Post Archive

A collage showing blindfolded diners at Dining in the Dark, a person admiring art on a wall at Gallery Night, and birders in a field at Birding by Ear

2025 in Review: Another Productive Year of Hard Work and Relationship Building

2025 has been another fantastic year at the Council. “I’m proud of our work to promote the dignity and inherent worth of Wisconsinites who are blind and low vision throughout the state,” says Council Executive Director Denise Jess. “It’s exciting to witness the Council’s spheres of influence grow wider and deeper, from legislators and judges… Continue Reading 2025 in Review: Another Productive Year of Hard Work and Relationship Building

A bleak, gray photo of a small, barren tree with a single red ornament hanging on it

Protecting Your Emotional Health During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is nearly here, and while it may bring up happy memories of years past, it can also stir up tough emotions for some people, like stress, grief, isolation and depression. Physical barriers to leaving one’s home during the winter, including bad weather, can amplify feelings of isolation and loneliness. It is important… Continue Reading Protecting Your Emotional Health During the Holiday Season

A light-skinned woman sitting at a piano holding a jar of coins

Year-End Gift to the Council Can Come in Many Forms

When piano teacher Amy Hansel got a new student who was legally blind, she says she had to make a few adjustments to how she taught. Her student had some usable vision and benefited from large-print music, further enlarged by a magnifier attached to his piano. Continue Reading Year-End Gift to the Council Can Come in Many Forms

Eight birders standing on a path listening to bird sounds.

Birding by Ear Shows the Importance of Inclusion in Outdoor Activities

In May, the Council joined the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance and the Aldo Leopold Nature Center in Monona for another fantastic Birding by Ear event. We had a full house at the Nature Center on a fantastic spring morning where we heard over 50 different species of birds passing through Dane County. Birding by Ear… Continue Reading Birding by Ear Shows the Importance of Inclusion in Outdoor Activities

Photo of Kate Bleyl-Ericson standing in the Council offices

Welcome Kate Bleyl-Ericson to the Council Team

We are pleased to welcome Kate Bleyl-Ericson as the newest member of the Council staff. Kate came on board on May 12 as our Vision Services Navigator. A new position at the Council, the navigator will serve as a “first stop”… Continue Reading Welcome Kate Bleyl-Ericson to the Council Team

A light-skinned woman playing a saxophone in front of a tree

Are You a Musician with Vision Loss? We Want to Hear from You!

Are you a lifelong musician who’s adapted how you play after experiencing vision loss? Did you start learning an instrument after your vision began to change? Have you been blind or had low vision most of your life and played music throughout? We want to hear from you! Continue Reading Are You a Musician with Vision Loss? We Want to Hear from You!

A light-skinned women holding a white cane standing in front of porch steps

Support Independence and Confidence During the Council’s White Cane Appeal

Sarah Evans says that one of her favorite things is going for a walk in the park near her house. Legally blind from cataracts, Sarah says she was able to walk through the park without a white cane, but crossing the roads to get to the park was a real challenge… Continue Reading Support Independence and Confidence During the Council’s White Cane Appeal

A light-skinned person sitting at a desk using a phone app to identify a piece of mail.

Reading and Organizing Your Mail with Vision Loss

At some point, we’ve all had a growing pile of mail sitting on a table getting larger by the day. As the pile grows, the thought of sorting through it to figure out what is junk and what we need to read becomes more and more daunting. It’s important to stay on top of your… Continue Reading Reading and Organizing Your Mail with Vision Loss

Front page of the Spring 2025 Council Courier

Spring Issue of the Council Courier Newsletter Now Available Online

The Spring 2025 Issue of the Council Courier newsletter is now available on our website! In this issue: The Case for Insurance Coverage of Vision Services Provided by the Council Message from Executive Director Denise Jess: Advocacy is About Making Change Inside and Outside of Government Promote Independence with a Gift to the White Cane… Continue Reading Spring Issue of the Council Courier Newsletter Now Available Online

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Giving Tuesday Gift Supports New Service for Council Clients

For the past six months, clients who call the Council to ask about vision services have been welcomed by our navigator, Kate Bleyl-Ericson. We’ve known for years that people coming to the Council in search of vision services frequently have needs beyond what we can address. It’s not uncommon to discover that a client is… Continue Reading Giving Tuesday Gift Supports New Service for Council Clients

A light-skinned man using human guiding technique to assist a dark-skinned woman holding a white cane as they walk away from a paratransit vehicle.

New Video Supports Specialized Transportation Drivers in Providing Safe, Comfortable Rides for Blind and Low Vision Riders

When someone who is blind or low vision feels comfortable using the specialized transportation options available to them, such as paratransit, taxis and volunteer drivers, they will be more likely to leave their homes and participate in their communities. A new video produced by the Council will help drivers who transport people who are blind… Continue Reading New Video Supports Specialized Transportation Drivers in Providing Safe, Comfortable Rides for Blind and Low Vision Riders

A light-skinned woman wearing a green sweater smiling for the camera

Welcome Jodi Nachtwey to the Council Team

We are pleased to welcome Jodi Nachtwey as the newest member of the Council staff. Jodi joined the team on November 10 as Development Specialist. Continue Reading Welcome Jodi Nachtwey to the Council Team