Success Stories

For Brad Blank, the path to entrepreneurship began not with a business plan, but with a few encouraging words. A lifelong carpenter and woodworker who lost his vision in 2021, Brad connected with State Services for the Blind and began learning new skills to help him put his life back on track. One day, about 2 years ago, an assistive technology instructor made a simple observation that put Brad on a new path. “You know,” she said, “You have a lot to offer and could be doing so much more.” 

Brad immediately knew that she was right, and that what he wanted to do was to get back to woodworking. Brad traces his love of carpentry back to building treehouses at age 12. He went on to a long career in carpentry and manufacturing. Losing his vision in 2021 - through a hereditary condition he had not known about – turned his world upside down. No longer able to work, he contacted State Services for the Blind and began learning the skills that would put him on the path of independence. Though the first two years were especially difficult, challenging himself to learn and adapt brought Brad to the point where he could take hold of the idea of launching his own woodworking business. 

To help launch his new business, Mind’s Eye Woodworks, on the suggestion of an employment services specialist at SSB, Brad turned to the St. Cloud Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Like SSB, the nine SBDCs across Minnesota are part of the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Consultants with the SBDC assisted Brad in mapping out a business plan and designing business cards and a website. In addition to providing skills training, as Brad’s business took shape, SSB helped with the purchase of some accessible woodworking tools. With a solid plan in place, Brad officially filed his business in May and celebrated with a ribbon cutting in August. 

Bringing together sustainability and design, Brad uses repurposed wood from pallets to build raised garden boxes, bat houses, and décor pieces. His garden boxes with an American flag motif have proven especially popular. One of those boxes was featured in a silent auction for Wounded Warriors in the Crosslake area.

As word spreads about Brad’s work, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. A customer from St. Augusta MN, is one of several who agreed to share their praise for Brad’s work on the Mind’s Eye Woodworks website. “Brad built a custom planter box as a surprise birthday gift, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. He took the time to confirm all my measurements, answered my questions promptly throughout the process and delivered a beautifully crafted piece that was exactly what I envisioned. I will definitely be working with Brad again in the future and highly recommend him to anyone looking for quality craftsmanship and reliable service.” To use an analogy that Brad might appreciate, the services and supports provided by SSB and the SBDCs are like tools in a toolbox. Entrepreneurs like Brad skillfully use those tools to build a strong business and a new life. 

When Candice Farley first connected with Minnesota State Services for the Blind (SSB), she wasn’t looking for one specific career. She was looking for a way forward.

“I struggled for a long time figuring out what to do and how to put my skills to use,” Candice shared. She explored classes, considered remote work, and weighed different paths, but nothing quite fit. With a wide range of interests and an uncertain job direction, choosing a next step felt daunting. Living with retinitis pigmentosa and the changes it brought to her visual field added its own complications. “Among other things,” she reflected, “Not being able to drive felt limiting.”

After growing up in Kentucky and spending time in West Virginia, Candice moved to Minnesota in late 2022. It wasn’t until late 2024 that she reached out to SSB and began working with rehabilitation counselor Amanda to sort through options and identify a path toward employment. For Candice, one of the most valuable parts of working with SSB was having someone to talk through possibilities with: someone who could listen, offer feedback, and help turn a general goal into an actionable plan.

That plan came into focus through a pharmacy technician training program delivered by Thryv Consulting. When Candice first received a text about the opportunity, she nearly dismissed it. She had no pharmacy background and wasn’t sure she’d be a good fit. But when Alana from SSB followed up personally, Candice decided to give it a try.

What she found surprised her—in the best way. In the Thryv classroom, she connected with a cohort of fellow students and an instructor, Michelle, whose energy and encouragement kept everyone moving forward. The training introduced students to all aspects of work as a Pharmacy Technician, including customer service, tracking inventory, filling prescriptions, understanding prescription labels and codes and more. The program prepares students for jobs in a pharmacy and to pursue state certification.

Today, Candice is a pharmacy technician at the CVS in Hastings, a busy store with a drive-through and a MinuteClinic. Her work requires constant multitasking: supporting customers at pickup, handling drive-through requests, processing refills on the computer, and moving into production to fill prescriptions. “Never a dull moment in the pharmacy,” she says.

Starting out, the pace was intimidating—especially because this was her first conventional job. Candice remembers feeling anxious and afraid, worried she might be the “weakest link” on the team. But she kept showing up, learning the workflow, and building confidence. Six months in, she feels proud not just of what she’s learned, but of the persistence it took to get there.

Candice also navigates practical challenges related to her vision—like spotting a customer’s hand extended with a payment card or avoiding step stools that can sit just below her field of vision. Still, she approaches the environment the way she approaches her work: learning it thoroughly, adapting quickly, and staying engaged. Just as importantly, she credits a supportive team for helping her grow. Her lead technician played a key role in training, and over time Candice has felt herself becoming part of the group—something she describes as deeply meaningful.

Now, Candice is looking ahead. She’s exploring growth opportunities within CVS and plans to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam when eligible—an important next step that CVS may help fund. Her longer-term goal is to move closer to work and secure reliable transportation.

For Candice, the path to a career wasn’t a straight line—but it became possible through the right partnership, training, and support. And in the fast-paced world of pharmacy, she’s proving what happens when determination meets opportunity. SSB and VRS are proud to build partnerships like this one with CVS that match qualified job seekers with positions in high growth fields.

Linda Brant-Malm had a question. How could she help the children in her life, including future grandchildren, understand her vision loss? She could tell them, of course, about how her eye condition, retinal pigmentosa, gradually took away her peripheral vision. But, could there be a way to explain about “tunnel vision” in a way that was less abstract and not scary? Could she draw on her years of experience as a costume designer, and boundless creativity to create an approach that was interactive and even fun?

That’s what started Linda Brant-Malm on a path that would lead her to a new business, Tactile Artworks, whose mission is to redefine how art is experienced. Tactile Artworks provides presentations to schools, support groups, and other communities to explore art through interactive pieces and storytelling. As Linda built skills to live well with her own vision loss, and pursued her new business venture, she turned to SSB. SSB provided training and support for accommodations needed for her work.

In her first piece, called “Hungry Little Monsters” a large collection of brightly colored handcrafted creatures sit next to a big round platter with two eyeballs in the center. Workshop participants are invited to place the “little monsters” all over the platter, gradually filling up the peripheral spaces surrounding the eyes.

