Making Connections

September is a time of transition—summer winding down, routines restarting, and communities gathering again after the busy season. It’s also the perfect moment to reflect on the importance of making connections. Whether it’s reconnecting with neighbors, building new friendships, or sharing experiences in a support group, these connections remind us that we are not alone. This month, we highlight ways SSB fosters connection, support, and belonging for people across Minnesota.

SSB Department Spotlight – Support Groups

Support groups organized through State Services for the Blind (SSB) are helping people with vision loss find encouragement, practical strategies, and community. “I really wanted people to have a place where, regardless of their vision—whether macular degeneration, total blindness, or a brain injury—they can talk about their challenges but also focus on how to go forward,” explained Stacy Shamblott, who coordinates the program.

The first group began in Woodbury at Presbyterian Homes Stonecrest in late 2023, and since then the program has grown quickly. Today, SSB runs or supports 14 support groups and refers people to additional groups around the state. Most meetings are held monthly and led by volunteer facilitators, with discussions ranging from daily living tips—like putting a rubber band around a conditioner bottle to tell it apart from shampoo—to bigger themes such as grief, independence, and family dynamics. “Some of the best ideas come from clients,” Stacy said. “It’s amazing how sharing simple solutions can change someone’s life.” Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the groups, allowing participants to open up about personal struggles while finding reassurance that, as Stacy reminds them, “you’re not alone.” Jeff Kuehn attends a support group in Mora. He finds the meetings beneficial because, “we're learning all the different techniques and shortcuts - ways for cooking, gardening, plus learning about some of the new technologies. We're also there just for each other. We're there to support a person when they have a bad day with their vision loss. They can call somebody, whatever, or just talk to us at the meeting about what to do for this situation.”

These groups are also about connection beyond vision loss. Meetings often begin with lighthearted questions—like favorite summer foods or past hobbies—reminding everyone that vision is just one part of who they are. As Stacy put it, “Vision is a piece of who they are. It isn’t who they are.” That spirit of inclusion, practical problem-solving, and emotional support is what makes SSB’s support groups a lifeline for so many across the state.

If you are interested in starting or joining a support group, please contact Stacy Shamblott, Aging Eyes Coordinator, at: 651-249-5118.

Other Announcements: 

MN Workplace Rights Week - September 21-27

Workplace Rights Week in Minnesota (Sept. 21-27, 2025) is an opportunity to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities in the workplace. Safe and healthy workplaces are what make our economy and communities strong, and it’s important Minnesotans understand their workplace rights and are empowered to assert those rights.

Read the proclamation from Gov. Tim Walz about Workplace Rights Week in Minnesota.

Several events are planned for MN Workplace Rights Week both in-person and virtually. Click this link to learn more and participate in events. 

Participate in the AFB Survey on AI

As artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and apps become more commonplace, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) wants to hear from you! They invite you to fill out our survey to tell them whether or not you’ve been using AI, what you use it for, what you think about AI, and any problems you have had with AI systems. AFB wants to learn how AI experiences differ between people with and without disabilities. They will use what we learn to inform AI companies and policymakers, so they can make AI as accessible as possible to everyone. Anyone in the United States who is at least 18 years old can fill out the survey. You do not have to have a disability to take the survey. The survey should take about 30-45 minutes to complete. You can take breaks while completing the survey. They invite people with any type of disability to take the survey. The survey is screen reader accessible. AFB can offer a Certified Deaf Interpreter or a scribe who can record your spoken answers if you wish. You can also take the survey with your own ASL interpreter or communication assistant. Fill out this form to receive access to the study: https://afb.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bNktziveYnZSu7s

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Dr. Arielle Silverman, AFB Director of Research, asilverman@afb.org or 202-469-6832. The survey will close on September 30, 2025.

September is Service/Guide Dog Awareness Month!

Woof! Woof! September is National Service/Guide Dog Month. Service and guide dogs are professionally trained and partnered with adults and children with disabilities to assist with daily tasks and increase independence.

