October 15 is White Cane Safety Day, a time to raise awareness about state White Cane Laws across the country. Wisconsin’s law requires that drivers stop at least 10 feet from a pedestrian carrying a white cane or using a guide dog. White Cane Safety Day takes place during National Pedestrian Safety Month, recognized throughout… Continue Reading A Few Things to Know About White Canes
Please join us on Friday, November 1 for our annual Gallery Night event! This year’s edition takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. at our offices located at 754 Williamson Street in Madison. This year’s exhibit will feature the work of nine artists from across the state who are blind or low vision working in… Continue Reading November 1 Gallery Night Event Will Feature the Work of Nine Wisconsin Artists
For people who are blind or low vision, a key skill for independence and safety is the ability to identify household objects and the controls on devices and appliances. That means everything from medication bottles and food packages to the buttons on a microwave. In this video, Education & Vision Services Director Amy Wurf explores… Continue Reading New Video Gives Overview of Tactile Labeling
Suppose the County Board where you live is considering building a new roundabout that would replace a traditional four-corner crossing. You’re against it. You do some homework. Make some notes. The night before the County Board meeting where your item is on the agenda, you stay up late writing and polishing your comments. Your arguments,… Continue Reading Understanding the Process is Key to Avoiding Advocacy Frustration
“Winter is not a season. It’s an occupation.” -Sinclair Lewis One look at Sinclair Lewis’ quote and it makes sense that the American writer grew up in Minnesota. Winter weather causes ice and snow, school closings, power outages, car accidents, falls and broken bones. It also should cause planning and extra caution. For people with… Continue Reading With the Right Preparation, Winter Conditions Need Not Be Dangerous and Disorienting
“OH YEAH.” That’s Rachel Pavone’s enthusiastic, unhesitant response to the question “Are you a good cook?” That’s what happens, she adds, when you grow up with a father who cooked in an Italian restaurant. “He made pizza at home including crust from scratch.” Rachel said her mother was a whiz in the kitchen too. So… Continue Reading The Council’s Rachel Pavone Whips Up Safe Holiday Cooking Tips
It hasn’t been around as long as Thanksgiving, but it’s been around for decades. “Giving Tuesday,” which falls on November 29 this year, happens last in a sprint of Thanksgiving-time consumer-centered designations. You know the schedule: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and then Giving Tuesday. According to Council Fund Development Director Lori Werbeckes,… Continue Reading Make Giving Tuesday a Family Conversation
“Every machine has its own story,” says braille machine technician Joe Hodgson. He should know. He’s worked on hundreds of them over his 35 years of servicing the devices for such entities as the Council, Milwaukee Public Schools and the State of Wisconsin. Joe fixes the machines at no cost to the owners in keeping… Continue Reading Ace Technician Joe Hodgson Has Been Fixing Braille Machines for the Council for Over 30 Years
UW-Whitewater junior Grace Caine is majoring in music education, but she says music itself is what prepared her for the challenge and hard work of college. “It taught me a lot about myself,” she says. “It taught me about my work ethic, about what I’m strong in–and what I’m not. It’s taught me about school… Continue Reading 2022 Student Spotlight: Grace Caine
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We are pleased to welcome Susan Bosques as the newest member of the Council staff. Susan officially started with the Council on September 11 as our new Administrative Assistant. Susan will be one of the first faces and voices many people encounter when reaching out to the Council either in person or on the phone.… Continue Reading Welcome Susan Bosques to the Council Team
We are less than one month away from the November 5 election, when Wisconsin residents will have the opportunity to decide not only who becomes the next President of the United States, but also a litany of other local, state and federal races. We encourage everyone to make their voice heard on Election Day. Voters… Continue Reading Pay Attention to These Important Deadlines for the November 5 Election
Last week, the Council teamed up with Vision Forward, the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition, and the Statutory Council on Blindness for a webinar on voting rights and making your plan to vote in the November 5 election. No matter how you vote, it’s important to make your voice heard at the polls. That’s especially true… Continue Reading Know Your Voting Rights as We Approach November Election