Blind-Betty-Ora

SOMETHING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SEEN TO BE ACCESSIBLE

For people who are blind or have very limited vision, touch can provide information that vision cannot. That is why tactile accessibility is so important.

Braille is one example, but tactile accessibility goes beyond Braille. Raised symbols, textured surfaces, different shapes, tactile markings and controls that can be identified by touch can all provide useful information.

Think about something as simple as finding a particular button or identifying one object from another. If the only way to tell them apart is visually, someone with very limited vision may have no independent way of knowing which one they are using.

Adding tactile information can create another way of accessing that information.

This does not mean visual information should disappear. Good accessibility often means providing information in more than one way so that people can use the method that works for them.

That principle is important because not every blind or low-vision person reads Braille, and not every person has the same level of usable vision. Accessibility should be flexible rather than assuming one solution will work for everyone.

When you are designing something, ask yourself a simple question:

If someone couldn't see this, how else could they access the information?

Sometimes the answer will be sound. Sometimes it will be touch. Sometimes it will be a combination of different formats.

The important thing is to stop assuming that sight is the only way people receive information.

Accessible design gives people choices.

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SELF-CARE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED.

You do not always need a full day off, a big plan or an expensive treat to make some time for yourself.

Sometimes it can be something as simple as creating a few quiet minutes in your day and doing something that helps you feel cared for.

My Ora Nourishing Body Oils are designed to be part of those everyday moments of wellbeing, whether you use them as part of your personal routine or simply enjoy the experience of having something made specifically for that purpose.

This October, every Ora Oil is $10.00 each, including GST, instead of $15.00.

You can choose from:

Ora-Zen — Soothe

Ora-Radiate — Uplift

Ora-Shift — Reset

Ora-Ling — Refresh

Ora-Bloom — Restore

The October $10 special applies to both retail purchases and massage add-ons.

So if you are coming in for a massage, you can add an oil to your appointment, or you can simply purchase one to take home.

Limited stock available — once it’s gone, it’s gone.

If your wellbeing has been sitting at the bottom of your to-do list lately, perhaps October is a good time to move it back up.

Phone/Text: 027 840 2024
Email: [email protected]

Blind-Betty-Ora | Professional Massage Therapy
Wellness without Barriers.

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LET'S TALK ABOUT COLOUR CONTRAST

Colour contrast is something many people never have to think about because they can naturally distinguish between colours, shapes and objects around them.

For someone with low vision, however, contrast can make the difference between something being immediately visible and something being extremely difficult to find.

Imagine a white light switch on a white wall. Imagine pale grey writing on a white background. Imagine a step that is almost the same colour as the floor, or a glass door that has no contrasting markings to show where the door begins.

For someone with low vision, these aren't simply design choices. They can affect whether something can be found, read, identified or navigated safely.

Good contrast can help important information and objects stand out. That can include text against its background, doorways against surrounding walls, handrails against the surfaces behind them, switches against walls and steps against flooring.

It is also important to remember that colour contrast is not only a blindness or low-vision issue. Strong contrast can make information easier for many people to see, particularly in bright sunlight, poor lighting or visually busy environments.

So when you are designing something, don't only ask whether the colours look attractive together.

Ask whether the information is actually visible to the people who need to use it.

Good accessibility starts with recognising that not everybody sees the world in the same way.

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IS YOUR BODY ASKING FOR A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION?

Sometimes you know you need to slow down.

Sometimes you’ve been carrying tension for too long.

And sometimes you simply need an hour where someone else is taking care of you.

This October, 60-minute Relaxation or Deep Tissue Massage sessions are $80.00 incl. GST.

Your session is tailored to your individual needs and focus areas, with your wellness intake completed before your appointment.

New and existing clients welcome.

Appointments are available throughout October, subject to availability.

Phone/text 027 840 2024
DM -Betty-Ora
Email [email protected]

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WHAT DOES RELAXATION MASSAGE ACTUALLY MEAN?

When people hear the words "relaxation massage", they sometimes assume it simply means a very light massage where nothing particularly purposeful is happening.

That's not what it means.

Relaxation massage is still a structured massage treatment. The therapist is using specific movements, techniques, pressure and pace to create a treatment that is focused on relaxation and comfort rather than primarily on more targeted or intensive work.

