I began teaching speech-recognition 15 years ago. At that time, I was employed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a subject matter expert. Many veterans have multiple disabilities such as an inability to use their hands and blindness. They find speech-recognition is the most effective way to work with the computer. In …
Quoddy dog on Peaked Mountain, Maine. Sitting towards camera with woods and hills in the background. Independence, Thrills, and Dignity With My Seeing Eye Dogs Sue Wiygul Martin Copyright © 2016 by Sue W. Martin All rights reserved. Limited Edition A companion to Out of the Whirlpool: A Memoir of …
My “Quandary” By smartin on March 26, 2016 in eqb My “Quandary” Quan and I stand before the Freedom Tower in Manhatten It’s a boy. It’s a *big* boy. When Joan handed me his leash and told me his name, Quan, I was, what? What does it feel like when somebody gives you the …
Thursday of next week is the second meeting of the support group, Kismet Out Loud. Odd name but let me explain. “Kismet” is Arabic. It means destiny, or fate. In my mid-twenties,at undoubtably the lowest point in my life, I tried to end my life. At the end of the day I was still alive. …
Today begins a new year for us all. Yet today is not all that different from yesterday. Except for the characters that define the date, those last four digits are now 2015. I’ve been through some dark days recently but today I stand proud. I stand proud and eager to see what this new year …
Frank King’s TEDx Talk titled, A matter of laugh or death is one of the most powerful talks on depression and suicide I’ve ever watched. The concrete advice he gives at the end of the talk is spot on. What to say and what to *not* say to someone who might be suicidal. Practical advice …
I start a new email message. I agonize over the addressees. Should I include my boss? Should the lead developer and the contractual developer both receive it? Come to think of it am I even supposed to communicate directly with a contractor? Subject field. Thinking carefully I make several typos just getting a five word …
“Touring the National Library Service One of the first things that was restored to me following the loss of my eyesight was the ability to read. I was still in the hospital when the talking book player from the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, NLS, arrived. The taped …
Any time there’s a suicide attempt by a celebrity a flurry of media coverage ensues. There’s been plenty of coverage of the death by suicide of actor, Robin Williams. Much of it has been sensitive and responsible, much of it hasn’t. The American Association of Suicidology has media recommendations for reporting on suicide that can …
Audio Transcript Viewpoint, An interview with Rob Conrad broadcast by Magic 96.5, Birmingham, Alabama on July 20, 2014 Rob Conrad interviews Sue Martin [Music] You’re listening to Viewpoint Alabama, a public affairs program from the Alabama Radio Network RC: Welcome to Viewpoint. My name is Rob Conrad and our special guest today …