Significant adjustments were made quickly when the coronavirus pandemic struck earlier this year. People learned how to wear facemasks and wash hands or use sanitizer more frequently. Restaurants, movie theaters, gyms, and other businesses had to shut down. Terms like “pandemic,” “sheltering in place,” “social distancing,” and “virtual” became a part of our daily vocabulary. People learned how to use Zoom and started working from home.
These changes impacted the services and programs offered to the blind and visually impaired community by Outlook Enrichment. Like many nonprofits, Outlook Enrichment canceled some programs and events. With your help, we have adapted others and established new ones for continuous services to more than 35,000 people whose lives have been impacted by vision loss in Nebraska and beyond. Immediately, we shifted focus to a case management model and deployed a rapid response team to increase access to essential goods and services.
Adaptive technology training sessions are usually in person at Outlook and include direct one-on-one instruction. However, they are now also available online in a virtual classroom, and enrollment has increased.
“When the clients were in-house, we could show them the gestures needed to use the iPhone with their hands. When we started virtual training, we had to think of better descriptive ways to get them to do these gestures. This builds up the confidence of our clients since they have to do all the changes on their devices themselves by listening to what we tell them,” explains Doug Wampler, Enrichment Program Adaptive Technology Facilitator. “Clients coming in for training limited us to people inside Omaha city limits and surrounding areas. Now knowing how to distance train, we have clients from greater Nebraska, greater Iowa, West Virginia, and several other states that found us online needing our services.”
The virtual training sessions allowed Jane to get the help she needed even as the pandemic continued to grip our country. “These classes kept me going. Even with COVID-19, I knew I could have my class every week. Without the technology training from Outlook Enrichment, I don’t know where I would be.”
With your support, Outlook also established a technology helpline for people with visual impairments: (531) 365-5334. The adaptive technology trainers respond to messages within 24 hours, providing technology solutions to help the blind stay connected to their loved ones and continue to conduct business.
Outlook understands the needs of our clients during these unprecedented times and that social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation. Peer support groups, an audiobook club, board games, and other social activities were created virtually so that clients could interact with each other. Katie enjoyed the Family Feud game, and TJ enjoyed the audiobook club and is taking typing.
“The training has assisted me in becoming more independent and continuing to enjoy things I love, like reading and surfing the net,” TJ said.
TJ also appreciates the positive environment, especially during a pandemic.
“The Outlook Team has provided options, tools, and information to help me overcome and become more independent. Their guidance, knowledge, and inspiration helped me to keep going. They are like a breath of fresh air.”
You can help more people with limited vision, like these clients, use their technology, socialize, and increase their confidence. We get calls every day from people losing their vision and family members seeking help. Your support of your time, gift, or talent is needed today. Outlook’s technology training and other programs would not have been sustainable without your help. Donate while shopping through Amazon Smile or complete a donation form as an end-of-year gift.
