In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the remarkable women at Ensight Skills Center who are dedicated to empowering those with visual impairments. In this blog, we feature our new ED, Melody Bettenhausen, and Occupational Therapists Melissa Workman and Cori Layton, whose combined expertise and passion drive our mission forward.
New Beginnings: Priorities for Year One
When asked about her top priorities during her first year as CEO, Melody was clear and focused:
“STABLE FUNDING is essential,” Melody emphasizes. “I’m also deeply committed to engaging with donors and volunteers to create an even larger network of care and support for the low-vision community.”
Innovation stands at the core of her approach as well. “Finding new and innovative ways to reach patients and grow Ensight’s accessibility is crucial to our mission,” she adds.
Building for the Future: The 3-5 Year Vision
Looking ahead, Melody sees Ensight evolving while staying true to its core mission.
“As an ever-evolving program, I aim to strengthen the wonderful services we currently provide,” she explains. “I want to engage more of the professional and medical community so that we can create a network of occupational therapists, optometrists, and orientation and mobility specialists who are passionate about providing care and can be available to work with Ensight as our program sees more patients throughout Colorado.”
Her vision extends beyond service delivery to broader awareness. “We want people to really understand what Ensight does and how important our work is. We need professionals who will dedicate time and effort. I want a solid base of people to help provide services.”
Women’s Influence: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
When reflecting on the women pioneers who have influenced her work, Melody acknowledges historical figures while highlighting personal connections.
“The obvious answer is Helen Keller and Tilly Aston from a historical figure perspective,” she notes. “But on a more personal level, I am surrounded by women like Denny Moyer and Penn Street who fight hard to make this world better for people with disabilities.”
She also celebrates local heroes: “Let’s not forget local heroes like Temple Grandin and Sister Mary Alice Murphy. I have had the joy of working with Sister Mary Alice over the years in many capacities. Her heart is much bigger and stronger than most.”
Personal Connection: The Power of Family and Friendship
Melody’s dedication to serving those with visual impairments stems from deeply personal experiences.
“My whole life I have been inspired by my mom who is visually impaired,” she shares with evident pride. “Driving is the only thing she can’t seem to manage anymore. She has run businesses, households, sat on national boards as a director, and really found her passion. Her passion is to help others. She has accomplished so much despite her extensive vision loss.”
Friendship has also shaped her understanding: “I have been friends with Penn for over 15 years, and Penn Street is a truly unstoppable force. With her guide dog and husband by her side, there is nothing she can’t do. Except for driving. That driving always gets you.”
The Hands-On Approach: Meet Melissa Workman, OTR/L
Occupational therapists are the backbone of Ensight’s services, working directly with clients to improve their quality of life. Melissa Workman brings over 30 years of experience to her role, with specialized training in low-vision rehabilitation.
Finding Her Path to Occupational Therapy
Melissa’s journey into occupational therapy began early. “When I was in high school and considering future careers, my mother worked in an outpatient pediatric therapy clinic. This introduced me to occupational, physical, and speech therapies,” she recalls. “I was immediately drawn to the diversity and full-spectrum therapy offered by OT, to improve everyday activity participation and satisfaction.”
Joining the Ensight Family
Melissa’s path to Ensight represents a perfect alignment of expertise and opportunity. “I came across a part-time job advertisement for Ensight as I was looking to expand my career repertoire, having recently moved to Colorado. It seemed like a perfect fit for me!”
Her background made her uniquely qualified for the role. “As an OT for over 30 years, I had worked in virtually every practice setting and with a variety of populations. In 2011 I completed a Post-Professional Master’s Degree in OT, including a Low Vision Graduate Certificate, through the University of Alabama-Birmingham. However, as a U.S. Navy spouse with frequent moves, I never had the opportunity to work exclusively in the low-vision field. I was excited to challenge my skills and knowledge to serve those with visual impairment.”
The Rewards of Restoring Independence
When asked about the most rewarding aspects of her work, Melissa highlights the transformative moments. “I find it very rewarding when a client discovers a technique or device to complete a task he/she was previously unable to perform. That success often empowers the individual to slowly try other activities which ultimately results in increased life participation and satisfaction.”
