The Council is one of nearly 70 nonprofit organizations based in Dane County that benefit from the Community Shares of Wisconsin (CSW) workplace giving campaign that takes place each fall. Workplace giving is an easy and effective way to support our work. Over 100 area employers host workplace giving campaigns through CSW. Many employees opt… Continue Reading Workplace Giving Makes Supporting the Council Easy
For anyone living with low vision, using a screen magnifier on your computer is a must. There’s no need to struggle to read tiny text on a large monitor. Screen magnifiers are easy to use and can enlarge anything to help keep you connected to the digital world. But with several different screen magnifiers available,… Continue Reading Built-In Versus Third-Party Magnifiers: Finding the Program that Works Best for You
The Council is excited to come to rural Wisconsin this fall for On Sight: Vision Loss Resources in Southwest Wisconsin. This free informational event will feature presentations on a variety of topics, from how to access vision rehabilitation services to public policy issues like transportation. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 9 from… Continue Reading Council’s October “On Sight” Event Brings Vision Resources Info to Southwest Wisconsin
We are all pedestrians. Whether we walk to work, to friends’ homes, to a public transit stop or just stroll the neighborhood for exercise, everybody needs and deserves access to safe sidewalks and street crossings. On September 7 starting at noon, the Council is partnering with the Sierra Club and 1000 Friends of Wisconsin for… Continue Reading Join Us for ‘Make Way for Pedestrians,’ a Webinar on Making Our Streets and Sidewalks Safer
Rosemary Goodrich (Rosy to her friends) has always been stubborn and determined. Being blind since birth never stopped her from roller skating. It didn’t deter her from playing on the teeter totter, zipping down a slide or riding a tricycle. Occasionally, she’d take a tumble. “But so did all the other kids,” she says, laughing.… Continue Reading Ingredients for Making a Monthly Donor: A Stubborn Streak and a Big Heart
Wisconsin’s Aging & Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) were created in 1998 expressly to support older adults, adults with disabilities, and high school students with disabilities who are transitioning out of school. The Council maintains a strong relationship with Wisconsin’s ADRC network, with lines of communication in place to ensure that older individuals experiencing vision loss… Continue Reading ADRCs Can Be a Key Lifeline for Older Adults Experiencing Vision Loss
For many people who begin losing their vision as adults, it can be tough to stick with lifelong hobbies usually done by sight. And finding new pastimes can be equally challenging. However, with some adaptation and problem-solving, it’s possible to continue enjoying many activities by taking a more tactile approach. Chuck Fehl and Don McCall… Continue Reading Carving Out a Tactile Hobby Through Patience, Persistence and Perspective
In an ideal world, doctors, nurses, clinic staff and other health care professionals would be perfect communicators. They would share information seamlessly and accurately with patients, caretakers and each other. Unfortunately, we do not live in that ideal world. Sometimes it takes extra effort and vigilance to make sure we understand diagnoses and treatment options… Continue Reading Communication Breakdown: It’s Your Right to Receive Complete and Understandable Health Care Information
If you are exploring job options or looking to change careers, you might consider becoming a vision services professional. This field provides the opportunity to work with people of all ages from all walks of life, teach them new skills, and make a real difference in their lives by empowering them to live independently and… Continue Reading Consider a Career as a Vision Services Professional
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At the beginning of the 2022 school year, administrators at Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay reached out to the Council to ask about holding an event for us with their students. Every year, students at the school hold a fundraising drive for two organizations of their choice in exchange for swapping out their uniforms… Continue Reading Support the Council with the Help of Your Company or Organization
When Education and Vision Services Director Amy Wurf talks with a new client who recently began experiencing vision loss, one of the most common things she hears is that they no longer do the hobbies they once loved. Maybe they can’t see their knitting anymore, or struggle to read music. Losing your vision doesn’t have… Continue Reading Sharper Vision Store’s New Hobby Section Can Help You Continue Doing What You Love
After losing part of her vision in 2018 due to a traumatic brain injury, 2024 Council Scholarship Recipient Jasmine Bertschy was determined not to let her vision loss hold her back. While in high school in her hometown of Valders, Jasmine was named captain of the school’s cross country team. She also earned 16 college… Continue Reading 2024 Student Spotlight: Jasmine Bertschy