Linda describes how, as her vision loss progressed, she felt as though “tiny monsters were nibbling away at the edges of my vision. They kept nibbling until all I had was a tiny circle in the middle.” One day she brought “Hungry Little Monsters” to Vision Loss Resources, where Linda had taken classes. Linda was delighted that the piece resonated with adults as well as kids. “Around the table, people were smiling and laughing,” Linda remembers, “and they were talking too, and telling their own stories.”

“That’s when I knew I was on to something,” she says, “I could use whimsical design to create something colorful and wild and not straightforward. As the project grew, I looked for ways to make each piece more engaging and interactive.”

Linda’s series of pieces moves through the journey of grief and acceptance. A goldfish too big for its bowl describes the feeling of being stuck. A series of spirals captures the circuitous path through grief toward hope. The tactile image of a figure with a guide dog emerging from a tunnel into the radiant sunlight pays homage to the increasing freedom that Linda has found through working with her guide dog. The mission of Tactile Artworks, Linda explains, is simple but radical: to show art through touch. “Even most 3-D art can’t be touched—or you’re only allowed to touch it with white gloves,” she says. “I wanted to create something truly experiential, something people could hold, explore, and play with.”

To build this new venture, Linda drew on her decades of experience as a costume designer. Over the course of her illustrious career, she worked with Camp Snoopy, Sesame Street Live, Disney, and Cirque du Soleil. “I chose animal costumes as a specialty,” she says. “I loved the challenge of transforming a human form into an animal character—thinking about ears, bellies, tails. It taught me how to communicate emotion and personality through shape and texture.”

Linda had known since childhood that she had retinitis pigmentosa, a condition shared by her father and grandfather. Though she loved art, she grew up believing she should prepare for a career that wouldn’t be threatened by vision loss. But in college she realized that what she loved most, and had the greatest talent for, were the art classes she took as electives. She decided to pursue art and transferred to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. On her very first day there, a professor spoke with such passion about costume design that Linda felt an immediate spark of recognition. She had found her path.

Her family’s experiences with vision loss became a compass of sorts. Her grandfather coped by withdrawing. “He spent most of his time in his favorite chair,” she recalls. Her father, by contrast, refused to let vision loss confine him—traveling to 106 countries before passing away in Japan. Linda saw these two extremes—one turning inward, one outward—and imagined a middle way for herself. “I told my brothers I wanted to be the normal one,” she says with a laugh.

As the years went on and her own vision deteriorated, Linda eventually reached a moment of reckoning. “I realized, okay, this is really happening,” she says. “And I’m going to have to figure this out.” That recognition, though difficult, became fertile ground for her creative work. Tactile Artworks gave her a way to translate loss into connection, and uncertainty into play.

While her pieces emerge from her lived experience of blindness, Linda is quick to say they are not only about vision loss. Each sculpture captures a universal part of being human: feeling powerless or afraid, searching for meaning, moving through grief, finding hope. And always, there is an element of whimsy—bright colors, unexpected textures, shapes that invite curiosity. “I think people open up when they’re having fun,” she says. “If the art is disarming, then the conversation can be too.”

Kris Mitchell has lived with low vision his entire life, but he doesn’t let it define his limits. An athlete at heart, Kris grew up playing football and basketball, always finding creative ways to adapt and keep pace. His love of sports carried him through school, where he studied sports management, and it continues to fuel both his professional and personal life today.

Kris currently balances two demanding roles—working in the front office with the Minnesota Twins and serving with the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, where he has been for nearly a decade. At the Parks Board, Kris designs programs that open doors for urban youth, from organizing trips to Twins games and Valley Fair, to creating cooking classes in partnership with local restaurants. “I would love to be a park director one day,” he shares, “to bring the community together through programs that give kids opportunities they might not otherwise have.”

Much of Kris’s success, he notes, comes from support he received early on from Minnesota State Services for the Blind (SSB). From magnifiers and computer access to help with résumés and interviewing skills, SSB’s resources gave him the tools to build a career and learn how to self-advocate. “No one is going to speak up for you—you have to do it for yourself,” Kris says.

Despite the challenges that come with vision loss, Kris thrives on facing each day with focus and determination. He is proud of his strong work ethic and ability to hold himself accountable, and he encourages others with vision loss to take things one day at a time. Looking ahead, he’s excited about new challenges—including pursuing homeownership. “It’s scary,” he admits, “but also exciting.”

Through his career, community service, and resilience, Kris Mitchell shows how passion, adaptability, and hard work can open doors and inspire others to see possibilities instead of limitations.

A pharmacy technician may not be an occupation most people have heard of, but almost everyone who’s picked up a prescription at their local pharmacy has probably interacted with someone in this job. Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists by filling prescriptions, creating label information, ringing up customers, and tracking insurance information, among many other tasks. It’s a job that requires a diverse skill set including technical knowledge, good people skills, and attention to detail.

In June of 2024, three customers of State Services for the Blind, along with 6 customers of Vocational Rehabilitation Services graduated from an intensive training program for pharmacy technicians. In collaboration with CVS, the program, offered through Thryv Services, introduced students to the many technical aspects of the work and provided a setting to build customer service and workplace skills.

Indeed, on its list of more than 525 jobs, the Department of Employment and Economic Development ranks pharmacy technicians at 15 for growth and demand. An anticipated increase in the number of pharmacy tech positions and the need to fill positions due to retirements are some of the factors contributing to the strong need to recruit and train new techs.

“Learning a skill is so important,” reflects Mahad Geedi, “My goal is to have the skills in order to have a career. This was a good program to give me skills for this field.” The instructor with Thryv noted Mahad’s dedication to the program, attending class after overnight shifts at a security job.

Rachel Washenberger is now a pharmacy technician at a CVS location in Cambridge. Rachel had previously studied medical coding and reimbursement, and a position with MNsure gave her some related work experience. When the opportunity to go through the Thryv training came along, Rachel saw it as a great chance to get the kind of job she was looking for. “I enjoy working retail, and this job combines working retail with my medical skills and interest, so it’s a good fit with room to go further. I have a sense of pride in calling myself a pharmacy technician,” Rachel adds.

Being a part of this new program to connect customers with jobs in pharmacy tech has presented challenges for both Rachel and Mahad. In fact, glitches with accommodations prevented Mahad from landing a position, and he continues to pursue opportunities across several fields.

