NOVEMBER 2007 COURIER

Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired

Council Courier
Nona Graves, Editor
Kate Hollander , Managing Editor
Becky Williams, Copyeditor
Kathy Brockman, Proofreader (print)
Kathi Koegle, 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 get in touch with us and we can remedy the situation. Call Kate at (608) 237-8109 and we’ll make sure you continue to get one copy of the Courier, instead of many.

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Table of Contents

A Message from the Executive Director

Opening Doors: A Conversation with Nancy Prussing

Cane Travel

White Cane Safety: More Than Just One Day

The Council: Reaching Out

Second Annual Golf Outing a Success

Celebrating Achievement

2007 Scholarship Winners

Have Yourself a Sharper Vision Season

Community Open House & Art Exhibit

Courier Available by Email

Free White Canes

A Note on Calendars

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Chris Zenchenko

It seems hard to believe that we are already to our third and final Courier for 2007. It has been a busy and wonderful year for the Council, our staff, volunteers, and the people we serve. Through golf outings, seminars, presentations, Council meetings, and constant contact between our staff and the folks for whom we provide help and service, thousands of people have been involved with our success. Success can be measured in many ways and without the fantastic support of the many kind people who contribute time and money, we could not do the job we do.

Our mission has been a constant reminder of the responsibility we have. That mission is: To promote the dignity and independence of the people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public. This mission is our guide and plays a role in every decision made by the Council and our staff.

Independence comes in many forms: from something as simple as a free white cane or a talking clock from our store, to the complex and time consuming process of learning to travel or use a computer. Our staff deals with these and many more different needs and requests every day.

The tremendous diversity of tasks covered by our mission statement and facing the Council and our staff might, at first, seem confusing. Along with the guidance of our mission comes the need to create a vision of an organization that can meet that mission. Earlier this year, the Council and staff met on a cold, snowy weekend in February to discuss exactly that. A vision statement shapes and directs efforts to meet the mission. It provides a picture of how things should look in the years to come. It offers a framework for more specific goals that will help build the organization. Our vision statement reads as follows:

The Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired will be the premier organization serving people who are blind and visually impaired statewide. Through internal excellence and effective collaboration with other organizations we will:

Establish a statewide presence in Wisconsin with a focus on underserved areas and populations,

• Facilitate comprehensive education and training for consumers, professionals, and the public,
• Increase opportunities for meaningful employment among people who are blind and visually impaired, and
• Act as a link to services, advocacy, technology, and information promoting the independence and enhanced quality of life of people who are blind and visually impaired and their families.

 

Our activities this year, and the planning we do for the years to come, are based on making this vision a reality.

From our seminars in Kenosha and Eau Claire to our annual awards banquet in Madison, and through countless visits from Council members and staff all over the state, we are working to accomplish great things. We have done well this year and hope to do even better next year.

My personal thanks to everyone for another great year. Have a terrific holiday season and enjoy this issue of the Courier.

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

By Karen V. Majkrzak

On a cold November afternoon in 2005, I came to the Council’s office in Madison for the first time to meet with members of the search committee who were interviewing candidates for the position of Executive Director. I learned a great deal about the Council’s mission and leadership during that meeting and greatly appreciate the privilege of working with all of you.

As we celebrate the 55th Anniversary of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, it is important to continue to recognize the strong commitment of the founders of the Council, whose dedication in securing the rights of the people of Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired cannot be forgotten. Vince Lombardi said, “The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” George Card and the early leaders of the Council had that great commitment to excellence. They worked for change as a result of personal awareness of discrimination and lack of services for blind people. Their mission continues, as seen in Chris Zenchenko’s article in this issue of the Courier. And our new vision statement is exciting and challenging!

Real power and energy in organizations is generated through relationships with individuals as well as other groups and organizations. We continue to form new working relationships with organizations to help us move forward in expanding the Council’s work in underserved areas of the state. These organizational connections strengthen our ability to offer services.

The early leaders also formed relationships with individuals which resulted in many people remembering the Council in their wills over the years. These generous financial resources partially support the services, programs, advocacy and mission of the Council each year.

To be fully successful in meeting future needs and goals, I ask each of you to consider adding a gift to the Council in your will. Every gift, large or small, will be used wisely and will provide a lasting legacy of commitment for future generations. If you have already remembered the Council in your plans, please let us know. Your decision now can really make a difference. Your gift will offer independence and dignity to Wisconsin friends and neighbors who are blind or visually impaired by helping the Council provide services for many years to come. If you have questions or need more information or assistance, please call me directly at 608-237-8103. I enjoy hearing from you and greatly appreciate your continued interest and support.

