On Wednesday, April 16, the Council will be at Crossroads Coffeehouse in Cross Plains for our first Dining in the Dark event of 2025! Dining in the Dark is a unique educational experience where participants enjoy their meal while blindfolded. Diners use senses other than sight to enjoy their meal, with each course revealed after… Continue Reading Dining in the Dark Offers a New Perspective on How to Enjoy a Meal
When a patient was referred to optometrist Dr. Kallie Harrier’s office at UW Health, they were expecting a fairly basic procedure. They had been experiencing headaches for some time, and after several tests came back inconclusive, their primary care doctor recommended seeing Dr. Harrier to see if their headaches were related to their eyes. An… Continue Reading Be Proactive About Vision Changes During Save Your Vision Month
In February, Governor Tony Evers released his proposed 2025-27 biennial budget. While the budget still has a long way to go before becoming law, it shows progress for the blind and low vision community. “The Governor put forward a very thoughtful budget, and we can see the impact of our advocacy throughout,” says Executive Director… Continue Reading Governor’s Proposed Budget Shows Impact of Advocacy
For those who use Windows, Notepad is a great tool for jotting down a phone number or a few lines of text. This utility, which has been a part of Windows for many years, is a very basic word processor. Microsoft recently made a small change to Notepad that may be impacting your productivity if… Continue Reading Tech Tip: A Workaround for the Recent Change to Notepad
Ready or not, here come the holidays! Still have gifts to buy? The Council’s Sharper Vision Store is your one-stop shop for adaptive products and other useful items that make great holiday gifts. We have many items that will delight your loved ones without costing a fortune. For example, games, including the ones suggested below,… Continue Reading Sharper Vision Store is Here for Your Last-Minute Holiday Gift Shopping Needs
Holidays will bring families and friends together. It’s a good time to remember good self-advocacy practices. Self-advocacy is a tricky combination of speaking up for yourself and knowing when and how to do it. It requires clear communication about what you don’t need as much as what you do need. Council Executive Director Denise Jess… Continue Reading Self-Advocacy with Loved Ones and Caregivers is Key to Empowerment
Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Rachel Pavone’s tenure with the Council lasted only for about a year and a half, but her contributions during that time have been many. And now Rachel is in a new transition. In November, Rachel decided to leave the Council for personal reasons. We were sad to say goodbye. Rachel, known… Continue Reading Council Bids a Fond Farewell to Rachel Pavone
For seven decades, the financial support of donors from around the state—and the country—have made the Council’s work possible. The end of the calendar year is a popular time to provide that support, and we invite you to include the Council on your year-end giving list. Maybe you know someone who has benefitted from the… Continue Reading Change Lives and Support the Council’s Mission With Your Year-End Gift
The Council is grateful throughout the year for the donor and volunteer support that helps make our work possible. But this is the time of year when we like to take a moment to say a special “Thank you!” to everyone who contributes to our mission with the gift of their time, talent or financial… Continue Reading A Big, Seasonal ‘Thank You’ to Our Volunteers and Donors
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We are extremely grateful to everyone who supported the Council during The Big Share on March 4. Thanks to your generosity, we surpassed our $8,000 goal, raising a total of $10,688! Every gift made during The Big Share helps the Council raise awareness of the importance of accessibility. Whether we’re training people on using screen… Continue Reading The Big Share Was a Big Success Thanks to Your Help
Growing up on a dairy farm in Door County, Shannon Columb always felt more comfortable in nature. After she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at a young age, she says sitting in a classroom could be difficult at times. But when she was done with school for the day, she felt at home exploring the… Continue Reading Former Scholarship Recipient Shannon Columb Continues Mission of Accessibility
One of our favorite springtime events, Birding by Ear, returns on Saturday, May 10! Continue Reading Birding By Ear Returns May 10