“There are parts of some pharmacy technician jobs that were harder to do in the past if you were blind or low vision. But there’s more and more technology tools that our customers use that make it possible for getting good jobs like these,” Dacia continues, “We’re proud of these graduates for their determination to overcome hurdles and we’re committed to finding the right accommodations so that more of our customers can be successful in this high-demand occupation.”

Mahad moved to Minnesota from Portland, Oregon in 2021, with the goal of getting the skills he needed to build a good career. With COVID restrictions still in place, it was difficult to get a foothold. But, as the instructors in the Thryv program noted, Mahad has a strong determination to persevere and put in the hard work necessary to reach his goals. “You’ve got to be ready,” he says,

“You have to find the things you need so you can show you can do the job. You have to show you will work hard and do what’s necessary, and more.”

“Don’t hold yourself down just because something seems hard,” Rachel echoes, “There are many ways to work about things that may seem like obstacles.” Rachel is now studying for certification in the field as she looks to build her career. When asked if she would recommend perusing a job as a pharmacy technician to other blind, DeafBlind, and low vision job seekers, Rachel says, “Absolutely! Don’t be afraid to try a new opportunity. Even if it’s not the right fit, you’ll gain skills that are useful and transferrable.”

Four Seasons Market is one of the true gems of Coleraine MN, a town of about 2,000 that sits on the western edge of the Mesabi Range in Itasca County. A specialty meat market, seasonal greenhouse, ice cream shop, grocer and catering service, Four Seasons was founded thirty years ago by local butcher George Delich and his son-in-law Zoran (Zoka) Vidovic. George passed away at the close of 2025, and now, Zoka’s son, Anto, has stepped up to join him in running the market. Some years back, Zoka was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a condition which limits peripheral vision. As his vision declines, Zoka is adapting and learning new strategies for managing his business. Drawing on ingenuity and determination, the support of community and family, and practical help from SSB, Zoka is ensuring that this beloved Coleraine institution will continue to thrive for years to come.

Unlike so many stores, where, as Zoka says, “They get a box in, and they just open it and display it,” at Four Seasons, nearly everything is made in-house. Zoka estimates the market produces about 45 different homemade items-smoked, seasoned, cured, and sliced on site. Four Seasons is famous for its wide variety of brats, as well as specialties like porketta, turketta, smoked ham, and holiday favorites like Sarma’s, a cabbage roll filled with meats and seasonings. Local restaurants turn to Four Seasons for their meats, and hunters choose Four Seasons as the place to process game.

In recent years, the market has drawn even more customers because of a commitment to clean, in-house processing without MSG and nitrates. And, over the years, Four Seasons has quietly built a reputation for their catering at local weddings, funerals, business events, and other gatherings. “It’s good quality food that everybody likes,” Zoka says, “And it’s very satisfying when you have a dozen people tell you that was some of the best food they’ve ever had. That’s very encouraging.”

Ann Vidovic, Zoka’s wife, who has built a career in accessibility services at a local college knew of State Services for the Blind and the help we could offer. “I have known Steve Pesola at State Services many years,” Ann says, “And, the vision loss has been very slow, so we had some time to prepare; but when we needed them, SSB was there for us.”

Steve Pesola is a counselor with SSB’s Workforce Team, working until recently out of Hibbing, and now based in our Duluth office. Steve, along with other SSB team members, helped Zoka determine what tools and skills he would need in order to continue working. A talking scale and a talking thermometer are two devices Zoka now uses every day. He’s experimenting with other technologies as well, including wearable tech that converts print to speech, and software that adds speech to the cash register. Some of the technologies are helpful, while others require a longer learning curve, but Zoka and his family are determined to adapt and adjust to keep going.

Beyond technology, Zoka has taught himself to do his work using nonvisual techniques. He leans on muscle memory built over decades of cutting meat—skills so ingrained that he jokes he can outpace employees “with closed eyes.” He’s learned to focus differently around machinery, tuning out background distractions and relying more on touch, spacing, and routine. Ann notes that the community has stepped up too. “People come in now and will say who they are.”

“I don’t have to guess, if I don’t know someone’s voice,” Zoka adds.

Ann helps out at the store too, pitching in after work and on weekends. Their son Anto is not only learning the trade from his father, but also taking up some of the slack as Zoka continues to determine how best to use his skills and knowledge in light of his changing vision. Together they are adapting, learning, adjusting, and finding new ways to carry on timeless traditions with love, resilience, and determination.

Dan Bernstrom is a happy man, though always busy. Every day, he’s up before dawn to get a bit of writing done. He’s sold his engaging children’s books to Harper Collins. His first book titled: One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree, was published in 2016. Since then, he's published five additional picture books for children.

After an early morning of writing, he’s off to his day job as the coordinator of the learning lab at Southeast Technical College. In addition to managing the lab, Dan puts in several hours tutoring students in a wide range of subjects. “It can be challenging, especially in subjects I don’t know as well, but it is always satisfying.”

In the evenings, Dan often has parenting responsibilities for his two young children. Even with this busy schedule, Dan is grateful for all of it. “It’s a simple life,” he reflects, “But I am very happy with it.”

Dan even appreciates paying taxes, “Working with SSB showed me the value of the services available to Minnesotans“ he says, “and I’m glad to give back.”

Not too many years ago, Dan could not imagine that any of these ordinary pieces of a satisfying life would ever come his way. In high school and college, Dan experienced dramatic changes in his vision. He has a degenerative condition called Juvenile X-Linked Retinoschisis, which, like Macular Degeneration, is characterized by a deterioration of the central vision. As his sight worsened, much that Dan took for granted, like driving a car or reading a book, began to slip from him.

Like many people who lose vision, Dan alternated between denial and fear. “More and more, my transportation options narrowed,” Dan remembers, “First, I couldn’t drive at night. Then I couldn’t drive when it was rainy or foggy. Then, I nearly hit someone, and it was so terrifying to me that I quit on my own.”

Even so, Dan wasn’t quite ready to admit to his friends the extent of his vision loss. “I would say that I forgot my glasses, or that I just didn’t like driving. I would depend on others for rides. I had no idea how to get around on my own.”

With the steady loss of functional vision, Dan could only imagine a bleak future. “I didn’t see how I could do anything. How could I apply for a job? How could I date? Who would go out with me? How would I be able to live?”

In college, Dan’s deteriorating vision began to seriously impede his schoolwork. “As my functionality began to drop, it would take me longer and longer to take tests. I was struggling to read. That’s when I realized I couldn’t keep running away from this much longer.”

