This group meets monthly through the winter via Zoom. Members select books based on the participants’ current interests and reading styles.
The audiobook club always selects books readily available through Nebraska Talking Book & Braille Services. If a participant is not an existing library patron, we will help the individual apply for services.
We all know reading books is an inexpensive entertainment, an educational tool, and a time-traveling machine. Grabbing a book and diving into its pages is a pleasurable experience regardless of the day or time. September 6 is National Read a Book Day, a special occasion to read that new bestseller or book you keep putting aside.
Reading a good book is enjoyable and helps reduce stress and enhance mental concentration. Having someone to share it with is even more fun. When the pandemic struck last year, Outlook Enrichment developed a virtual audiobook club. Everyone was sheltering in place and practicing social distancing. Yet, people who were blind and visually impaired still needed community and socialization. This monthly club allows one to share a good read and connect with others. It also helps members to read consistently, read books out of their comfort zone, and see different perspectives.
“I value this club because it brings folks together amid the virus and specifically hardships of blind folks. We pick audiobooks from many types like mysteries, thrillers, and suspense while having fun discussing them,” said Kathy Beers, an audiobook club member. “Audiobooks open a whole new world to the reader. You read at your own pace and on your own time. They are inexpensive to buy, and they belong to you after purchase. Many audiobooks and podcasts are free. Many different devices can be used to read audiobooks. This book club is also a great support for visually impaired folks. I truly enjoy this club.”
Although the club focuses on audiobooks, people with vision loss can read in various formats. Braille, large print, digital text-to-speech, and even accessible apps are available for reading multiple books. Members can choose the format based on their comfort. Computer-savvy members can help those who aren’t with downloading books. Or they can also call the technology helpline at 531.365.5334 for assistance.
“I enjoy listening to works where the narrator knows the perfect accent or multiple voices read the story. It brings various characters to life. When they are monotone, especially in the non-fiction genre, I’d rather just read the books in braille,” said Rachna Keshwani, another audiobook club member. I look forward to each meeting, discussing all our viewpoints about every novel, which sometimes changes my perspective. Without this group, I wouldn’t even consider psychological thrillers.”
Once members start attending the virtual audiobook club, they will interact and connect with more people. This boosts camaraderie and decreases isolation. Transportation and location are not obstacles, meaning more people can join the discussion.
“I think reading books lets you travel to other places even when physical limitations would otherwise prevent you from doing so. Every time I read a book, I learn something about life and love, and the writer throws whatever else it is,” Heather Pfeifer, an audiobook club member, explains. “I love the opportunity to get together with other intelligent minds and discuss our take on what we read; each perspective is unique. Such a blessing to have meetings that don’t require Uber.”
Traditional physical book clubs have the same faithful members who come regularly. But the virtual audiobook club welcomes new members. New members bring different opinions and perspectives, making for lively discussions.
“Before book club started, I had never listened to a book and had not physically read one since high school. I love how I can listen to audiobooks while cleaning or doing other things around the house,” said Megan Mackie, a club member. The best part about the book club meetings is that often, the books inspire the members to share personal stories and memories. We get to share opinions about the books, but more importantly, we share our lives and experiences.”
The audiobook club is an excellent resource for visually impaired readers. It offers a place to discuss interesting books, share perspectives, build connections, and make friends. Sign up for Outlook Enrichment’s Art and Culture program to join the discussion. Avid visually impaired readers who want to enhance their technology skills can also contact the adaptive technology department for help.
Summer’s officially here. After last year, many of us are ready to enjoy the sun and time with friends and family. There’s so much to explore outdoors.
State, campgrounds, and national parks now welcome visitors. Zoos, museums, restaurants, and water parks stand ready to entertain and delight. Movie theaters and nightclubs await patrons to fill their seats. Thankfully, many of these activities don’t require special accommodations. For those who do, locating the proper assistance is just a phone call or email away.
Here are activities for the visually impaired and others that will entertain and fill this season with fun.
Whether you’re searching for light exercise in a local pool or park or more rigorous sports like paddle boarding or hiking, you won’t have to go far to increase your heart rate. Several of these sports aren’t accessible if you’re alone, but participating in a pair or small group can allow you or a blind child to enjoy themselves still.
Have some fun with bumper boats, tanks and tubes, even try your hand at the inflatable water obstacle course.
Learn to kayak or rent a canoe at Lake Manawa Beach.
Head to a local playground, beach, pool, or spray ground.
Rent a paddle boat.
Rent a tandem bicycle or two and find your own trail.
Want a quieter activity? Grab your fishing pole and head to Platte River State Park.
Prefer to take a hike? Depending on your skill level, you can find several trails at Hummel Park.
Take a guided horseback riding tour at Mahoney State Park.
Feeling bolder? You can test your bravery by going zip lining or taking the ropes courses.
Want to take a trip over a waterfall? Mahoney River State Park has you covered. Don’t worry, it’s shallow enough for children and not on the scale of some of the more well-known waterfalls.
