MARCH 2008

Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired

Council Courier

Nona Graves, Editor
Kathi Koegle, Managing Editor
Becky Williams, Copyeditor
Kathy Brockman, Proofreader (print)
Karen Perzentka, Proofreader (Braille)
Ann (Schroeder) Salazar, Braille & Cassette Coordinator

Newsletter Committee

Sarah Heesen
Bruce Parkinson
Rhonda Staats
Amy Snow

Editor’s Note: Are you receiving multiple copies of the Courier unnecessarily? If so, please feel free to let us know. Call Kathi at 608-237-8111, and we’ll make sure you get only one copy of the Courier.

If your media preference has changed, and you wish to receive future issues of the Courier in a different format, please use the form on the back of this newsletter.

Do you have a friend, family member, or neighbor who would like to be our mailing list? Please have them contact us by phone, e-mail, or through the mail. We’re happy to help!

Table of Contents

A Message from the President
A Message from the Executive Director
January Council Meeting
The Council at the Capitol
Vendor Training in Las Vegas
Council Reaches Out to Help Blinded Veterans
The Council Welcomes Kathy Kent
Meet New Council Member Cory Ballard
Introducing New Council Staff
A Camera Connects These Artists
Behind the Numbers
Staff Listing
White Cane Safety
Calendar of Events
Free White Canes

In case you missed it, 2008 is an election year. The media is full of news and advertising for one candidate or another.

This year, the Courier will also bring an election straight to its readers. It’s an election year for the Council. Four members are elected to serve a three-year term on the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

For the first time, we will include ballots with the next edition of the Courier. Anyone who wishes to do so may complete and submit a ballot. If you receive a print, Braille or cassette copy of the Courier, you will have a print version of the ballot included with your issue, along with a return envelope. Anyone who receives the electronic version of the Courier will also receive a printable .pdf attachment of the ballot.

It is not too early to contact Karen Majkrzak at the Council office to suggest names for consideration as possible Council members. If you or someone you know is interested in running for one of the four Council seats, be sure to let us hear from you as soon as possible.

Since this is the first 2008 issue of the Courier, I want to express my thanks to departing Council members Kay Malmquist and Caroline Congdon. They will be missed, but both assure us that they will help on various committees and with special events. In their place, we welcome Kathy Kent and Cory Ballard.

Finally, a word of thanks to all Council members and staff. Without your dedication and support, we could not accomplish the fine work that we do. It is my honor to serve again as Council president, and I know 2008 will be even more successful than 2007.

A Message from the Executive Director
By Karen V. Majkrzak

In 2008, we continue to focus on the strategic vision initiatives developed last year at our staff and Council retreat. Specifically, we are looking forward to new service projects that directly relate to these initiatives and meet identified needs. I thought you might be interested in three of the projects currently being considered through pending grant applications:

Accessible Web Sites 101

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires accommodations to be made for persons with disabilities.  It also applies to Internet sites operated by businesses, government and non-profits.  This project seeks to teach webmasters at local non-profits and businesses how to make their websites accessible to persons who are blind or visually impaired.  Betsy Gruba, Director of Technology, will supervise the project and the intern hired to help with it.

Youth Transitions Program

Some young blind and visually impaired students have a particularly tough time during the transitions from middle to high school and from high school to college or jobs. This project will allow us to hold a summer program for one week for a small group of blind or visually impaired youth who will start high school in the fall.  The program will feature role models, discussion groups, and experiential learning in public places, schools, and restaurants.  Marshall Flax and Nancy Prussing, certified vision specialists, will supervise two college-age interns in running this week-long program.

Wisconsin Age-related Macular Degeneration Information Center

With the growing number of people over 60, there is a corresponding growth in diagnoses of macular degeneration.  This project will allow us to expand our library resources on the topic of age-related macular degeneration and invite professionals and family members as well as affected people to look through our resources or to borrow them.  Lists of available books and tapes through the American Foundation for the Blind and other websites will be shared widely as well.  A part-time coordinator will be hired to order, catalogue, track and promote these new resources.

