OE Patients

Category: Making Adjustments

Tips and advice that will keep you doing the things you need and love to do.

  • Accessibility Matters When Choosing A Home

    Accessibility Matters When Choosing A Home

    There are many elements to contemplate when shopping for a new home, especially when you have a visual impairment.  Although it is always possible to fall in love with a person, or a place, or a job that will move you from a comfort zone into the unknown.  Don’t let that hold you back.  Move forward and live life, just approach your selection with intelligence, while considering the factors you require for independence.

    Moving is a big deal for anyone, so it’s essential to keep practicality at the forefront of your selection process.

    Don’t let a gorgeous living space trick you into thinking you can live in a place that is not generally accessible to you.  We are talking about the basics for living well, for continuing to do the things you need, and love, to do.  Good sidewalks, public transportation, and local shopping, can take on a new level of priority, when you don’t drive.

    City locales are naturally favored over rural areas because they offer greater convenience in closer proximity.  However, cities don’t guarantee comfort.  New York City, for example, is a dream destination for many, but it can also feel overwhelmingly hectic for others.  Within every city there are areas that offer higher degrees of favorability.

    Do your due diligence in scouting the right location. You decide what is essential to your well-being. Here are some important things to look at.

    Public Transportation: Look at the accessibility of railroads, buses, subways, etc.

    Walking: Are there walkable sidewalks, and crosswalks, to the places you will be going?

    Shopping: Is there a supermarket within walking distance? Is there a shopping center with a variety of stores? Dry cleaner? Hair salon?

    Climate: Is the weather generally good for walking year-round? Is the area prone to extremes in temperature, storms, or flooding?

    Fitness: Are you close to a gym, exercise studio, pool, or walking trails?

    Healthcare: Can you get to a doctor or dentist in the local area?

    Restaurants: It’s always nice to have good food nearby.

    Culture & Entertainment: Can you access movies, theater, and museums?

    Smarter cities are in the works, but urban planning and infrastructure overhauls are decades in the making. We look forward to transportation hubs with interior navigations systems. There are numerous apps in development as well, that hope to help us get wherever we want to go.

     

  • You’re Never Too Old To Learn

    You’re Never Too Old To Learn

    Having chaired a support group for more than 20 years in Florida, the land of seniors and thus the land of visual impairment, I see an interesting story.

    From my own observation at my meetings, where I often invite presenters, such as Magnifying America, Enhanced Vision, Optelec, Freedom Scientific, Magnifeye, OrCam, eSight, I see surprisingly little buying.

    There is interest, of course, as some of these new devices now are portable and can read to you, along with other delightful add-ons and gadgets to allow us to function as independently as possible.

    I know that I couldn’t function without one such device and I have four: one in my office, one in my bedroom and another on my patio, plus a “mini” that I carry with me.  These must-have devices of mine are video magnifiers, also known as CCTVs.

    I’m legally blind: 20/400 in my left eye and 20/300 in my right. I have lectured on the advantages of adaptive devices, iPhones, as well as others that have been developed over the years, and I would love to know what keeps some people holding back.

    I had a member recently call me asking where he could get a large-number flip phone. I said, “Get a smartphone. You don’t have to look for numbers, you just have to program the phone and then ask them to call that person.” Then I added, “Even if that person is not on your contact list, you tell the phone the number you need.”

    I don’t think a day goes by that I’m not on my computer. I wake up to search my email and close down at night, seeing what else came in. I do research, catch up on the news of the day and visit my friends and family as well as the stock market.

    The doctor tells us our hearing is bad and we run to buy a hearing aid for an average price of $3,000. We run to the eye doctor, retina specialist, or low vision optometrist, and fit new glasses, yet don’t run to buy a CCTV. We ask others to read our mail, may not be able to read a newspaper or magazine or book, yet hesitate to get an electronic magnifier to open up the world.

    One thing I picked up on while lecturing on “Low Vision Rehabilitation” really opened my eyes. A lady in the front row said, “Why should I bother? I’m 95 years old.” I came back with, “What are you waiting for?”

    No one knows for sure how much time we have left. Why not make the time we do have left as good as we can make it? If we can better our lives on this Earth, let’s go for it!


