Reclaiming Independence through SSB
“With time, persistence and an enduring curiosity, I began to reclaim pieces of my life.” Sarah Joda, SSB Customer.
Minnesota State Services for the Blind (SSB) is a vital resource for Minnesotans who are blind, DeafBlind or experiencing vision loss. For these Minnesotans, SSB provides invaluable tools and training for finding employment and living independently. Sarah Joda used these tools to reclaim her independence after her fast-paced, active lifestyle as an endurance athlete and mechanical engineer was thrown off course by a mountain biking crash in 2015.
What followed was a string of neurological challenges, leaving Sarah grappling with a world that appeared starkly white. Severe light sensitivity made everyday essentials like phone and computer screens inaccessible, plunging her into a state of isolation.
The complexity of Sarah’s condition lies in its invisibility. “I am not considered legally blind, as my eyes are physically fine. The issue resides within my brain,” she said. It has complicated her ability to access certain types of medical and independent living support systems. With the help of a friend, she contacted SSB at the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and connected with resources to learn braille and support to navigate her new situation.
“The beauty of their support lay in its accessibility; there were no invasive prerequisites or bureaucratic hurdles or paperwork. They simply saw my situation and took action,” Sarah said. Learning to operate an iPhone with voiceover and tackling e-reader software can be daunting; the complexities of command-heavy navigation are humbling, but empowering. But from learning braille to mastering the NLS eReader, every step was thoughtfully supported by Char, her SSB instructor.
“SSB’s resources, offered at no cost, helped me rebuild my confidence. Slowly but surely, I progressed – from painstakingly reading 30 braille pages over 10 days to confidently navigating novels,” Sarah said. Since her injuries made listening to audiobooks difficult, she appreciates how much braille has returned the love of reading to her life. “There’s just something about being able to read a book and just let my own imagination piece together the story. I can’t even describe how grateful I am to have this simple joy back.”
More information about SSB’s services can be found on the SSB website.
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