .
Right .
So I went to San Francisco first time on a plane . Oh , wow . First time traveling completely by myself . I got on a plane , flew to San Francisco .
Wow .
Yes , and for that week that I was in San Francisco . Oh my gosh , I don't know how many miles I logged , but it was a lot . I was all over San Francisco .
And that's not an easy place to walk around in , by the way . It's not , it's not , it's not Okay .
So I was able to . I had a wonderful trainer who taught me how to safely cross the street by listening to the way the traffic is flowing , how to cross safely even in very , very busy intersections , because I was kind of nervous to even cross a two lane street .
Absolutely .
By the end of that week I was crossing a seven lane highway Right .
And all and all you really needed was to have someone show you how to use the cane . Yes , Wow .
So , and that goes to show you what just a little bit of training can do for somebody's independence . Right training can do for somebody's independence , right .
So if you know somebody who's never had a cane and , by the way , there are several trips that have people they've went to Kenya there's a group going to Colombia , I believe it's in October , to give the canes and do training .
That's amazing . Oh , I love this organization already . This is amazing . Now can we back up for a moment ? Just because I don't think , and I'm asking you because I want to know , but I think other people would be interested too . I know that you are not always blind . Right , it gradually happened to you .
Is there a major difference between someone who was born blind in learning how to use a cane or maybe they've learned it earlier , hopefully as opposed to someone like yourself who lost their eyesight over time ?
You know , I think it is just simply because , as if someone's born blind , they've never known how to utilize that sense . You know , they utilize everything , everything else .
But as someone like for me , who , from the age of 9 to 11 , I went from perfect eyesight to legally blind wow , that was fast , yeah , and so I didn't actually start using a cane up until about 07 , when I just go back to college and finish my degree , you know , and finish my degree , you know , and because my daughter was like mom , you're going to have
to start using your pay . People think you're drunk . Oh no . And as someone who was older , it kind of took a little bit of a bite out of your pride , because , you know , it was almost like , oh God , everybody's going to know I'm blind .
You know , it was almost like , oh God , everybody's going to know I'm blind , you know , and that took a little bit of independence away . But in reality , it actually gave me more independence by using my cane because I didn't run into things as much , I didn't fall down steps as much . So you know that part of it .
You know it takes getting used to , but I mean , like anything , everything takes a little learning but it's actually going to need more independence , covid or something .
And you were . You were at the I don't know how to say this right , but you were at the end part of losing your sight . And I remember you were most upset about Christmas and that's kind of .
When I first met you , you were talking because you love Christmas , you love the decorating and and I mean I know you still do because you talked about it this past year . But I but I think you were starting to realize that you weren't going to see it the same as you were over all these years , you know . So are you completely blind now ?
Or is that an offensive question to even ask ? And please share with me . It teaches me and everyone else listening .
Oh , absolutely it is not offensive . You know I welcome questions . You know that's the only way people's going to learn is to ask questions Because you can sit and wonder and think , oh God , is that going to be offensive ? Just asking questions because you can sit and wonder and think , oh God , is that going to be offensive ?
Just ask , you know , in a respectful manner .
40 people are going to welcome those questions . So , no swearing . Be like yo , yo , yo , no , like being like a swear word and being angry about it . Right , just ask politely . But it's hard not to tiptoe , I have to tell you .
You know , especially in this day and age , which has nothing to do with the blind community and everything to do with all of us being like am I saying the right word ? Am I using the right pronoun ? Can I say this person is this , you know , can I ? Whatever ? So it's not just you . I'm always tiptoeing .
I got yelled at the other day , careful , because saying you guys is not appropriate , and I'm like , okay , I will do better . You know what I mean . Like I get annoyed but I do better . So , anyways , but you know , are you , are you at that point where you cannot see at all ?
No , I have what is called light perception , so I can tell the majority of the time you can stay light or dark , okay , and I just can't make out a lot of detail at all , or any detail Is it going to ?
get worse ? Yes , it will . Wow , Are you okay with that ? I mean probably not , but that was a dumb question . I'm sorry , as I said it , I'm like dumb question .
