Do you work with older adults who have changing vision? Are you a librarian, parish nurse, senior or assisted living center activities director? Would you like to provide your constituents with a treasure trove of resources that will open doors to literature and information?

Plan to attend Bloomin’ Literature from 2-5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 4, at the Council offices, 754 Williamson Street in Madison.

This is a great, hands-on and FREE opportunity for you to learn skills and be prepared to direct older adults with visual impairment to current technology and community resources for reading. This presentation is a collaboration among the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired, Dane County Library Service, and the Madison Public Library.

Visit library and Council displays. Learn about the library’s Home Services program and get top-notch information on Talking Books and e-Readers. Connect with other professionals who serve individuals who are coping with vision loss.

This project is made possible thanks to a grant from Dane Arts with additional funds from the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation.

For reservations, please call 608-255-1166 or send an e-mail to: info@wcblind.org.

Feel free to share this flyer that contains seminar details.

The Council held its first annual Bloomsday in 2011as a friend and fund-raising event. It was such a success we are holding a second annual celebration on June 14, 2012.

Bloomsday is a commemoration of the life of Irish writer James Joyce, during which the June 16, 1904 events of his novel Ulysses are relived. The event name derives from Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of the novel. Since Joyce dealt with vision issues most of his adult life and was almost completely blind when he died, this is a perfect opportunity to celebrate great literature and the Council’s work on behalf of individuals who face vision challenges.

Join us for this year’s Bloomsday is on Thursday, June 14, from 5-7:30 p.m., at the Brink Lounge in Madison. The celebration includes Irish music (Alan Ng), refreshments, a raffle and a program with readings from Ulysses. Our readers include: Madison author Margaret George, Norman Gilliland from Wisconsin Public Radio, Barry Levenson of Mustard Museum fame, and Citizen Dave Cieslewicz.

We are grateful to the Madison Gas & Electric Foundation and Wegner CPA’s for their funding of this special event.

Tickets are $35 per person and $25 for students. To learn more, call the Council at 608-255-1166.

By Karen Perzentka

As we celebrate the 60th year of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Courier will reflect on the six decades of its existence. As the old adage goes: “You won’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.” Each issue of this year’s newsletter will feature 20 years of the Council’s history. We will begin in 1948 before the Council was incorporated in 1952.

Most of the information for these articles has been gathered from minutes filed in the office. In reviewing those from 1948, it was evident that the Council had been meeting for many years prior to this time. Read more →