The Council is excited to come to rural Wisconsin this fall for On Sight: Vision Loss Resources in Southwest Wisconsin. This free informational event will feature presentations on a variety of topics, from how to access vision rehabilitation services to public policy issues like transportation. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Iowa County Health and Human Services Building in Dodgeville.
The Council is committed to promoting the dignity and independence of people with blindness or low vision across the entire state of Wisconsin. There is a false perception that most people with vision loss live in urban areas like Madison and Milwaukee, so they can have easy access to services. But the reality is that people who are blind or visually impaired exist in all corners of the state, and those living in rural areas face greater barriers to services than those living in larger cities.
According to the VisionServe Alliances’ Big Data Report on Older Adults with Vision Loss, 3.6% of older adults in Iowa County, 5.3% of older adults in Richland County, 6% of older adults in Sauk County, and 6.1% of older adults in Grant County report having significant levels of vision loss. Other than Iowa County, all those counties have higher rates than the statewide average of 4.2%.
Valerie Hiltbrand of the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Southwest Wisconsin in Dodgeville, says many areas are simply not accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Transportation options are limited, if they exist at all, and the towns themselves are often difficult for pedestrians to navigate. “People who can’t drive are going to have a harder time walking around Dodgeville than they would in someplace like Madison,” Valerie says. “And that’s Dodgeville, one of the bigger towns. People living in smaller communities around the area are going to have an even harder time getting around.”
Additionally, there are fewer regular and specialty eye care services in Southwest Wisconsin than in larger urban areas. Many rural small towns don’t have any such services readily available, forcing people to have to travel to cities like Dodgeville or Platteville to find a provider. The state’s Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired does, however, station a vision rehabilitation specialist in the area, who provides rehab services to people in multiple counties. But it can be difficult to identify exactly what services you can most benefit from. The Council is hopeful that this event will help folks in the area learn both what services are out there and how to access them. “We are so excited for this event, because this kind of information can be hard to find in Southwest Wisconsin,” Valerie says.
The main goal of On Sight: Vision Loss Resources in Southwest Wisconsin is to introduce people to these services and let them know that in spite of the obstacles, those in rural areas can live more independently with the right knowledge and support.
“I want people living in Southwest Wisconsin who are blind or have low vision to know that there are services available to help them live with dignity as their vision changes,” Council Executive Director Denise Jess says. “There are many folks who have simply decided that there is nothing they can do about their vision loss. We want people to know that there are skills you can learn and tools you can use to continue to live your life on your terms.”
The event will also serve a social function, allowing people with vision loss to meet others in similar situations and recognize that they are not alone. “These kinds of events are critical for so many people,” Denise says. “It can give people something to look forward to and allow them to connect with other individuals who may be experiencing similar challenges and experiences”
In addition to the Council, representatives from the ADRC of Southwest Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library will be on hand, as well Rehabilitation Specialist Chasie Willis of the Wisconsin Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
The event is free and open to all, and lunch will be provided at no cost for those who register by October 1. Registration is strongly encouraged, and you can do so online at WCBlind.org/Council-Events/On-Sight-Vision-Loss-Resources-In-Southwest-Wisconsin.
