It happens all the time. You’re going through your home for spring cleaning, and you find an adaptive product that you no longer need. Maybe it’s your first magnifier that you’ve since replaced with a stronger one. Or maybe it’s a CCTV that no longer fits your needs. Before you throw your used adaptive item… Continue Reading Have a Good Adaptive Product You No Longer Need? Donate It to the Council!
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury, and even death, in Wisconsin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Wisconsin had the highest fall death rate among older adults in the United States in 2021. But many falls can be prevented. Fall reduction classes across the state can provide skills… Continue Reading Fall Reduction Training Keeps You Safe at Home and in the Community
State lawmakers are leaving Madison for the year as the 2023-24 legislative session comes to an end. The Council worked diligently over the past year to advocate for bills that would positively impact the lives of people with vision loss and other disabilities across the state, and against bills that could have caused harm. Through… Continue Reading Legislative Session Ends with Some Wins and a Strong Foundation for Future Progress
With cell phone technology constantly evolving and more new models appearing every year, it can be hard to know which device is best for you. So how do you decide which phone to buy? The answer depends entirely on how you want to use it. If all you want to do is make calls, there… Continue Reading Accessible Cell Phones: Which Model is Best for You?
For at least two decades, Rhonda Staats has been talking to everyone she can about advocacy, education and empowerment pertaining to people who are blind and visually impaired. Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired recognized those efforts by honoring Rhonda with its 2021 Lifetime Service Award. The award is… Continue Reading Council Honors Rhonda Staats for a Lifetime of Service
Meet Grace Caine! She is one of the Council’s outstanding scholarship recipients for 2021 and the subject of this month’s Student Spotlight. Congratulations to Grace on being awarded $2,000 to support her ongoing education. Grace, now a sophomore at UW-Whitewater, may be from tiny Lowell, Wisconsin, but she has big plans for the future. Majoring… Continue Reading Student Spotlight 2021: Grace Caine
Renee Kuester-Sebranek has traveled the globe, visiting the Amazon jungle, Europe, Ireland, Thailand and Mexico, among many other fascinating destinations. And earlier this year she told the world about her adventures as a guest on the podcast, A Different Way of Travelling. “Remember that blind and visually impaired people can do virtually anything with the… Continue Reading Traveling the Globe and Paving the Way
Please join the staff in welcoming Bob Jacobson to the Council as our new communications director. With more than 20 years of nonprofit communications experience, Bob is pleased to return to the nonprofit sector after a stint at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services overseeing provider communications in the Medicaid division. “I learned a lot… Continue Reading All About Bob: Meet the Council’s New Communications Director
The Council relies on the generosity of supporters across the state and beyond to make a difference in the lives of people living with impaired vision. Giving Tuesday, a global giving movement celebrated the Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year, is an opportunity to help us pursue our mission. By making a gift on Giving Tuesday,… Continue Reading Support the Council on Giving Tuesday, November 30
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Earlier this month, Council Executive Director Denise Jess traveled to Kansas City to attend the VisionServe Alliance’s (VSA) 2024 Executive Leadership Conference. The Council has been a member of the VSA for around a decade, and they are an invaluable partner in our mission. VSA is a membership group formed over 30 years ago to… Continue Reading VisionServe Alliance: Working to De-Silo the Vision Services Field
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training helps people who are blind or who have low vision move around safely in all environments. Navigating busy street intersections is one of many important skills included in O&M training. Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist Brent Perzentka of the Council is a member of the City of Madison’s Vision Zero… Continue Reading O&M Strategies Can Keep You Safer at Tricky Intersections
We’re pleased to welcome Nate Wegehaupt as the newest member of the Council staff. Nate came on board April 1 as our new Communications Coordinator. In that role, he will write newsletter articles, website content and social media posts; prepare email communications for distribution; help maintain the website; and perform various other communications tasks. Prior… Continue Reading Welcome Nate Wegehaupt to the Council Team!