Dan turned to State Services for the Blind and our Workforce Development team. His counselor recommended Adjustment to Blindness training as a way to gain the skills he needed to live successfully with less vision.

In 2009, Dan took a tour at an Adjustment to Blindness training center. There he found blind people doing things better than he had when he had sight. “I said to myself, the way these people are acting doesn’t seem like life is standing in their way.”

“I learned how to do things I never imagined doing,” Dan continued, “We went out in the woods and cut down our own Christmas tree, then brought it home and decorated it. I learned how to cook, how to clean, how to get around. I did everything wearing the blindfold so I had no vision, and I learned how to appreciate life without seeing at all.”

Dan shared a telling example of the difference that adjustment to blindness training made for him. “Before I started the program, I had applied to ten graduate schools and didn’t get into any of them. But when I applied after I had learned how to use technology and not depend on my failing vision, I applied to two schools I was really interested in and was accepted at both!”

On his way to becoming a published author, Dan enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program at Hamline University in St. Paul. There he received the Critical Thesis Award in the writing program. “I actually found I was way ahead of my classmates,” Dan remembers, “Because I was taking the bus everywhere and always reading while I was waiting for the bus or riding.”

In his final year of school, Dan wanted to push himself to make sure he could balance both work and writing. He found work as a tutor and an evening job as a custodian. It added another hour of bus time, and a two-mile walk, but the grueling schedule and the self-discipline gave him the confidence to know he could meet the challenges he set for himself.

Even so, after graduating from Hamline, finding fulltime work wasn’t easy. He met prospective employers who were unsure that he could do the job with his limited vision. “I’ve learned to be completely up front about my vision,” Dan says, “I tell people what I learned to do getting around downtown Minneapolis wearing sleep shades. I’d ask folks to give me the chance to prove what I can do.”

Now Dan is proving what he can do every day. “It’s a pretty simple life,” Dan says of his days of writing, working, and spending time with his family, “but it’s a good one.”

When telling her story of adjusting to vision loss, Amy Ward begins this way, “September 16, 2012 was the last day that I drove a car.“ For Amy, that day not only marked the divide between an old life and a new one, but it also marked the beginning of a path that started in fear and brought her to hope.

“I was living in Hutchinson, Minnesota,” Amy reflects, “I had never met anyone who was blind. I lived in a town where everyone drove – you had to.”

Optic neuritis from Multiple Sclerosis meant that Amy no longer had any depth perception. “I was paralyzed with fear,” Amy recalls of that time, “I was scared to death.”

A search for help brought her to John Hamilton, an SSB Workforce Development Counselor in Hutchinson.

“John was awesome,” Amy says, “Through him and SSB I learned that I could adjust. I had never even met a blind person before then.”

In 2014, Amy moved to the Twin Cities and enrolled in Adjustment to Blindness training at Vision Loss Resources (VLR). Having never lived in a city, or ridden on a city bus, the whole experience was new for Amy.

“The staff at VLR were amazing. In addition to the skills they taught, they listened to me and gave me tremendous emotional support.” Being at VLR also gave Amy the experience of meeting blind people who were capable and confident.

With her own confidence in herself restored, in 2015, Amy found an apartment in St. Paul, and got a job as a Receptionist and Concierge at Walker Methodist Health Center. With her strong people skills, and warm outgoing personality, it’s a job that draws on her many evident strengths. What’s more, her experience in facing down fear and re-building her life gives Amy empathy for the families and the health center patients there, making her a clear asset to the staff.

Given all that Amy has accomplished in a short amount of time, it might be surprising to learn that the new skill Amy is most proud of is --- knitting.

“It’s a skill I learned completely as a person who is low vision. Like a lot of things, it’s something I never thought I could do.”

That each of us has the capacity to do things we never thought we could do is one of the lessons that Amy would pass on to anyone else who is struggling with vision loss. “It’s a whole new world,” she says, “and you need to be your own advocate, ask for what you need, be willing to learn, and know that you can do it.”

Sitting by his front living room window on a warm late summer morning, Jim Klatt reflects upon his journey with low vision. Diagnosed with Sorsby fundus dystrophy at 40, Jim faces a genetic eye disease that leads to the loss of central vision, similar to macular degeneration. However, unlike macular degeneration, which typically affects those over 55, Sorsby fundus dystrophy begins to impact central vision in one’s 40s or 50s and may later affect peripheral vision.

Jim’s mother and brother were initially diagnosed with macular degeneration, but genetic testing following Jim’s diagnosis revealed that all three had Sorsby fundus dystrophy. Determined to understand his condition, Jim researched and read everything he could about the disease and vision loss. He also learned that understanding the disease and experiencing it are two very different things.

Jim grew up in Rosemont, Minnesota. While in school, he was active in sports, playing football, hockey, and baseball. He received a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Metropolitan State University and a master’s degree in Telecommunications Management at St. Mary’s University Winona. Jim built a 32-year career at the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and retired in December 2021 as a Network Systems Project Manager. Throughout his career, Jim found ways to compensate for his decreasing vision. He would use larger computer screens and employ various adjustments. But, toward the last few years, his low vision became more problematic for him. “I consider myself a fairly extroverted individual, always greeting and chatting with my colleagues. Later, I would pass people in the hallway I had known for years and not be able to identify them. I became quieter and more introverted. People thought I was snubbing them,” says Jim. It was his wife, Cheri who convinced him to be honest with his colleagues and share his vision difficulties with them. “I didn’t want to call attention to myself and feel vulnerable.” To his relief, his co-workers were kind and understanding.

Seeking better ways to deal with his low vision, Jim reached out to State Services for the Blind. Senior Services counselor, Sue Crancer, met with Jim at his home. Together, they discussed what Jim could use to make things easier for him. As an avid reader, he enrolled in the National Library Service to access audiobooks through his smart speaker. Jim is a retired IT professional and wanted to keep up with technology. So, SSB technology trainer, Mark Dahlberg, helped him with some useful apps and techniques. Jim decided to enroll in an Adjustment to Blindness (ATB) course with SSB staff Charlene Guggisberg and Michell Gip. In the summer of 2024, every Thursday for eight weeks, participants met in Falcon Heights to work on daily living techniques, cooking, and orientation and mobility (O & M) with a white cane. The small group discussed their difficulties with low vision and the SSB counselors gave them practical and useful solutions. Under sleep shades, the participants learned how to prepare lunch progressing from simple sandwiches to cutting, chopping, and cooking on a stovetop and oven. One of Jim’s challenges was learning to walk with a white cane. Jim was nervous about navigating and concerned with other’s opinions of him. “It’s one thing I need to get more comfortable with,” says Jim. Overall, the ATB training gave Jim a greater sense of confidence in his own abilities to adjust with vision loss. The skills he gained through the training was a game changer for Jim. “I feel so much more comfortable with my low vision now. I have learned to be more patient and forgiving of myself. It also helps knowing that the SSB counselors are available to continue that support.”

