Ken Coffman has spent nearly his entire life in Carter Lake, Iowa. At just 12, he was already running a crew for his grandpa’s lawn care company. He also worked at his dad’s tire shop and the mechanic shop next door.
Over the years, Ken built a life surrounded by familiar faces and places. He met his wife, Jody, as a teenager at the local corner store, where she still works. Together, they’ve raised their family just four houses away from his childhood home.
But 19 years ago, the familiar world Ken had spent his entire life navigating began to look very different.
Facing Vision Loss Without a Roadmap
Within months, Ken’s eyesight became too blurry to drive. He had to sit inches away from the television to make anything out. His juvenile diabetes had taken a toll on his eyes, and after three months of trying to adjust, he underwent surgery in hopes of correcting or preserving his remaining vision.
When he woke up, he was completely blind.
Without any formal training, Ken had to figure out how to navigate life without sight on his own.
He held onto his flip phone as long as he could, memorizing the buttons and learning how to access a few contacts his wife had programmed for him. Neither his phone nor his continuous glucose monitor had talking features, so he relied on others to read them for him.
When his daughters started school, he learned to follow the sidewalk and use fences as guides so he could walk them home. But outside of that familiar route, Ken rarely went anywhere alone. He was almost always with family, keeping a hand on someone’s shoulder for guidance.
Going out in public brought its own challenges.
“Over the years, out in public, there have been certain places where people have just been rude. I felt like I didn’t matter. When I’d go to Westroads Mall with Jody and the girls, I’d feel like everyone was just staring because of my cane. Like it’s glowing or flashing lights.”
For years, Ken kept doing things the only way he knew how, not realizing resources were available to help.
Finding More Than Support at Outlook Enrichment
One Sunday morning, Ken heard a news segment about Outlook Enrichment. He listened to the entire story, surprised to learn that an organization like Outlook existed.
After 19 years of figuring things out on his own, Ken decided to make an appointment.
In October 2025, he walked through Outlook Enrichment’s doors for the first time.
“I had never met another person who was visually impaired like myself. It was brand new, and I felt like I wasn’t alone anymore. The first day I walked in and met Lori at the front desk. I immediately felt accepted. I felt like I belonged.”
For Ken, finding Outlook meant more than learning new skills. It meant connecting with people who understood his experiences and finding a place where he felt comfortable being himself.
Building Confidence and Independence Through Skills Training
Through orientation and mobility training at Outlook Enrichment, Ken began working with Program Facilitator Ross to build his confidence navigating different environments with his white cane.
Having an instructor who understood his experiences made a big difference.
“With Ross, it was like, yeah, he gets it, he knows! That helped me build trust. He taught me to let go of Jody. So I did, and I just took off from there, learning how to navigate a lot better.”
As Ken’s confidence grew, Ross challenged him to test his new skills during a public training session.
“The day Ross wanted me to cross the street in Aksarben Village, I was scared out of my mind. But I trusted him and how he taught me to use my senses. So, I just left him standing on the curb, and I crossed the street alone. It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”
That experience gave Ken the confidence to keep pushing himself.
Through Outlook, Ken also learned about MOBY, a local public transportation option. After nearly two decades of relying on others to get around, Ken now travels independently to his Outlook training sessions and medical appointments.
“It gave me a sense that I could do it alone. It brought back something I thought I had lost.”
Adaptive technology training has given him even more independence. Today, Ken uses his smartphone to manage both his continuous glucose monitor and new insulin pump, tasks that once required someone else’s assistance.
Ken is also finding ways to share his own skills with others. Recently, he volunteered to speak to Outlook Enrichment’s recreation group, showing participants how to bait a hook and cast a fishing pole without sight.
With every training session, Ken builds his confidence and finds new ways to be independent.
After 19 years of figuring things out on his own, Ken is discovering just how much more he can do with the right tools, training, and support.
The streets and sidewalks Ken has known his entire life haven’t changed. But the way he navigates them has.
After years of relying on others for guidance, Ken is finding the confidence to explore the world around him on his own.
“It’s just brought a new pleasure to life, coming to Outlook Enrichment and learning, and just being accepted from day one. I’m happy all the time, everywhere I go.”
More stories like Ken’s are waiting to unfold. Learn how you can help make them possible.
