Desi Oudinot: Growing up with VisionCorps

Desi Oudinot was introduced to VisionCorps as a young preschooler.  At the time VisionCorps had an onsite preschool program for young children with vision loss.

“My first interaction with VisionCorps was when I was a preschooler in the early education program,” said Desi, who grew up in Narvon, a rural area of Lancaster County.

The preschool program provided Desi with preschool academics through Braille and orientation and mobility skills.  The preschool was also a chance for Desi and her family to meet other students who were also experiencing vision loss and their families.

“Normalizing being vision impaired and build a foundation for me to know that I could do anything I wanted to do.”

Throughout her time in the public school system, Desi attended VisionCorps’ Camp Cool program now called Vision Outfitters.  She spent time with peers participating in many activities, and some of her favorites were trips to the Garden of the Five Senses at Lancaster County Park and  swimming.

When Desi started public school, she found it to be a difficult place for a child who is blind.

“Public school was a tough place for me,” said Desi. “There were few resources and kids can be mean. When it was time for gym, I was told to sit on the sidelines and do nothing.”

She struggled with teachers who did not know how to adapt lessons to help a child who was blind and she was bullied from other students.

In high school, Desi transferred to the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia. She made friends and learned in classrooms with accommodations. She was able to participate in adaptive sports such as goalball, track and field, and swimming. She also participated in the choir and played handbells. These opportunities gave her the opportunity to enjoy activities previously denied to her in public school, and enabled her to travel to other schools for the blind throughout the country for sports tournaments and music festivals.

“At Overbrook, I was the same as the other kids.”

After finishing high school, Desi spent time in Pittsburgh learning independent living skills. She returned to her home in Narvon, took classes in IT, and after some time, reconnected with VisionCorps.

In June 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Desi started working in the Enterprise Group (EG) manufacturing division in VisionCorps’ Lancaster office.

“It was surreal to be on the frontlines sewing masks to be used during the pandemic,” she said. Assembling helmet pads for U.S. military troops was inspiring, especially after US Veterans from Team River Runner visited the workplace and explained how the helmets and pads protected them against traumatic injuries in combat.

“It can be tough for us (those who are blind or vision impaired) to get jobs – up to 70 percent of us are not employed,” said Desi, “and I was embarrassed when people asked what do you do for a living or what’s your job, and I had to say I was unemployed.”

Her job at VisionCorps helped Desi feel successful and gave her the building blocks to look for other things. Her skills and confidence grew, and she recently moved into the city and lives on her own.

She likes working with a group of individuals with vision impairments from diverse backgrounds even though it is sometimes hard to relate to those who lost vision throughout their lives rather than being born blind, like herself.

“It was a good experience to get to know people and their stories, and also to get better at working with my hands,” said Desi. But after a few years on the line, she was ready to move on.

As part of VisionCorps Upward Mobility Program Desi started working in the rehabilitation department helping clients learn how to live independently.

“I never thought I would be considered a source of knowledge and wisdom for others and its humbling to think that people are looking up to me,” said Desi. “I hope to lead with empathy, to begin where the person is and work toward going wherever the journey may take her.”

Desi is now working in a new position as an administrative support representative for the business development group at VisionCorps. She will continue to also provide support for clients from the rehabilitation department, when needed.

“I’m excited to learn new roles while I continue to help clients who are blind,” said Desi. “I want to continue to advance in my work career.”

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