Teeing Up New Experiences & Smart Estate Planning

In this episode, we meet two Outlook associates who aren’t afraid to step outside their comfort zones. Marisa Ethofer, Outlook Nebraska’s HR Generalist, and Megan Mackie, Outlook Enrichment’s Community Events Coordinator, both took a swing at something new by participating in Outlook Enrichment’s Blind Golfers Clinic on our golf simulator and later hitting the greens at our annual Tee It Up Fore Sight tournament. They share their stories of practicing, playing, and embracing the unexpected.

We’re also joined by attorney Steve Schmidt, who breaks down the basics of estate planning, why it matters, especially if you or a loved one has a disability and receives government assistance, and how to protect your assets for the future.

Dennis Nelson Talks Life and Radio With Guest Jill Thomas


In this special episode, the mic is turned around! Jill Thomas, former co-host of Pat and JT in the Morning on Sweet 98.5 (KQKQ) and current host of the Pat & JT podcast, takes the lead to interview our usual host, Dennis Nelson.

In their conversation, Dennis opens up about his upbringing, including being adopted and living with congenital blindness caused by detached retinas. He reflects on his path through various jobs before discovering his true passion: radio. Dennis shares how that passion grew into a fulfilling career and marked a new chapter when he connected with Outlook.

The Power of Adaptation in Recreation & Life

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Michael Messerole and Glen Wragge from the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s School of Health and Kinesiology. Both have played a key role in shaping Outlook Enrichment’s Adaptive Recreation Program.

They share the creative challenges and rewarding moments they’ve encountered while working with youth who are blind or visually impaired, and how these experiences have reshaped the way they teach, plan, and think about inclusion in physical activity.

We’re also joined by Keli O’Dell, a machine operator at Outlook Nebraska who has been part of our team for seven years. Born with cataracts that led to lifelong low vision, Keli opens up about his journey and what working at Outlook has meant to him personally and professionally.

Meet Mo Crawford: Outlook Nebraska’s 2025 Peter J. Salmon Associate of the Year

Outlook recognizes several associates yearly for embodying our organization’s core values and culture. This year, it was a win for all of us to hear that Mortel “Mo” Crawford is our 2025 Peter J. Salmon Associate of the Year. Mo’s journey is one of resilience, determination, and finding joy in every chapter of life. From overcoming life-altering challenges to building a career and a life full of passion and purpose, Mo inspires everyone he meets. We’re proud to share his story, a powerful reminder of how your mindset can change your life.

 

Facing the Unthinkable & Finding a New Way Forward

In 2019, Mortel began working at Mama’s Kitchen after earning his degree in culinary arts. However, small businesses, particularly restaurants, faced significant challenges during that time, and Mo found himself seeking a new career opportunity. That’s when he joined Outlook Nebraska as a temporary associate on our manufacturing floor to help meet the rising demand for toilet paper due to the pandemic. Mo was an essential part of our team during that busy year, and we quickly recognized that he was someone we wanted to keep on board. Finding a hard worker is important, but discovering someone who can brighten a room and improve the atmosphere just by being himself is rare.

Mo’s journey with vision loss began when he was 24 years old. After a long day laying sod at work, he often enjoyed a typical evening hanging out with friends and playing dominoes. On one of those evenings, he decided to run to the liquor store. As he exited the store, gunshots rang out, believed to have come from a green car, but Mo couldn’t see where they originated. Tragically, what he witnessed in the parking lot that night would be the last thing he ever saw.

Mo woke up about a month later in a rehabilitation center, unable to walk, talk, or see. Although losing any of these abilities was devastating, the most excruciating part for him was the shock therapy treatment used to help him regain his voice. He endured several months of rehabilitation, undergoing a series of electric shocks, each session feeling like a trip to hell. Eventually, he could whisper, and with time, he regained his ability to talk. Unfortunately, regaining his eyesight wasn’t an option.

 

Mo’s Journey to Independence & Culinary Success

“I sat around the house for at least a year, angry at the world, wondering why this had to happen to me.”

Mo had gone from being fully sighted to completely blind without any preparation, forcing him to start fresh. While attending monthly counseling sessions with his counselor from the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired was a good start, going to their training center in Lincoln would be a more beneficial option. Although he was just becoming comfortable in his own home, the thought of being “dropped” at an unfamiliar location in Lincoln for cane travel training was daunting. The push to face uncomfortable situations made Mo realize he had the strength to make a comeback.