We are also in the process of developing a Mobile Rural Vision Services Project modeled to some extent on our successful 2006 Door County Outreach project. I will keep you informed as this project moves forward.

Melanie McIntosh, the Council’s grants coordinator, has invested lots of time, care and energy researching and preparing grant applications that we hope will move these projects from possibility to reality.

If you are interested in receiving more information about any of the above projects, please contact me directly by e-mail, Karen@wcblind.org, or call me at 608-237-8103. If you are part of an organization that might like to support one of these projects financially, please let me know as soon as possible.

Thank you again for your continued interest and support which I greatly appreciate.

January Council Meeting
By Nona Graves, Council member

The Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired met at its office in Madison on January 26, 2008. This is the meeting at which the board of directors and officers are elected, and committees are appointed for the coming year.

Three of the board members must be appointed from the three major organizations that are affiliates of the Council. Chris Zenchenko was elected from the Alumni Association of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped. Kathy Brockman was elected from the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Bruce Parkinson was elected from the American Council of the Blind of Wisconsin (formerly the Midwest Association for the Blind).

The other board members are elected without regard to affiliation. They are Rhonda Staats and Arnold Tucker. The officers for the coming year are Chris Zenchenko, president; Bruce Parkinson, vice-president; Nona Graves, secretary; and Arnold Tucker, treasurer.

Committee and staff reports given at this meeting indicate that Council members and staff will have a very busy schedule in 2008. The Sixth Annual Philanthropy Day will take place in Fifield. There will be a legislative day in Madison in May. The Council will offer a full-day, large seminar somewhere in northeastern Wisconsin, and organized candidates forums in October around the state.

This is not a complete list of activities and programs for the year. Look for more information in this and future issues of the Courier.

The Council at the Capitol… Moving Forward in 2008
By Rhonda Staats, Council member

The Council continues to play an important role in legislative issues critical to people who are visually impaired or blind. I’m proud to chair this committee that includes: Neil Ford, Gary Goyke, Karen Heesen, Richard Johnson, Bruce Parkinson, Katherine Schneider, Dan Sippl, Gary Traynor, and Ed Weiss. This election year of 2008 promises many opportunities to make our presence felt by legislators, candidates, and the political process.

WCB&VI Legislative Day— The Council is planning its Legislative Day for Wednesday, May 28, 2008. We plan to reserve a room in the Capitol, and schedule advocacy visits with key agency and legislative personnel who have responsibility for issues important to Wisconsin citizens who are blind/visually impaired. We will also arrange individual office visits with legislators, especially those on the Joint Finance Committee as well as committee chairs who can significantly affect the progress of key legislation.

SB 238— A legislative priority for the Council is the passage of SB 238, otherwise known as the Braille Bill. Sponsored by Rep. Donna Seidell of Wausau, this bill mandates that textbooks and other materials be made available in alternative formats in a timely manner to post-secondary college and technical school students. Students who are visually impaired, or have some other print disability, must purchase the text materials. Upon purchase, these materials will be made available to students with print disabilities in electronic format, or any alternative format that meets their needs.

SB 238 also provides for the establishment of a textbook repository as books are made available in electronic format. SB 238 was voted out of the Senate Agriculture and Higher Education Committee on January 9, in large part because of extremely effective testimony by Council members and friends, and others who support this legislation. I am happy to tell you that this bill has the support of the UW System and the Wisconsin Vocational/Technical Board. Sadly, as the session ends, I don’t believe we will see the bill receive a final vote. We will fight for passage again next year!

Candidates’ Luncheon— The Council plans to be an active participant in a voter education candidates’ luncheon sponsored by Disability Rights Wisconsin and the Council on Developmental Disabilities. The goal of all partnering organizations is to increase voting participation by people with disabilities through nonpartisan educational events. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, July 8, at the Inn on the Park. Invitations will be sent to all candidates running for office. The Council plans to have a table with information and a fact sheet detailing our legislative priorities.

