Color Outside the Lines

For many of Outlook Enrichment’s consumers, losing vision meant eliminating many of the hobbies and crafts that they once did. Vision loss creates a significant barrier to completing hobbies such as painting, crocheting, and other artistic outlets.

Our team provides opportunities in various crafts and hobby areas to open the door for our consumers to understand if there is a will, there is a way they can still participate in activities they love.

Participants enjoy the arts, from painting in the park to jewelry making, by using adaptive techniques. They learn different, often tactile, ways to bring their artistic vision into reality.

Hobby-based activities are also a part of our Color Outside the Lines programming. Gardening and plant care are areas of interest that many of our participants continue to enjoy after their vision loss.

Participants enjoyed our classes on plant care, creating fairy gardens, and seed starting, which allowed them to care for other living things independently.

One of the most popular classes we offer lends itself to exploring other senses, such as smell, touch, and texture, in our adaptive soap-making classes. Participants are exposed to aromatherapy and learn how to make soaps, salts, lotions, and even perfume.

Outlook Enrichment joins KidGlov podcast

Paulette Monthei, Executive Director, joins KidGlov to talk about the latest Outlook Enrichment programs.

Access the podcast episode here.

Podcast Transcript:

Paulette​ Monthei:

You can always do a task or a skill, we just have to help you figure out the right way to do it.

Announcer:

Welcome to Agency for Change, a podcast from KidGlov that brings you the stories of changemakers who are actively working to improve our communities. In every episode, we’ll meet with people who are making a lasting impact in the places we call home.

Kelley Peterson:

More than 15,000 people in Omaha, Nebraska, currently live with significant vision loss. Today, we’re going to speak with someone who is part of an organization that’s working to make sure these individuals have the resources they need to live happy, independent, fulfilling lives.

Kelley Peterson:

Hello, this is Kelley Peterson, vice president, non-profit creative director at KidGlov. Welcome to another episode of Agency for Change. Today on the podcast we’re joined by Paulette Monthei, executive director of Outlook Enrichment, an organization whose mission is to empower people living with vision loss with the skills and tools to achieve their goals. Paulette, I’m eager to talk with you today and learn more about the great impact you’re making on the world.

Paulette​ Monthei:

Well, thank you for having me. I appreciate the opportunity.

Kelley Peterson:

My pleasure. To kick us off, Paulette, for our listeners who aren’t familiar with Outlook Enrichment, could you tell us what it is and how you help people?

Paulette​ Monthei:

Sure. Outlook Enrichment is a private nonprofit rehabilitation agency for the blind and visually impaired that serves the state of Nebraska. Our services range from adaptive technology training, recreation programming, support services and mental health programming, as well as a wide range of services for youth in transition age, as well as rec. We do provide a lot of diversity in the services we do.

Kelley Peterson:

It sure does sound like it. I’m looking forward to learning more about the organization, but first I want to hear about you. What drew you to your career in social work and how did you land at Outlook Enrichment?

Paulette​ Monthei:

My eye condition. I am a person with vision loss myself. I am legally blind. It is actually a genetic in my family. On my dad’s side, he and several of his brothers are all legally blind. My mom lost, when my grandmother was pregnant, she succumbed to an illness that caused a genetic mutation in my mom, which was passed down to myself and my sisters. Both of my parents are visually impaired and one of my sisters is also visually impaired.

Paulette​ Monthei:

That kind of started us out. I’ve always had positive role modeling for my family. My father was an occupational therapist and my mother was a teacher of the blind. I was kind of doomed to kind of land in this role. My actual degree is in social work, but I have my bachelors in social work with a specialization in disability law.

Kelley Peterson:

Well, I certainly wouldn’t say doomed as a word, especially as we got to chat a little bit before we started this today. You were saying how much Outlook Enrichment has grown just even since 2020 and especially during the pandemic. I don’t think the word doomed is the one that qualifies for all of your achievements.

