Post Archive

Workplace Giving Makes It Easy to Support the Organizations You Value

The Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired is among the 70 nonprofits that benefit from Community Shares of Wisconsin workplace giving campaigns. Workplace giving is a simple and effective way for employees to support area nonprofits by having a specified amount deducted from each paycheck. In most cases, employees can choose to make… Continue Reading Workplace Giving Makes It Easy to Support the Organizations You Value

Grace Cain holding a saxophone and standing in front of flowering foliage

2023 Student Spotlight: Grace Caine

Don’t worry, this is not a rerun. But we understand why you might suspect that at first glance. After all, this is the fourth consecutive year UW-Whitewater Senior Grace Caine has been a Council Scholarship recipient. We recently caught up with Grace by phone on a break during marching band practice. The Music Education major… Continue Reading 2023 Student Spotlight: Grace Caine

A person’s hands using the Be My Eyes app on a cell phone

Don’t Fear the Chatbot: The Potential Benefits of Artificial Intelligence

For many, the words “artificial intelligence” conjure up science fiction fears of computers taking over the world. Jim Denham, Access Technology Specialist at the Council, says there’s no need to be afraid. In fact, as new and controversial as it seems, Jim says forms of artificial intelligence (AI) have been put to good use for… Continue Reading Don’t Fear the Chatbot: The Potential Benefits of Artificial Intelligence

13 people standing in front of the WCBVI sign holding a Dementia Friendly banner.

Living Through Values: The Council Becomes a Dementia-Friendly Organization

Council staff at the end of the dementia-friendly training in January 2020. Inclusivity, integrity and uncompromising respect are the Council’s core values. To continue incorporating those principles into our services, we recently became a dementia-friendly organization. Each month, partner organizations present at our staff meetings to all share what they are doing in the community.… Continue Reading Living Through Values: The Council Becomes a Dementia-Friendly Organization

Tribute and Memorial Gifts: Celebrate and Honor a Loved One

Tribute gifts are donations made to a nonprofit in honor or in memory of a friend or loved one. These donations are made as a way to show appreciation, recognize a special event, celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or remember someone who has passed away. When Ramona “Moni” Stodola passed away, her family decided to… Continue Reading Tribute and Memorial Gifts: Celebrate and Honor a Loved One

A paratransit rider in a wheelchair is helped out of a van.

Urgent Transportation Needs During COVID-19

In an effort to serve the unique needs of the blind and visually impaired community during this challenging time, we would like to share information and resources of particular interest to our community. These are general suggestions and advise everyone to seek medical advice or guidance from other officials to handle individual circumstances. Transportation If… Continue Reading Urgent Transportation Needs During COVID-19

A WI REAL ID with a star in the upper right.

Everything You Need to Know About the REAL ID

The Federal Government is standardizing how state ID cards and driver licenses are produced and issued. The result is a REAL ID. Due to concerns about DMV access during COVID-19, the deadline was moved from October 1, 2020 to October 1, 2021, to ensure everyone has enough time to get their REAL ID cards. This… Continue Reading Everything You Need to Know About the REAL ID

Two Hands holding a small sign that says give.

How to Decide Where to Donate

Keeping in touch with our donors is always important, but even more so during turbulent times. Our Fund Development Director Lori Werbeckes is sending hand-written notes to those who give monthly. These notes keep them informed about our virtual education, vision services and advocacy efforts. We appreciate the support of monthly donors. Interested in making… Continue Reading How to Decide Where to Donate

A laptop shows a screen that says Online Banking

Increasing Independence: An Overview of Online Banking

“I have been using online banking for the past 14 years,” says Marge, a Council client. “It makes it easy for me to manage my finances without depending on a person who can see.” As a person who is blind/visually impaired, Marge wanted to maintain independence and privacy for her finances. Online banking makes this… Continue Reading Increasing Independence: An Overview of Online Banking

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Let Your Lived Experience Power Your Pedestrian Safety Advocacy

Whether on foot, on a bicycle or in a car, anyone who’s been to the corner of Cottage Grove Road and Monona Drive in Madison during the past five months knows it’s a challenging intersection to navigate these days. Extensive construction, including the laying of new underground piping, while necessary, has turned the intersection into… Continue Reading Let Your Lived Experience Power Your Pedestrian Safety Advocacy

Illustration of an eye with a normal lens and an eye with a cataract

Understanding Your Options is Key to Dealing with Cataracts

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of vision loss in the United States. They are extremely common among older adults— About one in six Americans aged 40 and older will get a cataract, and more than half will get them by the time they are 80 years old. But younger people, even babies, can… Continue Reading Understanding Your Options is Key to Dealing with Cataracts

Zulikha Gondal leaning against a railing

2023 Student Spotlight: Zulikha Gondal

Zulikha Gondal has determination. In fact, you could say the 2023 Council Scholarship recipient went to the mat during her last two years at Bradford High School in Kenosha. That’s when she not only wrestled for the Red Devils’ girls’ team but was also the school’s first girls’ wrestling captain to make it to the… Continue Reading 2023 Student Spotlight: Zulikha Gondal