By: Dr. Jesse O. Bolinger
AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is one of many programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Unlike other National Service programs, VISTA members are unique in that they only serve in communities with poverty issues and only engage in capacity building activities. Capacity building activities are those that create programs and make positive changes within a community.
There are several requirements set by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer service as well as my host agency, the Decatur County Development Corporation. One of these requirements is a disability inclusion project that I have completed, in part, through the creation of a YouTube video regarding volunteerism and individuals with disabilities. The YouTube video can be found here.
To aid in inclusion of people with disabilities I am working to redesign the Decatur County Development Corporation website. The new site will also allow for Decatur County Development Corporation staff to have more control and flexibility over future updates and content development. Many of the projects I am engaged in have elements that have some sort of technological connection a website redesign reflects outcomes and addresses needs that were established from other projects that include the high school internship program and the identified need for an online resource directory in Decatur County.
As I work to develop the various elements of the new site, I have taken steps to ensure that individuals with various disabilities can access the site. These elements include an accessible WordPress theme as well as a plugin that will allow a user to change elements such as font size, contrast and much more. Before the site is released to the public it will be tested in various ways including a check to ensure that the site can be navigated with a screen reader and without the use of a mouse. The new site will also include alternative text for all images and transcripts for all audio and video elements. If you are interested in volunteering to assist with site testing, please contact me.
I am excited to report that the new site will allow for online courses. The first planned course focuses on financial and resource scarcity. This course is planned to take less than two hours to complete and will provide insights in understanding how to work through a situation of financial or resource scarcity. The course includes several assignments that can be completed to better understand this issue, the impact to the individual, families and the community. The course will present possible solutions to address low income impacts in Decatur County. It is my hope and a goal of the project that this course will increase conversation that will lead to the creation of new programs and services that produce change and opportunities for Decatur county residents who are at risk or currently live in at or below the federal poverty level.
Over the remainder of my term of service as a VISTA, I encourage anyone who has questions, comments or ideas about how to improve the quality of life in Decatur County to contact me. I enjoy having conversations with individual who wish to share their own personal experience and am always willing to visit with any individual or group. Please feel free to contact me by phone at (641)455-2896 or by e-mail at jbolinger@dcdciowa.org.