2024 is in the books, and it was another great year for the Council. “2024 was a full and dynamic year across all three of our pillars: advocacy, education and vision services,” says Executive Director Denise Jess. “The combined efforts of Council staff and board, the support of our donors and volunteers, and our collaborations… Continue Reading Making Progress and Breaking Barriers: 2024 in Review
For many, it has become a tradition to end the year by making a charitable gift to an organization that is important to them. All gifts to the Council are greatly appreciated and help us continue promoting the independence and dignity of people in Wisconsin who are blind or have low vision. A gift to… Continue Reading End Your Year with a Gift to the Council
As 2024 comes to an end, so too do the terms of six members of the Council’s Board of Directors. Our board provides valuable governance and oversight to our organization, and we’re extremely grateful to our outgoing members for the time and effort they have invested in advancing our mission. A huge thank you to… Continue Reading Thank You to Outgoing Board Members Rhonda Staats, Sharon Knauf and Patty Slaby
“If you don’t have a seat at the table, then you’re probably on the menu.” The coining of that phrase is attributed to many people, but the meaning never changes: Get involved, be an active participant in public decisions, or expect to live with decisions you may not like. Council Executive Director Denise Jess has… Continue Reading Local Boards and Commissions Need the Disability Perspective. You Can Provide It!
Lecturer, political activist and prolific author Helen Keller was born June 27, 1880. Among her many accomplishments: She was the first deaf-blind person in the United States to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. “I think the most significant part of her legacy is that Helen Keller was very eloquent and was a great role… Continue Reading Reflections on Helen Keller’s Birthday: With Learned Skills and Effective Support, Persons With Deaf-Blindness are Participating in Their Communities
Making a good impression with email is as important as being your best in person. This is especially true if you are sending an email to a potential employer or to a fellow professional. One of the first things to check is to make sure the “From” field of your email contains your name. This… Continue Reading Fine Tuning Your Email Presentation
Are you an artist living with vision loss? Do you know someone who is? We are currently looking for artists to feature at Gallery Night 2023, scheduled for Friday, November 3. Since 2011 the Council has been exhibiting the work of artists who are blind or visually impaired at Gallery Night events in the fall.… Continue Reading Got Art? Show It Off at Gallery Night!
Jack Lichosik will have a running start this fall when he begins his studies in the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program at Fox Valley Technical College. A big running start. The Kimberly High School senior and 2023 Council Scholarship recipient has been cooking with his father Jake in their Appleton home since he was… Continue Reading 2023 Student Spotlight: Jack Lichosik
The Council serves a clientele that is diverse in every way, including economic status. This year, grants from four foundations are enabling the Council to provide adaptive products that enhance safety and assist with daily living tasks at no cost to clients who cannot afford to purchase them on their own. We’re grateful to the… Continue Reading Grants Support Tools to Promote Safety and Independence
Click toggle for topics
As 2024 comes to a close and you begin thinking about your year-end donations, please consider a gift to the Council. Contributions of any size are welcome and will be used to empower individuals in Wisconsin who look to the Council for services and education. Giving to the Council can come in many forms and… Continue Reading A Year-end Gift from Your IRA or Donor Advised Fund May Be the Right Option for You
For several years, the Council has hosted regular online low vision support groups to connect people who are blind or low vision across the state. Earlier this year, the Council started a new kind of group where people with vision loss can share ideas and resources to support their advocacy efforts. Policy advocacy was the… Continue Reading Advocacy Discussion Group Offers a Space for Learning, Support and Action
The holidays are almost here, and for many families that means gathering in the kitchen to bake cookies, pies and a litany of other desserts. While losing your vision may mean you have to change how you bake, it does not mean you can’t do it. “Baking is really important for a lot of families… Continue Reading Be the Star of Your Family’s Holiday Gatherings with These Baking Tips