A smart TV can offer great accessibility features for people with vision loss. But setting up and learning to use those features can be a challenge. Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Rachel Pavone says there are a number of strategies for painlessly mastering accessible smart TV features designed for users who are blind or visually impaired.… Continue Reading Getting a Smart Start With Your Smart TV
April is National Volunteer Appreciation month. It’s an opportunity to recognize and celebrate volunteerism and its positive community impacts. Americans have always stepped up when it comes to volunteering. According to Americorps, nearly a quarter of Americans age 16 and over donated time formally through an organization between September 2020 and 2021. “Volunteers share their… Continue Reading Volunteering Can Be Gateway to Ongoing Connection
Lions Club International has been a leading advocate for and supporter of people with vision loss since 1925. That’s when Helen Keller challenged Lions Clubs around the world to be “knights for the blind.” Each spring, the Council nurtures our relationships with Wisconsin Lions Clubs by updating them on our current work and goals and… Continue Reading The Council and the Lions: A Lasting Relationship Rooted in Shared Goals
Board member Sharon Knaupf at a committee meeting. We are currently accepting applications for volunteer positions on the Board of Directors. Terms are three years in length and begin January 2021. Founded in 1952, the Council’s mission is to promote the dignity and empowerment of people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired through… Continue Reading A Way to Volunteer for a Cause you Care About: Apply to Become a Council Board Member
Karen Steffen is a long-time Council donor. People learn about the Council in many ways. Some find the Council’s website by Googling “vision loss in Wisconsin”. Others call because they are trying to find adaptive ways of doing everyday tasks. Still others are family members of those who receive Council services and observe the impact… Continue Reading Be a Part of the Council’s Mission: Thank you to Council Donors Glenn and Karen Steffen
To serve the needs of clients and adapt to the business changes in light of COVID-19, the Council has developed procedures for a safe reopening. These protocols were created using guidelines and recommendations from the Department of Public Health Madison Dane County. What to Know if You Plan to Visit the Council: Since Wisconsin has… Continue Reading The Council Prepares for a Safe Reopening
The Council is pleased to announce findings from the 2020 Advocacy survey. The survey asked questions about transportation, employment, education, voting and healthcare/vision services. Continue Reading Sharing Results From the Council’s Advocacy Survey
Council board member Chip Kaufman regularly bikes and works out with his sons. Getting regular exercise is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For Marcia Swiggum, a Council client, working toward physical fitness is something she can look forward to each week. “Staying active makes me feel like I am doing… Continue Reading EXPLORING FITNESS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
2020 Council scholarship recipient, Kaitlyn Hippe, graduated from Rufus King International High School this year. She plans to leave her hometown of Milwaukee to attend Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan this fall. Kat has a vocational goal to work in translation, and to teach either English as a second language, or to work in… Continue Reading Student Spotlight: Kaitlyn Hippe
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Finally, spring has come. Some outdoor enthusiasts, including those with vision loss, are storing away their snow skis and switching over to warm weather activities like tandem biking and hiking. These adaptive recreational opportunities—and more—are offered across Wisconsin, several of them by Blind Outdoor Leisure Development, Inc., or BOLD. BOLD’s purpose is to offer people… Continue Reading Spend Time in the Great Outdoors to Boost Physical, Mental and Social Well-Being
Jada Clark isn’t afraid to take matters into her own hands. The 2022 Council Scholarship recipient, who was born with significant vision impairment, made independence a goal once she got to middle school. “My vision has affected me throughout my life, both negatively and positively,” Jada says. As high school approached, she believed she was… Continue Reading 2022 Student Spotlight: Jada Clark
The Sharper Vision Store website now has a sharper look. While the site has always prioritized accessibility, the Sharper Vision Store team decided it was time to update and reorganize the site to make shopping even easier. “The online store is now more welcoming, with featured products on the homepage to help customers find popular… Continue Reading Sharper Vision Store Website Gets a Makeover
754 Williamson St.
Madison, WI 53703
Toll Free: 800-783-5213
608-255-1166
Fax: 608-255-3301
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Tuesday through Friday
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Closed Holidays
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Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired
