This week, we’re rerunning an article we first published in 2022 about the importance of getting regular eye exams, both to monitor your vision and eye health and for their value in detecting other health problems. Please note that Dr. Harrier is now with UW Health rather than Isthmus Eye Care. You’ve probably heard the… Continue Reading Windows to More Than the Soul: The Importance of Routine Eye Exams
The Council is seeking a qualified development specialist for a full-time position based in Madison. Reporting to the development director, the person in this position plays a vital role in maintaining donor records, securing grants, and assisting with various other fund development activities. Continue Reading Now Hiring: Development Specialist
Former Council Scholarship Recipient Meghan Whalen has a motto: You can own life or you can let it own you. Meghan has Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) and has little to no usable vision. “I always say I can see just enough to get into trouble!” she says. Meghan graduated from UW-Madison in 2010 with a degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing. She lives in Madison. Continue Reading Former Scholarship Recipient Meghan Whalen Takes Life, Terriers and Cricket by the Horns
Winter is almost here, and many of us are hanging up the hiking boots until spring and looking forward to cozying up with a good book. For people who are blind or low vision, the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library (WTBBL) offers talking books in a variety of ways, whether you’re settling in with… Continue Reading Keep Reading with Free Books from the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library
When Sara Guggenheim lost most of her vision over the course of two short months, her ophthalmologist wasn’t able to provide her much support. Sara even found herself getting lost in her doctor’s office. So she decided to find other resources to help her adjust and live the life she wanted. That’s when she found… Continue Reading Giving Thanks to Everyone Who Supports Our Work
November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Around 38 million people across the country have diabetes, including around one out of every 11 Wisconsinites. According to the VisionServe Alliance’s Big Data Report on Older Adults, about 22% of people with vision loss over the age of 65 in Wisconsin have diabetes, compared to around 17% of those… Continue Reading Stay Confident with Healthy Eating Habits This Holiday Season
The Council offices were abuzz the night of Friday, November 1 as community members joined us for our annual Gallery Night event. Gallery Night was once again a success, as we carried on our tradition, now more than a decade old, of showcasing artists from across Wisconsin who are blind or low vision. The work… Continue Reading Gallery Night Brought Smiles and Inspiration to Council Offices
The holidays are just around the corner, and we’re pleased to announce that the Sharper Vision Store is once again having a Cyber Week Sale the week after Thanksgiving! For five days, we’ll be offering special discounts on a variety of items ranging from talking watches to magnifiers to lamps to games. The sale begins… Continue Reading Give Thanks for Big Savings During Our Cyber Week Sale December 2-6
The holiday season is almost here, and while wintertime can be a joyful time of connection, it can also be a time of stress for many people. Presents need to be bought, meals need to be prepared, and gatherings need to be planned. For some, the holiday season can bring up hard emotions and memories… Continue Reading Find Healthy Stress Management Skills This Holiday Season
Click toggle for topics
In order to fully address the needs of the blind and low vision community, it is important we know as much as possible about all aspects of their lives. Across the country, there are many organizations conducting research aimed at growing that understanding. There are two main categories of research organizations in the blind and… Continue Reading Research Organizations Work to Understand Both the Medical and Social Sides of Vision Loss
Later this fall, the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library (WTBBL) will begin rolling out a new talking book machine. The Digital Advanced Player 2 (DA2), will still play the classic talking book cartridges, but they will also connect to the internet so you can download books directly from BARD to your device. The National… Continue Reading Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library to Roll Out New Talking Book Players
When modern vision services began in America, this vital work was done for little-to-no pay. Performed mostly by women who themselves were blind or low vision, it was seen more as mutual aid than as a true “profession.” These workers were often paid just $1 per day (or around $38 per day in today’s money). Continue Reading The Illusion of Free Services