VIDBE-Q 2025 Volume 70 Issue 3
participated in inclusive story times with the public Library, utilized the Special
Olympics training facility and gardened with the Anchorage Parks and Recreation.
We have learned over the last few years that our jobs as O&M instructors
are very conspicuous which helps to build these connections. Several opportunities
have organically presented themselves just by being in the right place at the right
time, having the mobility cane out and visible, and being willing to take a second
to chat with people. Other relationships started as a cold call or email, and for the
most part have been successful in setting up opportunities for our students. The
federal, state and city agencies have always responded to our outreach efforts and
supported learning experiences, whether it be on a city bus, in the woods, at
federally managed facilities or out on frozen lakes.
By-products of our collaborations with agency staff have been impromptu
staff training on strategies to use with individuals who are visually impaired or
deafblind and wider exposure to what accessible materials look like and how to use
them. We met with agency staff ahead of time to discuss accommodations and
modifications. Our school district Accessible Instructional Materials center staff
produced simplified, large print and tactile maps of a BLM trail, city bus route
map, National Park Junior Ranger program booklets, and summer reading logs for
the public library to support our programs. We are always asked by the agency
