Blind Abilities

Thinking about college but not sure what it's really like as a blind or low vision student? In this College 101 conversation, transition coordinator Shane DeSantis teams up with Kira and Mohamed, two blind/low vision college students, to break it all down from a student point of view. They talk about choosing a campus that fits you, connecting early with the disability office, and getting the right accommodations in place — from Braille and digital textbooks to private testing rooms, extra time, and note-taking tools like Voice Dream and iPad apps. You'll hear how advocating for yourself, emailing professors, and actually talking to them before or after class can make or break a semester. They also share real talk on time management, learning new tech, O&M training, riding the bus, dealing with homesickness, and finding free-food events and support programs that make campus life more fun and less scary.

Beth, Robin and Jeff dive into what they personally do to replenish their energy whether it be mental or physical. Listen in as they talk about the practices they incorporate into their routines and daily life. From soothing showers, daily intentions, to checking off virtual lists, and celebrating the accomplishments.

Orientation and mobility (O&M) gives blind and low vision students the skills to travel safely, confidently, and independently—at home, at school, and beyond graduation. In this conversation hosted by State Services for the Blind (SSB), O&M specialists Jennifer Pelletier and Abdi Mumin, along with Transition Coordinator Shane DeSantis, talk with parents, teachers, and students about what O&M really is: not just cane skills, but problem solving, confidence, and building a mental map of the world. They stress that independence is personal, but expectations should stay high—students can do more than many people assume when given chances to practice. Parents learn practical ways to support independence at home, from chores and finding dropped objects to letting kids lead routes on errands. The episode also highlights tools like tactile maps, campus visits, and Cane Quest, and explains how school-based O&M and SSB can work together to prepare students for college, work, and adult life.