Mission: To Enhance the Quality of Life of the Blind and Visually Impaired. • Is the largest employer of the blind and visually impaired in Nebraska.
Ron Henry with his guide dog Kehotay.
Cover Story
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• Helps the blind gain confidence and skill sets to show their capabilities to the public. • Provides economic independence and an enhanced quality of life to our associates, who are able to become productive, taxpaying citizens. • Prepares its associates for opportunities to achieve upward mobility within ONI or at other successful businesses. • Has developed additional services for our blind and visually impaired associates, such as our Education and Training Program. This provides them with technology training that allows them to excel in their professional and personal lives.
Outlook Nebraska, Inc.
Opportunities for People Who are Blind
4125 South 72nd Street • Omaha, NE 68127 • 402.614.3331 • www.OutlookNebraska.org
BE ACTIVE, STAY ACTIVE
402.502.3878 | kompchiropractic.com 14510 F Street, Suite 103 | Omaha
Regency Lodge... Y our Retreat in Omaha. • 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space • Large, comfortable rooms • Indoor pool, WIFI, business & fitness center • Live Piano Bar Wednesday thru Friday • Unique wedding packages • Discounts for Friday & Sunday Receptions • Professional wedding planner on staff • Special room rate for out of town guests
909 S. 107th Ave. • Omaha, NE 68114 402.397.8000 • 800.617.8310 www.regencylodge.com
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january/february • 2013 GALA
<< research funding, working to improve the lives of all people affected by accelerating progress on the search for a cure, better treatments, and ways to prevent T1D. Today, JDRF is the leading global organization focused on T1D research and has contributed more than $1.6 billion to finding a cure. “Incidences of T1D are on the rise, and JDRF is the first stop of support for those just diagnosed,” Fraser explains. “We can provide education, mentors, outreach,and the opportunity to be a part of finding a cure, and so much more for those affected by T1D.” Despite what many people think, Fraser and those affiliated with JDRF know that T1D is a very complicated disease. “From those who are diagnosed at 9 months to those living with T1D for over 40 years…The daily regimen [they] have to live with every day of their lives—it blew my mind away!” One person who would agree with Fraser is Omahan Daron Smith, who was diagnosed with T1D in 1970—coincidentally, the same year JDRF was founded. According to Smith, T1D is best understood by the illustration of an old teeter-totter. But instead of being a regular teeter-totter, this teeter-totter is held up by a pencil and has three wooden planks joining in the center. One of the planks represents food intake. Another represents insulin intake. The last represents the exercise, emotions, and stress in life. “I am attempting to keep a perfect balance of my blood sugar levels with all three of these [planks] hitting me at once, all day every day,” says Smith Smith grew up in the Omaha area. After spending some time at the University of NebraskaLincoln, he began his career at a young age, working for Better Business Equipment, a company started by his father, Coyner Smith, in 1968. When his father retired from the company in 2000, Smith took over as President. Despite his demanding career and raising 11-year-old son Joshua, Smith has a more overwhelming issue that constantly needs his attention—the injection of insulin into his body on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. A healthy pancreas will keep the body’s blood sugar level at about 80-100 all day regardless of activity, food intake, or stress. But for a person with T1D, like
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