How Your Support Sustains Enrichment Services Amid the Pandemic

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.

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.

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.