Blind Abilities

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 shane.desantis@state.mn.us 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 shane.desantis@state.mn.us or call Shane at 651-385-5205.
 
Full Transcript
Thanks for listening!

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 shane.desantis@state.mn.us or call Shane at 651-385-5205.
 
Thanks for listening!
Full Transcript