Good Works Wednesday
A newsletter celebrating ASB progress, programs and people
At Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, we work every day to help individuals build skills and gain access to the information, experiences and resources they need to live the lives they wish to lead. We are an agency for anyone, anywhere on the vision loss continuum and offer education, training, community-based enrichment opportunities and referrals to help them achieve their individual goals.
FRIDAY: Professional Development Workshop
Thanks to everyone who participated in our Professional Development Workshop on Friday, July 9! Here are some takeaways from The Helper’s Personal Experience: Self-Reflection and Self-Disclosure and Emotional Intelligence with Kevin E. O’Connor, CSP.
Program Takeaways: Paraphrasing, self-reflection and self-disclosure are intentional skills that help us become more aware, responsible and responsive to others. Regardless of our professional position or education, each of us can use these skills to be more useful to others. For example, when we ask others how they are today, they might very well say, “I’m fine, thanks for asking. How are you?” Or they might disclose more details depending on their relationship with us. That is an appropriate time to bring out paraphrasing and empathy skills. Paraphrasing is the key. By playing back what you hear, you send the message that you are listening. It also helps other people understand what they are saying.
Next Session: The next professional development session is scheduled for the Department of Education & Enrichment Programming on Friday, July 23 from 9 – 10:30 a.m. where we will learn about The Skills of Empathy and Encouragement: Dealing with Participant Setbacks, Resistance, and Discouragement.
If you have a scheduling conflict, please let your manager know as soon as possible to make arrangements for you to make up the session. If you have any specific questions about the training schedule, please contact Emily Yaskowski at eyaskowski@asb.org.
FRIDAY: ASB’s Speaker Series
Every week ASB welcomes professionals to speak with participants about topics such as health and welfare, insurance and finances, legal assistance and much more! This week, participants can join us on Friday, July 23 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. for a session on Diabetes: It’s a Family Matter by Health Partners.
If any of the participants you work with are interested in signing up for this session, please contact our Director of Participant Engagement and Outreach, Lexi Jones, at ajones@asb.org or at 267-551-0561.
NOW ENROLLING: Free Internet Access with Internet Essentials by Comcast
ASB is continuing to offer FREE internet access to participants through a new partnership with Comcast’s Internet Essentials Partnership Program (IEPP). Participants can get more information and determine their eligibility by contacting ASB’s Director of Participant Engagement and Outreach, Lexi Jones, at ajones@asb.org or by calling 267-551-0561.
ASB is sharing the events below as a courtesy to ASB participants. These are non-ASB events. Please be mindful of any requirements, including COVID-19 requirements, that may apply.
TOMORROW: Making Money Work—Including Disability in the Financial Equation
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is closing out its Centennial Conversations with a panel discussion on the importance of including disability when tackling diversity, equity and financial inclusion. The program,Making Money Work—Including Disability in the Financial Equation, istomorrow (Thursday, July 22) at 2 p.m. EST. Participants can register here for free: https://www.afb.org/afb100/disability-financial-equation.
This live Q&A will host four panelists, including,
- Thomas Foley, Executive Director, National Disability Institute
- Rodney E. Hood, Board Member and Former Chairman, National Credit Union Administration
- Lauren Oplinger, Vice President, JPMorgan Chase
- Denise Steele, Community Engagement Manager, JPMorgan Chase
In case any of the participants you work with missed AFB’s previous centennial events, they can replay the archived conversations below:
- Inclusion, Intersectionality, and the Future of Work
- The Power of Gratitude and Joy: A Conversation with Rebecca Alexander
- Matthew Whitaker: The Inclusive Power of Music
- Women in Leadership: A Conversation About the Intersection of Gender and Visual Impairment
- Dinner and Music for a Historic Celebration
- Art of Inclusion: AFB100 Concert & Celebration
AFB is committed to creating inclusive events. Captions, ASL, audio description and transcripts will be available for all #AFB100 events. If you need any other accommodations, please contact the AFB at communications@afb.org.