Connections: Peer Support and Training Program

Peer support has become a vital part of AEBC work, especially so during the pandemic. Blind persons found themselves even more isolated than they were prior to COVID 19. Facilitating connections with peers who are experiencing similar challenges has been one of the main focuses of AEBC activities in the past few years. Two weekly Zoom chat sessions (and more are being explored) have been hosted by volunteer AEBC members which welcomed AEBC members and non-members alike. During these chats, which could be attended by up to 15 participants, a variety of topics from coping with COVID testing to technology trouble-shooting have been discussed. Many find this connection with others who can understand and offer tried and true help, an essential coping tool during challenging times. It will be a little while yet before all AEBC members (and blind persons in general) will feel totally comfortable connecting with their peers again in person and it is anticipated that virtual peer support, at least for some, is here to stay. Those who require more extensive support, are connected with one-on-one peers who act as volunteer mentors.

Another aspect of the Peer Support and Training Program is Peer training through virtual one-on-one training sessions, workshops, presentations, public Board meetings, and publications. AEBC plans to return to in-person conferences and conventions as soon as it is considered practical and safe but in the meantime, and for the foreseeable future, training will carry on over the phone and using Zoom. One-on-one training has included a variety of topics from how to use different adaptive technologies to enable virtual fitness and health, recreational pursuits, on-line shopping and banking, and researching resources; to learning how to read Braille. Workshops and presentations have included access to elections, leadership and self advocacy training. Monthly open Board meetings enable members to keep in touch with AEBC activities and the “Member Mashup” at the end of each meeting gives members the opportunity to discuss current AEBC issues. The Announcement and Members’ discussion lists keep members informed about many blindness related topics as does the Equalizer, an AEBC quarterly publication.

Volunteers have given willingly of their time and expertise as Zoom Chat hosts, mentors, blindness skills trainers, presenters, workshop organizers, writers, editors and publishers. Many of these volunteer AEBC members live on very limited incomes and it is AEBC’s desire to compensate them for their contributions and/or to contract one or two individuals to do much of this work.Peer support has become a vital part of AEBC’s work, especially during the past two and a half years. Members of the blind, deafblind and partially sighted community continue to find themselves even more isolated than they were prior to COVID 19. Facilitating connections with peers in the blindness community who are experiencing similar challenges has been one of the main focuses of AEBC’s activities recently. Multiple weekly Zoom chat sessions have been hosted by volunteer AEBC members which welcome AEBC members and non-members alike. During these chats, which could be attended by up to 15 participants, a variety of topics from coping with COVID testing to technology trouble-shooting to advice on which type of boots provide the best comfort and traction, have been discussed. Many find this connection with others who can understand and offer tried and true help, an essential coping tool during these challenging times.

“The weekly chat is the highlight of my week. I don’t know how I would have coped if it hadn’t been for this connection,” says a Thursday evening chat regular.

Those who require more extensive individualized support, are connected virtually with one-on-one peers who act as volunteer mentors. It will be a little while yet, before all AEBC members (and blind persons in general) feel totally comfortable connecting with their peers again in person and it is anticipated that virtual peer support, at least for some, is here to stay.

Another aspect of Connections is peer training through virtual one-on-one training sessions, workshops, presentations, public Board meetings, and publications. AEBC plans to return to in-person meetings, conferences and conventions as soon as it is considered practical and safe but in the meantime, and for the foreseeable future, training will carry on over the phone and using Zoom.

One-on-one training has included a variety of topics from how to use different adaptive technologies to facilitate virtual fitness and health, recreational pursuits, on-line shopping and banking, and researching resources; to learning how to read Braille. Workshops and presentations have included access to elections, leadership and self advocacy training. Monthly open Board meetings enable members to keep in touch with AEBC activities and the “Member Mashup” at the end of each meeting gives members the opportunity to discuss current AEBC issues. The Announcement and Members’ discussion lists keep members informed about many blindness related topics as does the Equalizer, an AEBC quarterly publication.

AEBC members acting as volunteers have given willingly of their time and expertise as Zoom Chat hosts, mentors, blindness skills trainers, presenters, workshop organizers, writers, editors and publishers. Many of these individuals live on very limited incomes and it is AEBC’s desire to compensate them for their contributions and/or to contract one or two individuals to do much of this work.