Jim isn’t letting his vision loss slow him down. He is an early riser and often starts his day with a workout in his home gym. He loves to listen to the news and history and mystery books on his smart speaker. Jim takes comfort in books that discuss vision loss. His favorite activity is spending time with family, particularly his grandchildren who help him “stay young”. Recent trips to New Orleans and Ireland have reignited his love for travel and he hopes to continue traveling to experience new places.

With a warm smile and bubbly personality, Arlene Krick spends her time in service of others. She is the first person to reach out when people need a helping hand. Within her senior living complex, Arlene is part of the welcoming committee, connecting with new residents and helping them become comfortable in their new surroundings. When someone in the complex is struggling with health issues, Arlene will assist with grocery shopping and laundry. She is the kind of person who looks out for others and selflessly supports in whatever way she can.

Arlene is a native Minnesotan. Her early years were spent in the southwest part of the state. She was born in Heron Lake and attended school in Worthington. After high school, she enrolled in business school in Mankato. Arlene’s first job after college was as a secretary in a medical technology company in Minneapolis. Along the arc of her 35-year career, she worked as a medical stenographer and Dictaphone transcriber. Reflecting on her life, Arlene’s family is her pride and joy. Together with her husband, she raised 4 daughters who each grew to be happy, successful adults. Arlene’s family continues to grow. She now delights in her 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Arlene first learned about State Services for the Blind when she sat in on a senior services assessment with a friend. Living with macular degeneration, Arlene realized she too could benefit from SSB’s services. But she didn’t stop with her own needs. According to SSB senior services counselor, Cindy Kauffman, “Once Arlene learned about all of the help that SSB offers, she knew that others in the building could also benefit. Since then, Arlene has become a spokesperson for SSB, all on her own accord. She truly cares for her neighbors and fellow seniors.” Arlene understands the frustrations of having low vision and how even small things like a magnifier, a large-print calendar, and bump dots can make a big difference for folks.

Aside from her role as resident SSB spokesperson, Arlene keeps active at 92 years-old by learning Spanish online, dancing, and attending social activities in her complex. She always looks forward to and enjoys time with family, even helping her granddaughter with online studies. She attributes her strengths of “helpfulness, patience, kindness, and the ability to connect with others” as what keeps her happy and thriving.

When Kay talks about her life, she does so with honesty, grit, and a surprising amount of humor. Kay has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 65 years, weathering multiple surgeries, countless medical challenges, and daily pain. But nothing prepared her for the loss she felt when she was diagnosed with macular degeneration in both eyes two and a half years ago.

“It was absolutely life-changing,” Kay shared. “Every single thing I do is ten times harder. I come to my computer, I open my phone—I can’t see. It’s the most frustrating thing ever.”

Kay is deeply independent, private, and resilient. She raised two children—despite doctors once telling her she wouldn’t be able to care for them—and today, she and her husband Pat cherish their four grandchildren. Her family is her joy. But losing her vision shook her sense of control, her routines, and the simple pleasures she loved, like reading magazines at their cabin or browsing the local newspaper.

For more than two years, Kay saw retina specialists regularly, but the appointments left her feeling abandoned. She described getting the diagnosis and being told to come back in six months—with no guidance, no resources, no sense of what her future would look like.

“I just broke down,” she recalled. “They dropped a bomb in my lap.”

Everything changed the day her regular ophthalmologist in Hutchinson asked, “Kay, have you ever heard of State Services for the Blind?” Kay hadn’t. But as soon as her doctor offered to make a referral, she said yes—immediately.

Within a week, Kay heard from SSB. Senior Services Rehabilitation Specialist, Melanie, visited Kay at her home. “Even the small things Melanie has helped me with have made a big impact,” Kay said as she described her first visits with Melanie.

One of those small-but-important changes involved adding tactile dots to her microwave.

“They seem like such a little thing,” Kay said, “but I couldn’t see the buttons. When she put those dots on, it was life changing.”

SSB isn’t just restoring access. —it’s helping restore pieces of Kay’s daily life with tools to stay independent with her home tasks. She received a talking calculator to keep up with household accounting. She’s exploring audiobooks so she can enjoy reading again. And she’s learning new ways to enjoy old hobbies that once felt out of reach.

Kay and Pat both expressed frustration that it took so long for a specialist to mention SSB. They spoke passionately about how many people—especially older adults living alone—would benefit if doctors shared information earlier.

“Your service is a godsend,” Kay said firmly. “People need help. When a person leaves the doctor’s office, they still suffer with the same issues… They need to know about you.”

Despite the challenges, Kay’s hope is unwavering. She talks about upcoming medical research, her husband’s efforts to stay informed about new treatments, and her determination to keep living fully.

“My goal is to find as much joy as I can,” she said. “I do it despite my disabilities. With SSB’s help, I can work around it.”

Kay and Pat have been married 49 years, and their partnership is at the heart of her resilience. They go to their grandkids’ sporting events, host family holidays, travel, and tackle challenges together—wheelchair, low vision, and all.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’ll do it my way,” says Kay.

Thanks to SSB’s Senior Services, Kay has new tools, new confidence, and renewed independence. And she hopes her story will help others find support sooner.

As individuals, Ruth Weber, Anne Nelson Murphy, Roz Strimling, and Barb Spiess are each quite impressive. Together, they’re nearly unstoppable. To be with these four women is to be surrounded by stimulating conversation, lots of laughter, and plenty of energy. You might get the feeling you were sitting down with friends who had known each other for a long time. The truth is that these four met in 2015 at an Adjustment to Blindness class in Minneapolis.

“You might say we’re birds of a feather,” Anne says. Then Roz picks up, “We have different backgrounds and histories, but we all have the kind of attitude that if there’s an obstacle in our way, we can do something about it.” There are murmurs of assent all around the table.

