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
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
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
This spring, Council Executive Director Denise Jess was honored for her outstanding work with awards from two organizations serving the blind and low vision community. VisionServe Alliance (VSA) recognized Denise with their Excellence in Leadership Award in April, and in early May, the Wisconsin chapter of the Association of Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind… Continue Reading Executive Director Denise Jess Honored with Awards from VisionServe Alliance and the Wisconsin Chapter of AER
It wasn’t hard for former Council Scholarship recipient Ashley Handrick to decide on where to go to school. Edgewood College in Madison was just a short drive from her hometown of Mount Horeb, and she had a few friends also going there with whom she could share a dorm suite. Having a friend who knew… Continue Reading Past Council Scholarship Recipient Ashley Handrick Brings Smiles to Her Students’ Faces
Due to the current volatility of the global economic landscape, the prices of most items in the Sharper Vision Store have increased. Most adaptive products found in the Sharper Vision Store are manufactured overseas and are therefore subject to tariffs. The store already runs on a tight profit margin to ensure that you are getting… Continue Reading Sharper Vision Store Prices Have Increased Due to Global Tariffs
A bill called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act may sound like something positive, but in reality, this piece of federal legislation would create major barriers to voting for many people, including those with vision loss and other disabilities. The SAVE Act would require all Americans registering to vote or updating their registration information… Continue Reading SAVE Act Would Create Major Barriers for Voters with Disabilities
Being comfortable using a computer is helpful for countless daily activities, including finding a job and staying in touch with friends and family. While the Council offers access technology (AT) training to help people learn how to use adaptive software like screen magnifiers and screen reader programs like JAWS, some clients are unable to afford… Continue Reading Laptop Loan Program Helps Those Unable to Afford a Computer Practice Their AT Skills
By Denise Jess This winter I chose to learn a new craft, to challenge my brain and nurture my creativity. At the Council, we often hear clients and visitors say that while they miss doing things like knitting, woodworking or sewing, they assume they cannot do these things as their vision changes, or they hesitate… Continue Reading Learning a New Craft Can Be an Enriching Experience for Everyone Involved
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The Council launched its first online low vision support group in 2020 to help connect people with vision loss across the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. While that group, now known as the Trailblazers, was open to anyone who was blind or low vision across Wisconsin, some participants expressed a desire to have a group focused more on younger adults. So a couple years later, the Council started a second low vision support group for college and working-age adults, now known as the Supernovas. Continue Reading Supernovas College and Working Age Low Vision Support Group Creates Statewide Community of Young Adults
The Council relies on gifts of all kinds and sizes to enable us to empower people across Wisconsin who are blind or low vision. But some supporters go above and beyond in their generosity, giving $20,000 or more over their lifetimes. We call this group of committed donors Council Visionaries. Visionaries are some of our… Continue Reading Council Visionaries Go Above and Beyond to Support Our Work
Graduating high school and starting postsecondary education can be both exciting and challenging. That’s especially true for students with vision loss who are leaving behind their teachers of the visually impaired and navigating school on their own for the first time. Continue Reading Postsecondary Students with Vision Loss Must Assert Their Rights on Campus