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
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
Screen reader users will be interested in learning about this exciting innovation. The new Picture Smart with AI allows users of JAWS and Fusion to hear detailed descriptions of not only photos but also graphs in spreadsheets and even online meetings. “If a picture is worth a thousand words, now you can have JAWS or… Continue Reading New AI Feature in JAWS and Fusion is Worth a Thousand Words
Deb Annen didn’t know what to expect when she attended her first Dining in the Dark event in Fitchburg two years ago. Dining in the Dark is a popular Council happening that invites participants to enjoy a multicourse restaurant meal while blindfolded. It encourages diners to focus on senses other than sight during the meal… Continue Reading Explore a New Way of Thinking About Dinner
Lions Clubs across Wisconsin have been wonderful friends, allies and supporters of the Council for many years. This spotlight on the Horicon Lions Club is just one example of the outstanding work being done by Lions around the state to improve the lives of people with vision loss and others in their communities. Renee Peterson… Continue Reading Vision Screenings are One of Many Ways Horicon Lions Club Gives Back to the Community
While many cleaning tasks are done year-round, spring offers the opportunity to tackle projects that come once a year. Certain chores are best done in spring to keep your home fresh and organized and this can be a great time to open your windows, roll up your sleeves, clean up grime and clear out clutter.… Continue Reading Spring Cleaning Tips to Keep Your Home Tidy
We’re extremely grateful to everyone who gave to the Council during the recent Big Share! Thanks to your generosity, we surpassed our $8,000 goal by a huge margin. A total of 123 donors contributed $11,343 to the Council! Needless to say, we are moved by your ongoing support for our work. Your Big Share gifts… Continue Reading THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE BIG SHARE!
Advocating for pedestrian safety with local officials can sometimes be as intimidating as navigating a dangerous intersection. Just ask Kathi Zoern. “It’s scary,” says the Wausau resident. “But it’s important to advocate. If you don’t do something, nothing’s going to change.” Some years back, Kathi, who has been visually impaired since birth, began to attend… Continue Reading The Power of Local Advocacy in Making Our Streets Safer
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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