Before he knew it, he made trips to the local grocery store and hailed cabs back to the training center faster than any of his peers. With a mix of sounds, smells, and ingredients he gathered from the store, Mo began serving up crowd-pleasing meals. People lined up when he announced his special of the day over the intercom, and his food quickly disappeared.

After completing his training in Lincoln, Mo started taking culinary classes. He laughed as he recalled how Metropolitan Community College had likely never worked with a blind culinary student before his arrival. His vision loss made everyone nervous, as the college feared it might be dangerous. It took a combination of Mo learning the ropes and his instructors adapting their teaching methods to help him complete his degree. It was a new challenge for everyone involved.

During that semester, students were challenged to create an omelet while wearing sleep shades. Mo confidently claimed he was the top chef in that competition, producing a better omelet than the head chef. To this day, breakfast remains his favorite meal to cook. The combination of eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns is always mouth-watering.

 

Finding Joy in All Life Has to Offer

Before losing his eyesight, he hadn’t experienced the pride of creating something with his own two hands. He learned that careful preparation and precise measurements were essential for producing sturdy and stable objects. Mo hopes to one day have his garage filled with tools to handcraft furniture and other creations. There is no doubt that whatever he sets out to achieve, he will succeed.

We have observed him applying the same logic at Outlook during recreational and sporting events. If the initial technique is correct, it leads to success in adaptive sports such as axe throwing, bowling, beep baseball, paddleboarding, CrossFit, and even mechanical bull riding. These activities are Mo’s favorite part of working at Outlook. On weekends, you might find him tandem bike riding, taking a cemetery tour on Ollie the Trolley, or floating down the river on an innertube. Mo enjoys participating in Outlook’s Christmas parties, town hall meetings, and annual company retreats. It is truly a pleasure to have him at any event.

After facing and overcoming various challenges, Mo has much to be proud of. He has learned to be comfortable in public, navigate the city, earn a degree, and thrive in a new job, regardless of the position. Talking about his family brings him the greatest joy. Over the past year, he has reconnected with his son’s mother, gotten engaged, become the primary income earner, and provided a home and car for his fiancée and 15-year-old son. Three months before he was shot and lost his vision, Mo had the opportunity to see his newborn son, Mortel “MJ” Junior, for the first time. Mo’s fiancé and son have their own health challenges, but with him in their lives, they have a great example of how to keep their heads up and push forward. Congratulations Mo!

“Make sure you tell them MJ is taller than me now. He was just a premie when he was born. I could hold his whole body in my hand. Now he’s strong and bigger than me.”

 

Graphic with Outlook associate placing toilet paper into a box. Text: "Culture That Empowers, Work That Inspires. Join us in shaping brighter futures. Submit Interest Form."

 

Whether taking on a new hobby, building a life with his family, or simply brightening a coworker’s day with humor, Mo reminds us that life’s greatest moments are often found in how we respond to adversity. We are grateful to have Mo as part of the Outlook family. His impact reaches far beyond his daily work; it lives in the spirit of every associate, volunteer, and program participant he encounters. Congratulations again, Mo, on being named our 2025 Peter J. Salmon Associate of the Year.

To learn more about Outlook Nebraska and how you can be part of our mission, please fill out our contact form.

Guide Dogs 101: Etiquette Tips and Interviews from Outlook Associates

Guide dogs are an invaluable and trustworthy option for blind or low-vision individuals seeking to enhance mobility and safety. In recognition of National Guide Dog Month this September, we’re sharing tips for interacting with guide dogs and personal stories from two Outlook Nebraska associates about their journeys beyond vision and experiences with guide dogs.

 

Understanding the Role of Guide Dogs and Proper Etiquette

Every service dog serves a distinct purpose, and guide dogs are no exception. They are trained to assist individuals who are blind or have low vision with mobility. While both guide dogs and emotional support dogs play vital roles and are trained to aid their owners in times of need, there are critical differences in their accommodations.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas where the public is permitted. In contrast, an emotional support animal (ESA) is not considered a service animal under the ADA because its assistance is not directly related to an individual’s disability. Different regulations apply to individuals with ESAs, which are protected by federal and state laws. To qualify for an ESA, owners must obtain a letter from a licensed mental health professional, which may be required for travel and housing under the Air Carrier Access Act and Fair Housing Act.

Proper etiquette for interacting with guide dogs is essential. They are always considered “at work” and should not be distracted or petted.

Here are some important guidelines to follow:

 

Graphic with paw prints and text: "Guide Dog Etiquette - 6 Important Guidelines to Follow: approach with caution, maintain your distance, don't offer treats, don't issue commands, assist only upon request, and be considerate."