Paulette​ Monthei:

Outlook is now the third agency for the blind that I have worked for. Previously I was the director of the Center for Deaf Blind Persons in Milwaukee. I have a specialization also certification in deaf blindness also.

Kelley Peterson:

Wow, that’s a lot of expertise and we’re thankful for that. So many of us are increasingly reliant on technology to get things done, from paying bills on your phone, to conducting doctor’s visits on our computers. What are some of the difficulties for those who are blind or visually impaired when using these kinds of technologies and how does Outlook Enrichment help them navigate these challenges?

Paulette​ Monthei:

One of the things to consider is many eye conditions are age related, whether it’s cataracts, macular degeneration. You’re talking about folks in our community who are seniors who are starting to learn how to use this type of adaptive technology. They may be really unfamiliar with it. Our teachers and instructors in the adoptive tech program, we look at anyone who’s coming through the door, what type of vision they have. Some maybe low vision and be able to see enlarged numbers on the screen, for example, to make a phone call. Some people may have no vision at all.

Paulette​ Monthei:

Our job is to really look at what their specific needs are and what they want to do, whether it’s, as you mentioned, making a phone call, learning how to use Zoom to communicate with their doctor, or for many people, it’s learning the basics of the phone, how to make and receive calls, clear the voicemail system out, things that you don’t necessarily think about as items that could be problematic, but clearing text messages, sending and receiving text messages. That’s where we start oftentimes with people.

Paulette​ Monthei:

But we do have programs that go all the way up to teaching, for example, somebody who wants to maintain employment with learning how to use Microsoft Teams, which really has taken predominance in the workplace over the last few years.

Kelley Peterson:

All good skills to have and a lot of them that many of us take for granted sometimes because of the sight that we do have. I understand Outlook Enrichment also finds ways to help visually impaired people stay active. What are some of the recreational programs you offer and why is this type of programming so important?

Paulette​ Monthei:

Well, our programming in all of our enrichment services, we do serve all ages. We serve, they range from very young children from about five, up to our oldest consumers, been in their 90s this last year. The programming that we offer kind of meets a really diverse set of interest. For our younger kids, maybe they are more interested in sports and recreation type things. Maybe they want to learn how to do archery or rock wall climbing. That may not be as much of an interest to somebody who’s in their 50s and 60s. The range, they be more interested in our virtual audio book club or one of our cultural arts programs. For example, this last weekend, we did an adaptive soap making class and the participants got to make soaps and bar soaps and sugar scrubs and all kinds of really wonderful things. But because that opportunity really plays into some of the other senses, it’s been really well received the last two years that we’ve done it.

Paulette​ Monthei:

Other things, we do tours in the community. For example, we did a tour of Lauritzen Gardens and had a master gardener explain some of the plans in the fauna we saw, but we also had somebody who could really do one of our audio describers, describe all the exhibits. We try to make them as inclusive, whether it’s through techniques or modifications for everyone.

Kelley Peterson:

Those just sound like such fun, but also educational opportunities. I never really thought about rock climbing just being for all age groups and that probably at my age now, I’m not sure that I would do that, so I completely agree.

Paulette​ Monthei:

There are other things that we do because our folks who are kind of in that 30s to 40s range, they may want to do more social activities. We did the big party patio bike that they went around downtown.

Kelley Peterson:

Yes.

Paulette​ Monthei:

Were able to have pizza and drinks and hang out with friends. You choose different things to meet the needs.

Kelley Peterson:

I love that.

Paulette​ Monthei:

We work with the sports and rec program at the university at UNO. A lot of our volunteers come from UNO and Creighton who are in adaptive rec or occupational therapy programs. We do have a lot of volunteers to make all of our programs great.

Kelley Peterson:

Volunteers are so key to all these things for sure. Were you part of the soap making extravaganza?

Paulette​ Monthei:

I was. Actually, I taught the class.

