Effective Monday, June 17, the Sharper Vision Store will be open by appointment only on Mondays. Our store hours during the rest of the week will remain unchanged, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Making an appointment to visit the store ensures that a knowledgeable staff member will be ready to help you… Continue Reading Sharper Vision Store Hours are Changing…Slightly
As we age, it can be harder to make connections with those around us. According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, over one-third of adults 45 and older across the country report feeling lonely, and nearly a quarter of adults 65 and older are considered socially isolated. June 10 – 14 is… Continue Reading Global Loneliness Awareness Week Highlights Importance of Social Connection
In mid-May, Fund Development Director Lori Werbeckes traveled northeast to give a presentation to the Town of Sheboygan Lions Club, which has been a good friend to the Council for many years. Lions Clubs across Wisconsin have long supported the Council’s mission and continue to give to our White Cane Fund. The Council has been… Continue Reading Wisconsin Lions Clubs Have a Long History of Supporting the Council’s White Cane Fund
As the Council celebrates 70 years of service and advocacy, board and staff are thankful for the foresight of our early founders. Beginning in 1952 and looking well into the future, they understood the necessity of planning ahead by encouraging gifts through bequests. There are gift planning ideas for all ages. It can be a… Continue Reading Support for the Council Can Be Part of Your Legacy Through Planned Giving
Advocacy Days is a three-day online crash course designed to educate participants on how to be effective advocates for equity for those who are blind or visually impaired. We’ll discuss the state budget process, the Council’s legislative priorities, and tips on how to have a productive conversation with your legislators. Registration is required, and the… Continue Reading Become a More Effective Voice for Equity: Join Us for Advocacy Days, April 19-21
In a rural area in central Wisconsin, an elderly mother is slowly losing her vision. Her doctor has advised her to stop driving, prompting an important question: As she lives alone, how will she get to the grocery store, medical appointments or family visits? Her daughter contacted Holly Keenan at the nonprofit Lutheran Social Services… Continue Reading Mobility Managers Can Steer You Toward the Best Transportation Options
Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of vision loss, especially for older adults and African Americans. Yet many people don’t fully understand what glaucoma is and why it’s so important to diagnose and treat it early. January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an opportunity to educate more people about this “sight-stealing” disease that… Continue Reading Help Spread the Word about Glaucoma in January
It’s hard to believe the Council has now been around for 70 years! Please join us in celebrating all that we have accomplished so far and in looking toward the opportunities ahead to advance equity, access and independence for Wisconsin residents living with vision loss. We’re grateful to all of the founders, supporters, board members,… Continue Reading Happy 70th Anniversary to the Council!
Joe Tuttle spent his first year of college taking classes from his residence hall. It wasn’t quite the freshman experience he was looking for at Purdue University. But this year is looking much different, and it has made all the difference for Joe, who is among the Council’s scholarship recipients. Joe is studying Agriculture Education… Continue Reading Student Spotlight: Joe Tuttle
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Birding by Ear (BBE), an annual educational event the Council hosts in collaboration with partner organizations, helps people understand that sound is just as important as sight when birding. Each bird has unique sounds, and experienced birders know that being able to differentiate between these sonic cues is important to properly identifying birds in your… Continue Reading Birding by Ear Continues to Delight Birders of All Abilities
June 10-16 is Vision Rehabilitation Week, an opportunity to spread the word about important vision rehabilitation services that can help improve the lives of people with vision loss. Since last fall, Certified Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist Brent Perzentka of the Council has traveled to the Sauk Prairie School District once a week to give… Continue Reading Shortage of Vision Services Professionals Puts Strain on Both Clients and Providers
Public policy advocacy has been a cornerstone of the Council’s mission since our founding over 70 years ago. One thing we’ve always emphasized is that anyone can be an effective advocate; you just have to know where to start. That’s why this this year’s Advocacy Day, which took place virtually on Thursday, May 16, focused… Continue Reading Advocacy Day Showcases the Power of Local Action