Blind Abilities

What can happen when you say yes to something new? University of Minnesota engineering student Samantha "Sam" Betts shares how stepping onto the ice with Minnesota Blind Hockey opened the door to competition, confidence and community. Born with congenital cataracts and living with glaucoma and peripheral vision loss, Sam had never played—or even watched—hockey before her first practice. Weeks later, she traveled to Chicago, learned her position on the fly and scored her first goal. Sam also reflects on navigating college, choosing engineering, connecting with disability services and receiving technology and support from Minnesota State Services for the Blind. Her advice to students is simple: get involved, connect and give unfamiliar opportunities a chance. Whether you are preparing for college, searching for community or wondering if adaptive sports are for you, Sam's story may inspire you to leave your comfort zone and discover what is waiting on the other side.

Links of Interests:

Minnesota Blind Hockey

MN Blind Hockey on Facebook

The Spectacle Newsletter

Youth Services at SSB

To find out more about the services provided at State Services for the Blind, and what they can do for you, contact Shane DeSantis at [email protected] or call Shane at 651-385-5205.

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What does a career path really look like? At the Career Exploration Adventure Weekend at Cragun's Resort in Brainerd, Minnesota, blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind students got the chance to ask working professionals the questions that matter when you're thinking about your future.

In this lively careers panel, professionals from technology, accounting, human resources, education, hospitality, and library services share how they found their careers—sometimes by following a plan and sometimes by taking an unexpected turn. They talk about mentors, education, on-the-job learning, setbacks, work-life balance, building confidence, and why making mistakes can be an important part of moving forward.

Students also ask about workplace accommodations and what employers can do to help blind and low-vision employees succeed.

For students, parents, and educators, this conversation is a reminder that there is no single road to a meaningful career—just opportunities to explore, learn, adapt, and keep moving forward.

Links of interests:

Explore, Connect and Grow: Students Discover Career Possibilities at Cragun's Resort

The Spectacle Newsletter

Youth Services at SSB

To find out more about the services provided at State Services for the Blind, and what they can do for you, contact Shane DeSantis at [email protected] or call Shane at 651-385-5205.

Full Transcript

Sometimes the hardest person to give credit to is ourselves. We can become so focused on where we're going—or where we think we should be—that we overlook just how far we've already come.

In this Wellness Wednesday conversation, Robin, Beth and Jeff explore the importance of recognizing our accomplishments, giving ourselves permission to change our goals, and remembering that we deserve to be in the spaces we've worked so hard to reach. Progress doesn't always arrive with something tangible we can point to. Sometimes it happens quietly, one small step at a time.

From breaking larger ambitions into achievable SMART goals to simply allowing yourself to "toot your own horn," this conversation is a reminder to ease up on the self-criticism and acknowledge the journey.

Your destination may change along the way—and sometimes, what you discover there may be even better than what you originally imagined.

Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.

Show Hosts:

Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com

Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS

Www.transitioningthroughchange.com

You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093. They are looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for listening!

What happens when career exploration meets lakeside adventure? At State Services for the Blind's first Career Exploration Adventure Weekend at Cragun's Resort, blind, low-vision, and DeafBlind students from across Minnesota discovered possibilities, practiced independence, and built friendships. Randi Lasher shares how the three-day event combined customized job shadowing, a career panel, orientation and mobility activities, buffet navigation, networking, and time to connect with peers. Students Sophia and Riley offer candid perspectives on exploring careers, preparing for college, managing busy schedules, and learning to advocate for their futures. Their message to students is simple: you do not need your career figured out, but now is the time to start exploring. For parents, Riley offers an equally important reminder—create opportunities, encourage independence, and never let limited expectations diminish motivation. Hear how one weekend helped students gain confidence, clarify goals, and imagine what may come next for them in school, work, and life.

Links of interests:

The Spectacle Newsletter

Youth Services at SSB

To find out more about the services provided at State Services for the Blind, and what they can do for you, contact Shane DeSantis at [email protected] or call Shane at 651-385-5205.

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In this Wellness Wednesday episode, Beth, Robin, and Jeff explore the similarities between adjusting to vision loss and navigating the changes that come with aging.

Whether it's losing abilities we once relied on, watching support systems change, or simply realizing that life doesn't work quite the way it used to, acceptance can be a slow and ongoing process. The changes are real, and adjusting to them takes time.

Together, Beth, Robin, and Jeff reflect on what it means to acknowledge these changes while continuing to grow and move forward. Life may look different than it did before, but with time, we learn to adapt, discover new ways of doing things, and find meaning in where we are today.

After all, life is a continuous journey. The path may change, but we keep moving forward.

Check out all the Wellness Wednesday episodes.

Show Hosts:

Robin Ennis on the web at www.robinennislcsw.com

Beth Gustin, LPC, NCC, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, CAGCS, PLGS

Www.transitioningthroughchange.com

You can message Beth and Robin by calling 612-367-6093. They are looking forward to hearing from you!

Thanks for listening!

What happens when students, families, and volunteers come together with one goal—helping Minnesota kids?

Join State Services for the Blind Pre-ETS students , Staff and family members, at Every Meal in Roseville, Minnesota, for an energetic afternoon of teamwork, conversation, and community service. Working side by side in fast-moving assembly lines, 42 volunteers packed more than 15,000 meals in less than an hour and a half. Those meals will help provide food for children who may rely on school meals during the week but face food insecurity over the weekend.