If she could have any superpower to help her clients? “I would have to agree with Cori’s response on this one: restore vision! Despite not having that ‘magic wand,’ it does bring about great satisfaction to assist clients in using their remaining vision, teaching compensatory measures, and/or recommending optical or technological devices to maximize their everyday function.”
Breaking Misconceptions About Occupational Therapy
Melissa is passionate about educating the public about the true scope of occupational therapy. “I find most people do not know what occupational therapy is. I can’t count the number of times people think occupational therapists only ‘find people jobs.'”
She explains, “Occupational therapists work with individuals from birth to 100+, with virtually any diagnosis, and in a variety of settings from a hospital, home, clinic, school, work, etc. We work with clients, caregivers, and colleagues, to help maximize a person’s independence, safety, and successful engagement in everyday life, whether it be self-care, homemaking, mobility, leisure, learning, and employment, just to name a few.”
Decades of Dedication: Meet Cori Layton, OTR/L; SCLV
With an impressive 40-year career in occupational therapy, including 21 years at Ensight Skills Center, Cori Layton brings unparalleled experience and passion to her work with low-vision clients.
An Unexpected Career Path
Sometimes the most fulfilling careers begin in unexpected ways. “I decided to become an occupational therapist because of an interest survey I took in high school,” Cori shares. “I know that is a strange way to begin a career, however, it has proved to be very accurate because I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
Growing with Ensight
Cori’s journey with Ensight began through a colleague’s connection and her need for flexible work as a mother. “I got involved with Ensight Skills Center because a colleague of mine worked there and at the time my children were very young and I was looking for part-time work. My role has grown over the 21 years I have worked there immensely.”
This long-term commitment speaks to both her dedication to clients and the fulfilling nature of the work at Ensight.
Empowering Through Adaptation
Like her colleague Melissa, Cori wishes she could magically restore vision. “Of course, my superpower would be being able to lay my hands on my clients and make their vision return. But because I don’t have a functioning magic wand, I use everything in my power to help our clients keep their skills so that they can manage to not only stay at home but thrive.”
Preserving Life’s Joys
For Cori, one of the most rewarding aspects of her work is helping clients continue participating in activities that bring them joy. “Being able to teach someone skills and adaptations so they can participate in a hobby. I have so many hobbies that contribute to my happiness that I can’t imagine losing the ability to participate in something that has provided me joy for so many years.”
Her work exemplifies the personalized approach that makes Ensight special. “I have helped quilters continue to make blankets, artists continue to produce beautiful pieces and given people tips to maintain their ability to golf, fish, hike and read. I have done everything from teaching an individual to tie a fly with low vision to tips on how to feed and clean their Emu’s pens with low vision!”
The Breadth of Occupational Therapy
After four decades in the field, Cori echoes Melissa’s observation about public understanding of occupational therapy. “Despite being an occupational therapist for 40 years, I don’t think people understand the breadth of what we do. Our goal is to use strategies and teach different ways of doing something to maintain independence. This can be something as simple as being able to turn on an appliance to something as complex as being able to run a home sawmill.”
Early Intervention and Hope
When asked what challenges she would solve overnight, Cori emphasizes the importance of timely referrals. “I would ensure that doctors are referring clients early enough that people maintain hope about the future and are knowledgeable about techniques, tools, and strategies to remain independent in their own homes.”
She points to a critical issue in vision care: “There is a lot of misinformation about eye disease, particularly macular degeneration, that leads people to give up doing an activity prematurely. When clients have information, it empowers them and helps them to cope with this diagnosis.”
Living Life to the Fullest
Outside of work, Cori embodies the active, engaged lifestyle she helps her clients maintain. “I love being at work, but I also love to play. I am an avid quilter and crafter. I grow most of my food and I can fruit and vegetables from my garden in the fall. I love to hike, fish and paddle board and I am an avid horsewoman.”
Celebrating Women’s Leadership in Low-Vision Services
As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re proud to highlight the remarkable women who make Ensight Skills Center a beacon of hope and empowerment for those with visual impairments. From our visionary new ED to our dedicated occupational therapists with decades of combined experience, these women demonstrate how passion, expertise, and compassion can transform lives.
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