    Get started with OE resources:

     

  • Museums Making Art More Accessible

    Museums Making Art More Accessible

    If you were looking for a reason to visit Florence, here it is. The Uffizi Museum is offering Touch Tours for visually impaired and blind visitors. If you’ve never experienced a touch tour, it’s about time you do. Go ahead…book that flight.

    The Uffizi offers a guided tour enabling people with vision loss to utilize their sense of touch to get a closer “look” at the museum’s masterpiece collection of art in marble. These are beautiful ancient works, Greek and Roman sculptures.  While other visitors are admiring these works with their eyes, you, with a museum expert at your side, get to touch (hand gloved in latex, of course). It is a thrilling and memorable experience. The Uffizi by Touch Tour requires no reservation and can be arranged, upon arrival to the museum, at the ticket office.

    Florence is indeed a dreamy destination, and by all means…go!  You should also know, similar programs are widely available and most likely at a museum nearby.  The accessibility services offered are generally good for everyone. Bring a friend, this may be their only opportunity to touch an ancient artifact.

    It’s not entirely about the touch tour. There are many other ways museums are making it easier to look at art and fully experience the vibrancy, with or without sight.  Audio Guides facilitate self-guided tours and are good for everyone. The narrated guides are now also available as accessible smartphone apps, in addition to the individual museum devices. Print Access may extend to large print and Braille exhibition guides and in some cases accessible labeling of art.

     

    The Uffizi Gallery, the upper-level corridor lined with statues.

     

    Verbal Descriptions are perhaps the best accompaniment a visually impaired art lover could ask for. In itself an art, verbal imaging adds meticulously detailed and vivid descriptions including style, technique, texture, and color.  By including details that may have been missed by the viewer, these descriptions go a long way in helping to convey the full picture. Many museums offer individual verbally described tours with specially trained guides, which are highly recommended.

    In addition to the everyday access, museums offer regularly scheduled programs for people with vision loss. At the Museum of Modern Art, in NYC, join a monthly “Art In Sight” lecture and discussion series, or try “Picture This!” workshops at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  

    Get in touch with your favorite museum and go for a tour!

     

  • Artists Work Through Macular Degeneration

    Artists Work Through Macular Degeneration

    You might think the work of an artist who is losing sight would come to a tragic end. Think again.

    “The Persistence of Vision”, an exhibition at the University of Cincinnati, is meant to change that perception. The collection highlights the works of 8 artists, before and during the progression of their vision loss from age-related macular degeneration.   

    Macular degeneration is the leading cause of legal blindness among people over age 65. It depletes the central vision and impairs the ability to differentiate color and detail. The peripheral vision usually remains and can be used in some ways to compensate for the loss in central.

    The process of adapting included strategizing, experimenting and improvising. Many took on a less intricate, more abstract style and all showed changes in their use of color. One artist discovered a great sense of freedom in a new less precise, more relaxed technique.  Some went from drawing to painting, others ventured from painting to drawing. In most cases, the lines became blurred but still beautiful.  In their 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, they all continued creating exquisite work.

    Beyond the obvious commonalities, the 8 artists possess a strong desire and willingness to find new ways of compensating their partial loss of sight. The subject matter is specific, but the overriding theme is universal and can be applied to all work. This is actually about the art of adjusting.

    “The Persistence of Vision” is at The Philip M. Meyers, Jr. Memorial Gallery at the University of Cincinnati, through July 29, 2018. It is part of the Vision and Art Project funded by the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

     

    For more on The Vision and Art Project exhibition, Click Here

    For more on this in the NY Times, “Artists Who Lose Their Vision, Then See Clearly,” Click Here

     

    Image Credit: Dahlov Ipcar “Sunlight in Forest Glade” (unfinished, 2015) at The DAAP Galleries: Philip M. Meyers Jr. Memorial Gallery.

  • Adjusting Your Home For Vision Loss

    Adjusting Your Home For Vision Loss

    You know coping with vision impairments is a topic of the times when it’s covered in the Real Estate section of the New York Times. Be assured, you are far from alone. The likelihood of experiencing some type of visual impairment becomes more prevalent with age and the numbers affected will double over the coming decade. So it’s a good idea to get your house in order.

    If you have begun to make adjustments to accommodate vision loss, you know small changes can make a big difference. Comfort begins at home. No need to do a total renovation or spend a fortune on home improvements. Here are some ways to elevate the accessibility of your home environment today.

