 Expanding Possibilities
September is Workforce Development Month—a time to celebrate the many ways our programs, partners, and communities come together to support Minnesotans on their employment journeys. This is the perfect month to launch our new monthly spotlight series focused on SSB customer achievements. Each month, we'll highlight the innovative efforts that strengthen career pathways, expand access to training, and empower individuals to achieve their goals. SSB's Workforce Development Unit, Pre-Employment Transition Services team, Evolve Employment staff, and the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund all contribute to the mission of facilitating the achievement of vocational and personal independence of Minnesotans who are blind, low vision, or DeafBlind. Thank you for joining us in recognizing the impact of workforce development across our state.
If you are interested in contributing your story to our monthly spotlights, please reach out to: lisa.rogers@state.mn.us
SSB Workforce Spotlight - Caleb Bartley
Caleb Bartley entered his adjustment to blindness already committed to staying independent in his job at a CPA firm. He taught himself cane travel, screen readers, and navigation skills long before connecting with State Services for the Blind, saying, “If I was going to adjust to blindness, then I was going to do it on my terms.” When he eventually met with SSB staff, he appreciated the ease of the experience, noting that “both of those intakes could not have gone better… it was just so easy,” but he continued to rely heavily on his own drive and curiosity.
SSB’s role in his employment was supplemental, offering tools and refinements to the skills he had already built. Orientation and mobility training with Sharee Marcus helped him fine‑tune his techniques, and she reassured him by saying he had done a good job teaching himself, while also giving him additional strategies and explaining why certain methods worked. A tech assessment later introduced him to the LyriQ, which Caleb quickly recognized as helpful for work: “I’ve recommended it to two or three people since then. It’s such a smart solution.” Funding delays were smoothed out through ERAF support, ensuring his employer could receive reimbursement for equipment without disrupting his workflow.
Later, a referral to the Evolve Employment Program gave him quick access to NVDA training materials—something he didn’t expect to move so fast. What mattered most to Caleb was the follow‑through and ongoing check‑ins. “It felt like there was a whole team around me.” These supports complemented, rather than replaced, his strong self‑direction. As he put it, “My world got a lot smaller—but because of the support, my world is no longer shrinking.”
In June 2026, Caleb achieved a long-held career goal when he started a new job with the State of Minnesota as the Nuclear & Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Supervisor for the Department of Health. He credits EVOLVE and SSB for giving him the extra support he needed so he could focus on everything else and take this next step in his career. “With their support, I could focus on the work. I knew SSB would be there to focus on the assistive technology and training I’d need to be fully successful.”
College Planning and Application Assistance - Mon. October 5th
October is College Knowledge Month in Minnesota. To celebrate, Minnesota State colleges and universities are waiving undergraduate application fees throughout October, and no essays are required as part of the application process.
A group will be available to help customers with:
- Exploring college options and determining next steps
- Creating an application plan
- Completing and submitting college applications
- Answering questions about the college process
- Connecting students with resources and support as they prepare for college
This could be a great opportunity for students who have been thinking about college but may not know where to start, have questions about the application process, or would benefit from some one-on-one assistance.
Date: October 5 or November 2, from 5:00–7:00 PM
Location: SSB St. Paul Office - 2200 University Ave. W. #240, St. Paul
RSVP: Interested customers can RSVP to Shane at shane.desantis@state.mn.us to reserve a spot.
White Cane Awareness Day - Tues. October 13th
Come join SSB staff and members of the community in celebrating independent travel at the 62nd annual White Cane Safety Awareness Day. We'll gather at the State Capitol to network, socialize, and hear from community members about their journeys to safe, confident mobility with white canes, technology, and guide dogs.
Date: Tuesday, October 13th
Time: 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda & grounds - 75 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul
New! Employer Learning Series - Thursday, Oct. 22nd
Attention Employers! SSB's Evolve Employment program is launching a six-part virtual learning series for Minnesota employers. Beginning October 22, 2026, the series will offer practical information employers can use when navigating disability-related workplace questions, hiring and retention, workplace accommodations, technology, and available employer resources.
Each session will focus on a different workplace topic and connect employers with services and resources available through SSB and Evolve Employment. The series is designed for business owners, human resources professionals, recruiters, supervisors, managers, and other employer representatives across Minnesota.
Session 1 - ADA at Work: What Employers Need to Know
Date: Thursday, October 22nd
Location: Online
Description: The Americans with Disabilities Act affects many aspects of the workplace, but understanding the basics does not have to be complicated. This introductory session will give employers a practical overview of the ADA, how it connects to employment, and what employers should understand about disability disclosure and workplace conversations. Participants will also learn about SSB and resources available to support Minnesota businesses.
Questions about the series? Contact:
Ray McCoy | ray.mccoy@state.mn.us
Callen McInnes | callen.mcinnes@state.mn.us
SSB Outreach - Come See Us!
SSB's counselors, staff, and outreach team have a busy calendar of in-person events at senior resource fairs this fall. Swing by and see us in your area and get valuable resources and information for independent living. Click on the links below for location addresses and times.
