Feature story - That blind woman: Julie Woods

"Shoot for the moon. even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." - Les Brown

It's impossible not to love Julie Woods. Her infectious laugh, her honesty in acknowledging the hard times she's faced, and her passion for helping others has made her everyone's best friend. In fact, you may have already met Julie or 'that blind woman' as she sometimes calls herself.

Over the years, she's achieved much as a Foundation member, Braille Awareness Consultant, public speaker and life coach.

Julie's sparkling personality has not only captured the imagination of the blind community, but also people further afield. She's touched the hearts of national media, schoolchildren, corporate organisations and most recently, the women of Melbourne, who were affected by the Australian bush fires.

Diagnosed with Stargardt's disease at age eighteen, Julie was partially sighted for much of her life. Then, at age thirty-one, she noticed that the tiles in her bathroom were shimmering. Three months later in March 1997, she lost all her remaining vision and was declared legally blind.

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Julie explains, "My eyesight loss was caused by an inflammation of the retina. Now I can see some contrast and movement, but my eyesight has continued to deteriorate as the inflammation has spread".

"I was in contact with the Foundation from day one. A Needs Assessor called me up and said, 'Can you make a cup of tea?' I couldn't. That's when a counsellor came to visit me. She said, 'There are two types of blind people in this world. Those who can see more and do less, and those who can see less but do more'. I didn't understand it at the time, but blindness is all a matter of attitude."

Counselling was followed by Adaptive Daily Living instruction, where Julie learned to prepare food and find her way around the kitchen without any sight. Today, she jokingly refers to this as, 'cooking without looking'.

Next, Julie learned to use the telephone, which was a big milestone. She notes, "Suddenly, something switched on inside of me. With free Telecom directory assistance, and the ability to correctly dial numbers, I was able to organise my whole life and be much more independent".

An Orientation and Mobility instructor then taught her to use a white cane. "I didn't want one, because I didn't want to feel blind. But it was about staying inside all the time or getting out, and I chose to get out. There are significant moments in life where you make decisions that alter the course of how you live your life. Losing my sight was one of these moments, so was learning to use the telephone and a white cane."

After building up her skill set and support networks, Julie discovered braille. She remarks that a particularly inspirational point was when she went to an Association of Blind Citizens conference in 2001 and observed many participants reading braille: "After that, I decided to commit to learning braille and improving my literacy skills". Julie's enthusiasm for braille eventually led to her role as Braille Awareness Consultant at the Foundation, where she worked for five years.

Later on, she became interested in life coaching and figuring out the science behind goal-setting. She enrolled in a life coaching course and loved it, so she started her own business as a life coach and public

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speaker. "What's most important to me now is inspiring people beyond their limits – I think that's where I'm at my most powerful," says Julie.

[Photograph: Julie floats in the Dead Sea]

"When I'm coaching, I'm working with people who are maybe feeling unfulfilled, or like there is something not quite right in their life. Over 12 sessions, we work out three main goals and go after them. This sets the pace and helps clients create new habits. Coaching stretches you, it makes you see things differently."

Navigating through her experience of blindness has made Julie a self-confessed 'lifetime learner'. "I've got whole new pathways filled with opportunities. The best thing about being blind is that so many opportunities have come my way."

One of these opportunities presented itself in the form of travel. In January 2009, Julie visited Paris with her partner Ron, as part of the Louis Braille centenary celebrations. On her way home, she travelled through the Middle East on a special trip organised by The Innovative Travel Company. Ron had chosen this destination and Julie recalls that, "honestly, I was a little anxious". However, the trip far surpassed her expectations – she swam in the Dead Sea, touched ancient pyramids and met some vivacious locals.

[Photograph: Egyptian pyramids – an easy pick up! Julie's hands are positioned above and below an Egyptian pyramid so that it looks like she is holding the pyramid.}

"Travelling blind is about making the most of the senses you've got,"

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says Julie. "It's about the food, the sounds, what you feel at your fingertips. The more interactive, the better! As a blind person, you experience things in a different way, people come to life, and they are closer to you than if you were sighted."

When Julie got home, The Innovative Travel Company called her with a special request. Would she be interested in hosting a tour for blind and partially sighted people? "Of course I agreed!" exclaims Julie. She is now leading a group of blind and partially sighted people to the Middle East, in what is believed to be a New Zealand first.

"When you travel with a group of other blind and partially sighted people, it's about making the most of peer support, and having an amazing adventure. I want to help people do something they didn't think they could ever do, and to have a life-changing experience."

"Coming on this trip, people will have the chance to understand a different way of life and step out of their comfort zone. It's a shooting for the moon experience, and Egypt feels like the moon."

To find out more about Julie, visit her website at www.thatblindwoman.co.nz

Join Julie on her Middle East tour

[Photograph: a folded map]

Are you interested in touring Egypt and Jordan with Julie Woods and her sighted co-host Ron Esplin? Join them on an enriching journey, created by Ancient Kingdoms Holidays. The tour runs for 21 days, departing from New Zealand in May 2011.

For more information or to register your interest, please contact the tour organisers, The Innovative Travel Company on 0508 100 111. Or, contact Don Crum at Harvey World Travel Dunedin, phone 03 477 0443 or email don.crum@harveyworld.co.nz

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