Students share what it was like to try something new, meet people, build confidence, and discover just how accessible volunteering can be. You'll hear the sounds of the packing lines, plenty of laughter, and reflections from students, families, SSB Transition Coordinator Shane DeSantis, and Every Meal Volunteer Coordinator Liam.

It's community service with an impact you can hear—and feel.

Links of interests:

The Spectacle Newsletter

Youth Services at SSB

Every Meal

To find out more about the services provided at State Services for the Blind, and what they can do for you, contact Shane DeSantis at [email protected] or call Shane at 651-385-5205.

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If you're heading to college and wondering how to turn an interest into a career, Dawson Haag's story is one you won't want to miss. A sports management student at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, Dawson shares how internships with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Minot Hot Tots gave him hands-on experience behind the scenes of baseball, from stadium operations to creating unforgettable fan experiences. He explains how networking, LinkedIn, Teamwork Online, and support from State Services for the Blind helped him land opportunities, succeed in college, and build confidence. Dawson also discusses accommodations, assistive technology, balancing internships with coursework, and the value of taking initiative—including founding his university's Cornhole Club from scratch. Whether your dream is in sports or another field, this conversation is packed with practical advice, encouragement, and proof that sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you create yourself.

Links from this episode:

Official Site of the Minot Hot Tots

Teamwork Online

Links of interests:

The Spectacle Newsletter

Youth Services at SSB

To find out more about the services provided at State Services for the Blind, and what they can do for you, contact Shane DeSantis at [email protected] or call Shane at 651-385-5205.

Thanks for listening!

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The Blind Abilities team reunites for a wide-ranging conversation about how hobbies, learning, technology, and relationships shape daily life. Jeff, Pete, Christina, and returning guest Callie share how Braille practice, woodworking, gardening, music, audiobooks, book clubs, podcasting, and learning new technology keep their minds active and create purpose. The group compares favorite reading sources, immersive audiobooks, classic books, and the occasional danger of missing an exit while listening to a great story. They also debate smart homes versus reliable buttons, knobs, keys, and appliances that have survived longer than some friendships. Food enters the discussion through air-fryer grilled cheese, pesto, egg muffins, oatmeal, and other hunger-inducing ideas. The conversation becomes more reflective as Callie asks whether travel can still feel meaningful after vision loss. The team discusses grief, adaptation, tactile experiences, audio description, tour guides, friendship, and finding new forms of joy without pretending the loss is not real today.

Links of interests:

seedlings Braille Books for Children

Bricks for the Blind

ACB Groups

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State Services for the Blind has an exciting lineup of opportunities designed to help blind and low vision students build confidence, make friends, and develop real-world skills throughout the summer and fall. In this episode, Transition Coordinator Shane DeSantis and Peer Ambassadors Ava and Preston share upcoming events, including visits to the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind summer program, a volunteer evening with Every Meal, presentations at the ECC summer camp, an accessible camping adventure with Wilderness Inquiry, a canoe trip on the Mississippi River, and a fall technology workshop focused on college and career success. Along the way, they explain how these activities encourage independence, teamwork, leadership, and community involvement while creating meaningful connections with other students who share similar experiences. They also invite students to help shape future activities by sharing their ideas and interests, making this episode both an update on upcoming events and an invitation to become part of Minnesota's growing blind and low vision community.

Links of interests:

The Spectacle Newsletter

Youth Services at SSB

To find out more about the services provided at State Services for the Blind, and what they can do for you, contact Shane DeSantis at [email protected] or call Shane at 651-385-5205.

Full Transcript:

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Jeff Thompson welcomes Sree Roy back to Blind Abilities for a conversation that begins with rising technology costs and quickly evolves into something much deeper. They discuss Apple's price increases, AI subscriptions, and how accessibility technology is becoming more expensive for everyone. From there, the conversation turns to the gradual experience of vision loss and the emotional adjustments that accompany it. Jeff shares how subtle changes in his own vision have made organization, workflow, and daily routines more important than ever, while Sree reflects on his journey from fear to confidence after losing his sight. Together they explore the value of taking small steps, learning new skills early, leaning on the blindness community, and celebrating everyday accomplishments. Whether discussing VoiceOver, organizing a workshop, or simply finding the kitchen sink, this episode reminds listeners that blindness is not about giving things up—it's about discovering new ways to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

Main Topics

• Summer plans, fitness, and everyday life.
• Apple price increases, AI subscriptions, and the growing cost of accessibility technology.
• The personal experience of gradual vision loss and recognizing changing abilities.
• Practical strategies for organization, safety, and adapting daily routines.
• Learning blindness skills early and accepting change one step at a time.
• Finding encouragement through community, organizations, and shared experiences.
• Celebrating small victories and understanding that every journey is unique.

Memorable Quotes

"We are going to encounter a lot of trials… but we do have a community, organizations, and individuals that support us."

"My Kilimanjaro is pretty small things, but I get rewarded from them."

"There's a lot of things that I thought being blind, you can't do… and then you hear these stories of people doing amazing things."

"Little steps take us far."

Check out Blind Abilities on all the socials.

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