Upcoming Dates:
September 26 - Cokato Senior Resource Expo
October 6 - St. Michael Senior Expo
October 7 - Edina Senior Expo
October 9 - Woodbury Senior Expo
October 14 - Big Lake Senior Expo
Volunteer with Us! Opportunities in St. Cloud and Fergus Falls
Looking for a volunteer opportunity that can have a deep and lasting impact on the lives of others? Radio Talking Book (RTB) is a free news and information service that broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week to listeners across Minnesota and the nation. We broadcast daily newspapers, current magazines and periodicals, and a wide variety of books to appeal to a diverse range of interests. The recordings are archived on the organization's website and on the app, Minnesota Radio Talking Book, so that people can more easily access their local newspaper. These recordings are created every day, so a solid roster of volunteers is crucial to keeping this free and important service up and running!
We are especially looking for volunteer broadcast readers in the St. Cloud and Fergus Falls areas. Greater Minnesota newspaper volunteers are asked to commit to one session per month—sessions last a few hours each and there is flexibility for you to select days that work with your schedule.
If interested in becoming a volunteer RTB reader, please complete this application.
Low Vision Support Groups
If you are interested in joining a Low Vision Support Group or starting one of your own, please contact Stacy S. at 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 SSB provides 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 bimonthly and currently offer the option of joining in-person or via Zoom. 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:
NLS Patron Corner - Tuesday, October 13th
The National Library Service (NLS) Patron Engagement Section will host an upcoming Patron Corner. The topic for this program is Celebrating 20 Years of BARD: Part Two. The session will feature a panel of NLS colleagues and patrons who were part of the BARD beta test in 2006 and the first users of BARD. They will also offer an opportunity for audience members to express what BARD has meant to them as patrons.
Part One of this program took place on July 13 and featured NLS narrators who have worked in both the analog and digital age. A recording is available online at www.loc.gov/nls/news-and-updates/patron-corner.
Date: Tuesday, October 13th
Time: 6:00 pm central time
Location: Online via Zoom. Click this link when it's time to join.
Glide Hands-On Info Session - Tues. October 27th
Get hands-on time with Glide, the AI-powered mobility aid that guides people who are blind or have low vision around obstacles and to their destination. The Glidance team will be at the SSB for free 15-minute one-on-one sessions: a short orientation to how Glide works and a guided walk along an indoor route. Sessions are pre-registered and fill quickly. Learn more about Glide at glidance.io.
Date: Tuesday, October 27th
Time: Individual 15-minute sessions from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: SSB St. Paul Office - 2200 University Ave. W. #240, St. Paul
Registration required: Click here to reserve your Glide timeslot.
Disclaimer: SSB is serving solely as the venue for this event and does not endorse any particular products or vendors.
ERAF Information Webinar - Wednesday, Oct. 28
Discover how the Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF) can help your business thrive while fostering a more accessible workplace. Small to mid-sized businesses in Minnesota can receive reimbursements of up to $30,000 for providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants and employees with disabilities.
Date: Wednesday, August 26th
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 pm central time
Location: Online
Pre-registration is required. Contact: ray.mccoy@state.mn.us
NFB-MN Convention - Friday, Oct. 30 - Sunday, Nov. 1
The National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota are pleased to announce plans for their 2026 Annual State Convention. Join blind Minnesotans from across the state for a weekend of learning, advocacy, friendship, fun, and plenty of opportunities to get involved.
Dates: Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1, 2026
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Saint Paul East, 2201 Burns Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55119
Register by October 14th. Click this link to register for the 2026 NFBMN Convention.
2026 Community Access Survey
What accessibility barriers do you encounter in your community? The 2026 Minnesota Community Access Survey gives you a way to identify barriers involving disability parking, community places, communication access, and other aspects of accessibility.
Your responses can help identify patterns and show which accessibility issues people most want their communities to address.
Take the 2026 Community Access Survey.
A New Way to Listen to NLS Audiobooks
Until recently, patrons had two options for getting NLS audiobooks: on a digital cartridge or by downloading them from BARD. With the My Talking Books skill for Alexa and Amazon Echo smart speakers, NLS introduced a third option: streaming.
Now NLS is expanding its streaming options with the BARD Web Player. The Web Player allows a patron to listen to BARD titles directly on the BARD website. Each title played is added to the patron’s reading history — which soon will allow synchronization across all BARD platforms.
“Patrons have been asking for synchronization across multiple devices for a long time,” Education and Training Specialist Paula Bahmani said. “So, for example, if I’m listening to a book on a PC with the Web Player and I need to start making dinner, I can pick up where I left off on my smart speaker in the kitchen.”
The Web Player is already synchronized with the My Talking Books skill. Down the road, NLS wants to add streaming and synchronization to the BARD Mobile app and the DA2 player.
Bahmani introduced network librarians to the Web Player in a pop-up training session in August. A recording and transcript of the 30-minute session are available on the Network Library Services website at https://www.loc.gov/nls/network/training/pop-up-training-resources.
In the News
Click on the headlines below for some recent newsworthy items:
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