by Chelsey Zumpano
Self-care is important for everyone, but especially for people who have mental health struggles.
1 Reading my favorite books
2 drawing
3 cuddling with my animals
4 Reading
5 writing short stories 
How Accessible is Tick Tok?
by Chelsey Zumpano
Tick Tok is another video sharing platform, (kind of like YouTube), but you can only do 60 second videos. It started out as an app called Musically, (which was just people lip singing to music), now people do little story times. I like watching people’s animal videos.
Now is it accessible? Yes, I’m able to post videos, like videos, comment, (but dictation doesn’t work well), and follow people. I’m even able to add video discriptions and tags. I will let you know if anything changes and when I use it more.
Is Disney Plus Accessible?
by Chelsey Zumpano
Disney Plus is like Netflix, but just for Disney shows and movies! I’ve been watching all my favorites, “Snow Dogs,” “Lady and the Tramp,” and “101 Dalmatians.” The really cool thing is that they have audio discription! Sadly it’s not on all the movies, (like Snow Dogs didn’t have it). But it was easy to find on my fire stick; I just paused the movie, moved to the right until it said, “subtitles and audio,” then I just clicked on audio discription.
I was able to navigate with voiceover on my Iphone and Voice View on my Fire Stick. The only part it didn’t read to me with Voice View was the menu where it said, “Pixar, Disney, Marvel, and a few others.” I can do a more indept review on my YouTube channel, if any one is interested?
If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see next for Nanowrimo, please let me know in the comments or send me an email to: viblindresources@gmail.com
I Took An Intro To Dog Training Class! Was It Accessible? #DogTraining&Blind
by Chelsey Zumpano
I started taking a intro to dog training class on New Skills Academy. It’s a website to take courses and you get certificates. I saw an add on Facebook talking about the intro to dog training course and it was only $25! So I took my chance because all those other dog training courses are thousands of dollars. (you are not required to be certified). Taking a course for me makes me feel more productive than just reading a book because you can interpret books anyway and I like the idea of taking tests and quizzes because it shows me what I’ve learned.
The website is accessible, (for the most part), I was able to read all the articles for my classes and take notes. The one thing I had trouble with was finding the text box to take notes and the fact that sometimes it randomly go to the notes and start reading them to me. I was able to answer the quizzes and the test at the end. I wasn’t however able to fill out the worksheets because they were not accessible at all! (Thankfully the worksheets were not required).
Taking the class makes me realize I knew lots more about dog training than I thought. It makes me feel more confident in my dog training ability and has taught me some new things. I got a certificate for completing the course I’m going to frame it and put it on my wall! 
(Also I’m sorry if this post sounds a bit weird because I had to use the Tatian to write it, since my orbit reader 20 didn’t charge!).
If you also want to take a course here’s a link to the website:
https://newskillsacademy.com/
If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see next for Nanowrimo, please let me know in the comments or send me an email to: viblindresources@gmail.com
Some of My Dreams!
by Chelsey Zumpano
I’d love if I could accomplish atleast one of these dreams!
1 To have a big house in the country with a rap around porch. The house would be three stories and have lots of windows to let lots of natural light in. It will have enough rooms for my Mom and I to have a craft room, my sister to have a make up studio, and me a filming studio. A garage, shop, and dirt bike track for my Dad and brother. We’d have enough space for like 10 dogs and 20 cats: along with goats, horses, cows and chickens. We’d also have enough room for a garden and a second little house for family to stay.
2 To be a guide dog trainer! It’d be amazing to work with dogs every day and to know that the dogs would be helping others like me. I’d live in a small house with a big yard, so Hazel could run. Katniss and Audrey would live with me to and they’d have cat trees and high up places to hang out. Hazel would be a play mate to dogs on their off time and a good exaple on their work time. Hazel and I’d take a car pull van with all of our other coworkers to work. I’d get to help dogs and people every day.
3 A published author! I’d have multiple best saling books. I’d have interviews on all the coolist talk shows. I’d get to give people characters head’s to fall into when they don’t want to be in their own. I’d give people characters to look up to like all my favorite authors have given me.
4 Dog rescuer! I’d be surrounded by animals every day and get to take care of them. I’d take all the dogs out early in the morning to go run and go potty. Then I’d feed the cats and bottle feed any kits or pups that need it. Then I’d give any animals who need meds and make sure any wounded or special needs are payed attention to. Next I’d take the dogs for a walk and then do some training. Then I’d cuddle with any cats who wanted to cuddle; while the dogs napt. Then play and train the dogs again. It’d be an awesome life.
If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see next for Nanowrimo, please let me know in the comments or send me an email to: viblindresources@gmail.com
Adopt A Senior Dog!
by Chelsey Zumpano
(Picture credit goes to Chelsey Zumpano).
November is adopt a senior dog month, so I thought I’d talk about my Lucy. Although Lucy wasn’t adopted, but born into our family. Lucy is our 12 year old Chihuahua/Yorkey mix.
She loves to cudle under the blankits with me. She’ll be content to lay in bed on most days. She still loves to play with toys and get treats. She still barks at the door to let us know someones there. She still knows how to do some basic obedience. She loves to be with her people.
A lot of people will reject senior dogs because they have health problems, but they still need a home. There previous owner could have past away or they didn’t have money to take care of them. I wouldn’t want my Lucy to spend the rest of her life in a shelter! I think a senior dog would be great for a first time dog owner because they can still teach you responsibility and you’ll have a companion. They are offen low energy and in need lots of love!
