Accessibility in Action 

May is always a lively month at SSB, and this year is no exception. With Global Accessibility Awareness Day on the horizon, we’re always excited to share the innovative work happening across our programs, partnerships, and communities to advance digital access and inclusion. From events and trainings to spotlights and resources, this month highlights the many ways we strive to build a more accessible world—one project, one connection, and one solution at a time.

SSB Department Spotlight – DeafBlind Services

DeafBlind Services at State Services for the Blind plays a uniquely vital role in supporting Minnesotans who experience both vision loss and hearing loss, whether from birth or later in life. The team’s work centers on empowering individuals to understand their own intersectional needs, learn the tools that make employment possible, and build strong self‑advocacy skills. Communication access is always the first priority, and staff are trained in ASL and tactile communication methods to ensure every interaction is meaningful and accessible. With collaboration across SSB units and Community Partners, the team provides comprehensive support that goes far beyond job placement.

The DeafBlind team offers highly specialized services including extended ATB training, long‑term employment support, coordinated access to interpreting services, mental health resources, and adaptive technologies. A recent success story highlights the impact of this approach: one customer, after losing employment, worked with SSB to earn a master’s degree and secure a fully accessible position serving the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing community. The team also embraces emerging tools—such as advancements in braille and tactile displays and the growth of ProTactile communication—seeing these as bright spots for increasing access and independence. Despite challenges like limited community resources, isolation, and ongoing communication barriers, the team continually adapts to meet each customer’s needs through person‑centered planning and strong interagency collaboration.

What inspires the team most is the creativity, resilience, and determination of the people they serve. Customers often find innovative ways to communicate, connect, and navigate the world, even in the face of significant obstacles. The DeafBlind services team remains committed to expanding outreach, strengthening partnerships, and encouraging all SSB staff to lean on their expertise whenever questions arise. By building awareness of DeafBlind culture and communication, and by staying attentive to aspects that are “important to” and “important for” each individual’s life, the team aims to ensure every customer has the opportunity to thrive—at home, at work, and in community.

New Men's Low Vision Support Group

Support groups organized through State Services for the Blind (SSB) are helping people with vision loss find encouragement, practical strategies, and community. Next month, SSB is launching a new men's low vision support group. The group will meet the second Wednesday every month. Come join us for helpful tips, new techniques, laughter, and support. 

Date: Next meeting - Wednesday, June 10th

Time: 1:00 pm

Location: SSB's home office - 2200 University Avenue West, St. Paul

Contact: Register with stacy.shamblott@state.mn.us

Get Involved - Join the SRC-B Council

The State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind (SRC-B) acts as an advisory body to provide recommendations and a perspective from the community of the low vision, blind, and DeafBlind to State Services for the Blind on programs and services they provide to qualified Minnesotans. The council must have a majority of members who are blind, low vision, or DeafBlind, and who are not employed by SSB. Meetings are currently using a hybrid model with in-person and on Zoom on a bimonthly basis. Per diem reimbursement is available.

Current SRC-B seats open for application:

• American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Projects Representative
• Industry Representative #2

Be part of the advisory body to provide recommendations for SSB services and programming. Click this link to complete and submit an online Open Appointments Application on the Secretary of State website.

Other Announcements: 

Many Faces of BARD - Thursday, May 14th

The topic for the Thursday, May 14, 2026, Many Faces of BARD program will be Typing Text Using the DA2. After a presentation and demonstration, NLS staff will take your questions about all things BARD for the remainder of the hour. NLS will record this program. 

Date: Thursday, May 14th

Time: 6:00 pm central time

Click here for the Zoom link to access the Many Faces of BARD session.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day - May 21

Thursday, May 21, 2026, will be the 15th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! The purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people worldwide with disabilities.

There are ample opportunities to attend virtual learning sessions or even a day filled with classes.

Click here for general information on Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

Click here for virtual GAAD events.

Click here for University of Minnesota GAAD programs.

MNIT GAAD Event: Navigating Maps with a Screen Reader - Thursday, May 21

The State of Minnesota's Office of Accessibility will host a conversation between a screen reader user and a map maker to discuss key accessibility questions including:

• Are some types of web maps easier to use than others?
• What are common barriers for screen reader users when using web maps?
• How can map designers/creators make maps more accessible?
• Are there certain "cheat codes" that assistive technology (AT) users can use when navigating web maps?
• Is it ok for web map creators to create custom navigation for their maps?

Date: Thursday, May 21

Time: 1:00 central time

Location: Online - Click here to join the MNIT GAAD event.

Live Well - A Celebration of Aging - Thursday, May 21

Attention seniors in central Minnesota. Lakewood Health System is hosting a community event in Staples. This will provide an opportunity for older adults to hear from engaging and educational speakers on a variety of topics, as well as tour vendor booths, and network with others.

Date: Thursday, May 21

Time: 8:00 am - 1:30 pm

Location: Central Lakes College - Staples

Learn more: Live Well: A Celebration of Aging - Lakewood Health System

NLS - That All May eRead - Tuesday, May 26th

The topic for the Tuesday, May 26, 2026, That All May eRead online program will be Navigating DAISY Files on Your eReader. In the remaining time, NLS staff will answer any questions you have about the NLS Braille eReader. The meeting will be recorded.

Date: Tuesday, May 26th

Time: 6:00 pm central time

Click this link to access the Zoom link for That All May Read session.