Freedom to Marry Legislation— This may be important for anyone who has refrained from getting married because of a need to keep Medical Assistance benefits. Representative Steve Wickert has sponsored legislation to exempt a spouse’s assets when determining eligibility for Medical Assistance benefits. If this legislation is signed into law, a person with a disability need not fear loss of benefits should he/she decide to marry. Many legislators have signed on to this legislation.

Good News for Blinded Veterans! Representative Tammy Baldwin has sponsored federal legislation that makes it easier for blinded veterans to receive vision related services from the Veterans’ Administration. This legislation was signed into law by President Bush in December. The law provides for the following: If a veteran has received treatment from the VA for an eye injury that was service related, he/she will now be able to receive VA vision services for the second eye regardless of the cause of vision loss in the second eye. This legislation will greatly assist veterans as they advance in age. (See Gary Traynor’s related article in this issue.)

The Council and its Legislative Committee continue to advocate in other areas. These include: 1) employment issues; 2) education of children who are blind/visually impaired from pre-school through post- secondary training; and 3) protecting and expanding the Business Enterprise Program.

Count on the Council to continue to promote legislative issues important to Wisconsin’s blind and visually impaired citizens.

Vendor Training in Las Vegas Well Attended
By Dan Sippl

Sagebrush, a national training session for blind business people sponsored by the Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America, was well represented by Wisconsin participants Kent Walser, Tom Jeray, Gary Goyke, and Sue and I.

The agenda was packed with extraordinary programs and speakers from all across the nation, including Alaska and Hawaii. Sue and I were responsible for the trade show along with several other functions. The trade show was a success and well accepted as special attention was given to assure a balanced blend of vending items and adaptive aids for blind and visually impaired people, while not distracting from our major sponsors. Our sponsorships enabled us to keep our registration fees low and still provide top notch food and speakers.

Our speakers covered a wide range of subjects including: government contracts, military dining, postal service, corporate executives’ social security, nominee agencies (for which I was a panelist), as well as panel discussions for funding the vending program. We had many government officials in attendance.

One of our keynote speakers was Jay Randolph, a sportscaster in St. Louis, and the son of Senator Jennings Randolph, one of the original authors of the Randolph Sheppard Act. He spoke of his father and his dedication to blindness and visual impairments and how his father believed that the visually impaired were blessed with many super talents. Jay recalls that whenever his father traveled around the country, he always had to stop at the post office to visit the blind vendor in the cafeteria as a way of re-energizing himself. I was fortunate to have my photo taken with Jay and Joe D’Costa of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

We are all anxious to start on next year’s training program to keep improving its quality and value.

Council Reaches Out to Help Blinded Veterans
By Gary Traynor

There are more than 120,000 blinded veterans living in the United States. Most have lost vision either through a service-connected incident or age-related eye disease. That number is growing as more service men and women return from Iraq and Afghanistan with eye injuries.

Most of these veterans do not realize they are entitled to receive free services and benefits from the Veterans Administration. Many mistakenly believe that they qualify only if their vision loss is due to a service-related injury. The good news is that you merely need to be an active duty veteran who’s registered in the VA system, and that you returned home with other than a dishonorable discharge.

If you are a blinded veteran, a relative of a blinded veteran, or someone who knows a blinded veteran who is currently not receiving VA benefits, please contact me at 715-832-9448. I’m the Blinded Veterans Association of Wisconsin (BVAWI) delegate serving as a Council member with the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired.

We are proud of our affiliation with BVAWI, and we encourage you to take advantage of the support and services this organization provides.

The Council Welcomes Kathy Kent
By Sarah Heesen

The formation of a brand new affiliate to the American Council of the Blind (the American Council of the Blind of Wisconsin) has meant good things for the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired in Madison, too.

Our first new member to welcome is Kathy Kent of Milwaukee. Last December, she was elected to join us for a three-year term.