Sorry . I wish I had my eyesight , you know , because there's some beautiful things in this world , but you kind of learn to accept it . And I'll tell you this I have , in different times , I've gone through all five stages of grief . Yeah so you know , and at times it does get a little frustrating .
Yeah so you know , and at times it does get a little frustrating , you know , when I see something or try to try to do something that I actually need eyesight for . The traveling is like the worst , because I have to depend on other people , strangers that too .
Yeah , oh , I missed what you said .
I'm sorry I spoke over you and you said because you have to depend on who other people you know , because there's times I would like to go shopping or , you know , do whatever , and I have to wait for somebody to take me .
You know so , and it does get a little frustrating , but you know there's know there's ways to work around things and you know technology is advancing in . You know ways that , oh my goodness , even 10 years ago , because I'm at my phone and Be my Eyes or Aira can either connect me to a live person that can help me . Who's Aira ?
Did you just say Aira can help me ? Who's Aira ? Did you just say Aira ? Aira , yes , and that is an app , that is , you can pay for that , but it is more secure . The people on the other end are vetted . So if you need to , you know , show a little piece of personal item like a mail or a bill or whatever . That's confidential .
Yeah , you know what ? I think I volunteered once , or applied to volunteer , for an organization that wanted people to help in this type of thing , and for some reason I never ended up doing it .
Probably I didn't vet well , I have no idea , but I remember I don't think it was called Ira , though , so I'll have to send it to you to see if you know what I'm talking about that would probably be my eyes . Yes , oh , is that a common one ? Is that a common thing ? Okay , okay , yeah .
Now be my eyes is oh my goodness . They are so wonderful because now they have a AI feature that you can actually take a picture of something and it's really amazingly accurate , so yeah , yeah , I didn't end up doing it , though Like I wish I did .
It was a good , but for some reason I didn't end up doing it , though Like I wish I did . It was a great organization , but for some reason I didn't pass something , because they do they vet you completely , and I think I had just gotten out of college or something and I was like I'll help volunteer . But that's what it was , that's right .
Yeah , it's a great organization . I mean , is it a blast from the past for me ? No , look , I always want to do something . A lot of us talk the talk , but we don't actually do things .
And when I first came out here , I worked at the Boys and Girls Club because I thought I should give back to disadvantaged kids , like I was growing up , and I couldn't do it . It was too heart wrenching . Well , no , no , it was too heart wrenching to see , and it was emotional for me .
It was so painful to see little kids who didn't have parents and little kids who were in foster homes , and and so I knew that was not the . I had to be far removed .
I hadn't done the work I needed to do for myself in order to volunteer in that way , and I don't think I can , like I still don't volunteer for organizations like that because it's too close to me somehow . So that's why I was looking for other places and I ended up doing some volunteer work for the deaf , which was interesting , yeah .
So I'm sorry , I didn't mean to throw that in there , but I didn't want people to think I'm a crazy woman . But yeah , well , what else do you do you want to share about ? Not just you know your situation , but about this organization and what you're hoping to you .
I know it's your friend , but are you doing other things with this organization , or what's the goal ? I guess is what .
My question is Right and the goal is to be able to send more canes around the world to help people . Yeah , jimmy also has . It's called Custom Cane and now that's integrated into his website so you can actually find Custom Cane on the youcangiveorg website . He actually will take and does custom canes .
So there's so so many different designs , colors of canes that you can actually buy and the proceeds go back into you Can .
Give . That's so wonderful . So , actors , people like myself who went through here's why I said actors , because as actors , we always want to have some of our own props when we go into auditions . So if you want to purchase something that you need , why not purchase it from a nonprofit or an organization who's doing good stuff ?
That's why I'm saying that in 2021 . And you know , I still have my cane . It's not a custom cane or whatever , but why not get something fabulous ? Like now ? I have it as if I go out to an audition . You know , I keep it all , I keep everything . Actually , somebody borrowed it because they couldn't afford to buy one . They had a what do you call it ?
They had a brace on . So I said , don't ? You know ? I know it has to do height and stuff , but weight or whatever . But yeah , I kind of love that and I'm so glad that you're sharing it with us . What else can we do ? We can go to the website . Are there other ways that we can help on a personal level ? Can we donate money there ?
