One of the Council’s ongoing advocacy priorities is the quest to persuade businesses and public agencies to make their documents and forms accessible to people with vision loss. Sometimes accessibility issues come into play in the Council’s own efforts to function well as an organization—one that happens to be led by a person who is… Continue Reading Changing Systems One Business at a Time
To most sighted people, a white cane has a simple meaning: the person holding the cane is blind. But for the user, the meaning is more complex and personal. The cane, for many users, represents—and enables—independence. Each year, the Council’s White Cane Fund campaign pays for hundreds of white canes to be given away free… Continue Reading White Cane Fund is About More Than Free Canes
The Council teamed up with Madison Audubon Society once again earlier this spring to present Birding by Ear, an education program we’ve been offering since 2018. This year’s events included an online educational session offered at two different times in April and two field trips to Warner Park on Madison’s north side in May. The… Continue Reading Birding by Ear Provides Skills for Lifelong Happiness
Dining gift cards, a basketball autographed by UW Badgers head coach Greg Gard, dance lessons, and gift baskets are just a few of the items you will have the opportunity to bid on and win during the Council’s Vision for Tomorrow Online Auction. The online auction opens on Thursday, November 7 at noon and closes… Continue Reading Vision for Tomorrow Online Auction: Your Bid Helps the Council Create Welcoming Spaces
Fatal collisions between cars and pedestrians are on the rise according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). By this time in 2018, 20 people died when hit by a motor vehicle. There have been 30 fatalities in 2019 thus far, an increase of 50 percent. In some cases, advocating for walkable communities could decrease… Continue Reading Advocating for Walkable Communities: A Way to Make Wisconsin Safer for Everyone
Create Art with a Visual Impairment Painting and other forms of artwork can be more than just a visual experience. Creating art is a rich sensory experience that fosters self-expression and a way to cope with vision changes. As vision changes, adjustments may need to be made in the environment or in the kind… Continue Reading Create Art with a Visual Impairment
Enjoy an accessible art exhibit at the Council’s Fall Gallery Night Friday, October 4, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Council office – 754 Williamson Street, in Madison. Wisconsin artists who are blind or visually impaired will display and sell their art, and are on-hand to talk about their creation process. Braille and large print signs… Continue Reading Experience Accessible Art: Come to Gallery Night
Most white cane and guide dog users have had the unsettling experience of realizing they are approaching a car that is not going to stop, or having a vehicle zoom out in front of them as they are about to cross the street. There are White Cane Law statutes on the books in every state… Continue Reading White Cane Safety Day is October 15: Spread the Word about the White Cane Law
On August 9, the Council hosted a Low Vision Fair in Eau Claire. The Council wishes to thank the following speakers, vendors and sponsors, who made the fair possible. “I highly recommend attending a low vision fair,” says Wanda, who attended with her daughter. “I learned so much about products, resources and programs available. Talking… Continue Reading Thank You to Low Vision Fair Sponsors, Speakers, and Vendors
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The road to an inclusive Wisconsin transportation plan is a long one. But thanks to work underway by a steering committee serving the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), positive change is in motion. The committee is steering toward what’s called an active transportation plan for the state. What is it? Think about the different modes… Continue Reading Active Transportation: The Missing Link Between Pedestrian, Bicycle and Motor Transportation Planning
Warmer months bring on the need to fix things up around the home, both indoors and out. Whether it’s keeping your lawn under control, cleaning out the attic or working on a home repair project, your to-do list is screaming for attention. Since these are chores that often present a risk of eye injury, it’s… Continue Reading Protect Your Eyes Indoors and Out This Spring
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