 

OPENING DOORS: A CONVERSATION WITH NANCY PRUSSING

By Kate Hollander, Council Staff

“I love rehab because it can open so many doors that have been closed to folks—the medical model can sometimes be so negative because doctors have to tell folks, ‘You know, there’s nothing more we can do’—and rehab is all about finding ways to do something differently,” says Nancy Prussing, the Council’s new Vision Rehabilitation Teacher. “It’s a very positive, supportive interaction.” Nancy speaks to me from her office in Madison, surrounded by the tools of her trade: high contrast measuring cups, bins of dimensional markers, a large CCTV stand. She is a woman immersed in her work, her desktop calendar showing a full day of appointments, her phone ringing frequently with calls from clients, each of whom she speaks to with a calm, friendly ease.

Although Nancy is new to the Council (she joined the staff in June 2007), she is not a stranger to the field of vision rehabilitation. Nancy comes to us after several years as an Orientation and Mobility Instructor and Low Vision Case Manager at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired. She earned a master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility from Western Michigan University in 2002, followed by another master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), and is working towards certification in Low Vision as well.

When asked what drew her to rehabilitation teaching, Nancy’s face lights up. “I always wanted to continue to learn,” she says with a smile. “I love mobility—I’m a true mobility person at heart—but I just wanted to learn about and provide the full range of rehabilitation for folks with visual impairments.” She explains that overspecialization can be frustrating for a professional who finds she can treat only one slice of a complex situation, but that with rehabilitation teaching she is able to provide a more holistic range of services to individuals coping with vision loss.

But what exactly is rehab teaching, anyway? I ask Nancy how she would explain it to someone who’s never heard of it before. “Vision rehabilitation teachers help people with blindness and low vision to find adaptive ways to do daily tasks without vision, to find ways to live at home safely,” she explains, “whether it be cooking, labeling the color of clothes, telling time, or filling up the coffee cup.” We go through our lives doing things as we have always done them; for sighted people, this means relying heavily on vision and visual cues. When vision is lost, we need help finding new ways of doing old things. These new ways can be practical but low-tech tips and techniques, higher-tech devices like a talking scale, or optical aids like magnifiers. Some rehabilitation teachers also specialize in Braille, which is one of the most useful tools available to people who are blind (as you know if you are reading this newsletter in Braille right now!).

Nancy provides one of the Council’s most important functions as a traveling rehabilitation teacher, and her program works in concert with the other low vision services the Council offers. Whereas Marshall Flax, the Council’s Low Vision Therapist and Orientation and Mobility Specialist, is based in Madison, Nancy’s program involves going out into the community and meeting people in their homes. Each day, she loads up one of the Council’s minivans with large print address books, talking clocks, white canes, and other assistive devices, and meets with people from Madison to Fond du Lac and beyond to problem-solve those new ways of doing old things.

“ Nancy is a fantastic addition to the Council team!” says Marshall Flax. “Together, we can do so much more for a client.  Nancy can follow up with clients in their home after they’ve seen me for a low vision evaluation and I can give her clinical data that’s hard to get in the home environment. Since we’re both certified orientation and mobility specialists, we’re also able to support each other and work together to meet client needs.”

I ask Nancy what somebody could expect from an appointment with her. “Someone could expect to find adaptive ways to accomplish tasks of daily living,” she replies, ticking her answers off on her fingers. “Learn more about what adaptations are available. Explore how much vision they have remaining, and whether a low vision evaluation might be of benefit. If appropriate, I’ll assess the need for and possibility of orientation and mobility training with a cane. If they’re into computers, I’ll refer them to our Director of Technology, Betsy Gruba. If I can, I’ll connect them with community resources.” Nancy can help individuals keep doing the things they love and need to do—reading, cooking, work around the house—as their vision diminishes.

To get the most benefit out of a home visit, Nancy suggests that consumers learn as much as they can about their eye condition, and keep good records of their doctor visits and what services they have received. “What really bugs me is when I ask, ‘Where did you get your cane,’ and the response is, ‘I don’t know, some guy brought it,’” she says, laughing. She stresses that in order for people to get the most out of the services available, they need to self-educate and keep the channels of communication open between the various service providers, so that agencies can work together to provide the best possible care. Sometimes this means knowing the difference between optometrists, ophthalmologists, and low vision specialists, getting curious about their vision and staying involved in their own care. In order to be more active participants in the life of their vision, Nancy says, “people should learn all they can.”

For someone who has lost vision, a home visit from Nancy can restore a great deal of independence. Individuals can learn to navigate the stove, washer and dryer, and pay bills, all in new ways that accommodate the changed vision. More than just the practical instruction, Nancy brings compassion and real interest to each interaction. “I love working with folks,” she declares. “I love the teaching relationship I’m able to have with my students and clients.” When loss of vision seems to close the proverbial doors, Nancy Prussing helps her students open them again.