The six week Adjustment to Blindness class teaches practical skills for living with less vision, and gives seniors a chance to network with others who are facing similar circumstances.

SSB made it possible for Ruth, Anne, Barb, and Roz to attend Adjustment to Blindness training. It’s part of the suite of options available from SSB’s Senior Services team to help seniors remain independent and active.

Ruth, now in her 80’s, has been blind for over 30 years. In that time, she has been an inveterate traveler, having visited more than 100 countries. While she’s more than self-sufficient as a blind person, Ruth realized that there were still things she could learn, especially in the area of technology; and so she welcomed the opportunity to take part in the classes. Like others of her generation, Ruth was daunted by the prospect of learning to use technology. “Then, I told myself, maybe I can learn this, and I went out and bought an iPad. I just had to get over that hump - and believe that I could do it.”

Technology was high on Anne’s list too, as was cooking. “I was finding that I was spending less and less time in the kitchen as my vision deteriorated,” she recalls. Along with the others, Anne learned simple modifications to get cooking again; and she’s using technology too.

“I found a shortbread recipe with my iPad,” she announced to the others, “and it turned out great.”

Barb admits that she had certain unchallenged assumptions about the Adjustment to Blindness classes. “I had a preconceived notion that maybe it was going to be a sad place,” she remembers, “but then, every day I would leave at the end of the day feeling so much better than when I came.” Barb credits those classes, the connection with her classmates, and the support and expertise of SSB’s Senior Services with helping her maintain her active life. She’s able to do the things she loves, including gardening (“though sometimes I might pull as many flowers as weeds”), kayaking, reading, and enjoying art. “I don’t see paintings in the same way I used to,” she says, “but I find the changes interesting.”

For Roz too, the classes have provided a confidence boost. Roz stopped working several years ago, not because she wanted to, but because her vision loss made it too difficult to keep working as an activities director. Now she’s re-considering that decision. In the fall of 2015, Roz made the jump from meeting with a counselor in Senior Services, to strategizing about employment options with a counselor in Workforce Development at SSB.

“When you’re determined to do something,” Roz sums up, “You can do it.”

Sarah Joda loved mountain biking. The sport demands a unique blend of physical endurance, technical skill, and mental focus, as riders navigate unpredictable terrain and steep inclines. Life's trajectory is very much like mountain biking. Sometimes, the trail is smooth and fast and the world whizzes by at dizzying speeds. Other times, it's a slow uphill climb laden with challenges. Sarahh Joda is now navigating a different kind of trail, one shaped by profound transformation, determination, and resilience.

Once an avid mountain biker, cross-country skier, endurance athlete, and mechanical engineer designing manufacturing equipment, Sarah found joy in a fast-paced, active lifestyle. In 2015, a mountain bike crash altered her life forever. What ensued was a string of neurological challenges, including severe photophobia, leaving her grappling with a world that appeared starkly white. Everyday essentials like phone and computer screens became inaccessible, plunging Sarah into a state of isolation. "I look at a screen and it's just it's like a flashlight. There's nothing but a bright light. I can't discern anything on it anymore," says Sarah.

The complexity of Sarah's condition lies in its invisibility. "I am not considered legally blind, as my eyes are physically fine. The issue resides within my brain," she says. This has complicated Sarah's ability to access to certain types of medical and independent living support systems. However, amidst this uncertainty, a beacon of hope emerged: State Services for the Blind. Seeking to regain her independence, Sarah decided to learn braille. With the help of a friend, she contacted State Services for the Blind. "The beauty of their support lay in its accessibility; there were no invasive prerequisites or bureaucratic hurdles or paperwork. They simply saw my situation and took action," states Sarah.

Shortly after, Sarah began working with Char, an SSB instructor who became both a guide and a source of unwavering kindness. From learning braille to mastering the NLS eReader, every step was thoughtfully supported. "SSB's resources, offered at no cost, helped me rebuild my confidence. Slowly but surely, I progressed—from painstakingly reading 30 braille pages over 10 days to confidently navigating novels," remarks Sarah. Since her injuries have made listening to audiobooks difficult, she appreciates how much braille has returned the love of reading to her life. "There's just something about being able to read a book and just let my own imagination piece together the story. I can't even describe like how grateful I am to have this simple joy back."

As months unfolded, Sarah ventured into the world of screen readers. Learning to operate an iPhone with voiceover and tackling JAWS and NVDA on Windows can be daunting. The complexities of command-heavy navigation were humbling but also empowering. "With time, persistence, and an enduring curiosity that stems from my engineering background, I began to reclaim pieces of my life," says Sarah.

Sarah's journey has been anything but solitary. She confirms, "Despite not fitting the medical or legal definition of blindness, the blind community has embraced me with open arms. Their resilience, inclusivity, and generosity have shown me that adaptability knows no bounds. As one blind individual wisely said, "You can do anything you want when you're blind—maybe except drive or brain surgery." Those words of encouragement have stayed with me."

Today, Sarah is focused on managing her health while pursuing personal and professional projects like writing a therapeutic novel and securing a part-time job with the Minnesota Youth Ski League. "The tools and resources provided by the blind community allow me to connect with friends, use technology, and regain a semblance of normalcy," remarks Sarah. Yet, the journey is far from over. Bureaucratic hurdles, such as navigating medical assistance applications, remain a sobering reality for those dealing with health challenges. Sara asserts, "The irony of requiring immense effort during moments of physical or emotional struggle is not lost on me."

"Still, the existence of programs like State Services for the Blind reaffirms my belief in humanity and the power of community. Their work enables people like me to rediscover independence, contribute meaningfully, and envision brighter tomorrows."

"To anyone who might be listening, I hope my story sheds light on the importance of funding and supporting such programs. They're not just services; they're lifelines that offer dignity, empowerment, and connection in a world that often feels isolating."

"The path I walk now is one of adaptation and discovery. Yes, everything is challenging, but everything is also possible," adds Sarah.

Hannah Harriman's remarkable journey has paved the way for employment and personal success, as she champions accessibility and advocates for those with disabilities. As an Industry Representative on the Minnesota State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, she embodies resilience, strength, and a commitment to making the world more accessible for all. Being blind herself, Hannah understands firsthand the challenges and rewards of setting high expectations and breaking down barriers for those with disabilities.