An ACB member for more than 30 years, Kathy was an obvious choice to serve as a delegate to WCB&VI. She has remained active in the ACB (reading up on the issues, attending convention whenever possible, and voting whenever called upon). She is proud of what the blind of the ACB have accomplished over the years.

One thing that struck Kathy at her first Madison Council meeting was the discussion about improving employability skills and opportunities among the blind. “I remember back in ’85, when the number of blind people who actually had jobs was 10%. I think I heard that same number at the meeting in January. Things haven’t changed in all this time. It’s good to hear the Council exploring ways to change this.”

Kathy is employed in the pen department at Industries for the Blind, Inc., in Milwaukee. It is obvious in speaking to her that she enjoys her work. She has been running a pen-tipping machine since they got it in 1969, “and it wasn’t new when we got it, either,” she laughs. “Thing’s as old as I am.”

Kathy grew up in Mauston, Wisconsin, near the Dells. She attended public high school, and also enjoyed the summer school program for the blind at WSVH in Janesville. She remembers best the talent shows and making friends.

Another Council concern Kathy is excited about is the possibility of planning a few recreational events that would be available to more people around the state. These are still in the conception stage, but seeing how everyone wants a little fun once in awhile, the Council has begun to form a recreation committee in hopes of making some fun happen down the line.

When asked what she does for fun in her free time, Kathy said she enjoys music and informational reading especially Reader’s Digest and medical articles lately. “And I like a lot of music. I play the harmonica pretty good when I try.”

Meet New Council Member Cory Ballard
By Becky Williams, Council member

As a young boy going to school in Mukwonago, Wisconsin, Cory Ballard was a typical kid—not too crazy about studying and becoming an academic scholar, and more interested in playing soccer and basketball and listening to rock music.

Imagine how his life changed when he began to experience vision loss in seventh grade! By the end of his eighth grade year, Cory had been through twelve surgeries, and his vision loss stabilized, leaving him able to see only vague shadows and very little color. "My blindness actually did my grades a favor," Cory joked. "After it happened, I took life more seriously and did much better in school."

Cory attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. His college field placements included acting as an assistant in the Jefferson County Public Defender's office, working with juvenile delinquents at the Janesville Parole and Probation office and coordinating community service hours for juveniles in Jefferson County. He also organized and directed a special arts program for children in a low income housing complex.

Cory's first job after college was at Hearthside Rehabilitation Center in Brown Deer, where he was a case manager for adults with developmental disabilities. Cory has also worked as a public speaker, giving presentations to schools, clubs, churches, etc., about coping with blindness and working with his guide dog, Gunner.

Three years ago, Cory accepted employment at the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired as a volunteer services coordinator. As time went on, he became increasingly more interested in the Outlook Shoppe where he will soon work full time. Since he loves technological "toys," he's in his element searching for and evaluating new products, whether they're simple or complex.

"I'm very excited about representing the Badger Association on the Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired," Cory said. "I really want to get involved in committee work. I know the Council has some awesome programs, and I'm looking forward to learning more about them and becoming a part of the operation."

Cory and his wife Jessica love spending time together. They hope to start a family in the next year. For now, Cory enjoys all things technological. He loves a good book or a good movie and enjoys hanging out with family and friends. His enthusiastic energy will make him a great addition to the Council.

Introducing New Council Staff
By Bruce Parkinson

As time passes, people come and go in the world of employment. So it is with the staff of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired. Within the past year, there have been several people who have joined the Council staff, and I’d like to introduce them to you.

Ray Cubberly originally came to the Council on a grant program. Now he is on the Council staff as program assistant. The vast majority of Ray’s job involves working with the Council database. This means that most of Ray’s working hours are spent at a computer station making certain that all those things he’s responsible for are done accurately. It helps guarantee that information is current and correct for staff and Council members. Ray also makes sure that mailing lists are ready to go for the Courier and other mailings, some of which are sent to thousands of people.

