Iowa Department for the Blind

Join us next week as we celebrate National DeafBlind Awareness Week! From June 25–July 1, we'll host five incredible guest speakers for a series of virtual presentations featuring powerful stories, personal experiences, and valuable insights into the DeafBlind community.

📅 Daily Zoom sessions: 12:00–1:00 PM
💻 Attend from anywhere
🤝 Be part of the conversation

View the full schedule and event details at https://blind.iowa.gov/national-deafblind-awareness

We look forward to learning, connecting, and celebrating together!

📢 We are excited to participate in the upcoming VR Townhall series on June 23, 2026, which focuses on self-employment. Join us via Zoom from 12–1 PM.

Learn more: https://blind.iowa.gov/press-release/2026-03-17/vr-townhall

VR Town Hall Series: Understanding Workforce Services for Iowans with Disabilities

Iowans with disabilities make up a large portion of our state’s talent pool. Making sure they have access to meaningful employment opportunities strengthens their own individual independence and drives new growth across Iowa’s economy.

A series of townhalls aims to help various stakeholders and the public better understand the full range of services that are making a difference for this critical area of the workforce.

The VR Townhall series features updates from both Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the Iowa Department for the Blind. Each townhall will focus on a specific program area.

The next event in the series is June 23, 2026, and will focus on self-employment.

Learn more: workforce.iowa.gov/VR-Townhall

📣Thrive Thursdays are back as part of the 2026 LEAP Program! Designed for Pre-ETS students, Thrive Thursdays offer a chance to participate in a single day of programming without committing to an entire LEAP session block.

We're excited to welcome Debra Erickson of BlindKitchen as our first guest speaker on June 11! Learn more and register: https://blind.iowa.gov/thrive-thursdays

2026 Guest Speakers
📅 June 11 – Debra Erickson, BlindKitchen
📅 June 18 – Blake and Jewel, Serenity Massage & Energywork
📅 June 25 – Lenora Hagen, Toadally Awesome Pets
📅 July 9 – Library Panel
📅 July 16 – Library & Tech Panels
📅 July 23 – TBD
📅 July 30 – Cody Silker, D.O.
📅 August 6 – Christina Freedman, TVI

To close out Older Americans Month, we’re highlighting one of our OIB clients: Mary Sonksen!

A Des Moines resident, Mary has been legally blind since birth and has spent much of her life advocating for and supporting others with vision loss through her teaching career and leadership of a local support group. 👏

Read more about how Mary continues to champion her health and gain new skills: https://blind.iowa.gov/press-release/2026-05-27/mary-sonksen

This May, we’re celebrating Older Americans Month and the 2026 theme: Champion Your Health 🏃‍♀️👏

Throughout the month, we’ll be sharing client spotlights from our Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) program, highlighting stories of resilience, growth, and independence!

Follow along and learn more about our Independent Living Services: https://blind.iowa.gov/press-release/2026-05-13/older-americans-month-2026

Join our free virtual workshops for blind and low-vision Pre-ETS students ages 14–21! This month’s sessions focus on advocating for your financial future:

💰 Earning While Learning (May 14)
💵 Saving Money (May 21)
📈 Investing in Your Future (May 28)

Students will gain practical tools, self-advocacy skills, and real-world advice from blind and low-vision mentors — all while connecting with peers!

Learn more and register: https://blind.iowa.gov/press-release/2026-05-06/pre-ets-virtual-programming-may-2026