In an unassuming manufacturing facility in Omaha, machines don’t just beep when there’s a problem — they talk. High-speed cameras magnify critical production areas onto large external screens. And the workforce producing thousands of cases of paper products each week includes over 50 employees who are blind or have visual impairments.
Outlook Nebraska isn’t just a janitorial paper producer — it’s the largest employer of people who are blind across a seven-state region, and it’s rewriting the possibilities of workplace accessibility and inclusion.
Watch how Outlook Nebraska and Outlook Enrichment are revolutionizing workplace accessibility for blind and low-vision employees.
A Manufacturing Facility That Speaks
The facility operates like any other tissue converter, churning out 18,000 to 25,000 cases of roll towels and bathroom tissue weekly. Truckload after truckload ships to distribution partners nationwide, eventually reaching military and government installations around the world.
But look closer, and the differences become apparent. Where traditional manufacturing operations rely on visual screen alerts, Outlook Nebraska’s machines use voice notifications programmed to announce potential issues. Strategic placement of high-speed cameras and magnified displays helps workers monitor critical production points that would otherwise require close visual inspection.
“There’s so many different things that we can adapt,” said Eric Stueckrath, President & CEO of Outlook Nebraska. “A factory, an office setting, our home — we can do all of that by just being intentional about it.”
Of Outlook Nebraska’s approximately 85 employees, more than 50 have visual impairments ranging from low vision to complete blindness.
The company’s approach to employment goes beyond simply providing jobs. Workers receive opportunities spanning from entry-level positions to leadership roles, with career development tailored to individual goals and interests.
“If someone is growing and thriving and wants more and loves accounting, well, we’re going to find a way to get you into the accounting department,” said Stueckrath. “We really don’t care whether they’re here 10 years or they’re here for two and go work for somebody down the street. We want to celebrate their success.”
Beyond the Factory Floor
What began as an employment initiative in 2000 evolved into something much broader. Outlook Enrichment, the organization’s nonprofit arm, founded in 2019, now provides comprehensive services addressing the full spectrum of needs facing the visually impaired community.
The enrichment programs include adaptive technology training, where instructors teach clients to use screen readers like JAWS, closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) and everyday technology, even Apple Watches. Independent living instruction covers home management, cane travel and braille. A work readiness program helps individuals prepare for employment or navigate career changes necessitated by vision loss.
“One thing that I like about Outlook that sets us apart is our trainers are visually impaired themselves,” said Nina Rongisch, Executive Director with Outlook Enrichment. “They’re using this technology every day[…] It gives our clients a sense of comfort knowing, okay, they’re living what I’m living so they can relate better.”
Recreation and Community
Perhaps most striking are the organization’s health, wellness and recreation programs. Partnering with adaptive sports specialists from the University of Nebraska Omaha, Outlook offers activities from rock climbing to gun range visits, tandem bike rides to beep baseball.
For many participants, especially youth, these programs provide their first opportunity to be full team members rather than sidelined due to their disability.
“One of our parents did say to us that this was their first time their child got to put on a number and be part of the team,” recalls Rongisch. “When they’re in schools, they’re not going to get picked to be part of those teams. But when they come to us… they get to be a part of a team.”
Tackling a Crisis-Level Unemployment Rate
The stakes extend far beyond one Nebraska operation. People who are blind or have low vision face an unemployment rate approaching 70% — a figure Outlook leadership describes as “astronomical.”
“If we can create an environment where other companies value that level of inclusivity and accessibility as much as we do, then that astronomical unemployment rate […] we can lessen that,” said Stueckrath. “With every person we activate in the community, we have better public service, better communities overall, the education system will be better. It will have a ripple effect across just about every facet of our life.”
The organization’s services now reach beyond Nebraska, with virtual support groups and programs serving clients nationwide.
A Model for the Future
As the facility continues to thrive and grow, the Outlook Collaborative, consisting of Outlook Nebraska and Outlook Enrichment, stands as proof that accessibility and productivity aren’t mutually exclusive. By meeting workers where they are — with adapted technology, individualized career pathways and comprehensive support services — the organization demonstrates that inclusion is not just possible but profitable.
“We want to take the stereotype off of what they can’t do and show you what they can do,” said Rongisch. “There’s a lot of stereotypes out there […] But actually, they can. We just need to adapt some of it.”
And the workers loading pallets, monitoring production lines, and shipping products worldwide from this Omaha facility show what they can do — daily.
This story comes from One on One, our new space for deeper conversations and standout Omaha stories.