Hannah's parents, educators, and case managers played a crucial role in supporting her journey. Their unwavering belief in her potential paved the way for her success. "I really, really was honored and blessed to have such a tremendous IEP team, both with the teachers of the blind and low vision, orientation and mobility specialist, my parents, and teachers that really believed in, and supported me", states Hannah. Despite being blind and having unilateral hearing loss, Hannah's parents refused to set low bars. Instead, they encouraged her to reach for her full potential.

State Services for the Blind (SSB) also played a pivotal role. Even though she wanted to start college right away, Hannah took the opportunity to wait a year so she could fully prepare for higher education and future employment. "At first, I was really resistant to waiting. I viewed any delay in starting college as a setback", says Hannah. Attending a summer transition program arranged through SSB at the University of Saint Thomas, solidified her vocational and independent living goals. "Throughout high school, I was academically solid, but had a little more work to do when it came to independent living and vocational skills. So, I came to terms with, and totally embraced and accepted that year of transition". The Minnesota State Academy for the Blind's Academy Plus program further equipped her for success.

Following the year of transition services, Hannah attended Bethel University in St. Paul, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Relational Communications. During her time at Bethel, she promoted disability advocacy and awareness, providing valuable feedback on website accessibility and supporting students with various disabilities through their post-secondary education. She also worked as a Bethel University Inclusive Learning and Development (BUILD) Mentor assisting students with cognitive delays. Hannah completed her internship in Bethel's Disability Services Office, where she learned more of the intricacies of supporting students with various disabilities through their post-secondary education. In her senior year, she was presented with the Levi Bauer Access Award by the Bethel Disability Services faculty.

Following graduation, Hannah spent nearly three years working as a recruiter for a medical transcription company. She consistently proved her strong work ethic, adaptability, problem-solving skills, and diligence by raising expectations and setting the bar high for herself and her colleagues as she interviewed and hired candidates and worked on recruitment and retention efforts within the company. Hannah has also worked for the past several years for a nonprofit organization which supports children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing and their families. In this role, she uses her lived experience as someone with a combination of hearing and vision loss to support children and families along their journeys. She views this combination of disabilities as an asset, as she has used her disabilities as a means to advocate for accessibility for all - including promoting image descriptions on social media posts, ensuring that documents are sent in accessible formats, and analyzing companies' websites to evaluate web-accessibility. Recently, Hannah started working full-time as the Office Lead for a family-owned concrete company.

Beyond academics and employment, Hannah actively serves her community. She is the President of the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind Foundation Board and participates in her church as a youth leader and vocalist. Her hobbies include singing, reading, writing, and spending time outdoors.

In spring of 2024, Hannah participated in a fellowship program through RespectAbility. RespectAbility is a diverse, disability-led nonprofit that works to create systemic change in how society views and values people with disabilities. "In the fellowship program, there are different sort of departments that people can focus on. There's leadership and workforce development, faith, inclusion and belonging, entertainment news, media, and others", explains Hannah. She was selected for the leadership and workforce development tract where she conducted informational interviews and researched how to better equip people with disabilities to join the workforce. She also brainstormed ways to "get more employers aware of people with a variety of disabilities and what they're capable of."

As a new member of the Minnesota State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, Hannah strives to raise society's expectations of people with disabilities. She empowers individuals to reach their full potential and collaborates with fellow board members to enhance the lives of the blind community in Minnesota.

Hannah's dedication continues to inspire those around her, proving that with the right support, lives can be transformed. "I would not be who I am today if it weren't for a whole team of people. I really do think that my success is the team success - the IEP teams that worked with me throughout the years, the variety of SSB counselors and support staff that I've had, my family members, friends, the teachers, they all play a part of who I am."

I lost my eyesight when I was a very young boy living in Taltale, a rural village in Ethiopia. As a result of my blindness, most of my childhood was spent behind closed doors, in the protection of my home; I had no access to formal schooling, and my world grew smaller and smaller. My young life suddenly changed from light to dark, from promise to sorrow.

The accident occurred at the end of 2000. I vividly remember that eventful day. It was very nice, sunny and gorgeous. After I had lunch with my family, I went to climb one of my favorite trees; when I reached the top, I lost my footing and fell many feet to the ground. The fall from the tree changed my life dramatically.

Within a year, I lost my eyesight. It was tough and difficult to accept at first; it was very hard for me to cope with the loss or get used to being blind. I stopped playing with children as I had before, and I quit going to school. I imagined there was no independent life for me; I thought I would have to depend entirely on others and never have a life of my own. There was no blind school or any resources available for blind people in Taltale, the town I lived in. Sadly, I became immured as a young boy. As a result, I became idle and spent all of my time with my family; in addition, I always needed people’s help to leave the house for a breath of fresh air. I couldn’t do anything by myself. I endured this situation for seven years. It was hard to deal with.

When I came to the United States, with great effort and determination, I was able to overcome my disability and regain my independence. After I lived in the United States for two months, I decided to enroll in blind school and learn to walk with a cane, but, at the same time, many people I knew discouraged me and wanted me not to walk on my own because they were concerned that I might get lost or get hit by car. I spent one full, lonely day pondering what was next in my life. Then I made my decision and asked my brother to take me to the State Services for the Blind, a blind rehabilitation center. The counselors there advised me and told me what blind people could and could not do. I began to instruct myself and became hopeful. I was optimistic and looked forward to having a great, bright future. I was committed to working hard and long.

These last three years, I have studied in the ABE program at Southside Education Center, and, most recently, I passed the GED. Soon, I begin classes at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. My plan is to complete one or two years of courses there and then enter the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota.

I’m very thrilled to have passed the GED and to have the opportunity to earn a college degree and, in time, help others, as many have helped me. I thank my teachers for their encouragement, time and patience. I pray and praise God for leading me from the darkness and for the brightness that fills my life today.

“SSB truly changed my life,” says Maya Larson, who now works as an Administrative and Communications Specialist for the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing. For Maya, support for tuition and technology for college, Adjustment to Blindness training, guidance in her job search, and resources for building skills for independence have been “incredibly positive.”

As a teenager, Maya began experiencing poor vision at night. Maya’s mom pushed her eye doctors for answers. Maya was then diagnosed with Usher Syndrome, a condition that causes progressive vision and hearing loss. At that time, neither Maya nor her family knew anything about State Services for the Blind and the resources available through SSB. After learning about SSB at a community event, Maya got connected with SSB counselors.