Discover more about guide dogs at: National Guide Dog Month

Learn more about guide dog etiquette. 

September is Workforce Development Month

It’s Workforce Development Month – a time to highlight how workforce development professionals across the state are connecting Minnesotans with employment and helping Minnesota employers hire the staff they need for their businesses to thrive.  Workforce Development Month spotlights the many ways Minnesota state agencies, non-profit organizations and other entities are marking the month. 

Check out the CareerForce Workforce Development Month site for more information.

Apply Now! SSB Peer Ambassador Program

Please join SSB's enthusiastic and dynamic team of staff in providing Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) programming. This is a work-based learning experience for students aged 14-21 who are enrolled in an educational program. Deadline to apply: October 1st. 

Download the Peer Ambassador Application.

Apply Now! Join the New Evolve Employment Advisory Taskforce

This taskforce will bring together community voices, advocacy groups, individuals with lived experience, business and workforce partners, and subject matter experts to help shape the future of employment services for people who are blind, low vision, or DeafBlind. Deadline to apply: October 8th.

Download the Evolve Employment Task Force Application.

White Cane Awareness Day - Monday, October 13

Grab your white cane and/or guide dog and join us at the Minnesota State Capitol as we celebrate White Cane Awareness Day. 

Schedule of events:

9:30-10:15 a.m. Resource tables/social time in Rotunda
10:15-10:45 a.m. Proclamation/speakers in Rotunda
10:45-11:00 a.m. Transition to MnDOT building
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Activities tables & white cane repair station at MnDoT building

This free event is welcome to everyone!

Share Your Story - MN StoryCollective

MN StoryCollective (MNSC) is pleased to announce the launch of version 3 of its story collection tool for 2025.  MNSC began using a story collection tool in 2023 to gather anonymous stories and self-coded demographic information from people in Minnesota.  The tool was updated based on feedback in 2024 and again just recently to create version 3 for use here in 2025. Over 1800 submissions have been received so far, and MNSC is already seeing stories come in for version 3.

Building on feedback from people who submitted stories, community partners who help collect stories and State colleagues, the latest version of the tool includes:

• The option to share a story in 6 languages, including Vietnamese
• Expanded options for life circumstances, including more options for parents/caregivers

To submit a story or just learn more about MN StoryCollective, please visit the MNSC website.  MNSC looks forward to hearing your story!

For Your Reading Pleasure

The New York Times published an article about How a Blind Pianist Spends a Day Performing and Rock Climbing.

The story highlights how Ivan Dalia fills his day with cooking, podcasts and the fear-defying ascent of a rock wall in Brooklyn.

Click this link to access the article from ProQuest. 

In Technology News - eBraille 1.0 has launched!

A digital reading format for braille publications, eBraille focuses on adapting braille for reading in refreshable braille displays with different line lengths. Using an EPUB 3-compatible file set based on the Open Web Platform and drawing on technologies such as XHTML and CSS, the format encodes braille in semantically enhanced markup and allows it to adapt to the different capabilities of braille reading devices. The file set is designed for both packaged distribution to end users and deployment to the web for online and downloadable reading.

Composed of 91 people throughout the blindness or low vision field, the eBraille Working Group represented more than 50 organizations in 16 different countries.

Read this article to learn more about eBraille 1.0

Many Faces of BARD - Thursday, October 9th 

Youth Essay Contest - Submit by November 1st

Lions Clubs are sponsoring an essay contest giving students the chance to write on the theme “Together As One”. The contest is open to students who are considered visually impaired according to their national guidelines and will be 11, 12 or 13 years of age on November 15, 2025. Eligible birthdates are November 16, 2012 through November 15, 2014.

Local prizes are awarded as well as one grand prize of $5,000. A Lions Club will need to sponsor an entry, so please contact Debra Wasserman: liondebra@charter.net and she will connect you with Lions in your area. Essays will be due to a Lions Club on November 1, 2023, in order for them to meet the submission criteria to their Lions District.

Click this link for more information on the Lions Club essay contest.