Post Archive

A bus driving by the Wisconsin State Capitol

Council Setting its Advocacy Focus on Biennial State Budget

Governor Tony Evers’ proposed biennial budget for fiscal years 2023-25 weighs in at just under $104 billion of proposed state spending. The state budget impacts everyone in Wisconsin, but certain parts of it are of particular interest to the Council. Those include provisions related to mass transit, specialized transportation, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) services,… Continue Reading Council Setting its Advocacy Focus on Biennial State Budget

The braille alphabet

A Gift is Making It Easier to Produce Braille Instruction Materials

The Council was pleased to add braille instruction to our Vision Services menu last year. Like all our vision services, braille instruction at the Council is tailored to the goals of each individual client. “We see clients who use braille in a variety of ways,” says Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Rachel Pavone, who teaches braille… Continue Reading A Gift is Making It Easier to Produce Braille Instruction Materials

Volunteers from Anderson & Shapiro cleaning up the front flower bed at the Council office

Volunteering Can Be Gateway to Ongoing Connection

April is National Volunteer Appreciation month. It’s an opportunity to recognize and celebrate volunteerism and its positive community impacts. Americans have always stepped up when it comes to volunteering. According to Americorps, nearly a quarter of Americans age 16 and over donated time formally through an organization between September 2020 and 2021. “Volunteers share their… Continue Reading Volunteering Can Be Gateway to Ongoing Connection

A crowd of people in a large festival tent eating corn and brats

The Council and the Lions: A Lasting Relationship Rooted in Shared Goals

Lions Club International has been a leading advocate for and supporter of people with vision loss since 1925. That’s when Helen Keller challenged Lions Clubs around the world to be “knights for the blind.” Each spring, the Council nurtures our relationships with Wisconsin Lions Clubs by updating them on our current work and goals and… Continue Reading The Council and the Lions: A Lasting Relationship Rooted in Shared Goals

A group of people hiking, some of them using guide dogs

Spend Time in the Great Outdoors to Boost Physical, Mental and Social Well-Being

Finally, spring has come. Some outdoor enthusiasts, including those with vision loss, are storing away their snow skis and switching over to warm weather activities like tandem biking and hiking. These adaptive recreational opportunities—and more—are offered across Wisconsin, several of them by Blind Outdoor Leisure Development, Inc., or BOLD. BOLD’s purpose is to offer people… Continue Reading Spend Time in the Great Outdoors to Boost Physical, Mental and Social Well-Being

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Jada Clark standing in a field

2022 Student Spotlight: Jada Clark

Jada Clark isn’t afraid to take matters into her own hands. The 2022 Council Scholarship recipient, who was born with significant vision impairment, made independence a goal once she got to middle school. “My vision has affected me throughout my life, both negatively and positively,” Jada says. As high school approached, she believed she was… Continue Reading 2022 Student Spotlight: Jada Clark

A bus driving by the Wisconsin State Capitol

Advocacy Days Preview: Knowledge + Lived Experience is a Powerful Advocacy Combination

Transportation equity is a major focus of this year’s Advocacy Days. For an advocate, it’s a topic that takes a lot of focus and endurance. There are many reasons for that. Transportation policy varies from community to community and from county to county. One must approach both state and local agencies to advocate for positive… Continue Reading Advocacy Days Preview: Knowledge + Lived Experience is a Powerful Advocacy Combination