A simple sa国际传媒渉ellosa国际传媒� goes a long way in kicking off communication with someone whose sight is limited, says Gina Martin, who educates all generations through her Diverse Abilities Programs and Training.

The business is based in her Saanich home, but programming spans primary school classrooms to seniorssa国际传媒� homes across the south Island.

Martin, who is legally blind, is using her communication skills honed over nearly three decades as a server at Paulsa国际传媒檚 Motor Inn. The goal is to pave an easier path for others.

sa国际传媒淚t took me 23 years to accept my journey,sa国际传媒� said Martin, who began to lose her sight in 1993.

Facing different opportunities and abilities, no two people have the same experience and it comes down to the individual on how they navigate life.

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She herself did not want to use a cane or in any way draw attention to herself. She hit a turning point in 2015 when she met two confident women who had attended a comprehensive program at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Inspired, she attended the nine-month program the next year.

sa国际传媒淚t was absolutely the hardest thing I did in my life,sa国际传媒� she said, noting it includes blindfolded rock climbing, white water rafting, bowling and more. But it has a high success rate, with 85 per cent of people who graduate meeting or exceeding expectations, she said.

Martin is among those successes sa国际传媒� it taught her in part how to enjoy life differently than when she had her sight.

sa国际传媒淟osing my sight hasnsa国际传媒檛 changed me, but itsa国际传媒檚 changed the way I interact with the world,sa国际传媒� she said.

So she launched her business earlier this year. Martin teaches on apparent and non-apparent disabilities sa国际传媒� noting nine of 10 are non-apparent sa国际传媒� and universal design.

Hoping to change perspectives for both those with sight loss and without, her key message is communication.

She took that message to social media recently, hoping to end the silence of awkward interactions on the street or in shops.

The seven key points garnered an impressive response sa国际传媒� shared more than 4,000 times, with more than 100 comments of appreciation.

Someone who is blind or partially sighted can often be recognized by a white cane, service dog or even sunglasses. While itsa国际传媒檚 important to not make assumptions on their level of sight, the smiles and nods that sighted folk offer and recognize on the street likely go unseen by someone with sight loss.

So say sa国际传媒渉ello.sa国际传媒�

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sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 one word that can make somebody feel included,sa国际传媒� Martin said. sa国际传媒淧eople are quiet, they donsa国际传媒檛 know what to say. Thatsa国际传媒檚 not helpful for those of us who donsa国际传媒檛 see well. It can be unsettling.

So say hi. And if you know them, say their name, maybe offer yours and maybe a context of how they know you.

If it appears help might be needed, just ask: sa国际传媒淐an I help?sa国际传媒� and if yes, sa国际传媒淗ow can I help?sa国际传媒�

Donsa国际传媒檛 be offended by a no.

In person, she also reiterates a few other messages that might seem as obvious as sa国际传媒渉ello.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淎lways talk to the person, and not the person theysa国际传媒檙e with,sa国际传媒� she said.

sa国际传媒淒onsa国际传媒檛 grab us. Thatsa国际传媒檚 a real thing.sa国际传媒� Instead of a shout or a grab, verbalize. sa国际传媒淟ady with the white cane, theresa国际传媒檚 a car on your rightsa国际传媒� is far more informative, helpful and less terrifying.

Oh, and itsa国际传媒檚 OK to use the words see, look and watch in conversation.

sa国际传媒淲e see look and watch, just differently,sa国际传媒� Martin said, adding the example of sa国际传媒渟eeingsa国际传媒� a pink rose through touch and smell. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 enjoying it differently.sa国际传媒�

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