Not just right , not just canes . You want to donate some , even if it's like $5 or $5,000 .
Oh , absolutely , and when you go to to the website and that is youcangiveorg , that there is a donate button there . So , and because not everything that's needed to to refurbish a cane is donated , they actually have to purchase the . Let me see the tips .
There are tips and these wear out by the way , they do wear out Right , and these are like spongy cords , those and all this and even like the difference of your cane . All of that has to be refurbished and redone if it's broken , and not all of that is is donated by different companies , so they actually have to purchase some of that equipment .
Yeah , let me add a little bit . So I mean , a lot of people know this about me , but I worked for a nonprofit for over 20 years . I was the executive director of a nonprofit and what people don't understand about nonprofits is it's not just about refurbishing what they're trying to do or raising money to do the thing that they're doing as a nonprofit .
There are also administrative costs and I don't know why nonprofits hide . I mean , I know why they hide away from this . You know what I mean .
They hide away from it because they don't want people to think that they're all getting , you know , millions of dollars for the executive director or you know like they're spending money on new fancy computers or whatever right . There's this weird stigma that if you're a nonprofit , you can't actually , you know , be okay with a decent computer .
It's an actual office and it's an actual work . And then they have to get all the canes together , they have to ship them out . They have people bring them out there Like all that costs money . All of that is administrative costs .
So as much as I want to , you know , be like , yes , it's about the canes and we have to , but it's also about the people doing the work , and good people doing good work should also be able to have some money to pay for the shipping or whatever . So donate to a cause that matters to you , and if you want to check out nonprofits , you can .
Nonprofits by law have to list their tax , their returns , their I forget what they're called , not 1099s those are for independent contractors but their 990s I'm sorry , that's what it is their 990s and it's their tax forms and how much money they're spending on A , b , c and D . But don't get it twisted Administrative costs are also part of running a nonprofit .
So I just want people to know that , yes , they're going to refurbish the canes , but we want to help them because they're a good organization as well , trying to do the right thing and a good thing to help other people . That matters to me so much .
Joy , it really does , because people get caught up in too much of the well , I don't know how much are they spending . $1 to the $5 I gave them . It gets a little crazy . I'm sorry , I just want to throw that in there . Let me ask you this question .
You can add on afterwards , but is there something as individuals we talked about this last time on the show , as individuals , that we can do to be better people . To people who are blind , like what are some things that maybe are your pet peeves , or things that you do like or don't like that other people do ?
Oh goodness , we're going to be here for like three hours , right ? Sorry , you know . Most people are very kind , however , and most people have good intentions . However , when someone comes up and grabs my arm and tries to leave me someplace , that's a little disturbing .
Right , Because you don't know them right .
Yeah , and you don't know where they're taking you .
I'm sorry to laugh , but it's just so they mean well .
And I'll give you just a quick little example . Last month I was actually in the Miami airport and I was in the restroom . I had walked up because I was going to go wash my hands because you really need to in the airport Just saying , like looking for the sinks , and I thought you know there was a counter there . So I thought , ok , is this the sink ?
Well , this little sweet lady just grabs my arm and leads me straight outside . I'm so sorry . Okay , I'm glad I have a lot of hands .
Exactly , you know , she meant well . Right , she did mean well .
She did mean well , yeah , yeah . So oh , go ahead , go ahead .
I'm sorry , just little things like that , you know , and and if you think someone may need assistance , just always ask you know , yeah , and I kind of liked cause you had told me this story before and I kind of liked the idea of if somebody came up to me , some random person , and grabbed me by the elbow , I would turn around and punch them Like I would .
My first reaction would be somebody's trying to . You know , and I'm sure this happens to people all the time in the blind community , so you're used to it and you understand , but it still must be very scary . It is , it is , yeah .
So I think we have to think about that as people who are not blind , even though we may mean well , we need to ask people first . And do you mind that ? I don't mean for you to talk for the entire blind community , but what is the appropriate way to maybe try to help someone if you think they need help ?