Ray has been with the Council for a year, and he became a member of the Council staff last November. He has a bachelor’s degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and an associate degree in computer information systems. Ray is single and lives in Madison. When asked what he likes best about his job with the Council, Ray reflected, “I enjoy the variety of computer work thatI do. It’s fun, interesting and challenging.”

And now meet Connie Pagel. Connie’s tasks as a program assistant are varied. She answers the phone, works at the front desk, helps in the store, and she has some responsibility for computer information. Connie is currently updating Council data on state, county and tribal agencies on aging. These are organizations the Council partners with from time to time. Having accurate and up-to-date information about them is important.

Connie attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She also earned a certificate in human resources from Madison Area Technical College. Connie finds that the best part of her job is her interaction with other staff members with whom she works closely. “Doing my job is made easier by the people around me who help me acclimate to my new position.” She joined the staff last November. Connie is married and has two children.

When you order something from the Council and await your new purchase, George Brown sees to it that it gets mailed out in a timely fashion. He works in the Council warehouse and makes sure that orders are completed properly. He also keeps track of stock and reports when supplies need to be reordered. George also drives Virginia DeBlaey to her appointments.

He came to the Council last September as a part-time employee. With a degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison under his belt, George works in a youth intervention program for Dane County when he isn’t at the Council. Like Ray, he’s single.

“Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired, this is Heather, how may I help you?” That’s what you may hear if you phone the Council. The voice belongs to Heather Buggs, another recent addition to the Council staff.

Like Connie, Heather answers the phone, works at the front desk, and helps in the store. She also fills requests for information packets and maintains the supply cupboard where the pamphlets are stored. Heather does some filing work as part of her job.

She has a bachelor’s degree in special education with an emphasis in vision. Heather feels that meeting and working with the people who come to the Council is the best part of her job. She is a people person, and that certainly is an asset for many of her responsibilities. Heather is married and lives in Madison.

As you can see, members of the Council staff come from a varied background with many different and valuable skills. It takes this kind of diversity to serve the needs of the folks who avail themselves of the Council’s programs and services. The talent, experience and genuine desire of staff to help people are among the assets that make the Council the premier agency for individuals in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired .

A Camera Connects These Artists
By Kathi Koegle, Council staff

Patt Dreyer is no stranger to the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired, and now, she has a new reason to love us. It all began with a story….

The December 24, 2007 edition of the Wisconsin State Journal, one of Madison’s two major daily newspapers, ran a front-page

Like Janis, Patt has diabetic retinopathy. And like Janis, Patt used photography to express her passion for life. The difference is that Patt abandoned her longtime love of photography two and a half years ago, when she was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. Learning about Janis’ unique floral portraits rekindled a spark she thought was gone for good.

After reading the newspaper story about Janis, Patt visited the Council offices to see the collection firsthand. A resident of New Bedford, Texas, Patt returns to Madison twice a year to visit family. On each of these trips, she shops in our Sharper Vision Store. She considered this particular January visit a double delight!

Patt’s training in photography goes back to school days when she needed nine more hours to complete a master’s degree. She was required to explore an area previously unknown to her, so she selected calligraphy, weaving and photography. Through her small college’s affiliation with Lansing Community College in Michigan, Patt studied photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology and Kodak in New York. Her photographic training and experience led to some freelance jobs at two Michigan colleges. She had her own lab where she developed prints. Imagine the disappointment she felt when she abandoned this work because of vision loss.

And then, things changed for her. Last October, while in Boulder, Colorado, Patt met a blind photographer. His work was beautiful, and, “I couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with him to find out how he was able to do this.” After that conversation and then seeing Janis’ creations, Patt has discovered the wonderful world of digital photography, and she’s back in action.

“The beauty of digital photography,” Patt says, “is that you don’t have to change lenses, as with regular 35-millimeter and other cameras.” She’s excited about learning how to download digital images to her computer. Janis has shared tips and resources to help her along. They exchange emails, and Patt hopes to connect with Janis again when she returns to Madison this summer.

In an email to the newspaper reporter, Patt wrote, “The most important message a lot of people overlook is that despite blindness, we can and do achieve success with determination.”

