Celebrating 50 Years
Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future
Messages from the Community and Clients
Kayde Rieken's NCBVI Anniversary Message
Christian Record Services Message to the Center
"On behalf of Christian Record Services, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired on your remarkable 50th anniversary. We are deeply thankful for NCBVI, which has been instrumental in providing free skills training, tools for success, mentorship, and opportunities for Nebraskans who are blind or visually impaired. Your dedication and commitment have empowered countless individuals to live life to the fullest and contribute meaningfully to society. Because of NCBVI and its legacy of service over the past 50 years, many have learned through example and education that they can achieve their dreams and make significant contributions to their communities. Your impact is truly immeasurable. We congratulate NCBVI, its alumni, volunteers, and staff as you joyfully celebrate this 50- year journey. May your next 50 years be filled with continued success and even greater achievements."
Donna Hunt's Memories with the Commission
"Confidence and friendships are the two biggest things that I received from the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, when I went through the training back in August 1985 through April 1986. When Jim Walker, my home teacher, first came to my house, which was on a farm near Fairbury, he was so confident and sure of himself walking around in my house and I thought to myself, I hope I can do that someday too. The next visit from Jim, he said we were going to fairbury to do some traveling downtown. Oh boy, I thought to myself. So we went to Fairbury and stopped in the business district. There had been some snow that had fallen a few days before, so there was small amounts of crunchy bits of snow everywhere. After some training on the proper way to use my cane, we started walking down the sidewalk. Believe it or not, it took me a half an hour to walk that one block! Thank goodness, each time I worked with Jim, I got better traveling. I started the Nebraska Center for the Blind in August 1985. I met so many nice instructors and students there and it made me feel better just knowing that there were others like me and it gave me the boost that I needed. Michael Floyd, was the travel instructor and he liked throwing some difficult travel routes for us including using the bus and walking routes. After traveling across Capital Parkway and taking a bus to Omaha for an informational interview, I thought I could do anything. One of my next challenges was working with power tools. Even though I grew up on a farm, using a power tool was never a thought. So with the training from Mike Rains, the woodshop instructor, I learned all about the power tools and how to properly use them. Then the next question was, “what do you want to make for your shop project?” I always wanted a waterbed, so that’s what I decided to make. Mike and I went to the store, “Land and Sky”, and we looked at some beds that I thought I would like to make. I finally found the one that was perfect for me. A queen size bed, with a bookcase and a mirror in the middle. It was a lot of work to make, but with the guidance and patience of mike Rains, my bed was done by the time I was finished with my training. I am proud to say, that I’m still sleeping on that beautiful bed today. The confidence that I received with all of my training and experiences while going to the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired has empowered me in many ways including: going to and graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan University, getting married to David Hunt and working at several jobs throughout the years. My many thanks to the instructors and counselors that have done a great job with all of the students at NCBVI and congratulations for your 50th anniversary!"
Leona Saltzman's Story
My mom is Leona Saltzman from Shickley NE. She started experiencing vision loss in the '80s, and came to do training at the NE Center for the Blind in, I think, 1988. I believe she was on a board and attended many workshops she helped plan and lead. She led, and was very involved for many years in a local chapter of VIPS. She is now 90, and though her health is fairly good, she is experiencing dementia. I believe she would have loved to be involved in celebrating your 50 years! Looking through some papers recently, I came across a short story Mom wrote. I will send it in its entirety, but you can feel free to change the names, or leave them out, whatever you need to do for privacy if you want to share the story. I think the story speaks of her connection with and appreciation for your organization. - Linda Hochstetler, Shickley NE
"God, walking along with another heavenly being, saw two little blind girls in Fairmont that needed help in school. Poor homelife-little help from family. He also saw Margaret, Kathleen, Willard, Wynona, and others who needed encouragement in their vision loss. He saw Monte, John, Mary, and Bob, who besides experiencing vision loss also needed the Lord in their lives. “Who will I send to help them in their need? It pains me to see them struggle with such a disease that comes to human beings-these children of mine.” The heavenly being suggested a certain dedicated mother and bookkeeper. “Her children are nearly grown and someone else can do the bookwork. How will we change the course of her life and prod her into this service?” The Lord said, “She already also has the scepter of blindness, but we will not leave her alone to cope. I have already provided help and encouragement for her. See-in Lincoln, Neb., there is a group of people already ready to help her learn to cope with blindness.”
Miguel Rocha's Message to the Center
"I would like to congratulate the center with this message. As the Nebraska Center for the Blind marks its 50 years anniversary, I am filled with gratitude and admiration for the lifechanging impact this program has had on me and others. This place has given me the skills to be independent, but it also has given me confidence in believing that no challenge is too great to overcome. Moving from California to Nebraska in 2015 I was filled with uncertainty. In 2016 when I first started my journey towards an independent life and a career by attending The Nebraska Center for the Blind was a new beginning with anxiety and excitement. With guidance, support, and encouragement from the incredible staff. I began learning skills such as learning to trust the white cane, trusting myself working with things that can cut and burn me, finding independence through the simplest tasks, and slowly building the confidence that I could live a full and rich life, no matter the obstacles. What makes the Nebraska Center for the Blind stand out the most to me is the community. The Nebraska Center for the Blind isn’t just about teaching skills it is about helping people reach their goals and aspirations. Believing in each of us that are starting a journey from learning home management, white cane travel, Braille, digital accessibility, to wood shop every step was a testament to the center's mission of encouraging independence and success. This makes all the difference, and I will never forget the encouragement and skills I received during my time there. As I look back on my time at the center, I realize how important it has been in my life. Today, I celebrate not only the program’s achievements but also the thousands of lives it has touched, including my own. Thank you, Nebraska Center for the Blind, for 50 years of making a difference. I’m proud to be part of your story, and I can’t wait to see what the next 50 years hold. Congratulations!"