     

    A minimalistic style living room with color contrast.
    A minimalistic living room with color contrast.

     

    COLOR CONTRAST AND TEXTURE

    • Use light color plates on dark color placemats
    • Use contrast cutting boards and colored ceramic kitchen knives
    • Contrast furniture with rugs, pillows, throws
    • Contrast colors for doors, moldings, and cabinets
    • Contrast and texture on edge of steps
    • Place textured dots on appliance settings

     

    USE SMART SPEAKERS

    • Set kitchen timers and alarms
    • Check the time, weather, news
    • Listen to music, audiobooks, podcasts
    • Order household items online
    • Turn on lights and adjust the thermostat

     

    GO MINIMALIST, LESS IS MORE

    • Keep a clear path through rooms
    • Remove hazardous rugs and furniture
    • Get rid of clutter
    • Edit and organize closets, cabinets, and drawers

     

    LIGHTEN UP

    • Choose lighting that suits your needs
    • Maximize natural light and minimize glare with updated blinds or shades that adjust well

     

    Taking charge and making adjustments to compensate for vision loss is empowering. There’s plenty more about this on OE Patients and we’ve linked it below, along with the NY Times article mentioned at the top.

     

    Related Articles

    Smart Speakers You Ask They Answer

    Low Vision Awareness: Time to Get Organized

    7 Low Vision Tips to Start Your Day

    Home Safety and Light CheckUp

     

    Here is the article from the NY Times Real Estate section that inspired our post:

    Simple Home Improvements for the Vision Impaired
    By Robert Wright, NY Times April 13, 2018

     

  • Low Vision Awareness: Time to Get Organized

    Low Vision Awareness: Time to Get Organized

    A visual impairment that causes an acuity of 20/70 or less (in the better eye) and is not correctable with standard prescription glasses, or medical treatment, is considered ‘low vision.’  Although the term seems self-explanatory, it is not universally known, used predominantly by professionals in the field of vision rehabilitation and ophthalmology.

    People with low vision can benefit from higher powered magnification that may take the form of glasses, handheld devices, stand magnifiers and desktop video magnifiers. These specialized magnifiers range from 3x to 30x.  A low vision evaluation with a specialist is a good opportunity to see what works best for you.

    Patients are not typically referred for vision rehab services until they are legally blind (20/200 in the best eye), because that is when fees for services are covered. So living with a progressive vision loss is your best advantage to get into the habit of making adjustments long before legal blindness.

    Getting organized is key to living successfully with low vision. It may not be as easy to look for things as it once was.  A neat and tidy environment will compensate in substantial ways. Think about how nice it is to open a drawer and find exactly what you’re looking for because it is right where you left it. With low vision often it is easier to put our hands on something before our eyes see that it’s there.

    Let’s face it, everyone feels better when they’re organized. It gives us all a better sense of security. Like all good things we do for ourselves, order is something we have to work at and get into the habit of maintaining.

    Here are some tips for re-organizing:

     

    Declutter

    This can be a difficult exercise for many people, but it is the absolute most important first step. Get rid of the stacks of catalogs and unopened junk mail you are never going to look at. Arrange for some help from a friend or a professional. Let it go. Purge! This eliminates a major safety hazard and it’s truly cathartic.

     

    An organized drawer with folded clothing.
    An organized drawer with folded clothing.

     

    Clothing

    Overstuffed, disorganized closets are totally unpleasant and way too difficult to find anything in. Get rid of the clothes that don’t fit or haven’t been worn in a while. It’s always good to be able to move hangers easily to find what you’re looking for. Set up the closet as you like, by category, color, season. Keep things neatly folded on shelves or as preferred. Get shoes in order on door organizers or on racks, keeping them out of your path to prevent stumbles. Dressers also crave coordination, as does the coat closet. Might be wise to get some help here to look over the clothes and make sure they’re looking good.

     

    Cooking utensils neatly placed in a drawer kitchen organizer.
    Cooking utensils neatly placed in a drawer kitchen organizer.

     

    Kitchen

    A place filled with cabinets and drawers is just asking to be organized. Cooking utensils and silverware should be neatly arranged so you can put your hand on the item you’re looking for. Consider using brightly colored utensils or contrasted dishes for better visual ID. Organize food pantry items as preferred and keep everything in it’s designated place. Keep favorites up front. Use textured bump dots for touch identification on frequently used appliance settings.   