Patt learned this lesson from personal experience. “As a legally blind person, I faced a lot of discrimination and many barriers when I sought employment. It took me two years to find a job, but I persevered and let people know that I was capable of doing many different things.”

She secured a job as Information and Resource Coordinator of Disability Employment Services at Easter Seals of North Texas. In that capacity, she researches resources in the state for disabled persons and then connects the two.

When she’s not on the job, Patt is busy serving as a strong advocate for the blind and visually impaired in her local community. She convinced the library in her town to install ZoomText and purchase a new CCTV. Now, other libraries are calling for advice. She also helped plan the area’s first Living with Low Vision Fair last year, and she’s busy writing grants to help obtain additional computer technology resources for the blind and visually impaired.

In addition to exchanging emails with Janis about her new pursuits in digital photography, Patt is also investigating funding sources for Janis to display her beautiful floral portraits in Texas. Sounds like a “Pay it forward” gesture, doesn’t it?

Behind the Numbers
By Kathi Koegle, Council staff

 We recently tallied program statistics for 2007, and we’d like to share a few highlights.

-- Total number of people served: 9,412

-- Sharper Vision Store customers: 3,575

-- People who received computer technology training or advice: 803

-- People who attended Council presentations: 2,329

-- Macular Degeneration: Progress in Sight VI Symposium attendees: 707

-- White canes distributed: 764

-- Low vision evaluations administered: 172

-- Rehabilitation training visits: 126 (6-month reporting)

-- Advocacy: 226

-- Volunteer hours (from 27 people): 3,212

Your generous donations of time, talent and treasure made many of these accomplishments possible. Thank you!

Staff Listing

George Brown Shipping/assistive devices x227
Heather Buggs Program Assistant x212 237-8101
Ray Cubberly Program Assistant x214 237-8104
Virginia DeBlaey Rehabilitation x228 237-8116
Marshall Flax Low Vision Therapist x217 237-8107
Gary Goyke Marketing x218 237-8108
Betsy Gruba Technology x225 237-8112
Kathi Koegle Outreach & Development x223 237-8111
Karen Majkrzak Executive Director x213 237-8103
Melanie McIntosh Grants Coordinator x226 237-8115
Deda Oatsvall Finance/Benefits X221 237-8110
Connie Pagel Program Assistant x210 237-8101
Brent Perzentka Sharper Vision Store x215 237-8105
Nancy Prussing Rehabilitation x216 237-8106
Ann Salazar Free White Cane Program x211 237-8102

White Cane Safety

From October 11 through October 18, the Council will host a number of events to promote white cane safety awareness. Future issues of the Courier will include details about organized candidate forums in the state, a White Cane Awareness Walk, and the annual White Cane Appeal mailing (that usually takes place in May).

We hope you’ll get involved in as many of these programs and events as possible!

Calendar of Upcoming Events

May 16 6 th Annual Philanthropy Day $10 for half-day seminar and awards luncheon
Northwoods Supper Club
Fifield , Wisconsin

May 28 WCB&VI Legislative Day
Madison, Wisconsin

June 20 Vision Loss: Finding Powerful Tools for Independence $10 for full-day seminar, materials, continental breakfast and lunch
The Liberty Hall
800 Eisenhower Drive
Kimberly, Wisconsin

July 26 Full Council meeting
Madison, Wisconsin

Free White Canes
By Ann Salazar, Council staff

Wisconsin citizens who are blind or visually impaired are entitled to receive one free white cane per year from the Council.

There are several kinds of canes to choose from. You may request a support cane that you lean on as you walk. An ID cane is a short cane that you hold out while traveling so others know you have a vision impairment. We also have mobility canes that you move in front of you as you walk along. Please remember that using this kind of cane requires a bit of training. All canes are available—rigid or folding.

Call me at 800-783-5213, extension 211, if your vision is 20/70 or less, and you’ve never had a white cane, or want to replace a cane you’ve had for more than a year.