{"id":9463,"date":"2026-03-20T16:24:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T21:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9463"},"modified":"2026-03-20T16:24:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T21:24:13","slug":"new-language-new-opportunities-unlocking-independence-through-english-learning-with-abbi-mayland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9463","title":{"rendered":"New Language, New Opportunities: Unlocking Independence Through English Learning with Abbi Mayland"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_9464\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9463-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Abbi_ELL.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Abbi_ELL.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Abbi_ELL.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Podcast Summary:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What if learning English could open the door to independence, education, and meaningful work? In this episode of Blind Abilities, Jeff Thompson sits down with English Language Learning specialist Abbi Mayland from State Services for the Blind of Minnesota. Abbi shares how she helps students who are blind, DeafBlind, or low vision \u2014 and who may not speak English\u2014build the skills they need to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using creative, hands-on teaching methods like real objects, conversation, audio learning, and Braille, Abbi supports students from all over the world as they grow in confidence and communication. Many begin with little or no English, but soon find themselves holding real conversations and navigating daily life with greater independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you or your family member is learning English and facing vision challenges, this episode offers hope, encouragement, and a clear message: language does not have to be a barrier\u2014success is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Links of interests:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/deed\/ssb\/teens\/news.jsp\">The Spectacle Newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/deed\/ssb\/teens\/\">Youth Services at SSB<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To find out more about the services provided at State Services for the Blind, and what they can do for you, contact Shane DeSantis at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:shane.desantis@state.mn.us\">shane.desantis@state.mn.us<\/a>&nbsp;or call Shane at&nbsp;651-385-5205.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks for listening!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?page_id=9459\">Full Transcript<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_9466\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9463-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Abbi_ELL.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Abbi_ELL.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Abbi_ELL.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p>https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/Abbi_ELL.mp3 Podcast Summary: What if learning English could open the door to independence, education, and meaningful work? In this episode of Blind Abilities, Jeff Thompson sits down with English Language Learning specialist Abbi Mayland from State Services for the Blind of Minnesota. Abbi shares how she helps students who are blind, DeafBlind, or low vision [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"audio","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17,559],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-audio","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bapresents","category-ssb","post_format-post-format-audio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-2sD","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9480,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9480","url_meta":{"origin":9463,"position":0},"title":"No Limits to Learning: A Summer Program That Builds Independence","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"April 1, 2026","format":"audio","excerpt":"Step into a summer that could change everything. At the Colorado Center for the Blind, the\u00a0No Limits to Learning program\u00a0invites blind, deafblind, and low vision students ages 15\u201321 to live, learn, and grow in a fully immersive experience. You\u2019ll stay in real apartments, cook your own meals, travel using public\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blind Abilities Logo - White capital letters B and A on black background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9527,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9527","url_meta":{"origin":9463,"position":1},"title":"More Than a Competition: Minnesota\u2019s First Cane Quest","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"May 22, 2026","format":"audio","excerpt":"Podcast Summary: Minnesota\u2019s first Cane Quest brought together students, families, teachers, orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists, and volunteers for a day focused on confidence, independence, and real-world travel skills. \u2022 Students practiced tactile maps, cardinal directions, obstacle detection, stair travel, street crossings, and locating destinations using white cane techniques. \u2022\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blind Abilities Logo - White capital letters B and A on black background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4780,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4780","url_meta":{"origin":9463,"position":2},"title":"Minnesota State Academy for the Blind (MSAB) 2019 Summer Programs","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Visit MSAB on the web! Follow MSAB on Facebook. The following programs will run from July 15 - July 26 from 8:00 am -\u00a02:00 pm Registration will be held on: Sunday, July 14 from 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Please Note:\u00a0Applications must be received no later than Friday, May 10,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Blog&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=239"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8756,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=8756","url_meta":{"origin":9463,"position":3},"title":"Cooking Up Confidence: Ready, Set, Prep","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"July 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Podcast Summary: Get ready to explore, experiment, and own the kitchen! In this exciting episode of Blind Abilities, Jeff Thompson visits the Ready, Set, Prep program at State Services for the Blind of Minnesota\u2014a hands-on class designed for blind and visually impaired students to learn cooking and life skills in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;College&quot;","block_context":{"text":"College","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=263"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9621,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9621","url_meta":{"origin":9463,"position":4},"title":"Explore, Connect and Grow: Students Discover Career Possibilities at Cragun\u2019s Resort","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"August 30, 2026","format":"audio","excerpt":"What happens when career exploration meets lakeside adventure? At State Services for the Blind\u2019s first Career Exploration Adventure Weekend at Cragun\u2019s Resort, blind, low-vision, and DeafBlind students from across Minnesota discovered possibilities, practiced independence, and built friendships. Randi Lasher shares how the three-day event combined customized job shadowing, a career\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blind Abilities Logo - White capital letters B and A on black background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9471,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9471","url_meta":{"origin":9463,"position":5},"title":"Curiosity Opens the Door: Louie McGee\u2019s Journey from Minnesota to Law School","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 27, 2026","format":"audio","excerpt":"Podcast Summary: What does it take to step beyond comfort and truly build independence? In this episode of Blind Abilities, Louie McGee shares his journey from Minnesota to law school in Chicago, proving that curiosity\u2014not perfection\u2014is the real key to success. Born with Stargardt\u2019s, Louie doesn\u2019t just adapt\u2014he explores. From\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blind Abilities Logo - White capital letters B and A on black background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9463"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9464,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9463\/revisions\/9464"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}