Wise Eyes Mental Health & Wellness

Wise Eyes Mental Health & Wellness My name is Richard Belcher. Welcome to Wise Eyes Wellness. I also have a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Waterloo.

Hello, my name is Richard Anthony Belcher, I am a vision loss and mental health coach helping people adapt to adversity and persevere through challenging situations such as disability, anxiety, depression, and other difficult life circumstances. If you are financially hamstrung and experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, isolation, loneliness, addiction or relationship-related issues, I am here

for you. If you have been unable to find support – perhaps you have been stuck on a waitlist, are without employee benefits, or just unable to take on the financial burden – this is where I can help. I have 10 years’ experience working as both a crisis intervention and mental health support worker with the Canadian Mental Health Association, providing support for people experiencing mental health and addictions issues. I have extensive training and experience in these areas. I myself have struggled with depression, anxiety and feelings of hopelessness. I have also lived with on-going severe vision loss for roughly 15 years and understand how challenging both mental health and living with a disability can be. I believe in the recovery philosophy: that people can recover from mental health and addictions issues and go on to live rich and rewarding lives. If you are wanting to make changes in your life and move towards recovery, contact me at 519-574-8912l or via messenger and we can get started. The initial consultation is free of charge. We can conduct our sessions over the phone, Facebook messenger or Zoom, where we can have organic, in-depth conversations that will lighten the load you have been carrying. I’m looking forward to speaking with you.

03/29/2026

Surviving Technology February 18, 2026 How Tech Both Empowers and Complicates Teaching, Learning, and Generally Existing It is easy to recognize the dramatic ways technology has evolved and influenced how we interact with the world. Some of us grew up turning a dial to enter a single digit into the....

03/28/2026

A white cane does far more than help someone walk safely. Here is what most people do not know.

The cane is white so the general public knows that the person using it is blind or has low vision.

A white cane is something we lightly tap and slide from side to side or it stays in constant contact with the ground. The tapping sound the cane makes when using the two point touch (tap and slide) can work like echolocation for the user. Our cane is usually 3 to 6 feet in front of us and that tapping and contact gives us information about what is ahead, changes in surface, drop-offs, obstacles, and landmarks. Our cane alerts us to what our eyes may not see or see clearly. It gives us independence to navigate the world with more confidence.

Did you know white canes are not all the same?

One cane does not work for every person. Length, tip, handle, weight, and material all matter. What works well for one person may not work at all for another. One cane also does not work equally well on all surfaces or terrains.

White canes are white for an important reason. The colour identifies to the public that the person using it is blind or has low vision. This helps others understand why we may be navigating differently and encourages safer interactions.

Some canes are all white. Some have red on the bottom portion. Some of us decorate our canes because the cane becomes an extension of who we are.

The red on the bottom of the cane means different things in different countries. In Canada, most of us are given the same cane from the main service provider, if you are blind or low vision here, the bottom is red for those canes. With Canada being a snowy country the red helps with colour contrast in the snow.

A red and white striped cane has a specific meaning. It indicates the person is both hard of hearing and has low vision, or is DeafBlind.

Some canes fold and some do not. They can be made of aluminum, carbon fibre, or graphite. Each material changes the weight and feel of the cane. Some canes are measured based on height, while others are chosen based on comfort, travel style, or personal preference.

Cane tips also vary widely. They are made from materials like metal, ceramic, or plastic. Some tips roll and some stay fixed. Each type gives different feedback about the environment, including texture, vibration, and surface changes.

Handles are not all the same either. They can be plastic, foam, cork wood or rubber. Some are thicker, some thinner. Some have grooves for fingers. Comfort and grip matter, especially for daily use.

A white cane is our mobility device. For those of us who use one, it represents independence, safety and freedom to us. Please do not step over it, grab it, touch it, or move it. Doing so can disorient or endanger us.

It is called a cane, not a stick or a pole. If someone who uses one calls it something else, then you know for that person. In general, calling things what they are shows respect.

Do you have any questions about white canes or how they are used?

“Having a disability does not change who we are. It changes our interactions with the world.”-Gina Martin

Looking for an educational and practical program that breaks through barriers and bridges gaps between society and disability? Check out our Community aDAPT program DiverseAbilities.ca



Photo description
Text readsa white cane is not a prop it is how we detect obsticals, understand our environment and move safely through the world.
Finds obsticles, Detects drop offs. Surface changes guides us forward. There is a white cane with a rolling tip and a cane handle in the image.

