IDB Volunteer Newsletter - Volume 6 Issue 4

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Volunteer Newsletter Volume 6 Issue 4

Mission: Empower blind Iowans to be gainfully employed and live independently.

Vision: To be the world's leader in blind rehabilitation services.

IDB Volunteer Newsletter

Welcome to our newsletter! We hope you find this newsletter useful and informative. This edition features White Cane Awareness Day, Save the Date for the 2025 Braille Challenge and the Annual Friends of the Library Holiday Concert, and new Volunteer Opportunity. Please feel free to share any suggestions you may have for things to include or ways to improve by emailing Janice Eggers, Executive Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator at janice.eggers@blind.state.ia.us. If you are a current volunteer, thank you for all that you do. If you are not a current volunteer, please visit our website at https://blind.iowa.gov/volunteers to learn about opportunities or fill out an application.

Volunteer Spotlight - Sara Coleman

What is your role at IDB? Commissioner

Why did you decide to volunteer at IDB? Having traveled through the Vocational Rehabilitation system due to my Usher Syndrome, I wanted to give back to the community so that others traveling the same road get all of the training and support as I did to be able to make choices about their life and future.

Where did you work before?Norwalk High School - High School Chemistry Teacher

What do you enjoy most about volunteering at IDB? I enjoy the people. The clients and staff work together to change lives for the better. I love being a small part of supporting individuals to live independently and do whatever they may want to do.

What is your favorite memory at the IDB? My most intense memory was being out on cane travel during the Derecho of 2020. When I tell the story of how I was drenched from head to toe, almost blown off my feet, and not being able to find the door, the question people ask me "why didn't you take off your shades?" (I happen to have some residual vision). When I reply that I was on a travel assignment so I couldn't, people just don't understand how important it is to take vision off the table, even when you are very, very uncomfortable. My travel instructor, Zach, found me and we walked in shoulder to shoulder. I was really proud of myself that day, so that is a favorite memory.

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to read, hike, play guitar, and travel. I'm hoping to go fishing in the Northwest Territories in Canada next year and I'm heading to Hawaii for the New Year.

Employee Spotlight - Ambrose Ball-Harney

What is your role at IDB? Program Administrator for Education and Training

Why did you decide to work at IDB? Ultimately, I decided to work at the Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) because I'm able to make a known difference in the growth of students that I work with. I've learned that being able to assist others in a meaningful way is something that very much fills my cup and IDB's mission and philosophy gives me opportunities for this. This is all on top of the fact that I was able to join multiple coworkers and teams that are comprised of quality and supportive individuals.

Where did you work before IDB? Employee and Family Resources

What do you enjoy most about working at IDB?For me it has to be the 'Aha' moments that occur for students. When you've been working on a particular lesson or subject with a student and after going through a few renditions everything just kind of snaps into place for them. Knowing that we're setting students up for success beyond this program and getting the tools in their toolbox that they'll need further on down the road brings me a lot of fulfillment.

What is your favorite memory at the IDB? That's difficult to pin down to a single one so honestly, I would have to say my favorite memory was going through my first Leadership Education Advocacy Program (LEAP) at IDB. LEAP is our Summer program for young adults and it's an opportunity for students who may not be quite ready for our school year program (YATP) to still participate and get a feel for what our mission and philosophy are like. All of this takes place over the Summer and we keep our students busy on a variety of activities, workshops, lessons, and outings. Overall, the Summer was great and I'm really looking forward to next Summer's LEAP.

What do you like to do in your free time? Most of my free time gets eaten up by either house projects, trying to work on new recipes, slowly working my way through my back catalogue of novels, or spending time training and playing with my dog Judah.

Celebrating National Friends of the Library Week

by Sarah Willeford

The week of October 20-26, 2024, we celebrated our amazing Friends of the Library group as part of the annual celebration of National Friends of Libraries Week.

Our Friends group gave a $12,000 donation this year to the library, as well as an additional $9,000.00 for the purchase of two new 3D printers.

These funds helped the Library do so much over the last year including:

Add activity kits to the Youth Library and Makerspace
Provide Kindle Fires for volunteer audio narrators to use when recording books
Purchasing program materials for youth activities
Support of the Iowa Regional Braille Challenge activities
Print/Braille and large print books for the youth collection
Support the library's outreach activities

We would like to thank our Friends Group for their financial support and the advocacy work they do for our library. These help the library provide great programs and services across the state.

Save the Date: Annual Friends of the Library Holiday Concert

Friday, November 22, 2024, from 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm at the Iowa Department for the Blind (524 4th Street, Des Moines, IA).

Sing along with Antique Harmony and Midnight Madness Barbershop Quartets

All proceeds from the concert will go to the Friends of the Library

For more information about the Friends of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped fundraising and membership initiatives check out their website at http://www.iafriendslibraryfortheblind.org/

Access to Good Jobs for All
National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Good jobs change lives, and all workers including disabled workers deserve the opportunity to prepare for, obtain and succeed in them. Reflecting this, “Access to Good Jobs for All” is this year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month theme.

At the Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB), we are proud to support the gainful and sustainable employment of Blind Iowans through our Vocational Rehabilitation Training Programs and Employment Services. Gainful employment is essential for financial and personal independence. For more information about Vocational Rehabilitation Training Programs or Employment Services, contact IDB at 515-281-1333.

Learn more about the 79th Anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month at dol.gov/NDEAM

Volunteer Opportunities:

Volunteer Opportunity: Image Description Writing Volunteer

Summary:

The Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled is seeking an Image Description Writing volunteer. The ideal candidate will have a passion for storytelling and a strong understanding of how to verbally convey visual information. You will be responsible for writing descriptive text for audio recordings of graphic novels and picture books.

Responsibilities:

Write clear, concise, engaging descriptions of illustrations in graphic novels and picture books
Write descriptions to suit various audiences, including children and adults, while maintaining appropriate tone and language
Review and revise image descriptions

Qualifications:

Creative writing, passion for storytelling and an understanding of how images contribute to the narrative
Strong writing and editing skills with an eye for detail; ability to describe visual information in an engaging and understandable way
Ability to meet short deadlines
Experience with accessibility-focused writing or advocacy.
Familiarity with graphic novels and picture book formats.

Please fill out the volunteer application.

White Cane Awareness Day

by Sarah Willeford

October 15th is the 60th Annual White Cane Awareness Day! For Blind people, the white cane is essential to achieving a full and independent life. White canes are tools which extend the senses, allowing a Blind person to hear and touch their surroundings and react quickly and confidently. Whether avoiding obstacles, finding steps and curbs, locating doorways or interacting with the world, Blind people can use the white cane to explore the world around them.

IDB Working with the Veterans Association

by Connie Mendenhall

Iowa Department for the Blind will be presenting at the County Veterans Service Officers training on October 17, 2024, at the Shiners Temple in Altoon, Iowa. One of the goals of this training is to help the County Veteran Service Officers learn more about the programs and services available to veterans in the state of Iowa.

Many people do not realize that Iowa Department for the Blind can work with a person in conjunction with other service providers. The goal is to not duplicate services but to be sure the person is receiving all the services they need.

If you or anybody you know are working with a Veterans County Service Officer and have questions about how Iowa Department for the Blind and the VA can work together, please contact your local VA or contact the Iowa Department for the Blind.

Save the Date: 2025 Iowa Regional Braille Challenge

Save the date for the 25th Anniversary Braille Challenge! The Iowa Regional Braille Challenge will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025! The Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind in North America for kids in grades 1 to 12 who are blind or visually impaired. Be a part of the challenge!

Check out our Braille Challenge page for more information.