Maya was lucky to be born at a hospital that was performing newborn hearing screens, which was not common at the time. “I had grown up with a very positive view of my hearing loss.,” Maya reflects, “Facing vision loss was much more scary. I had a lot of fear and went through the stages of grief.”

Maya’s first Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at SSB was Ryan Odland who now serves as the Assistant Director of Field Services at the Helen Keller National Center. “I had never met a DeafBlind adult who was successful and happy. Ryan was not only successful, but brilliant and that made a big impression on me.”

In college at Grinnell in Iowa, Maya studied disability history and culture. “I learned about the various models of disability, and about disabled people throughout history, and that began to shift the way I saw myself.”

“It’s about disability pride,” Maya continues, “Even though there are struggles and frustrations, there’s so much I have gained. I’ve gained perspective, skills, and friendships, and all of that makes a huge difference.”

At the Commission, Maya works as an Office Administrator and Communication Specialist. “I love knowing that everything I am doing has a positive impact on the community that I’m a part of. Even if I’m just processing an invoice, small things still make a difference.”

When Maya is not working, she loves reading, writing short fiction, weightlifting, and walks with her guide dog. “I am a happier person because of the support of people in my life, especially working through all the hard emotions,” Maya says.

Living on her own in an apartment in the Twin Cities, Maya continues to build her skills for success. Through SSB, she’s working with staff from the Helen Keller National Center on skills for managing a household. “I’m learning some things like using a grid system to clean, or handling a knife properly, that just help me be more confident. I can’t say enough positive about SSB and my experience,” she adds.

When Caleb Bartley first noticed he was missing handshakes, he had no idea that moment would mark the beginning of a dramatic life transition. “I noticed I was missing handshakes… and I thought oh man, what is this?” he recalled. His eventual diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa arrived abruptly, accompanied only by a two-page brochure and the words: “There’s nothing we can do for you.” Yet from the start, Caleb chose determination over discouragement, launching himself into a journey defined by purpose, creativity, and resilience.

As the world shut down during the pandemic, Caleb used the isolation as an opportunity to take control of his adaptation. “If I was going to adjust to blindness, then by God I was going to do it on my terms,” he said. He taught himself cane travel by watching YouTube videos, practiced navigating stairs and sidewalks, and experimented with street crossings. He dove into screen readers, learning NVDA, Narrator, VoiceOver, and later JAWS. His self-guided push laid a strong foundation long before he formally connected with anyone for support.

Caleb’s work at a CPA firm already provided him with good pay and stable employment. He decided what he needed was adjustment to blindness skills. So, Caleb connected with State Services for the Blind (SSB) to get training and supports to keep up with his rapidly changing vision. From his very first intake at SSB with Emily and Mark, Caleb felt welcomed. “Both of those intakes could not have gone better… it was just so easy.” Orientation and mobility training with SSB Community Partner Sharee Marcus validated the skills he had painstakingly built on his own and added new strategies and purpose behind each technique. “She said I had done a good job teaching myself—which was comforting—then gave me more tools and explained why things are done the way they are.”

As Caleb adjusted to new routines and new roads, technology support became essential. A tech assessment introduced him to the LyriQ, a portable text-to-speech device. Caleb had never encountered the LyriQ, but immediately realized it could be transformative for processing sensitive work documents: “I’ve recommended it to two or three people since then… it’s such a smart solution.” Even when budget freezes delayed funding, SSB staff continued advocating for him. Through the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF), Caleb was then connected with Ray, who helped ensure his employer could receive reimbursement for the equipment.

Later, just as Caleb’s case was preparing to close, a new connection blossomed unexpectedly. When SSB counselor Jessica remembered an earlier recommendation for NVDA training materials, she introduced him to Callie from the new Evolve Employment Program. Caleb didn’t anticipate much—but within a week, everything he needed arrived. “I was like—holy cow.” What mattered even more was the follow-through. “Callie really took the time to circle back… it felt like there was a whole team around me.”

With each skill gained and each barrier removed, Caleb’s world began to grow again. “My world got a lot smaller—but because of the support from Emily, Mark, Jessica, Ray, and Callie, my world is no longer shrinking. In some ways, it has begun to expand.” Today, he travels independently by plane, train, bus, and white cane. He is returning to beloved outdoor passions such as rowing and water sports. He actively connects programs, people, and ideas—recommending services, sharing contacts, and championing innovations from Glide’s autonomous mobility device to OneCourt’s immersive stadium technology.

For others just beginning their own blindness journey, Caleb’s message is simple and compassionate. “Be kind to yourself… everybody goes through denial. You’ll get to where you need to be—on your terms.” He encourages people to learn early and stay curious. “Gain the knowledge now. Knowledge will never fade, even if your eyesight does.”

Today, Caleb shares his experiences openly because he believes deeply in the power of stories. “If somebody else thinks my story could help, who am I to not offer it? Every story has value.” His journey shows that life with vision loss isn’t about shrinking possibilities—it’s about rebuilding them, with the right tools, community, and support to help move forward.

Podcasts from people who are living with vision loss.

Rachel Hastings

A Success Story - From High School to College to the Workplace. Step by Step.

Adam Perry

World Traveler – 60,000 Miles This Year…But Who’s Counting?

Megan Bening

College Diaries: Megan’s College Advice…Better Get Crackin’

Daniel Bernstrom

Author Daniel Bernstrom is Not Losing Sight of the Realities of His Vision Loss

Molly Wezel-Peterson

Breaking Down the DeafBlind Label – Molly Takes Us On Her Usher Syndrome Journey (includes transcript)

Bobby Binns

CareerExpo2016: Bobby Binns package Handler for FedEx

David Bates

CareerExpo216: David Bates Newly Blind and President of his Own Company

Susan D’Mello

CareerExpo2016: Susan D’Mello, Ph.D. Research Scientist

Charlotte Czarnecki

CareerExpo2016: Charlotte Czarnecki Federal Investigator

Stephen Guerra

Career Expo 2016: Stephen Guerra Company Owner, Assistive Tech Trainer, BeepBall Advocate

Alyssa Gourley

Blind Abilities Presents: Alyssa Gourley Graduating, Training, Interning and Spunky

Scott Egin and Michael Colbrunn

The Business Enterprise program: Business Ownership Opportunities and a Promising Career

Antyenette Walker

The Intersection of Rap and Blindness: Meet Antyenette Walker – Young Ant