Things are always buzzing at the Council offices. But recently a different kind of buzz was heard when the Council hosted a visit by students from the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Janesville. The six students, members of a College and Career Readiness class, and four staff members came to the Council to learn about our services as they prepare for the transition from school to adulthood and into the workforce.
Council staff arranged themselves at workstations throughout the offices, with each stop offering a different learning opportunity focusing on adulthood and starting work. The tour included a walk through the Sharper Vision Store, where they showed a lot of interest in the wide range of adaptive products on display.
Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist and Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist Brent Perzentka led a discussion about O&M skills as applied to new neighborhoods, living situations, college campuses and workplaces. Access Technology Specialist Jim Denham introduced the visitors to some workplace-related technology and talked about services available through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Executive Director Denise Jess spoke to the students about careers, work readiness, career opportunities in vision services, and the Council’s scholarship program. One of the highlights of the visit was a demonstration of an accessible voting machine presented by City of Madison staff.
“Given all the COVID restrictions in recent years, this is the first time we’ve had students from the Center visit the Council in a long while,” Denise said. “I’ve met with the students each year via Google Meet, but having them here in person, getting their hands on things and meeting several Council staff was an absolute joy. We hope to interact with these young adults throughout their lives.”
