{"id":9678,"date":"2026-10-30T06:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T11:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9678"},"modified":"2026-10-30T06:43:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T11:43:12","slug":"more-than-making-lunch-everyday-skills-that-open-doors-the-independent-living-skills-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9678","title":{"rendered":"More Than Making Lunch: Everyday Skills That Open Doors &#8211; The Independent Living Skills Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5024\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9678-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/IndependentLivingSkillsLab2026.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/IndependentLivingSkillsLab2026.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/IndependentLivingSkillsLab2026.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 happens when blind students have space to try, make mistakes, and discover what they can do? Confidence grows\u2014and everyday tasks become steppingstones toward independence. On Blind Abilities, Jeff Thompson welcomes Kia Sadler from Minnesota State Services for the Blind to explore the Independent Living Skills Lab, a hands-on program where students learn alongside peers in a welcoming environment. From preparing lunch and managing laundry to dining confidently, exploring kitchen technology, and shopping for groceries, these classes turn practical skills into opportunities for greater freedom at home, college, and work. Parents will hear why encouraging participation and practicing at home can make a lasting difference. Students can build new friendships, ask questions, and discover techniques that work for them. Classes meet the second Saturday, October through May, from 9 a.m. to noon. Choose individual sessions and register by the preceding Monday. To learn more or sign up, email&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:Kia.Sadler@state.mn.us\">Kia.Sadler@state.mn.us<\/a>&nbsp;directly.<\/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\"><strong>Contact Kia Sadler:&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"mailto:Kia.Sadler@state.mn.us\">Kia.Sadler@state.mn.us<\/a><strong><\/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\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?page_id=9675\">Full Transcript<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks for listening!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5026\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9678-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/IndependentLivingSkillsLab2026.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/IndependentLivingSkillsLab2026.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/IndependentLivingSkillsLab2026.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p>https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/IndependentLivingSkillsLab2026.mp3 Podcast Summary: What happens when blind students have space to try, make mistakes, and discover what they can do? Confidence grows\u2014and everyday tasks become steppingstones toward independence. On Blind Abilities, Jeff Thompson welcomes Kia Sadler from Minnesota State Services for the Blind to explore the Independent Living Skills Lab, a hands-on program where students [&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_feature_clip_id":0,"_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":[17,495,559],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-audio","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bapresents","category-lifeenrichment","category-ssb","post_format-post-format-audio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-2w6","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4780,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4780","url_meta":{"origin":9678,"position":0},"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":4783,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4783","url_meta":{"origin":9678,"position":1},"title":"Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss: Summer Programs 2019","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Teachers, SSB Counselors, Parents and Teens: It is March \u2013 a time when we all start looking forward to the warmer days of summer!\u00a0\u00a0 Are you interested in a summer camp for a teen with vision loss (or yourself) - but searching for a camp that is fun, social\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":8305,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=8305","url_meta":{"origin":9678,"position":2},"title":"Unlocking Potential: The Summer Transition\u00a0\u00a0Program Tours State Services for the Blind","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"June 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Podcast Summary: Full Transcript The Students of\u00a0\u00a0the Summer Transition Program (STP), toured State Services for the Blind (SSB), which provides resources and training in independent living skills, job readiness, orientation & mobility, and college preparation for blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind students. During this tour, students engage in activities like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Career&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Career","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=373"},"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":8362,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=8362","url_meta":{"origin":9678,"position":3},"title":"Outdoors for All: Inclusive Camping with Wilderness Inquiry","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"August 23, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Podcast Summary: Full Transcript State Services for the Blind\u00a0and the\u00a0Lighthouse Center for Vital Living\u00a0collaborated with\u00a0Wilderness Inquiry\u00a0to offer a unique camping and canoeing experience for Pre-ETS students at Interstate State Park, Minnesota. This initiative aimed to empower blind and low-vision youth by enhancing their independence, self-advocacy, and teamwork skills. Participants engaged\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Independent Living&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Independent Living","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=310"},"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":9480,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9480","url_meta":{"origin":9678,"position":4},"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":3461,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=3461","url_meta":{"origin":9678,"position":5},"title":"Take Full Advantage of Transition Services: Enhancing Opportunities for Success &#8211; Meet Kylee Jungbauer (Transcript Provided)","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"April 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Kylee Jungbauer is a rehabilitation counselor at state services for the blind. Her concentration is transition age students. We talked to Kylie about what services they provide for students. Transitioning from high school to college and to the workplace. State services for the blind has a Transition Unit that facilitates\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"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":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_0035.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9678","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=9678"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9680,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9678\/revisions\/9680"}],"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=9678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}