It’s easy to let your home get cluttered and disorganized, especially after the holidays. Having a messy home can cause severe anxiety for anyone, and that is especially true for people who are blind or low vision. Being unable to find something you’re looking for leads to frustration with yourself and with your vision loss.… Continue Reading Organizing Your Home Can Reduce Stress and Frustration
Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809, and that date is celebrated internationally as World Braille Day each year. Before the development of Braille’s revolutionary raised dot system, people who were blind had virtually no way to access written information independently, effectively cutting them off from a vital form of communication. Over the years,… Continue Reading Getting the Rest of Society on Board with Accessibility: A World Braille Day Message
Council staff go out into the community on a regular basis to spread the word about our mission to promote the dignity, independence and inherent worth of people who are blind or low vision; education people about the many services we offer; and encourage others to do their part to make the world more welcoming for people with vision loss. Continue Reading Council Outreach Connects Us With New and Unique Audiences
A bus ad the Council ran in Waukesha last fall promoting Wisconsin’s White Cane Law. The Council relies on funding from many different sources. People make individual gifts almost every day. Others contribute through workplace giving or by requesting a matching gift from their employer. The Council also receives a variety of grants to support… Continue Reading Grants Help Spread the Word About the Council Statewide
Denise Jess, Amy Wurf, Kathleen Callen and Nate Wegehaupt were among the Council staffers on hand at last year’s Disability Pride Festival in Madison. Throughout July, communities across Wisconsin are celebrating Disability Pride Month. Last year, we published this article about what Disability Pride means and why we celebrate it. We hope you are able… Continue Reading Disability Pride Month Celebrates the Diverse Disabilities Community
Christina Wilson working her way up the wall at Boulders Climbing Gym. Before losing her vision, Christina Wilson loved being active in the outdoors. After her vision deteriorated from a macular pucker, however, she struggled to be able to maintain her independence while doing the outdoor activities she loved. That’s when Christina heard about adaptive… Continue Reading Blind and Low Vision Rock Climbers Reach New Heights in Outdoor Recreation
Alyson Dahl When 2025 Council Scholarship recipient Alyson Dahl was 15, she received news that no teen wants to hear: Alyson would be unable to get a driver’s license due to her vision loss. Alyson was diagnosed with coloboma just a few weeks after she was born and has had low vision her entire life.… Continue Reading 2025 Student Spotlight: Alyson Dahl
An ad for a braille typewriter designed by AFB to expand employment opportunities. The Council’s highly trained vision rehabilitation professionals empower people who are blind or low vision to live life on their own terms in a variety of ways. They help clients gain the skills to navigate safely through their community, use access technology… Continue Reading The History of Vision Rehabilitation: Undervalued, Overlooked, Urgently Needed
Members of the VisionServe Alliance Board of Directors at their board meeting last fall. Across the country, there are a number of organizations dedicated to empowering people who are blind or low vision. While each of these organizations specializes in different areas of the vision loss field and all have their own unique identity, they… Continue Reading National Blindness and Low Vision Networks Work Together Toward Common Mission
Click toggle for topics
When someone comes to the Council for services for the first time, they often carry a variety of emotions. They may feel grief from having recently lost their vision, or anxiety about whether they’ll be able to continue doing the things they love. But thanks to the support of the people who give to the… Continue Reading Close the Year with a Gift That Opens Doors
Online meetings have become a regular part of many people’s professional and personal lives, as platforms like Zoom and Google Meet have grown exponentially in recent years. For people who are blind or low vision, they offer a major advantage: There’s no need to arrange transportation to attend your class, meeting or event. But just… Continue Reading Tips and Tricks for a Successful Online Meeting
Earlier this month, Lori Werbeckes’ tenure as Development Director at the Council came to an end as she began her well-deserved retirement. Lori joined the Council in August 2013, and for a dozen years helped shape the way the Council raises money to support the services and advocacy we provide. Continue Reading Retiring Development Director Lori Werbeckes Reflects on Evolution of Council’s Approach to Fundraising