Tomorrow is The Big Share, an annual online day of giving organized by Community Shares of Wisconsin (CSW) to benefit the Council and other Wisconsin nonprofits making a difference in their communities and across the state. CSW is a member-directed organization that connects donors and nonprofits across the state to bring about long-term systems changes that address social, economic and environmental issues. Over 80 CSW member organizations are participating in The Big Share this year. Your gift during The Big Share can help support all the work the Council does every day.
A gift of any size will be used to further our mission of supporting the dignity and empowerment of people who are blind or low vision in Wisconsin.
- $35 buys a white cane someone can use for identification, wayfinding and support.
- $50 helps provide one-on-one access technology training to help someone learn to use access technology on their smart device for the first time.
- $80 helps fund an orientation & mobility session that can equip someone to move through their community safely using a white cane.
- $150 helps fund ongoing one-on-one vision rehabilitation therapy to build confidence and long-term independence.
- $250 provides specialized adaptive tools and equipment tailored to individuals’ needs.
- $500 sustains our advocacy work to remove barriers and increase access so thousands of Wisconsinites with vision loss can receive the services and protections they need for years to come.
- $1,000 strengthens our sliding scale for services, ensuring everyone can access the services and adaptive equipment they need regardless of their ability to pay.
According to the VisionServe Alliance’s Big Data Report on Older Adults with Vision Loss, about 30% of adults age 65 and older with vision loss in Wisconsin have an annual income below $20,000. The Big Data Report on working-age adults found that nearly three-quarters of Wisconsinites 18 to 64 years old who are blind or low vision earn less than $35,000 per year. Living with a disability often comes with significant unavoidable expenses, such as adaptive equipment. The Council will serve every client that reaches out for services, no matter their level of income or ability to pay. Your gift during The Big Share helps us to make our services accessible to everyone with vision loss.
Many of the services the Council provides do not have a visible cost and do not bring in revenue, but they are just as important. For example, the Council works with state lawmakers to promote legislation that will benefit people with vision loss, and with individuals in all corners of Wisconsin to help them make change happen at the local level. Our Vision Services Navigator connects clients with our own vision services professionals as well as with other resources in their communities to help ensure that all their needs are met. This and all the other vital work the Council does every day require paid staff time.
A gift during The Big Share helps us to continue to work toward our mission of supporting the dignity and empowerment of people with vision loss across Wisconsin. Our Big Share goal this year is to raise $10,000. You can learn more about this year’s Big Share campaign and give today at TheBigShare.org/Organizations/Wisconsin-Council-Of-The-Blind-Visually-Impaired.