Monte Ekern's Experience with the Center
"So many memories so many new friends made. The staff is pleasant and friendly. I was nervous when I first heard of the program thinking of it being setup similar to school settings. But to my surprise I could stricter myself and learn at my pace without failing. As all the instructors found I was harder on myself and kept failing in my own mind not theirs I have said many times that the center is more like family than friends. A leaving thought. When things go awry don’t sit and cry but hold your head up high for you like an eagle can fly!!!"
Rachna Keshwani's Training Center Memories in Verse
"Almost a decade-and-a-half ago, I took up residence with a friend in the biggest apartment there!
She arose after properly tumbling over a retaining wall, warning not to follow, even now I recall!
Once I rode by bus to the mall where I bought a cool blue purse without looking, on my solo trip.
I'm a blind ameteur and in the kitchens I tried cooking but burnt rice crispy cereal for the treats!
Still, I succeeded at making an Indian rice pudding that those who attended my mini-meal enjoyed.
We crafted aromatic autumn fruit candles courtesy a candy thermometer and created braille art!
Somehow I won third place in a fair for a recipe of cookies that I learned about 9 years back.
My philosophical discussions lacked premise, but I shared an ice-cream essay and sweet-talking.
The only time I caught no fish, I couldn't bring myself to hook the worm for bait and dropped it.
In the woodshop I etched diagonal lines using a blunt stylus since I got bored of straight parallels!
The drill press thrust one out of my hands so I thought to hold it firmly fast, then lower the tool.
We participated in an obstacle course adventure which reminded me so much of space camp.
Our return to Worlds of Fun continued defying people's notions of blind folks at amusement parks.
Right in the middle of training we toured the Homestead National Monument, a true landmark!"
Doug Boone's Memories of the Training Center in the Early Years
"I have a myriad of fond memories from working in the Center from 1976-1984. In the early period, policies were rigid but as time passed, staff, being underpaid but vocal, began suggesting changes which challenged policies and procedures. With the changes, an openness developed with Administration, which accepted some of the ideas. Predictably this allowed for more open dialogue. With it came an opportunity to help staff better understand the subtleties of the philosophy, the motivations of the Administration and how to make continued improvement in service delivery. Many changes proved to be in the best interest of the students, resulting in an increase of self-confidence development and corresponding enhanced independence. Respectful disagreement proved to be an opportunity for staff growth!
It was my honor to work with so many dedicated staff during these years. Names of blind staff, from whom I learned so much, include: Jolene Boshart, Barbara Loos, Jim Walker, Sheila Wright, Christine Boone and Dr. Fred Schroeder.
With regard to cane travel, which I subsequently taught to staff of 19 other state agencies, both Jim Walker and Fred Schroeder were pivotal in my effectiveness and success. When first in training, I was having difficulty walking a straight line down the very long hallways of the old SVI facility. I was complaining one day to Jim Walker and he suggested that I walk faster and trust my cane. I doubted his advice but… since it was still a problem, I tried it - wow, how great that worked. Later, after I was teaching Cane Travel, Jim showed me the open palm technique using the cane, then described the values thereof. I decided to try it with new students, telling myself they could always be shown the old way. It was amazing how veering was corrected and the other attributes Jim described, also developed. Before I began teaching Cane Travel, I had the great good fortune to be mentored by Fred Schroeder. I went back under sleep shades for 6 weeks. At first I shadowed Fred, ask questions and challenged various approaches. Later, I taught students under shades and Fred spot shadowed me. It was invaluable! These experiences and those of teaching my own students allowed me to later starting and operating for 19 years a consulting business, teaching students in the LA Tech O&M program as a guest lecturer, staff of 19 state agencies and schools for the blind, (in the USA and Hungary) while always using the Structured Discover Learning process.
Now a historical note: Dr. Allan Dodds, Senior Research Fellow at the Blind Mobility Research Unit, University of Nottingham, UK, came to Nebraska to observe blind O&M instructors. At the time, Christine Boone was teaching Cane Travel and Dr. Dodds observed her teaching techniques. He then observed on his own a student, Will Kiddo on a route: He was impressed by his skill. Dr. Dodds then put on sleep shades and she gave him a lesson. He returned to the UK convinced that it was appropriate to have blind O&M instructors. He was convinced that blind people could teach O&M. He named the instruction style “Discovery Learning“ which later changed to Structured Discovery Learning.
Sighted staff who made great contributions during this time included the first shop instructor, John Cheadle who did a yoman’s job of setting up the shop, with the purchase of appropriate tools and many alternative techniques. Other shop instructors during these years included: Steve Taylor, Dave Withers, Jim Ward and Mike Rains. Other dedicated sighted staff were: Mike Adams (first Center Director), Rosemary Lerdahl - from whom I learned much, Jackie Olsen, Duncan Larsen and Teresa Hoffman. Jeanne Hagar, who taught typing, played a significant role in my positive attitude about blindness, and with her instruction, I progressed from a slow sighted typist to 3x’s faster using sleep shades: it helped sell me on the value of blind techniques.
Last but not least, we were led at this time by Dr. James S. Nyman: a pain in the side, but a dedicated and talented director who nurtured the Center program."
