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
Transportation equity is a major focus of this year’s Advocacy Days. For an advocate, it’s a topic that takes a lot of focus and endurance. There are many reasons for that. Transportation policy varies from community to community and from county to county. One must approach both state and local agencies to advocate for positive… Continue Reading Advocacy Days Preview: Knowledge + Lived Experience is a Powerful Advocacy Combination
Smart speakers, also known as voice assistants, are changing the way people interact with the internet. “Voice assistants have really enabled those with vision impairments to remain independent by utilizing their voice and hearing to assist with daily living tasks,” says Council Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Brent Perzentka. A smart speaker can even be programed by… Continue Reading Smart Speakers Can Keep Families Connected, Bring Easy Access to Common Tasks and Information
Registration is now open for the Council’s 2023 Advocacy Days. This year’s Advocacy Days combines online and in-person components. An online Advocacy 101 Zoom session will be offered on April 18 at two different times: 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. On April 19 and April 20, there will be online “Lunch… Continue Reading Reminder: Advocacy Days Provides the Tools to Make Your Voice Heard
We’re accepting applications for 2023 Council Scholarships until March 31. More information and application materials are available on our website. Scholarships of $2,000 are available to up to ten Wisconsin residents living with vision loss and who are planning to attend a two-year college, four-year university or graduate program in the fall. Over the years… Continue Reading Reminder: Scholarship Application Deadline is March 31
Council scholarship recipient Saree Behm has been adapting all her life. Born in China, she was adopted from an orphanage at age 6. Saree never attended school while she was in China. She entered first grade in Janesville. While she spoke no English, “I was pretty quick to learn the language,” she says. She also… Continue Reading 2022 Student Spotlight: Saree Behm
We’re grateful to all who supported the Council’s work during The Big Share on March 7. Thanks to your generosity, we exceeded our goal of $7,500, raising a total of $10,350 over the course of the event through gifts from 92 donors. The Big Share is a unique, all-day fundraiser organized by Community Shares of… Continue Reading Focus on Transportation Helped Make The Big Share a Big Success
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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