Most times you don't need help , but if you need help .
You know , just . You know , say hi , do you need assistance with anything ? You know , just be polite . You know it's as simple as is there a water fountain nearby . You know something very simple . But it's always nice and courteous to ask instead of just assuming .
Yeah , because you know , I've known people who you know strangers has just grabbed them by the arm , let them across the street and they were like I didn't need to cross the street .
I'm sorry that . I mean I shouldn't be laughing but it's . I know people mean well , but it is kind of funny when you tell it . Oh my goodness , and I'm trying , I'm trying to think have I ever done this ? I tend to always . I kind of do the opposite . I tend to stay away and move out of the way .
Especially , we have people in the community here who are in wheelchairs and I see people all the time go up to them and they're just sitting enjoying the view or whatever , and I've seen people get a little bit upset about that , you know cause . They're just trying to enjoy the day .
But I've seen people go up and ask people and they're just like not frustrated out of being annoyed or whatever , but they've been asked probably 15 times and can't enjoy the scenery , you know . But I tend to just stay away . Maybe I shouldn't do that , but I don't bother people who I think are disabled in public . Is that wrong ?
No , I mean , you know , and that's the thing is like . You know , if you see someone that you really believe that needs assistance , you know I'm sure that they're going to welcome the help . Yeah , and not anyone . But you know , I know , and you know you may edit this out .
But you know , I know , and you know he may edit this out , but I know , last month we were on a group cruise and this is this is kudos to Carnival . Right , it was apprehensive about going on Carnival , because you see all the crazy videos of everything going on , but Carnival celebration we were on celebration .
The corporation did an amazing job of training the crew members . There was 67 blind people on this cruise . Wow , yeah , yeah , 67 . So what they did all the crew members . They trained them very , very well .
They had several meetings and the crew members there were several times that , because carnival celebration is a huge shit , it's very and crew members you know , if they saw us and you know we may , you know , look like we needed assistance they would ask , right , if we needed assistance and they would help us in the buffet or whatever .
But you know , take us to wherever we needed to go .
So look , I don't do cruises at all , but I'm really glad that Carnival did justice to people on that trip . I think one of the things I liked , because somebody asked a question about where do the ? Because some people had dogs what do you call them ?
Guide dogs , guide dogs and someone asked where do they put their so that they could go to the bathroom or whatever ? What did they do on the ship so that they could go to the bathroom ?
or whatever . What did they do on the ship ? And I thought that was fascinating . Yes , yes , you know . And Carnival had the litter boxes because a lot of people had balconies , so they would put them on the balcony . And then there were different places on the ship that had the litter boxes .
A lot of it was just kind of out of the way places where there wasn't a lot of people that would , you know , travel in that area . Right , they had the litter boxes where the dogs could go and relieve themselves .
Hey , so I'm all for companies doing a really great job of helping people have a great time . And did you have a great time ? And was this just a group ? This was all a group of you that hang out or part of an organization or what was it .
It was actually literally people from across the country and a couple of other countries . There was some people from Canada and I'm thinking there was somewhere else . Oh gosh , I can't remember now where the other one was from , but yeah , so there was like , literally came from even California , wow , okay , and so what it was ?
There was a group cruise in 2019 and it's called all paws on deck . Oh , that's so cool , okay , okay , so , and then they were going to do it like the following year , and then COVID hit .
They didn't get to do it until this this year , and in 2026 we're going to do it again oh , that's fantastic , and is it affordable for most people , or is it a little bit on the high end or something ? No , carnival is actually really affordable now , a lot bit on the high end or something .
No , Carnival is actually really affordable . Now a lot of people , you know , may or may not have good jobs where we can just afford a crew , you know , all the time , but where we're doing it every other year , that gives people who want to go time to save up to go . Oh , that sounds fantastic and everybody's welcome , sighted or blind .
All right , it would be this . Oh , you know what ? I thought that was a separate organization going on , but that's not what happened . It was just a normal cruise and you all , from all over the world , you're not part of any group , you just all decided to go on this cruise .
So did Carnival , or do these types of places say we accommodate , or do you just assume they accommodate you ?