Not every summer activity requires athleticism. If you like music, there are outdoor concerts like Jazz on the Green at Midtown Crossing, bridge beats, and Saturday Night Concerts at Stinson Park. Many local festivals are family-friendly, like the Maha Music Festival. Don’t want to leave your car? Head to a drive-in theater. Grab some snacks and kick back to enjoy the show.
Rather keep cool? There are plenty of indoor activities for visually impaired people. On those sweltering days, head to a local movie theater.
Title III of The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires venues like movie theaters to provide auxiliary devices for those with disabilities. They must maintain these closed-captioning and audio-descriptive devices. Movie theater chains such as Marcus Theatres carry them. Call before you arrive to ensure your location has them available.
Love to laugh? Here’s a list of the top ten comedy clubs in Omaha. Here’s more to do indoors:
Climbing centers: These can be found in various fast-food restaurants or at the Mahoney State Park Activity Center.
Axe throwing: This activity could be fun for older children or couples. Axe Games allows children to participate. However, they must be notified if youngsters will be tagging along.
Want something to do that’s less dangerous? Hit the bowling alley.
Outlook Enrichment has a series of events planned every summer. There’s much more to do for every age group, fitness level, and activity preference that’s impossible to cover here. Teens can hang out at the video arcades, escape rooms, and gyms or play laser tag. Kids of all ages can occupy themselves at museums and exhibits. Adults can participate in more grown-up events like wine tastings and bands at local bars. The next time you’re feeling restless or wishing for something new to do, we hope you’ll refer to this post for helpful ideas and activities for visually impaired individuals.
Early intervention with blind or visually impaired children helps establish a foundation for future learning. Resources for visually impaired children can aid a blind child in five crucial areas:
Developing ideas, concepts, and knowledge
Communication
Physical development
Adaptive development
Social and emotional development
With the pandemic still forcing some to remain at home, you might be running out of things to do if you have a child with low or no vision. Here are suggestions to help quell boredom and stimulate excitement.
Watching movies and television shows through numerous streaming services can provide hours of entertainment. Make sure the audio description feature is enabled. If you have very young children, Disney+ has over 300 movies and shows where the action is described.
Make jewelry by stringing beads or braiding thread. Expose them to woodwork. Show your child how to build a small stool or statue. Knit or crochet gifts for friends and loved ones.
Buy some play dough, or better yet, make your own. Make candles or a paper mache replica of a pet or your child’s favorite animal.
Card and board games can be fun and educational resources for visually impaired children. Several online retailers sell UNO and Go Fish braille cards. The same can be said for buying braille Scrabble or Monopoly.
If screen time is more your kid’s thing, there are plenty of accessible video games available. Here is a list of educational games for the iPhone or iPad.
Let your children get messy in the kitchen. Baking and decorating cookies and cakes with their siblings or friends can be a neat way to pass the time. If they have braille measuring cups and spoons, teach them how to measure ingredients correctly. Making bread can be both a sensory experience and scientific experiment—smelling the yeast as it is activated; getting your hands in the dough, stretching, punching, and kneading it; feeling it after it has proofed; anticipating that first taste of warm bread fresh from the oven slathered with butter or jam.
The changing of the seasons brings nicer weather. Spring is a great time to prep your garden for planting. It’s also an opportune time to let your child get their hands in the fresh earth, planting seeds or flowers and harvesting what they’ve grown.
You can also start an indoor garden by planting seedlings in egg cartons before transferring them to pots. Herb gardens also do well indoors. They can be kept out of the way on window sills where light and fresh air can reach them.
Cookbooks and other texts can be ordered online if your child reads braille. Better still, if they have a free membership to the National Library Service for the Blind, they can download them. Bookshare also allows members to download books in physical or electronic braille or through a Daisy reader.
Like spending time outdoors? Take a hike through the woods or strap your child in the seat on the back of your bike. Be sure to describe what you’re passing and what people are doing around you so they can fully enjoy the ride. Let them feel different rocks, plants, feathers, and trees – but be mindful of poison ivy.
To help people gain independence and expose them to different experiences, Outlook Enrichment hosts several monthly events to provide resources for visually impaired children. Virtual board game night and our tandem bike-riding club are just two upcoming events you might enjoy.
Since children with little or no vision need different activities to stimulate their senses, starting early by exposing them to experiences is an excellent way to teach and show them our ever-changing and fantastic world. Unlike sighted children, you can’t hand them their iPads and keep them engaged for hours. Get creative. There’s always something fun you can do. Keep this post handy if you run short on ideas.
The arrival of warm weather means putting those winter clothes in the shed and getting outside for some sunshine and physical activity. In a previous post, we shared adaptive sports for the winter. Changing seasons present opportunities to participate in warm-weather sports.
Tandem cycling, swimming, golf, and beep baseball are popular activities for the blind. Outlook’s Enrichment Recreational Programs understand that participation in physical activities or adaptive sports requires adaptation to equipment or instruction.