That doesn't mean the therapist stops paying attention to your body.

They are still considering how the massage feels, how you are responding and whether the pressure and techniques being used are appropriate for you. The treatment can still be personalised rather than being a generic routine.

Relaxation also doesn't have to mean extremely light pressure. Different people have different preferences, and what feels relaxing to one person may feel completely different to someone else.

The important thing is understanding what the treatment is intended to do and adapting it to the person receiving it.

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WORLD SIGHT DAY — EYE CONDITIONS AREN'T ALL THE SAME

When we talk about blindness, low vision or sight loss, it is important to remember that there is no single way to experience it.

There are many different eye conditions that can affect vision, including glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal conditions, corneal conditions and inherited eye diseases, among many others.

Some conditions can affect central vision, some can affect peripheral vision, some can cause blurred or distorted vision, and others can affect how someone sees colour, contrast, light or depth. Some people may have very little useful vision, while others may retain some vision but still experience significant difficulties in everyday life.

Two people can have the same eye condition and experience it very differently.

That is why it is important not to make assumptions about what someone can or cannot see simply because they are described as blind or having low vision.

Sight loss is not one-size-fits-all.

Understanding different eye conditions helps us build greater awareness, empathy and accessibility for the many different ways people experience the world.

This World Sight Day, let's look beyond the label and recognise the person, their individual experience and their abilities.

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WORLD SIGHT DAY — LOOK AFTER YOUR EYE HEALTH

Our eyes are something many of us can easily take for granted until something changes. Looking after your eye health and having regular eye examinations can play an important part in protecting your vision and identifying changes early.

An eye examination is not only about finding out whether you need glasses. An optometrist can check the health of your eyes and look for signs of certain eye conditions and changes that you may not have noticed yourself.

Some eye conditions can develop gradually and may not cause obvious symptoms in the early stages. That is why regular eye checks can be important, even when you think your vision is fine.

If you notice changes in your vision, new symptoms, pain, flashes, sudden changes or anything that concerns you, don't simply put it down to getting older or being tired. Get it checked.

Your vision is worth looking after. Make eye health part of your regular healthcare, not something you only think about when there is a problem.

This World Sight Day, take a moment to think about your eyes and when you last had them checked.

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WORLD SIGHT DAY — LET'S DO BETTER

World Sight Day is an opportunity to talk about vision and sight loss, but it is also an opportunity to think about the world we create around people who experience disability.

Are our businesses accessible? Can people find and understand the information they need? Are our services designed with different ways of seeing, hearing, moving and communicating in mind? Do we make assumptions about people, or do we actually listen to them?

Accessibility benefits everyone, but for people living with disability, it can be the difference between being included and being excluded.

We do not need to wait for someone to ask for access before we start thinking about it.

Build accessibility in. Remove barriers. Listen to lived experience. Make inclusion the standard, not the exception.

That is how we create a world where everyone has the opportunity to participate, belong and thrive.

Wellness without barriers.

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WORLD SIGHT DAY — SEE BEYOND SIGHT

Being blind or living with low vision is not the whole story of a person.

A white cane does not tell you someone's abilities. Reduced vision does not tell you what someone can achieve. And disability does not automatically mean dependence.

People with sight loss have careers, businesses, relationships, families, hobbies, ambitions, independence and full lives. We navigate the world in different ways, and sometimes those differences are made harder by barriers that could have been avoided.

So today, take a moment to look beyond what you think disability means.

Ask. Listen. Respect. Include.

And remember that sometimes the biggest thing standing between a person and full participation isn't their disability. It's the barrier around them.

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WORLD SIGHT DAY — ACCESSIBILITY MATTERS

Accessibility is not a special favour or an optional extra. It is about removing unnecessary barriers so people can participate, make choices and access services with dignity and independence.

For someone who is blind or has low vision, something as simple as an inaccessible form, unclear information, poor lighting, an unfamiliar environment or assumptions about what they can and cannot do can create a barrier that other people may never even notice.

The good news is that many barriers can be removed when we listen, ask rather than assume, and make accessibility part of the way we do things.

Inclusion starts when we stop asking people to fit into inaccessible systems and start making spaces work for people.

That is something worth remembering not just today, but every day.

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