Oh , now , this is where it's starting to come in Now , because they do sell out of the US . They do abide by the ADA guidelines and I'm actually in the process of researching other ships and other companies , because Royal Caribbean and Carnival now offer what is called sighted guides . They used to only offer interpreters for the deaf , now it is .
They are offering sighted guides and which means if you're in a theater , they can let you know what's going on on stage or basically give you assistance . Even if , I believe it's even out in your port , they can help you around the port as well . Now , that's the thing . So many people well , I won't say so many people .
There were a few people on the carnival and John Heald , who is the brand ambassador . They just was like just going on about the dog's going to smell . They didn't want the dogs on the ship , the dogs were not going to cruise and they just did not . And there was one lady who wanted a refund because the dogs were going to be on the ship .
Wow , and he let them know that , because it is ADA and we do have the right to cruise , that guide dogs are acceptable .
Support animals are not acceptable good , I'm so sick of the support dogs , I'm so sorry . No , no , that was terrible . I'm so sorry , I know . So I think some people abuse that though oh , absolutely .
they abuse it , you know , and that's what is bad , because the people who abuse it makes it difficult for everybody who really needs it , who really needs it , right . But you know , and that's the thing is is , you know , my husband and I love the cruise so much we actually booked a back-to-back cruise .
So you know we're going to do that and you know it's it's just we , you know , enjoy a vacation just like everybody else .
Well , it seems you know , like people like that that turn around and , you know , demand this , demand that , and don't have the ability to be considerate and kind and understanding . And how is ? How is somebody else enjoying a cruise affecting you ? It's a big boat , I assume it's not like just you know , seven little cabins or something on a little rowboat .
It's those huge ass , stupid cruise boats . I say stupid because I don't cruise , I don't get on boats , but I just , you know , just that entitlement , that weird , that weird thing , that only for me and not for anyone else . I hate that whole attitude . It's so strange .
And those are usually the people that also can probably get their own private boat or something . Then don't do that , you know , just go rent your own private boat and leave everyone alone . It's so weird , it's so weird .
Yeah , you know , only 37 guide dogs on board , but you know there were people complaining about oh , they saw fleas . Well , no , no shit . Because all of these dogs have to apply and get the vet visits from and all the requirements completed within that week before the cruise .
And the guidelines have to be followed from other countries , not just the US , right , right . Those guidelines from like , for example , the Dominican Republic , required a whole slew of event visits and checkups before they were even able to get on board .
Right . Well , people like that are generally not very well informed because they just want what they want . So they say what they want , you know . And even still , even if the dogs didn't have all these requirements or whatever , I still think it was sad for me to hear you just say a couple moments ago you said we have the right to cruise to .
The fact that you'd even have to say that you know what I mean Is is just tells me a lot about who we are as a people we should be . I'm not saying all people , but you're not any different than anyone else .
You know , and you do have a specialness , I'm going to say because I look at I don't know a lot of blind people , but I know you and you're just as normal and fun and happy and like there's , there's not . That's why I didn't know for so long that you were blind . When we were on HAPS I had no idea for like months , it didn't even dawn on me .
Now I know I'm not physically in front of you , but that's not the point . You know , like the most people who have , look , I think we all have issues . Right , I was in therapy for so long because I was having , I had PTSD over this whole drama with my surgery , and we all have issues .
Now , I'm not comparing my tiny little situation with yours , you , you understand what I'm trying to say , but we all have something in our lives that doesn't make us perfect , you know . So we should be kind and lovely and have consideration and just be better people , just be better , better people and , and the dog thing , that's just an excuse .
That's an excuse for them to pull out of thin air .
You know what I mean and that's what is just ridiculous it is , you know , and and not just with with our group . Last year there was an incident with virgin . There was a young man who was a paralimpian who decided to go on a solo cruise .
He made his way onto the ship , made his way and found the bar , and they came and told him that he was not allowed to cruise alone .
Wait a minute , wait , wait , wait , okay , wait . I think I missed something . Did you say an Olympian , a Paralympian ? Right ? You said an Olympian . So he's a . What do they say ? I don't know why they , what is it called a para Olympian ?