     

    Bathroom

    This is usually a small room that houses many small products where order is essential. In the bathroom, less is always best. Pare down to the everyday items. Keep cabinet shelves tidy. Do your best to remove clutter from surfaces. Put away or discard items not used often.

    Eliminating chaos among your things will help you every single day. Explain to family members, and remind them from time to time, the importance of keeping your world organized. 

     

  • 7 Low Vision Tips to Start Your Day

    7 Low Vision Tips to Start Your Day

    A toothbrush, shampoo bottles, and other bathroom vanities on a tiled background.
    A toothbrush, shampoo bottles, and other bathroom vanities on a tiled background.

    One of the challenging aspects of living with low vision can be our personal care. Issues like hygiene and grooming can undermine our sense of independence and confidence.

    Organization is key. Explain to family members how important it is for you to be able to find your things exactly where you left them, thus eliminating the need to go searching for items that are not in their designated place.

    • In the bathroom, items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush/comb, and toiletries should be kept in the same place, on a shelf or a rack in the shower.
    • It is helpful to buy shampoo, conditioner and body wash in containers differentiated by shape or color. If you do end up with products that have similar packaging, use bump dots to identify one from the other.
    • Getting toothpaste on the toothbrush can be a bit of a hassle. Some people find squeezing some toothpaste into a small container and dipping the brush into the paste is easier. Some people just prefer to squeeze a dab of paste onto their index finger and then transfer from finger to brush.
    • When shaving, use your sense of touch to apply the shaving cream, then slowly begin shaving and use your fingers to check for smoothness.  An electric shaver is a very good option, but the shave may not always be as close.
    • Applying makeup can become a challenge so it’s best to stick with what you know. Best to keep colors natural and always blend well. Liquid eyeliner may need to be substituted for a less exacting line of eyeshadow applied with a wet brush. Ask for the help of a friend or professional when buying new makeup and be open about your visual impairment.
    • Good lighting, along with a magnifying mirror, is key to good shaving and makeup application. Magnifying mirrors are available in models that are free-standing, wall mounted or suctioned to the bathroom mirror.
    • Take time to choose and look over your clothing choice for the day. If you are not completely sure everything is clean and neat, ask someone. It’s always a good idea to have stain removing wipes on hand for the spot that may have slipped by.

    Staying organized and sticking to a familiar routine will also help get you off to an excellent start each day.

     

  • 4 Things You Should Not Give Up In the New Year

    4 Things You Should Not Give Up In the New Year

    The start of a fresh new year is filled with promise. Anything and everything is possible. It’s a good time to evaluate your goals and objectives for the year ahead. 

    OE Patients was created to provide practical tips and encouraging advice to keep you addressing the challenges of vision loss and moving forward.  We strongly recommend a conscious renewal of your resolve to not give up doing the things you need to do and love to do.

    Coping with a visual impairment can be daunting until you discover there are solutions. We advise always to explore options, and never to give up easily. Here are 4 categories you should not give up, each followed by the tried and true solutions found in the pages of OE Patients.

    Don’t Give Up On Technology

    Continuing to use a mobile device or computer with a visual impairment can be unpleasant at times. But living without the use of technology today will be even more difficult. The very solutions you need, to adjust visual settings or access speech, are built into the software’s accessibility settings.  We’ll continue to give lots of advice on Accessibility & Technology in the coming year.  Here are links to some of the articles already posted:

    Accessibility Support Lines You Should Know

    10 things Siri Will Do If You Ask

    Savvy Seniors Tech Support Resources

    Are You A Dictator?

    10 Things to Know About iPhone Accessibility

    Don’t Give Up The Job

    We acknowledge that adjusting to vision loss while contending with the demands of a job can feel overwhelming. There are accessibility solutions built into your computer that can be exactly what you need to continue working productively. Make a friend in IT and get some help. Strongly consider discussing your visual impairment with your supervisor or Human Resources, it is in the employer’s best interest that you succeed on the job. Strengthen your resolve with a look back at these articles on this topic from OE Patients:

    5 Ways to Make Your Computer at Work Easier to Use

    Magnifiers Are a Must

    eSight Up Close

    Innovation Drives Inclusion

    Don’t Give Up On Reading

    Reading is always affected by vision loss. It is important to learn early on to make the adjustments that will keep you reading. Consider the lighting, text size, contrast, and magnification.  At some point, you may decide to move part of your reading to listening. A good audiobook is every bit as enjoyable as a real page-turner.