03/26/2026

If you have seen me at a networking event and did not come say hello, you are not alone and you are exactly who I wrote this for.

I attend many networking events around town, including my favourite event with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, where rooms are full of driven, enthusiastic and successful people ready to connect and grow.

I show up to these spaces as a woman entrepreneur who is blind and trying to rebuild my business in a brand new city.

That means I walk into every unfamiliar room alone, unable to assess the space, without being able to recognize a single face, read a name tag, catch the subtle cues that guide every other interaction in the room.

No eye contact.
No wave across the room.
No “I think I know that person.”

I rely on my orientation and mobility training, sound, memory and courage.

The truth is, these spaces are not designed with me in mind.

My biggest barrier at these events is not my vision loss.

It is the hesitation from those around me. The social stigmas, the built environment and that people who navigate life differently are not considered in the planning of these types of events.

I know what often happens.

You see my white cane.
You are not sure how to approach.
You do not want to do the wrong thing or unintentionally offend me.
This creates avoidance.

What you may not realize is this, I want to connect with you just as much as you want to connect with others in that room.

The difference is, I cannot meet you halfway unless you take the first step.

So here is how to make it easy.

If you see me at an event, come up to me, get my attention by saying,

“Hi Gina, I am Mya nice to meet you.” (Often we have name tags on ).
If we have met before saying “Hi Gina, it’s Miranda” and tell me where we met. This helps me recognize where I know you from because I cannot identify you visually.
If you extend your hand to shake mine and I do not notice, just say “I am extending my hand to shake yours,”

That is it.

Say my name so I know you are speaking to me. (These events can be noisy so if I do not respond, get my attention please)
Tell me who you are so I am not guessing.

By doing this you have just turned an uncertain moment into a meaningful connection.

Inclusion is not complicated.
It is not expensive.
It is not something we only talk about in policies and strategies.

It happens in real time, in rooms like these in simple human interactions.

I show up to these spaces with vulnerability and determination every single time.

Not because it is easy but because I know I belong in these rooms.

If you are someone who wants to create a more inclusive and welcoming experience in your business, this is where it starts.

With awareness.
With intention.
With small actions that change everything.

“Having a disability doesn’t change who I am, it changes my interactions with the world.” – Gina Martin.

Inclusion is not always about big changes. It lives in the smallest moments.

If you want to create spaces where every client living with a disability feels seen, valued and welcome. I can help you get there.

Take your team from uncomfortable to confident in my IDEAL Team building program. Changing how disabilities are viewed and understood through real, honest and authentic conversations. Connect with me and learn more 👇🏽
DiverseAbilities.ca

Photo description
Gina is standing on a path in a park. She is wearing dark sunglasses and standing with her cane, smiling.

03/25/2026

Smart glasses are opening new doors in higher education, especially for students with visual impairments.
Researchers at Notre Dame are testing Meta's Ray-Ban glasses for hands-free reading, navigation, and real-time AI assistance in academic settings. The results are promising.
At HumanWare, we're focused on integrating wearable AI into the existing assistive technology stack.
Read the full story : https://www.humanware.com/en-canada/blogs/smart-glasses-higher-education-learning-accessibility/

03/25/2026

The Say Sentence shortcut in JAWS is especially useful when you want to hear the entire sentence where your cursor is located.

To use Say Sentence: Press ALT+NUM PAD 5 on desktop, or INSERT+H on laptop

Here are some situations where you might use it:

1. Understanding Context: If you want to hear a complete thought or idea, using Say Sentence will read the whole sentence, which is helpful for comprehension, especially in long paragraphs.
2. Editing and Proofreading: When editing documents, you may want to check if a sentence sounds correct or if it contains errors. Say Sentence lets you quickly review the sentence without reading the whole line or paragraph.
3. Learning and Language Practice: For users learning a new language or practicing reading, hearing full sentences can help with understanding grammar and sentence structure.
4. Clarifying Ambiguity: Sometimes, a line may contain more than one sentence, or a sentence may span multiple lines. Say Sentence ensures you hear the entire sentence, regardless of how it is displayed on the screen.

This shortcut varies from Say Line which reads the whole line, while Say Sentence reads the whole sentence. The line may not always match a sentence, especially if sentences span multiple lines or if a line contains more than one sentence.

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