A collage features nine of the Outlook from Here blog contributors, including Annika Konrad, Steve Johnson, Ericka Short, Chad Nelson, Tammie Hefty, Katherine Corbett, Katherine Schneider, Dan Sullivan, Janell Groskreutz, and Theresa Sweeney Smith. At the top of the collage is a brightly colored banner in colors of yellow, orange, blue, purple and red, along with coordinator confetti. In the bottom right corner is a red circle and inside reads “100 Posts!”

A Short Hiatus: Planning the Future of The Outlook From Here

Are you enjoying these warm, vacation days of summer? The Outlook From Here stories are taking some time off, too. Read on to learn more.

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Image Description: Chad Nelson, wearing a black jacket and dark-colored pants, stands, facing the camera and smiling. His cane is to the left and in front of an artful display of birch branches standing on the vertical. Behind Chad is a lighted and windowed room in a conference center.

Resources and Services

The BLIND Inc. Experience!

Attending a structured discovery independence training center can boost confidence, help you acquire new skills and build on the tools you already have in your toolbox. Chad Nelson, a recent Blind, Inc., graduate, describes what his experience at the center did to empower him.

Image Description: Gary Traynor and his guide dog Reuben are on a boat. As they float on the pristine lake water, Gary sits facing Reuben. Gary leans forward to become nose level with Reuben and embraces his left paw in his right hand.

Hobbies and Leisure / Recreation

Adventures of Fishing in The Blind

Many people say they find fishing to be a fun, relaxing hobby. For Gary Traynor and his guide dog, Reuben, a day spent fishing took an unexpected and exciting turn. Read on to find out what they caught!

Book Clubs and You: Accessible and Fun

Curling up with a book is a great way to pass a snowy winter afternoon. Discussing what you have read with others can be a fun way to gain new perspectives and make new friends, so why not join a book club! Katherine Schneider shows you how to find a club you’ll like, make sure books are accessible and even how to start your own club. Read on for more details.

One Hundred Stories About Living with Blindness and Visual Impairment in Wisconsin

We have reached story 101 on The Outlook From Here! For the 101st story, various writers share what the blog has meant to them.

Meghan Whalen crouches down to wrap her arms around her guide dog, Amiera. She rests her right elbow on her right knee while she embraces Amiera with her left. Meghan smiles forward as Amiera’s face points towards the floor.

The Four Building Blocks for a Successful Guide Dog

Have you ever wondered what goes into determining if a guide dog is eligible for the job? Meghan Whalen lives in Madison and is training her own guide dog. She outlines the four factors required to make a quality service dog.

Sully, a black lab, stands on a patch of green grass that is littered with fallen leaves. He wears a brown leather harness that features a neon yellow sign that reads “DO NOT PET ME – I AM WORKING.” His head is slightly cocked to the left, and he looks forward with big, brown eyes. Sully’s owner, Janell, is standing next to him and is pictured from the waist down. She wears dark blue jeans and a pair of black clogs.

Strolling with Sully: Transition from White Cane to Guide Dog, Part II

Have you ever taken into consideration all the responsibilities that go into becoming a guide dog handler? Janell Groskreutz discusses the commands, upkeep of training and work that went into forming the strong bond with her guide dog, Sully.

Katherine Corbett stands at a kitchen countertop. To her left is a blue plastic bowl. In her right hand, she holds a pick measuring cup, which is filled halfway. With her left hand, her fingers grace the braille pages of one of her favorite cookbooks.

Baking with Braille

Katherine Corbett describes her use of braille throughout her life as she cooks. Read on to find the sugar cookie recipe she enjoys making for holiday gift boxes!

Strolling with Sully: Transition from White Cane to Guide Dog, Part I

A defining moment in your life is both exhilarating and terrifying. In the first part of her guide dog adventure, Janell Groskreutz describes the application process, and the moment she knew a guide dog was for her!

An Old Dog Learns New Tricks: Sometimes Technology Empowers

Katherine Schneider thought her age would preclude her from having to learn technology; it wasn’t to be so. Through giving a PowerPoint presentation, obtaining a beeping ball and learning how to use some new apps for her iPhone, she points out that learning and using technology can be empowering, no matter your age.

a. A guide dog in their harness stands facing the left as its owner sits surrounded by other people. The owner has her right hand placed on the dog’s back. This particular image is not that of Chad Nelson or his guide dog Laura. It is an example of what a guide dog looks like with their harness on.

The Seeing Eye Dog Experience, Part III

Wouldn’t it be fun to visit New York City? Chad Nelson describes the final stages of his training with Laura, his Seeing Eye dog, as they navigate the bustling streets and subway systems of Manhattan.

White Cane

White Cane Safety Day is this weekend! Read how self-defense instructor Jim Turk describes the sense of liberation and empowerment his white cane has given him.

Following the Signs Along my Journey to Braille

“Stop,” “Greenway Trail,” and “Exit,” are examples of signs print readers see on a daily basis. Braille reader Katherine Corbett describes how her mom helped her learn to read by making signs for objects in their home. Read on to find out how she did it.