News

by Paul Olson
NDVS/SB Superintendent

Every time we create our newsletter to share information, describe past events or give you a preview of what is to come, our hope is that you will find it all useful. We hope that you will have a better understanding of the needs of the children and adults that make use of our services. We hope that you will find what we share inspiring in some way as well. 

We are proud of the work that we do and the partnerships we have with individuals and other organizations. Really, though, the newsletter is about promoting hope and enthusiasm and awareness of what people can do. North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind is all about creating opportunity. We do that through the efforts of our staff and through many partnerships.

Let me take this opportunity to share a few of the great things that have been happening and some great new opportunities coming up. 

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by Cindy Williams
NDVS/SB Coordinator of Student Programming

As summer draws near (we know it will get here eventually) and the school year draws to a close, I reflect on how the past semester has brought growth and educational experiences incorporating the Expanded Core Curriculum to those who attend our programs. Throughout our usual student programs occurring on-site and additional learning and social events occurring off-site, we have connected, learned, grown, and had some fun!

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There are some exciting new tech devices on the horizon from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). Read on to discover how APH is changing the way students who are blind or low vision read text, decipher graphics, and learn – today and into the future.

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NDVS/SB Houseparent
Future TSVI, O&M Specialist, and Northern Illinois Husky

In her own words, Lead Houseparent Gretchen Ivers explains how she learned about NDVS/SB and how it set her on her future path.

Hi! My name is Gretchen Ivers and I'm originally from a small hobby farm west of Thompson, ND. I just graduated from UND with a Bachelor's in Elementary Education and a minor in Special Education. The teachers at North Dakota Vision Services encouraged me to look into a career in education, and I am so glad they did! 

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We periodically profile a young adult living with vision loss in North Dakota. Candace Rivinius has been blind since she was two years old due to Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis, one of the most common causes of childhood blindness. Blindness has not stopped Candace from reaching her goals, and today she is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor at Corner Post Counseling PLLC. Find out how those goals took shape and her dreams for the future by reading on.

Candace Rivinius is used to making people turn their heads – though she can’t see them do that. By doing unexpected things – shooting a gun, waterskiing, paddleboarding, jumping at a trampoline park, running a 5K – she is turning blindness on its head while turning heads. And at her day job as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Candace is helping people clear their heads and find hope and wellness after experiencing trauma or while suffering from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other life stressors. “I like working with people to help them reach their goals,” she says. “It is fun to see people make the changes to improve their mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.” 

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NDVS/SB Administrative Assistant
Caretaker of animals, the earth, her family, and her work family

When you call NDVS/SB, chances are Nedra Hoberg will answer. Nedra spent much of her career working in a variety of educational settings that fed her love of nature. In her current position at NDVS/SB, she shares her passions with students, clients, and coworkers whenever she can, making their days a little brighter and reminding them of what’s important. Here, Nedra shares the story of how she ended up at NDVS/SB and the lessons she learned (and taught) along the way.

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We periodically profile a young adult living with vision loss in North Dakota. Elias Youngblom lost his vision at the age of 23 from an accident caused by a drunk driver. Since then, he has learned to live a full life without his sense of sight and with a sixth sense of humor. Being able to laugh along to his vision loss is not always easy, but he has found it helps him as much as his family, friends, and the strangers he encounters.

If I poke you in the eye, will it hurt?
Do you want to touch my face?
Is that thing [the white cane] cool?
How do you do stuff?
How do you put on clothes?
How do you spend money?

These are just a few of the questions that Elias Youngblom has been asked over the last 8 years, since he lost his vision. The 31-year-old from Fargo, ND, was hit head-on by a drunk driver who was driving the wrong way down the interstate. Blood flow to both of his optic nerves was lost, which means that while his eyes and brain still function as they should, the connection between them has been lost. One thing that wasn’t lost? His sense of humor. While there is nothing funny about his accident – then or now –Elias quickly realized that he needed a positive attitude and laughter in order to survive. He started collecting comments and questions that people asked him that made him scratch his head – or laugh out loud.

There is plenty of humor in the blind and visually impaired community, and like many, Elias has found that having a sense of humor helps others as much as it helps him. “I find that people are more comfortable around blindness if they know that I can laugh about it,” Elias explains. “I often try to break the ice with people by making light of my white cane or joking about running into things.” Through his humor and can-do attitude, Elias is changing people’s ideas about vision loss. “There is very little realistic representation of blindness in media, so we have to be that representation,” Elias says. “The more people see blind folks living real lives, the more it will become normal.”

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NDVS/SB Superintendent
Runner, O&M Specialist, Staff Cheerleader

Superintendents have a long to-do list each day. They deal with budgets, schedules, and staff conflicts. They answer to stakeholders, including parents, families, and legislators. If staff members are out, they may find themselves teaching, driving bus, or serving lunch. But perhaps the most important task, at least for NDVS/SB Superintendent Paul Olson, is staff cheerleader. “I have had the pleasure of getting to know people at many specialized schools for the blind and amazing teachers of the visually impaired in public schools across the country,” Paul says. “I firmly believe we have the most dedicated and talented staff. We are a little stretched at times, but the NDVS/SB staff do an amazing job for our citizens. They are top notch.” 

This is a typical quote from Paul as it shifts the focus off of him and gives all credit and accolades to his staff. But behind every great employee is a great boss. The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, ‘We did it ourselves.’” Staff have spoken and Paul is, indeed, a great leader. Find out why by reading below.

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NDVS/SB Administrative Assistant/Store Manager
Coach, Dog Dad, Human Dad 

Did you know that NDVS/SB has a goalball coach? Did you know that NDVS/SB has a Store? Did you know the same man is behind both of these surprises? Ryan Torgerson serves as the NDVS/SB Golden Guides coach and is the manager of the Store. During program weeks, Ryan works with the different student groups during their recess or phy ed time. In elementary, the students simply learn the rules and enjoy the game. But by middle and high school, the practices are more competitive. And when students from the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired come to Grand Forks for the February tournament, many of the students take it very seriously. 

“It is a joy to have Ryan as a part of our programming through goalball. The students really enjoy Ryan, and I think he enjoys getting to interact more with the students in addition to his regular duties of running the Store,” says Cindy Williams, Coordinator of Student Programming. Ryan does indeed enjoy his time with the students. “I love being the goalball coach. Watching the students improve over the years and the excitement many have when it is time to play gives me a sense of accomplishment. I also like that it provides a change of pace from my daily tasks and gets me out from behind my desk. I look forward to it every program week,” he says. Find out more about Ryan and his work in the Store, on the goalball court, and in his garage, by reading on.

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NDVS/SB Director of Technology
Not Your Stereotypical IT Guy

IT guys get a bad rap. They are stereotypically socially awkward, unhelpful, and smug. Fortunately, the IT guy at NDVS/SB is the exact opposite of the stereotype. Director of Technology David Olson is known for being helpful to anyone who walks through his door or calls him, usually frantically, with a technology emergency. By patiently listening and then solving the problem, he is making technology less intimidating and more accessible, something that attracted him to NDVS/SB in the first place. “At a previous job, I was able to help a professor with low vision,” David explains. “I was very inspired by him, and I was able to help him through a few items. He was a joy to work with.” When David saw the posting for NDVS/SB Director of Technology a few years ago, he thought it “was a great opportunity to help others.” And that’s just what he’s been doing since May of 2018 – helping others, whether that’s his colleagues, or the students, families, and adults we serve at NDVS/SB.

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