    Reading has a very broad spectrum and it comes into play over and over throughout any given day. You may need to find new ways to read signs, packaging, documents, and mail.  Here are some options to look at:

    Get Back the Joy of Reading with NLS

    iPad Accessibility Set Just Right for You

    Seeing AI is a Gift From Microsoft

    Kindle Gets A Voice

    Don’t Give Up Your Independence

    It all really ultimately comes down to independence, and it should never be given up without a fight! Stay tuned to these pages and we’ll keep giving you the power. 

    6 Ways to Make Bill Paying Easier

    GoGo Grandparent Gets an Uber Without an App

    Consider the Long White Cane

  • Consider The Long White Cane

    Consider The Long White Cane

    A close up of a long white cane on a street with yellow lines.
    A close up of a long white cane on a street with yellow lines.

    Vision loss can elevate feelings of insecurity, on many levels. Actively making adjustments helps maintain or regain the confidence to continue doing the things you need, and want, to do. That includes getting around safely.

    Taking a fall is unpleasant at any age.  Getting back up, in one piece, is not always easy. What you don’t see can definitely hurt you. The long white cane is a very useful tool in preventing falls.

    The white cane is still believed by many to indicate total blindness. But everyone should be aware, this is a tool that significantly improves mobility for people with low vision.  And it is increasingly being utilized by older adults with all kinds of visual impairments.

    Although it can restore confidence and independence, the white cane remains a difficult step for many to take. The reluctance commonly felt about using the cane, is almost always replaced by the sheer empowerment it offers.

    Use of a cane will greatly reduce the risk of injury. It provides feedback about the path ahead, changes in elevation, and alerts to obstacles. It will help you orient to conditions of darkness or bright glare. The cane will also inform others of your visual impairment.

    A professional Orientation & Mobility Specialist should always be consulted for proper training in the use of a long white cane. Contact your local vision rehabilitation center or ask your physician for a referral.

    Long white canes are lightweight and easily retractable. They fold up to a small bundle that fits into a tote or backpack. And they open up again with the flick of a wrist. 

    Don’t allow fear to curtail your freedom. The upside of cane use will far outweigh the downside.

     

  • VIP Seating Is There For You

    VIP Seating Is There For You

    A small accommodation can be all it takes to keep us doing the things we love to do. Vision loss may take away the joy of seeing a Broadway show.  Then again, a seat up close to the stage might just bring that joy right back!

    You should know that preferred seating, for people who are visually impaired, is required in public and commercial venues. Seats for visual access are often in the first few rows. They are sold on a first come basis, with one (or more) additional ticket purchases allowed for a companion or guest.

    It is certainly worth exploring and experiencing.  For more information, try searching online using the venue, or event name along with “accessible seating” or “disability services.” It may be best to begin with a phone call to the box office or the designated ticket seller. Check to see if they have a direct phone line for Accessibility.

    Sometimes Access Services online looks like it is related only to wheelchairs. Do not be confused or deterred. Wherever wheelchairs are accommodated, vision loss is accommodated as well.

    Each venue reserves seats for this purpose. It is possible to get access seats very close to the date of the performance, so always give it a try. For very popular shows and events, this may not be the case, you may have to buy way in advance. Still, getting the right seats is worth the wait.

    A special VIP ticket on a gray background.
    A special VIP ticket on a gray background.

    Here are some of the services available in New York City. You’ll find similar options in your own town.

    • Telecharge Broadway Shows
      Access Services
      Phone: 212.239.6222
    • Radio City Music Hall
      Disabled Services
      Phone: 212.465.6115

     

  • 5 Ways To Make Your Computer At Work Easier To Use

    5 Ways To Make Your Computer At Work Easier To Use

    Whether you will continue working with progressive vision loss is mostly up to you. Get prepared to avoid the pitfalls by knowing what potentially lies ahead and how to overcome. Dealing with the impending issues can be a challenge, but the difficulties will be much greater if you are not prepared.

    Don’t wait until the words are no longer legible on the computer screen. Holding a magnifier against the monitor to enlarge the text is a pretty sure sign you’re in trouble. Text size is adjusted in accessibility settings, not on the outside of the screen.

