Voters with disabilities are casting ballots in increasing numbers. According to researchers at Rutgers University, nearly 18 million voters with disabilities voted in 2020, up from 16 million in 2016. People with vision loss vote in higher numbers than do voters with other disabilities. That said, due to systemic barriers and recent changes in election… Continue Reading It’s Time to Make Your Voting Plan for Spring Elections
Someone once said, “The internet may give you what you want, but it won’t give you what you need.” Whether it’s surfing for accurate product reviews day or purchasing a pair of shoes that fit properly from Amazon, internet shopping can be a true “buyer beware” endeavor. There’s no substitute for an actual storefront staffed… Continue Reading Sharper Vision Store Offers a More Supportive, Better-Informed Shopping Experience
Sound public policy benefits from good public input. While local, state and federal agencies are required by law to include public comment for projects and proposals, the process can sometimes dilute the power of the public’s participation. For example, public hearings are often held very late in the process, making it less likely that input… Continue Reading Improving How Public Input is Gathered on Key Policy Issues
Council scholarship recipient Saree Behm is in her first year at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she lives in a dormitory on campus. A committed student, she is working towards a double major in Early Childhood Education with certifications in Early Childhood and Special Education. Saree spoke to Council Writer Lynn between her studies. Lynn:… Continue Reading Student Spotlight: Saree Behm
Voters who are blind and visually impaired in Wisconsin face many challenges when casting a ballot. These voters encounter hoops others do not have to navigate including getting a ballot in a user-friendly format and finding a way to fill it out and return it securely. They may not be able to cast their ballot… Continue Reading Voting for Everyone
January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness, especially for older adults and African Americans. It is an eye disease that typically causes vision loss by damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is located in the back of the eye, and transfers visual information from… Continue Reading How to Put in Eye Drops for Glaucoma and Other Diseases
The Council is pleased that Nick Sinram and Karen Heesen are continuing their positions. Nick, a budget and policy specialist with the City of Milwaukee, was introduced to the Council as a scholarship recipient in 2007. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2012 Continue Reading Continuing on the Board: Karen Heesen and Nick Sinram
The Council welcomes two new board members, each bringing valuable experience and perspective to their positions. Melanie Ramey A native of Arkansas, Melanie has lived in Madison for 30 years, and is a communication and speech coach. She also serves on many organizations and is the vice president of the Wisconsin League of Women Voters, chair of the Madison Committee on Foreign Relations… Continue Reading New Board Members Melanie Ramey and Renee Peterson
What are bump dots and why are they an important tool for people who are blind and visually impaired? More people know now, thanks to a billboard campaign that ran throughout 2020 thanks to Adams Outdoor Advertising. The program Adams Collaborate, which provides a few select nonprofits with $250,000 in free billboard advertising for a… Continue Reading Billboard Campaign Gave Council and its Services Visibility
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Gifts to the Council are the fuel our organization runs on. They make everything we do possible, from vision services to education to advocacy. As we ease into 2024, it’s a good time to take stock of some of the donor support we were fortunate to receive in 2023. We are grateful for every dollar… Continue Reading Taking Stock of Our 2023 Donor Support
The New Year is a good time to start eating healthier—and never stop! It’s also a great time to get busy in the kitchen to the extent you want to. That emphasis comes from Amy Wurf, the Council’s Education and Vision Services Director. “No matter what level of vision that you have, there are ways… Continue Reading Make 2024 the Year You Start Eating Healthier
Until recently, we didn’t have much concrete data on the impact vision loss is having on aging adults across Wisconsin. We could estimate how many people in the state are blind and visually impaired, and we had plenty of anecdotal information about how vision loss is affecting their well-being. But the numbers to back up… Continue Reading You’re Not Alone: Help is Available for Older Adults with Vision Loss