 

Empowerment Through Partnership: Jose Castañeda and Tiberius

A few years after relocating to Omaha with his family to escape gang-related violence in Los Angeles, 20-year-old Jose Castañeda was involved in a car accident that temporarily blurred his vision, making everyday tasks much more difficult. The accident shed light on the genetic condition that he was born with, known as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Growing up, he was aware of his mother’s vision loss but didn’t know what RP was or the challenges it could bring.

Fortunately, his sight returned after a few months, allowing him to continue driving for another 10 to 15 years. However, as his condition progressed, Jose eventually faced the difficult decision to stop driving to prioritize his safety. Reflecting on the accident, Jose believes it may have triggered or accelerated the effects of his RP, leading to a more rapid decline in his vision. With the help of an eye doctor, he gained a deeper understanding of RP and how it could affect his future.

Jose’s vision loss eventually led him to seek employment on the manufacturing floor at Outlook Nebraska, where he has been for over twenty years. He started his career with First Star Fiber before Outlook Nebraska transitioned into a separate organization in 2002. While working at Outlook, another associate suggested that a guide dog might benefit him. Jose explained that he struggled with cane travel, as his partial vision often made him second-guess the cane’s guidance. He found himself wanting to rely on the vision he had left, which led to a lack of confidence in his navigation. This was a pivotal moment in his journey beyond vision as he realized a guide dog would offer greater independence and boost his confidence in his mobility.

The process for applying for a guide dog was straightforward, requiring him to select an agency to go through (The Seeing Eye), complete an application, and submit references. Upon approval, they flew him to Morristown, NJ, to begin training, which took four weeks for his first dog and three weeks for his current dog, Tiberius. Jose says, “They can be a lot of work, but it’s well worth it.” Jose continues to use clicker training to help Tiberius get accustomed to a new environment he will frequent.

Jose says, “We are like a team. We have to work together. At work, he knows everyone and is friendly. But when we travel, he works 110%. He doesn’t stop and say hi. He’s working hard and knows we are on a mission.”

 

Curiosity Creates an Expert Handler: Mitch Green and Anakin

Just as every journey with vision loss is unique, so is every owner’s experience and reasoning behind applying for a guide dog. Mitch Green, Outlook’s IT Manager, has been with us for 13 years and is now on his third guide dog (Anakin), making him an expert with the process. Due to his premature birth, Mitch has been blind his entire life. His experience with guide dogs started when he was 19, when he had the opportunity to head to Florida to work with Henter-Joyce (now Freedom Scientific), the creators of JAWS.

One afternoon, he joined co-founder Ted Henter for a trip to the beach. As Mitch ventured towards the water, something remarkable happened – Henter’s guide dog instinctively tried to guide Mitch back to shore. This was unusual, as guide dogs typically form a strong bond with their owner and are trained only to guide them. However, Mitch explained that Henter and his dog struggled to connect. This moment sparked Mitch’s curiosity about guide dogs and the process of obtaining one. As a result, Mitch applied to Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York and was accepted when he turned 21.

He recalls the process, which required references, a physical exam, and details about his home environment. After applying, a field representative visited his home to verify his address and ensure it was safe for a guide dog. Mitch underwent four weeks of intensive training and was paired with his first guide dog, Upton. During training, the instructors took his cane away, allowing him to focus entirely on navigating with Upton and getting familiar with the facility. Mitch also trained on the busy streets of New York, stating, “If I could navigate there successfully, I knew I could travel anywhere.”

During training, instructors assess each trainee’s walking speed, the strength of pull required for directional guidance, and their responsiveness to cues, including stopping. This information helps the organization to create a detailed profile for each trainee to ensure an accurate match with a potential guide dog. While guide dogs are specifically trained for mobility purposes, Mitch noticed that his current dog, Anakin, started to detect fluctuations in his blood sugar levels over time. He believes their strong bond has enabled him to recognize these changes. He has found Anakin fairly accurate, often alerting him before his insulin monitor goes off.

 

Woman on laptop. Text: "Be Supported on Your Journey. Join us for our weekly virtual peer support group sessions." Contact Us link.

 

Today, the total cost of travel and training for a guide dog can reach up to $50,000. Fortunately, numerous nonprofit organizations in the United States offer these services at no cost to owners. While each owner’s reasons for getting a guide dog may differ, they offer more than just enhanced mobility; they can boost confidence, foster independence, and provide valuable companionship. Although it’s important to remember that they are a significant responsibility. Despite potential challenges, as Jose and Mitch can attest, the benefits outweigh the challenges. To learn more about Outlook Enrichment’s services and programs, contact us at 531-365-5051.