Notice of Public Hearings:
2026 Housing and Community Development Action Plan - Wednesday, May 27th

The State of Minnesota is developing its 2026 Housing and Community Development Action Plan and wants your feedback.  

This plan reflects year five of the state’s 2022-2026 Consolidated Plan, which examines the housing and community development needs of the state and sets priorities for allocating U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds.

A public hearing will be held to review and gather comments on the draft Action Plan.  

• Wednesday, May 27 at 3 p.m.
  In person at: Department of Employment and Economic Development
  Great Northern Building, Floor 12
  180 E 5^th Street, St. Paul MN 55101
• Virtually at: Microsoft Teams Meeting Link via-phone at 1-651-395-7448, with Phone Conference ID: 382440893#

If you need an accommodation for a disability or require interpretation services, contact Natasha Kukowski at natasha.kukowski@state.mn.us or 651.259.7425 or 800.657.3858 at least three business days before the public hearing.

NLS Summer Reading Program

The National Library Service's summer reading program kicks off on June 15th. This program is open to all and will have authors discussions, narrated soundscape tours of National Parks, recommendations on great titles to discover, and more. 

Registration for the 2026 NLS Summer Reading Program, presented in partnership with Braille Institute Library, is officially open, and they are excited to share what's in store this summer!

Please visit Braille Institute Library's Summer Reading Program landing page to find all the details and register: brailleinstitute.org/summer-reading-program/

Information on the series and the registration link can also be found on the NLS website: loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/summer-reading/

This Summer's Theme

This year's theme is Unearth a Story — an invitation to explore the histories, landscapes, and voices hidden just beneath the surface of the world around us. At the heart of this year's programming is a deep focus on the National Parks Service and America's public lands, woven throughout an exploration of ecology, environment, and stewardship; human stories embedded in place; and the role of science, observation, and memory in how we understand the world around us.

What's Included

The program runs for 9 weeks, from June 15 through August 11, 2026, and features two exciting ways to participate:

Webinars 

Live conversations over Zoom with authors, artists, national park rangers, and other compelling voices.

• Kick off event on June 15^th at 1:00 PM PST
• The rest of the webinar sessions will be held every other Tuesday at 1:00 PM PST, starting June 16^th
• Patrons register once to access the entire series

Narrated Soundscapes 

A truly special collaboration between Braille Institute Library, National Parks Service Rangers, Library of Congress sound designers, and select NLS network librarians who narrated their own state's episode. A new Soundscape will be dropped on Braille Institute Library's Summer Reading Program page every other Monday, starting June 22nd. Once posted on webpage, each one stays available so patrons can explore at their own pace.

Click this link for more information on the NLS Summer Reading Program.

Protactile Foundations Training - June 12 & 13

Registration Open - NFB BELL Academy 

The NFB BELL Academy—which stands for National Federation of the Blind Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning®—helps blind and low vision children develop the literacy skills that will empower them to achieve their academic goals and live the lives they want. 

NFB BELL Academy will take place at the Minnesota Waldorf School (70 County Road B, Saint Paul) July 13-24, 2026

Click this link to register or learn more about this summertime opportunity for blind and low vision youth.

Best Practices in Welcoming DeafBlind Patrons and Partners to the Arts

VOX has partnered with Silent Rhythms to create free, open source modules to teach arts organizations best practices in welcoming the DeafBlind community. These modules explore topics like DeafBlind etiquette, communication, accessibility in museum and theater spaces, audio description, braille, technology and more. All of these modules are presented and produced by DeafBlind professionals and supported by Deaf/Hard of Hearing, CODA, and ASL interpreter community members. These modules are presented in American Sign Language with English voiceover, or spoken English with picture-in-picture ASL interpretation. All videos have captions and a transcript below the video to follow along.

Click this link to access the modules.

Met Council Unveils New Bus Stop Signs with QR Codes This Spring

As part of a pilot, location-specific QR codes will be added to signs at about two dozen at bus stops without shelters this spring to connect transit customers with real-time information about arrivals and destination options on their smartphones.

Transit agencies around the country are adding these codes, which are especially helpful for those who aren’t proficient in English and for those with visual disabilities who use assistive technologies.

Metro Transit collected feedback last year about the types of information customers want to see at the more than 600 high-ridership bus stops without shelters. These signs currently display route number (including branches), travel direction, destinations, and a simplified route map. 

Key takeaways

• Other sign updates being tested include:

• Reintroducing frequency information that became difficult to maintain during the pandemic as well as displaying simplified frequency ranges by time of day

• Prominently displaying the stop name on signs to reduce confusion and support digital and trip-planning tools like NexTrip

• Lowering the threshold for signage locations (currently at 10 average boardings a day) and adding signs where shelter installation is limited by space constraints or where shelter upgrades aren’t planned soon

• Rider engagement will be evaluated by looking at QR code visits compared to ridership.

• The pilot will also test the staff work required to support it. For that reason, it will be conducted at locations with quarterly service changes in 2026.  

For Your Reading Pleasure

There are so many great articles to share this month. Click the links below to access those that pique your interest.

A Star Tribune article about a newsstand run by an operator who was blind.

New York Times: A freelance writer and photojournalist, Andy Isaacson guides blind travelers.

Marathon Handbook: How a Blind Runner is Using Smart Glasses to race.

NPR: Blind students say their college blocked their education. A new rule could help.