Kelley Peterson:

Wonderful. What was the favorite fragrance of choice?

Paulette​ Monthei:

The ones that they kind of have, they’re one of the kits is a kind of a tropical mix. It smells like some of them smell a little like sunscreen or pina colada or different things. The tropical mix has been the favorite the last two years.

Kelley Peterson:

It’s staying in place, but going on vacation at the same time?

Paulette​ Monthei:

In January.

Kelley Peterson:

In January. I really like the sound of that. I really like the sound of that. Paulette, can you tell us one of your favorite stories about someone whose life Outlook Enrichment has positively impacted?

Paulette​ Monthei:

Let me share with you about Catherine. Catherine came to us because she had been working with another service agency and she was losing her vision, but also had had a stroke. She was starting to experience problems with memory and cognition and the stroke had left her part of her on the left side of her body paralyzed. We had to really look at her needs and pay both attention to both the physical disabilities she had, as well as the visual disabilities that she was experiencing. Her husband came to us to learn mostly how to use the iPad because she was really feeling very isolated and not being able to go anywhere. You can imagine with not being able to use one side of your body, trying to make movements and things on the iPad, even just from holding it to some of the hand gestures and moving around was a challenge for her.

Paulette​ Monthei:

We had to work with her to kind of figure out what the best angle was, what the best setup was for her to be able to not only see the iPad, but how to make some of those movements and gestures on it with her limited mobility.

Paulette​ Monthei:

She came to us and she learned how to do FaceTime and do her email and search the web. She loved YouTube videos so she was really interested in YouTube. She learned how to do all of these things as well as scanning documents so she could blow them up and make them easier for her to read.

Paulette​ Monthei:

Catherine came to us when she also participated in our support group, she and her husband both, so that they could meet others with vision loss, but also have some of that peer role modeling that comes out of the support group. That was a really great success story for us because there were so many challenges and she just overcame them all and was able to learn new things.

Paulette​ Monthei:

Sadly, it was a good thing she came to us when she did to learn some of these things, because this past November with COVID she lost her husband. She now had to do more of those things on her own that he may have assisted her before with. Being able to access some of the services and things through the iPad, it allowed her to maintain more independence.

Kelley Peterson:

That is an amazing story. I like how you mentioned that her husband was able to go along with her. Those support groups are for the people who are experiencing the vision loss as well as those that are supporting them. Then that is a great impactful story about how them doing it together, starting it together, now she independently can take it on her own. That’s a good one for sure.

Paulette​ Monthei:

We always encourage the family members to participate so that they’re learning what information we are giving to the consumer. If they’re troubleshooting at home and maybe the family member might know what is, or the family member might be helping them at home to set up a labeling system for their kitchen or labeling the microwave or stove for them so that they’re able to do it independently at home.

Kelley Peterson:

That’s great. The pandemic certainly has changed so much, but how has it changed the way your organization is able to serve people? Have you found some things or new things or better ways of doing things that you’d like to share?

Paulette​ Monthei:

One of the biggest things that hit us right away with the pandemic was with our adaptive technology program. We had to really figure out how we could continue to teach people in their homes or since they weren’t allowed in the buildings, so we utilized Zoom very early on. We do a lot of services over the phone because both of my trainers are totally blind themselves. If we can hear what’s going on on the individual’s device, we can train on it.

Paulette​ Monthei:

If somebody doesn’t have, for example, landline to use with their phone, we would send out an iPod touch that we could access either FaceTime with the person, or they could just make an audio call with it to us. That allowed us to have access to the environmental information that was going on so that the trainer could hear it.

Paulette​ Monthei:

We then quickly switched over to doing something with Zoom in our recreation programs to try to engage some of the people. We do a game night usually once or twice a month, and everything from Family Feud to Apples to Apples and a wide variety of trivia things we’ve done over the last year, but that gave people an opportunity to socialize and come in contact with each other. For this population, when somebody’s losing their vision, there’s a lot of isolation and depression that often happens with it.

