References when my manager was laid off too - any advice?

I worry a reference will only confirm dates of employment. I have read a lot of threads here and could not find my exact situation. A colleague offered to vouch for me. How do you ask politely?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

I kept a note of my results so my references could be specific. They appreciated it.