It's the Olympics for the disabled people , right , but why do they call it para ?
I don't remember . It's not for paralyzed , is it ? It can't be .
Because there are different people who have different disabilities . Yeah , so , and now he was blind . But you know there are people who have and make no bones about it . These are athletes .
No , no for sure .
True athletes and just because they may have a disability or what people in society sees as a disability , amen , they are athletes first and foremost . I'm more familiar with the Special Olympics right , which is a different thing , but still Olympians , these are people who are athletes , doing what they need to do .
But I'm more familiar with the Special Olympics , right , which is a different thing . But still , olympians , these are people who are athletes doing what they need to do . But I'm always confused by para , for some reason . I think , like I don't know . But I've watched the wheelchair races .
I don't know what they're called , you know , when they're in the sleek , those sleek little , I don't know , they're very thin bikes , you know , they're always at the front of marathons , you know , I've run three marathons . So that's why and there was an Olympian there who started off one of the races , of one of the marathons I did .
That's why I remember it right , he did a whole speech or whatever . But I've just never found out what para is . So I have to look that up . I hope it's not like paralyzed , because that would be . It can't be . It's got to be an acronym or something , because , honestly , I do not remember . Yeah , I don't know either .
So we'll look that up , we'll look it up . But yeah , that . So they . So he was in the bar having a drink and and he wasn't acting belligerent or anything , right , he was just normally having a drink like everyone else , and they , just because they saw him what ? In a wheelchair or walking in a cane . But but how would they know he's blind ?
Oh , because he has a cane , and they said he had to leave because he couldn't be by himself . Yes , yes , okay , forgive me , but logic-wise , how does that make sense ? Why would they say you must leave on the boat and walk around the boat by yourself and go back to your cabin all alone , but you can't be in the bar by yourself ?
No , they actually made him get off the ship . Oh my God , yes , actually made him get off the ship . Oh my god , yes , they sure did . Now they put him up in a hotel the next day .
Oh boy they , the higher-ups corporate , saw a lawsuit coming and they got him back on board and they actually hired him to do training and as part of the disability team oh , they hired him to help virgin .
Was it virgin ? Yes , virgin , have a disability . Have a disability team on their boats from now to the future , or ?
something and train . I'm assuming they train their staff now on people with disabilities and know that they you know they do have the right to cruise . I hate that saying .
I mean I know what you're saying but the who would think you wouldn't have the right to cruise . I hate that saying . I mean , I know what you're saying , but the who would think you wouldn't have the right to cruise . You know like I don't .
Yeah , I love such a weird do do , do you and people gonna be mad at me for asking this but do you ever feel an alliance or a familiarity with people of color like and the struggles that we go through ? Do you kind of see some biases that happen because of your disability that equate ?
Yeah , again , I'm not equating the two , but I consistently see things that correlate in how I feel when people treat me a certain way because of something I have no control over . And even if I did , I'd still stay Black and Latino . But I'm just saying , you know , is that a weird question ? I just feel like asking it .
No , but you're right . You are right Because you know there's we get treated differently .
Yeah .
A lot of people don't understand that . You know , we're mothers , we're fathers , we're students , we're graduates , we have careers Doctors , doctors lawyers , I mean every .
I'm sorry I need to entertain . There are so many people like having a disability is one thing , it doesn't mean you're incapable of being whatever you want to be . And I think there's a strength in it that we are getting to a place where I hope things are getting better and we're getting smarter about who we are .
I mean , maybe it's a little bit too kumbaya or whatever , but seeing people for who they are instead of what you think they are , I would like to think we're moving forward in that way .
I hope so . I know and I don't know . I doubt I had a part in this , but in my mind I would like to think I did , Because when my husband and I cruised the first time , I asked them about accessibility on rural Caribbean and they wouldn't in have an interpreter for the deaf .
But I asked them what was the difference between a visual interpreter and interpreter for the deaf ? And they didn't have an answer .
Ooh , yeah . So , but now they didn't find that . Yeah , I'm sure you had a lot to do with that . Are you kidding me ? Of course you did . I think when people don't speak up , things don't change , and then we keep complaining about it .