Paulette​ Monthei:

We started in August of 2020, our support group program, which now has continued and many of our members have been in the program for over a year since it started. Those are things that we did, but we saw a lot of growth in those programs while they started as a COVID thing, because transportation is always an issue for people who are visually impaired, a lot of our services have continued as remote. Some of our consumers that we have are as far as North Carolina now. It’s expanded who and how we can do services.

Paulette​ Monthei:

One of the things that came out of it is now we are doing independent living training that was remote from safe cooking techniques to wardrobe and home management kinds of things. Right now we’re doing a series called Passport Around the World and every month it’s a different ethnic recipe. We’ll be in one of our staff’s kitchens and have it set up so we can talk about different recipes and how we do different tasks as a visually impaired person and some of the adaptive techniques we recommend to go along with it.

Kelley Peterson:

I just love hearing all that and how innovative you have all been and adapting during the pandemic, but just embracing it for its pros and overcoming its cons. Those just sound like great opportunities for people to engage for sure and to expand to an audience that haven’t been able to reach or to overcome the transportation issue is just really phenomenal.

Paulette​ Monthei:

It’s really nice for folks who are still working, instead of trying to get transportation from work to Enrichment and then transportation home, they can get transportation to and from home and then just log in after work. It’s been really nice.

Kelley Peterson:

A real time saver for people too, because oftentimes when you are dependent on transportation, the timeframe of it is different then you just walking from one room to another, for sure. Probably are able to engage in a lot more things just because you don’t have to get a ride to them.

Kelley Peterson:

Outlook Enrichment has a full calendar of events. Just looking through the website, I saw book clubs and poetry slams and Taekwondo classes. You’ve mentioned so many more just in our time together today. But there’s one specific event coming up in June that I want to talk about. It’s the Tee It Up For Sight. What should our listeners know about this particular event?

Paulette​ Monthei:

Enrichment does two major fundraising activities every year. Tee It Up For Sight is our golf outing and that there are teams that will go out. But during the same timeframe in the morning, prior to the shotgun start, our consumers, all the youth in the program and some of the adults participate in the golf clinic to learn how to golf as somebody who’s visually impaired in some of those adaptive techniques. That starts our day.

Paulette​ Monthei:

Then the fundraising piece of that is we are actively seeking teams. The save the date event notice just went out about the Tee It Up For Sight. Teams can sign up and participate. We’re still looking for sponsors too. They can contact Enrichment and we can get them set up with that. Then they there’s also live registration. That’s coming in June.

Paulette​ Monthei:

In September, we also do our, this year we’re doing our Vision Beyond Sight and that’s going to be at the SumTur Amphitheater. We will be showcasing all of these great recreation programs I talked about where somebody can come and learn and use our simulation goggles or a sleep shade to learn how to do some of those events and experience it as somebody who might have vision loss. Those are summer events coming up so people can keep an eye out for those.

Kelley Peterson:

As a marketer that I am, I always love event names, and those are both two really good ones. Tee It Up For Sight and Vision Beyond Sight. Both of those are great and intriguing.

Paulette​ Monthei:

The theme for this year is Blues, Booze, and Barbecues for the Blind.

Kelley Peterson:

I like that too. That just sounds fun.

Paulette​ Monthei:

There’ll be a blues band. We’ll have some barbecue food trucks out at SumTur, and then all of the fun activities for somebody to engage in.

Kelley Peterson:

Sounds like a good time. Both of them seem to be outdoor and very COVID friendly to be outside. Paulette, what’s next for Outlook Enrichment? What do you hope to accomplish in the next five to 10 years?