Since we are experiencing a pandemic, Outlook encourages people with visual impairments to consider these activities for the blind once they are safe and possible to participate.
Tandem cycling is social and enjoyable while providing good outdoor exercise. In addition to that great workout, tandem cycling requires teamwork, strengthening friendships, and understanding between riders.
For successful tandem cycling, find a good-quality tandem bike and a sighted captain who shares your goals and objectives. Effective communication is critical to enjoying tandem cycling.
Talking to your captain ensures that both of you understand speed, endurance, coasting, and riding style. For tips and advice, join the Outlook Tandem Bike Club or talk to others who cycle.
Nice, sunny days are perfect for a round of golf. Sighted coaches assist blind golfers. The coach gives the golfer a course description and correct yardages and helps with club selection and proper alignment. The golfers compete with other golfers within their sight classification. The sight classifications include B-1 (no vision), B-2 (little usable vision), and B-3, (better usable vision).
Outlook Enrichment’s Annual Tee It Up Fore Sight fundraiser in June benefits Outlook Enrichment Programs. To ensure the safety of everyone involved and follow social distancing guidelines, each golfer will schedule a tee time during registration.
Swimming is also an excellent physical activity. Swimming can be done alone or in a group setting. A swimmer can do swim exercises, water aerobics, or lap swimming as a workout. For lap swimming, you can count the number of strokes to cover one lap, slowing down as you get close to the end of your lane.
Use a lane rope for orientation, and stay in your lane as you swim. Lap swimming can be adapted using lane markers, which can be brightly colored flotation devices or ropes with flotation markers.
Place a brightly colored marker or an audio device at the end of the lane to help with turns and orientation. If you enjoy swimming in open water like the sea, lake, or river, swimming with a sighted companion for safety is critical. Swim in the direction of the waves and listen for sounds that direct you to land.
One of America’s favorite pastimes is baseball. With some simple modifications, visually impaired players enjoy this beloved activity. Created in the mid-sixties, beep baseball is played with an oversized beeping softball and two buzzing bases, first and third.
All six team players wear blindfolds to equalize their vision. The sighted pitcher is on the same team as the batter. The batter hits the ball and runs to the base, which buzzes and tags it. He scores a run if he gets there before a fielder picks up the ball.
If not, he is out. Three outs, six innings, and the game is over. This physical yet fun game requires combining strength, skill, and auditory senses to focus on the beeping ball and buzzing bases.
Playing adaptive sports makes staying physically fit enjoyable. Adding some simple modifications allows full participation and engagement in sports. Whether you are a seasoned athlete or a novice, the goal is to get physical exercise and stay energized during these warm spring and summer months.
Everyone is encouraged to stay home and practice social distancing during these challenging times. Daily, we get updates telling us to shelter in place and only leave our homes for essential errands such as grocery shopping, work, or pharmacy pickup. This does not include working out at the gym or participating in group sports or physical activities.
As a result, it can be easy to become sedentary, and it can lead to mental and physical health problems. Thinking of accessible and affordable ways to keep moving and healthy will become critical as we work through this crisis. Fortunately, for people with visual impairments, there are several ways of staying active during COVID-19.
Dancing is a fun physical activity that can be done at home. Find a clear space to move freely without bumping into furniture or other objects. Create a playlist of your favorite high-energy songs and get moving around the house. While the music is cranked up, move your body, including arms, legs, feet, shoulders, and back. As you move vigorously to the beat, your heart rate will increase, resulting in a great aerobic workout.
If you have two left feet and dancing is not your thing, check out Blind Alive. These free downloadable workouts will keep you moving while sheltering in place. Several options are available, such as cardio, yoga, pilates, stretches, and meditation. You can download all workouts to your smartphone, desktop, or laptop, unzip them, and place them on an NLS talking book cartridge.
If you are techy, there are accessible exercise apps on the market that you can use from home. Three iOS examples are Pocket Yoga, Carrot Fit, and the Aaptiv Audio Exercise apps.
Angel Eyes Fitness has the answer for those who want a human personal touch but are trying to maintain social distancing. They provide free virtual live workout classes via Zoom Conferencing for people who are blind or visually impaired. The classes are on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. EST. Go to their website to preview their classes using the calendar link and connect to Zoom. There is no need to register or RSVP.
Perhaps you already have an at-home workout routine or schedule but need to stay motivated and inspired. Join the Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s Get Up and Go! Discussion Group. Each month, a topic is discussed to encourage people to stay active no matter their level of vision. Participants can call in by phone or computer using Zoom conferencing.
There are numerous ways to stay physically active at home. Gardening, walking up and down stairs, completing household chores, and taking a short brisk walk around the neighborhood keep the body moving.
Whether you have been working out regularly or just recently decided to get active, incorporate the above suggestions into your life as we all continue staying active during COVID-19.