And so when one person makes something known and questions it , and then somebody else comes in and questions , you know , like all of those things matter , you know , and unfortunately I wouldn't . I'm not going to sit and pretend like , oh my god , I know everything . I would not have thought of this at all . It's not in my world .
I would have never been like oh yeah , we need to have someone to help the deaf on board . You know . Well , in all fairness to me , I don't cruise . I just want to say that again . But I , I don't cruise . I've never been on a boat . But I'm just saying in general , because I'm so consumed with just my life .
If it's not an experience this is what we all do If it's not an experience to me , then I don't know about it . It doesn't mean I'm against the disabled or whatever . It's mean it's not in my world , and so I or not have someone guide them , or you know . Oh , okay , thank you . Now I know , and now I will do better .
And if , if people are listening to this , or the people who are listening , you understand this is about everything that you know . People throw the word racism out and everyone shrills .
It's the same concept If you don't know something , it's okay not to know it , but do not judge it , do not dismiss it , do not be angry about it because you think it's affecting you somehow . Yeah , your next question should say you know , should be how can I help or what can I do to be better about this ?
Right , and I really hope that this was at least I know it was informative to me , so that really is all that matters , that I learned a few things today . You know , in our little conversation . Is there anything else that you want to add about your friends organization ? Again , can you say it one more time ?
I'm going to put it up on a banner and stuff when I edit , but can you just say it one more time .
It's you cane giveorg .
So the cane , it's C A N E is kind of little twist and kind of cool tweak to their website .
Yes , Over these past few years that they have had this organization . They went to Africa , I think , three different times and they are getting ready to go again , I think , early next year . But please , you know , if you can , no amount of donation is too small . You know you can give as little as a dollar , five dollars , you know ten thousand dollars .
Or as little as ten thousand dollars . Absolutely . But you know , it does help people that don't have the opportunity to purchase a cane by themselves because it is just not in their budget . So , yeah , and I think , look , here's the thing too . We always say we want to help .
Everyone always says , oh my goodness , I would love to donate , I'd love to do some charity work . Here's your chance , because talking about wanting to help isn't the same feeling and love as doing it . And I'm going to say something right now . I am very selfish , and the reason why I love giving all the time is because it makes me feel good .
It makes me feel like good because it's true , right , when we share , we do get something back , and I don't know why people forget that , like just because you're in . Sorry , all my friends who are very wealthy will understand where this is coming from Like , yes , it's a tax write-off , yes , it's a tax . That's not why we should do it .
We should do it because we can , you know , and because it feels good . So I'm not trying to be mean , but I really would like people to just try and give a little something , and if you can give a lot of something , great .
If it doesn't , you know , matter to you to give like 500 or a thousand bucks , do it and , like Joy said , like 10,000 , if that's good too . But a dollar does help and a dollar feels good too .
If that's all you got , that's fine , right , that's what you can share and if you don't have anything to give monetary wise , go to Facebook , go to Twitter or go to X , go to threads , go to Instagram and YouTube and just like and support the channel .
Yeah , and I'm going to have clips up and we'll have their website up there too , and so you can also . Just you know you could share those clips or share their website where they're with website , where the clips will also have that on there . But just do your part , and here's the thing .
The reason why I am so glad that Joy reached out to me is I loved the little bit that I learned about the organization when you asked me , and I think Joy is awesome and we love her on the show , we love having her and she's just really good people , and if she believes in it and supports it , so don't I .
So I am so glad that we had this conversation . I'm so glad . Is there anything else we're missing or that you want to talk about ? I think we pretty much covered it . Please donate and if you have any questions you can also go to allaboutthejoycom and you can contact the show and Joy there .
I will make sure she gets any messages that may come to us and we really appreciate everyone listening Joy , thank you so much for sharing all of this with us today . I'm so glad you took the time . I appreciate you .
Oh , thank you so much . I really do appreciate it , thank you .
No problem , and everyone remember . It's always all about the joy . We'll see you next time . Bye , thanks for stopping by . All About the Joy . Be better and stay beautiful folks . Have a sweet day .