Paulette​ Monthei:

Gosh, you’re asking a big question because there’s so much we have planned. Outlook Enrichment started initially out of programs out of Outlook Nebraska, which is an agency that does manufacturing of toilet paper and paper products to government installations and facilities. We started with one adaptive technology trainer and then additional programs that I mentioned today have expanded. But our major goal in the next few years, we own our Outlook family owns building we are in, the old Crown Cord Conceal building on 42nd and F and this last year acquired more of the space and the Crown Cord Conceal building. Enrichment will be expanding into that space.

Paulette​ Monthei:

Right now we are doing some in-home services because we don’t have facilities onsite. In the next few years, we will be having a fully functioning rehabilitation training center with apartment-like settings that we can teach all of the independent living skills training. Our adaptive computer lab will move over to that space.

Paulette​ Monthei:

We’re also hoping to have some of our own recreation space, so we don’t have to take that offsite all the time to different venues in the community. We will be looking at growing and doing a capital campaign in the next few years so that we can really create our own space that’s unique to the population we’re serving and the needs of the enrichment program.

Kelley Peterson:

Wow. That isn’t any small undertaking and it’s so exciting. I’m just getting excited about listening to it. Oh my gosh.

Paulette​ Monthei:

We’ll be looking at having an accessible kitchen and things that can be used by our consumers to teach independent living skills and wardrobe care, laundry, everything. It’s really going to be a unique space for us as we move forward.

Kelley Peterson:

I like the sound of that being unique to you and the services that you provide. There will just be so many good things about the outcome for that. Paulette, being a marketer, I also love words and I’m inspired by motivational quotes. Could you give us a few of your own words of wisdom for our listeners?

Paulette​ Monthei:

One of the things that was instilled in me was, “You can always do a task or a skill, we just have to help you figure out the right way to do it.” Helen Keller said, one of her most known quotes is, “When one door closes, another door opens for opportunity.” Enrichment is really here to provide guidance, peer support, and to provide opportunities for people to reach their own goals and dreams. That’s what we pride ourselves on.

Kelley Peterson:

Which is so inspirational. Because it’s the time of year and the timing that it is been watching a lot of Olympics, winter Olympics, and the inspiration of those athletes is just phenomenal. I think that they keep that frame of mind as well of you can always do it, just need to figure out how and why can’t we all be that way. I think that you’re exactly right.

Paulette​ Monthei:

That’s something we really promote a lot in our support groups is we’re here to give guidance. We can give tips and suggestions, but everybody is going to find their own way.

Kelley Peterson:

That’s great. For our listeners who would like to learn more and to support you, how can they find out more about Outlook Enrichment?

Paulette​ Monthei:

They can go to our website, which is www.outlooken.org. They can get a whole list of more information about our programs and services or all the wonderful events that we have coming up there. We do have a monthly events calendar that we send out to people too, so they can reach out to me. My direct line number or our main number, we’ll go with that, is 531-365-5051. That way they can connect with me or one of our other staff people in the different areas. If somebody’s interested in the services, they usually will be the first point of contact is usually me or Nina, and we can walk them through what types of services we offer and get them set up.

Kelley Peterson:

Sounds great. As we wrap up today, what is the most important thing you would like our listeners to remember about the work that you’re doing?

Paulette​ Monthei:

I think the biggest thing is to know one in four people have vision loss throughout their lives, and chances are, you know somebody, whether it’s a family member, a friend, a parent, who’s experiencing vision loss today and might be need the services that we offer. Whether they’re experiencing cataracts or glaucoma, macular degeneration, when we say vision loss, it’s pretty big. But if we say in a room full of people, “How many of you know somebody who has cataracts,” everyone’s hand goes up. Chances are, you know somebody who might be able to benefit from the types of things we offer.

Kelley Peterson:

You may know someone or in the future, you might be experiencing it yourself. And it’s always great to know that resources exist to help you or to help someone you love, for sure. Paulette, I fully believe the world needs more change makers like you. Thank you for taking the time to share are with us today.

Paulette​ Monthei:

Thank you.

