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
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
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
Birding by Ear (BBE), an annual educational event the Council hosts in collaboration with partner organizations, helps people understand that sound is just as important as sight when birding. Each bird has unique sounds, and experienced birders know that being able to differentiate between these sonic cues is important to properly identifying birds in your… Continue Reading Birding by Ear Continues to Delight Birders of All Abilities
June 10-16 is Vision Rehabilitation Week, an opportunity to spread the word about important vision rehabilitation services that can help improve the lives of people with vision loss. Since last fall, Certified Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist Brent Perzentka of the Council has traveled to the Sauk Prairie School District once a week to give… Continue Reading Shortage of Vision Services Professionals Puts Strain on Both Clients and Providers
Public policy advocacy has been a cornerstone of the Council’s mission since our founding over 70 years ago. One thing we’ve always emphasized is that anyone can be an effective advocate; you just have to know where to start. That’s why this this year’s Advocacy Day, which took place virtually on Thursday, May 16, focused… Continue Reading Advocacy Day Showcases the Power of Local Action
Last year, the Council gave over 500 white canes to people with vision loss across the state. In addition, we served hundreds of clients with vision rehabilitation visits, low vision evaluations, orientation and mobility training and access technology instruction. The various services the Council provided helped people become or remain employed, get an education, and… Continue Reading Support All of the Council’s Services During Our White Cane Appeal
During the solar eclipse in April, Katie Corbett traveled to Indiana on a mission: to listen to the wolves. While visiting a wolf sanctuary last year, Katie learned that during a solar eclipse, wolves will begin to howl at the shadow of the moon as it obscures the sun. It also just so happened that… Continue Reading Solar Eclipse Offered Unique Opportunity to Experience Nature in New Ways
Everybody experiences vision loss differently. But it is not easy for anyone. You may have questions or anxieties about how you can continue to do the things you love. While professional vision rehabilitation services can help you cope with daily living challenges, sometimes it’s easier to hear from someone else who has gone through the… Continue Reading Low Vision Support Groups Across the State Provide Safe Space to Learn, Share and Connect
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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