    Making adjustments takes a little time and is often uncomfortable at the start. Rest assured, it is quite possible to continue working without interruption by staying just one step ahead. Learning to utilize magnification, and other accessibility features, built into the computer, is more dependent on repetition than ability.

    Remember you have value. Your employer chose you for the job and invested in your development. You are there for your talent and experience. They want you to succeed. You were not hired for your visual acuity, and you will not be fired for it either — if you make the necessary adjustments to keep working productively.

    Honesty is the best policy. Trying to hide vision loss rarely works out well. Telling your boss about your visual impairment will actually protect you. An open dialogue is more likely to create a supportive environment.

     

    A man working on a computer with a large screen.
    A man working on a computer with a large screen.

     

    Make incremental changes, one thing at a time. Here are some minor adjustments that can make a major difference…

    • Large Screen Monitor – A bigger screen will give you an immediate boost and it will nicely accommodate increasing use of magnification. Don’t be shy…go for the 27 to 30 inch screens. Bigger is definitely better!
    • Keyboard – Typing can become an issue if you need to see the keys. Now would be a great time to brush up on typing skills. Switch to a large print keyboard or add ZoomCaps large print, high contrast stickers to the keys of your current keyboard. Use locator dots to help identify certain keys by touch.
    • Keyboard Shortcuts – Make it possible to do things like Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo and Redo without touching the mouse. Choose the shortcuts you will use every day at work and practice (one at a time) until they become ingrained. Here are the lists of Windows shortcuts and Mac shortcuts.
    • Make A Friend In IT – This is an important relationship to cultivate as you will be needing help over the long term with Accessibility Settings that may be restricted.
    • Accessibility Settings – Your friend in IT might not be totally versed in accessibility, but they’ll be very happy to gain this knowledge. Be confident in knowing there are many ways to make the computer easier to see by utilizing built-in magnification, large text, large cursor, improving contrast and more.

     

    Resources

    Both Microsoft and Apple have dedicated live support phone lines for accessibility, free of charge. This is, without a doubt, the best way to get the information you need to make your computer easier to use.

    Call Microsoft Disability Answer Desk at 800.936.5900

    or go to www.microsoft.com/enable

    Call Apple Accessibility Support – 877.204.3930

    or go to www.apple.com/accessibility

    Then get back to work!

     

    Windows Computer Shortcuts

    List of Windows computer shortcuts.
    List of Windows computer shortcuts.

     

  • 6 Ways To Make Bill Paying Easier On The Eyes

    6 Ways To Make Bill Paying Easier On The Eyes

    Paying bills can be an unpleasant experience on many levels. Adding vision loss to this process can make it a dreaded task…each and every month.

    We get used to managing finances in a certain way and it’s not so easy to change those habits. A willingness to make some adjustments in dealing with bills can lift a significant and recurring stress.

    Monthly bills can be requested in accessible formats like large print, but more and more businesses are requesting that customers Go Paperless. If you can transition to managing your accounts online, it’s better for you…and for the environment.

      

    Here are six good options:

    • Online bill paying: can be set up with your bank. Accounts are programmed to be paid on a regular schedule or can be paid as you wish. The bank’s Customer Service can be helpful in getting set up and ask your bank what kind of Accessibility services they offer.
    • Automatic bill paying: is available with most utilities, phones, credit cards, insurance, and cable. Set up online or call your provider’s customer service to set up over the phone. This process automatically deducts the amount of your bill from your designated bank account on a given day each month.
    • Pay by credit card: is an option offered by many monthly billers. This can be a preferable option as it will allow you to consolidate your payments to one card and collect points or rewards.
    • Pay by phone: is also offered by utilities and credit cards. The account can be set up as a direct debit from your account and each month you will call to authorize a specific payment amount.
    • Smartphone and tablet apps: offer a very convenient and easy way to make payments for a variety of charges including credit cards, phone, utilities, and more.
    • Magnifier: continuing to read paper bills and writing checks, with low vision, may be best accomplished with the use of a desktop video magnifier which enables you to write as well as read with magnification. (More about this in “Magnifiers Are A Must”)

    Don’t be overwhelmed at the thought of making all these changes at once. Deal with one bill at a time and feel free to implement a combination of the available options.