Announcer:

We hope you enjoyed today’s Agency for Change podcast. To hear all our interviews with those who are making a positive change in our communities, or to nominate a changemaker you’d love to hear from, visit KidGlov.com at K-I-D-G-L-O-V.com to get in touch. As always, if you like what you’ve heard today, be sure to rate, review, subscribe, and share. Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you next time.

Adaptive Sports to Keep You Active During Spring and Summer

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

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.

Golfing

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

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.

Beep baseball

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.

Five Benefits of Volunteering in Your Community

Volunteering allows people to donate their time and talents to people and organizations throughout their communities. Many not-for-profit and charitable organizations lack sufficient funding to pay their staff members a salary.

These organizations could not meet the needs of those they serve without the generosity and support of their volunteers. The week of April 19-25 is National Volunteer Week, and to celebrate it, there are five benefits of volunteering, though this article only scratches the surface.

It builds connections.

If you’re new to an area, volunteering helps you connect with people with similar interests. Together, you and your new friends can participate in fun and worthwhile activities for important community-wide causes.

It boosts your confidence.

Volunteering boosts confidence, raises self-esteem, and helps you develop social skills. If you feel comfortable around others and like participating in community-wide events, you may find donating your time and skills an essential part of your life. 

However, being around large numbers of people may make you uncomfortable if you’re an introvert. Participating in activities with the same group of people consistently allows you to practice and develop your social skills. Volunteering also allows you to meet new people and grow your social network.

It teaches the importance of giving back.

Family volunteering teaches children the importance of giving back while adding value to their lives and the lives of those they serve. It also connects parents with organizations providing child-friendly community activities.

It helps meet the needs of people in your community.

If you are a visually impaired volunteer, you can benefit from volunteering your time and skills to help meet the needs of people and organizations in your community. Even during this time of social distancing, you can still help your community from the comfort of your home.

With today’s technological enhancements, many visually impaired people volunteer over the phone or online. For example, some organizations may need content for emails, blogs, websites, and other materials. Other organizations need people to make or answer phone calls from a remote location.

Make sure your organization has a staff person available to answer any questions. Even though you’re volunteering at home, you can still connect through social media and other online platforms.

It helps your career.

Volunteering provides opportunities to advance your career or start a new one. You can learn new skills and enhance those you already have, connect with organizations that offer internships, and meet potential employers.

In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 19-25, 2020), Outlook Enrichment would like to thank all our volunteers for their service to our community. Although no events are happening now, preparations are underway for future events. Sign up for one of our volunteer opportunities here.

Thrive Year-Round With Adaptive Winter Sports and Activities

Each year, most people resolve to get physically fit and stay active. Traditional methods to achieve this include going to the local gym, attending an aerobic or yoga class, or participating in a sporting activity. These are all great ways to keep moving, but sometimes, those options are not feasible or accessible to people with visual impairments. Outlook’s Enrichment Recreational Programs are put together with the understanding that participating in physical activities for the blind or sports requires only a simple adaptation of equipment or instruction. Active visually impaired people often see an increase in self-confidence, social life, and life skills and have a sense of belonging. Skiing, goalball, and bowling are popular activities for the blind during these cold winter months.

Skiing

Skiing is a great physical activity and the ultimate winter sport. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced skier, you will find enjoyment after each run. Adaptive skiing matches the blind or visually impaired skier with a sighted, experienced ski guide. As they ski together, the guide gives directions and shares changes in surroundings and the terrain. Both guide and skier wear a vest that identifies them to prevent other skiers from skiing in between them. Many people enjoy either cross-country or downhill skiing. The major difference is that cross-country skiing occurs on smaller slopes and hills, while downhill skiing involves steeper slopes. If you are interested in skiing with others who are visually impaired, connect with organizations such as the American Blind Skiing Foundation or Ski for Light.

Goalball

Goalball is the most popular team sport for the blind and visually impaired. It originated in 1946 when Austrian Hanz Lorenzen and German Sett Reindle developed it as a way to keep blinded WWII veterans physically active. Goalball has become the premier team sport for blind athletes and is played competitively in 112 countries.