If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see next for Nanowrimo, please let me know in the comments or send me an email to: viblindresources@gmail.com
Thankful My Dogs Have A Better Relationship!
by Chelsey Zumpano
So my little dog Lucy did not get along with my Husky Hazel. She growled, barked, and showed her teeth. Hazel just jumped around her and wanted to play. It wasnt that big of deal when my Ginger was still alive because Lucy had her Mom to hang out with, so we just kept them seperated. We did try to introduce the three of them, but Ginger would growl at her and all that stuff. I don’t blame her because if I was a Chihuahua, (who was old and not feeling well), then I wouldn’t want a puppy to be bugging me either.
Then when Ginger past away; Lucy didn’t, (and still doesn’t), want to be alone! She cries and won’t stop scratching at the door, if we put her outside to run around, (we can’t even let her out to go potty. I’m not going to lie, but it was extreamly stressful, (especially because Lucy only wanted/wants to only be with me or my Mom), so it meant that it was harder to split my time between the two dogs.
So how did I get them to get along? By using calming signals! You might be wondering what that is? Calming signals are how dogs communicate with each other and us humans can use some of them too. Dogs will use calming signals to to calm dogs down and to let them know, “Hey, it’s okay.” Dogs will also use calming signals at us if they are being yelled at and want us to calm down. Some examples are licking their lips, yawning , sighing, and slow blinking. You can learn more about calming signals by reading the book, “On Talking Terms with Dogs,” linked at the bottom of this post.
The other thing that helped was to be relaxed and not panic when the dogs were together because they can sense that and sometimes feed off it. Now Lucy and Hazel can be in the same room together. Lucy will still get agitated by Hazel, but it’s getting better. I think the reason why it worked for my dogs is because Hazel just wants to play and wasn’t trying to fight Lucy. So please talk to a trainer if your dogs are full on fighting. It’s one of thoughs things that will take time and won’t work for all dogs, but I’m extreamly thankful it has helped my dogs.
Let me know what things have helped your dogs have a better relationship in the comments!
If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see next for Nanowrimo, please let me know in the comments or send me an email to: viblindresources@gmail.com
Favorite Memories Of My VW Bug!
by Chelsey Zumpano
(piture credit gose to my Mom).
We sadly decided to sale my bug, (my car we’ve had since my first day of high school), and you can watch that vlog down below! My Dad got me a car just like how he got my brother his car. He knew bugs were my favorite car, (because of Herbie), and even though I couldn’t drive it, didn’t mean I couldn’t have a car.
Now here are my favorite memories of my car!
• riding in it to school.
• The time my twin brother took me driving in my bug! It was so fun being able to drive my own car!
• That one time a bunch of kids were crowded around my bug after a fire drill at my high school and I was able to point out to my friend that, that was my bug!
• Being able to know that was my car because of the bright yellow.
• My Dad and I taking Hazel for a ride in it. She curled up on my lap, (like the little dog she thinks she is), and I wish I had a picture or video of that.
My brother’s favorite memories are when we use to drive it to school, my little sister’s favorite memories are when she got picked up in the bug from school, my dad’s are when he first got it for me and just driving around in it, and my mom’s is just driving me around in it and how happy it made me.
If you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see next for Nanowrimo, please let me know in the comments or send me an email to: viblindresources@gmail.com
Back To Writing and What I’m Doing For November!
by Chelsey Zumpano
Hey Everyone, it’s been way to long since I’ve wrote on my blog and that’s going to change! November is National Novel Writing Month, (nanowrimo), and like last year this blog is my project! I’m going to write every day for this blog in November, (rather then sticking to a certain word count).
I have some ideas for what I want to write, but please feel free to send me writing promps. To get an idea of what I write: stuff about my vision impairment, interviews about other bloggers, poetry, shorte stories, mental health, and just randum tags. You can either leave your prompts in the comments or send me an email to: viblindresources@gmail.com
Also if you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my #31DaysOfHalleen and let me know your favorite costume. Please check out my latest Vlog…
Nominated For the Blogger Recognition Award!
by Chelsey Zumpano
I’ve been nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award by my friend Amanda Gene, (amandagene.com), and you should definitely check out her blog and YouTube! She writes about her vision impairment and mental health. I met her through blogging and we are now good friends, so you know blogging can bring you lots of great things.
I’ve always loved to write; either short stories or fanfiction. My blog was created to help others in my community, but now Its evolved into one of my various coping mechanisms for my anxiety. So I get to help others by sharing my stories about my vision impairment and anxiety, while helping myself.
my advice for new bloggers!
1 Write because you like it and or because it’s helping you feel better. Putting yourself out there on the internet can make you feel vulnerable; that’s why you should have a goal to accomplish. Mine is to help people.
2 Be yourself and write things you’d want to read!
I tagged the following bloggers!
1 Glin
2 Bold Blind Beauty
3 Life of a Blind Girl:
4 Luke Sam Sowden:
5 My Blurred World:
6 Sam
https://conqueringcpblog.wordpress.com
7 Girl Gone Blind
8 unseen beauty
9 my life my story
https://mylifemystory862.wordpress.com/
10 The invisible vision project
http://theinvisiblevisionproject.com
Rules
1 talk about the person who tagged you.
2 Give a little bit of some information about your blog and why you started it.
3 give two pieces of advice to incoming bloggers.
4 tag 10 bloggers.
if you would like to contribute to this blog or YouTube, please send me an email: viblindresources@gmail.com
VIBlindResources 