In goalball, two teams of three players face each other across a court. The game aims to roll a basketball-sized ball with bells inside over the opponent’s goal line. The opposite team listens for the oncoming ball and attempts to block it with their bodies. They become the offensive team once they stop the ball and take control. It is played on a court with tactile markings so that players can determine their location on the court and which direction they are facing. Players take turns throwing the ball at each other’s goal. 

Goalball is typically played by people with visual impairments, but all players are required to wear eye masks so the experience is equal. The ball makes noise in motion so the players can locate it audibly. This sport requires the audience to be silent while watching. 

Bowling

Bowling is a fun activity that people who are blind and visually impaired can enjoy with their sighted friends and family. There are no rule modifications and visually impaired bowlers are allowed a visual description of the ball’s path, pins knocked down, or pins remaining. There are two adaptive ways to play: sighted guide assistance or a guide rail. When using the sighted guidance method, a sighted person aligns the blind bowler on the approach before the delivery. For the more independent bowler, guide rails help with strategy and delivery. These lightweight tubular metal rails are easy to assemble, disassemble, and store easily. Some alleys or bowling centers have guide rails already in place or available for loan. Sign up for our Annual Bowling Bash to enjoy the game and have fun with your peers.

Playing adaptive sports makes staying physically fit enjoyable. Adding some basic modifications allows full participation and engagement in sports. Whether you are a seasoned athlete or just a novice, the goal is to exercise physically and stay energized during these cold winter months with activities for the blind. Stay tuned for an additional post on adaptive sports for spring and summer.

The Power and Benefits of Mentorship

Mentoring relationships are celebrated in January, which is National Mentoring Month. What exactly does mentoring mean? And how is a mentor/mentee relationship beneficial? Mentoring is defined as training and advising. Most people are familiar with this concept, but not many realize the potential power of mentoring or being mentored.

“Effective mentoring takes effort, and creating successful mentoring relationships requires specific skills, sensibilities and structure from both the mentor and mentee,” Mary Abbajay said in a Forbes article, Mentoring Matters: Three Essential Elements of Success. Committing to the relationship and establishing a structure benefits both parties. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), research supports mentor/mentee relationships, showing that mentees excel in personal and professional endeavors when being mentored.

The Importance of Mentoring Relationships

Mentoring relationships can help with various skill sets besides employment or school. It’s common to make resolutions at the beginning of the year; this includes learning new skills or knowledge for many. Finding a mentor to guide you along the way has the potential to provide a teacher and a support system.

Some goals you might set for 2020:

Searching for a mentor also connects you to people with similar experiences. This can be crucial for disabled people. Finding those who have and do navigate similar circumstances positively impacts your mindset and ability to act. Exposure to other people with visual impairments, especially if they can act as mentors and help you navigate the world as a person with visual impairments, can dramatically impact your daily life and the goals you set forth.

According to Mentor: The National Mentoring Partnership, people exposed to positive role models often excel. Demographics given low expectations see an increase in personal and professional goals once paired with a mentor. Often, they are more likely to:

Getting Involved Through Mentorship Programs

Mentoring happens both formally and informally. You can find a mentor who lives next door or seek mentoring programs. Some potential formal local programs to consider for both mentors and mentees are:

Find informal mentoring opportunities by joining a local club or group that interests you or signing up for a yoga class or book club. If you seek out other people with visual impairments, finding a local chapter or state affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind are great ways to connect. Online avenues to seeking mentoring opportunities include Buy Sell Trade groups on Facebook and Nextdoor. Wherever and with whomever you find mentoring partnerships, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind:

Like any relationship, a mentoring partnership takes time to develop. Trust must be built. If you take the time to nourish a mentoring relationship, it will bring exponential benefits. Figure out how mentoring can enhance your life in 2020.