To make an appointment, please call us at 608-255-1166, or call Nancy directly at 608-237-8106. For more information, try this link: http://www.wcblind.org/services_rehabteaching.html

CANE TRAVEL

By Marshall Flax, Council Staff

When a person has little or no useful vision, the decision about whether or not to use a white cane for mobility is almost made for him or her. Without something to detect obstacles (other than your shins) and drop offs (other than falling on your face – or some large round part of your anatomy) one’s mobility can be very limited. But (no pun intended), approximately 75% of people who are “legally blind” do have useable vision, and most of them are older adults who have age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and can often use their remaining vision to keep from running into most obstacles. Is a white cane of any use to this group? This article seeks to answer that question.

For many people growing up fully sighted, the thought of having to use a white cane is repulsive. A leader of the pack of symbols that indicate blindness, the white cane carries the inaccurate and inappropriate baggage of helplessness and dependency that is attributed to blindness. Many people with low vision will put up with a lot of bruised shins and embarrassing (and painful) moments saying “I get by OK,” or “I haven’t been killed, yet.” For a person with low vision, taking up the white cane is a statement to oneself: “This condition is permanent and I must change my life – I’m not going back.” This can be a very difficult reality to face. So, is a white cane of any use for a person with low vision? I think it is and I’d like to tell you when and why.

After the age of 50 or so, no one sees all that well in a low-light environment. Add a real vision loss, a little loss of muscle tone and balance into the mix, and a dimly-lit supper club is just a hip fracture waiting to happen. “Where did that step come from? I didn’t see it!” Would using a white cane prevent this accident? Maybe. A cane that folds up to be stored in a pocket or purse can be brought out when needed and put away when not needed. There are various tips for the cane and a tip that will roll on the ground would allow the user to notice that there was a change in elevation before he or she ended up on the ground.

If, while carrying or using a white cane, you should happen to walk into the wrong restroom because your low vision wouldn’t let you read the sign on the door (“Ladies & Gentlemen,” “Senors and Senoritas”), then the other occupants will know you’re just a person who can’t see well and made an honest mistake—not somebody with questionable intentions!

And, if you bump into someone or something, simply because you didn’t see it (and in a dimly-lit area there can be a lot that you don’t see), then your mistake was an honest one, not the result of a lack of concern or intelligence.

Where do low-light situations occur? Well, just about everywhere: the grocery store, the senior center, and the place of worship immediately come to mind. Imagine what it would be like to be in a dimly-lit area and have the confidence to walk forward, knowing that by pushing your little stick in front of you, you will probably spare yourself pain and embarrassment – and you’ll regain some of your independence!

Marshall Flax is a certified orientation and mobility specialist (COMS) who encourages all cane users to work with an O&M specialist before relying on a cane for outdoor travel.

WHITE CANE SAFETY:
MORE THAN JUST ONE DAY

By Bruce Parkinson, Council Member

White Cane Safety Day 2007 has come and gone. There were events held by low vision groups and organizations that are concerned with white cane safety all around the state. Governor Doyle and numerous mayors issued proclamations. Motorists and communities were reminded that there are people who are blind or visually impaired living and working in the cities and towns where they live.

White cane safety is something that should be observed every day of the year, not just on October 15. Unfortunately, there are far too few motorists who know the white cane law. They won’t learn the law unless some form of public education brings it to their attention.

Another concern is that there are many people who use white canes but who have never had proper training in their use. People who use white canes who have never had orientation and mobility instruction should attempt to get some basic instruction in cane use for their own safety, especially in crossing streets.

Annual White Cane Safety Day is a first step toward educating the general public about independent travel by people who are blind and visually impaired. Thank you to everyone who made White Cane Safety Day 2007 a success, and let’s all work to make the streets safe for white cane users every day of the year.

 

THE COUNCIL: REACHING OUT

By Sarah Heesen, Council Member

One of the Council’s most admirable traits is its ability to draw in talent of the highest caliber to meet staffing needs. We’re not just filling in the gaps when we need assistance; we’re attracting the talents of truly experienced and qualified individuals. And they seem to enjoy what they’re doing! Such is the case with one of our newest employees, Kathi Koegle, now working as the Council’s Outreach and Development Manager.

With her Master of Education degree from Westchester State College in Westchester Pennsylvania, Kathi’s public relations experience before coming to the Council this year has included twenty-two and a half years working in outreach and public relations at St. Benedict’s Center. She functioned as the retreat center’s marketing and media link to the public - building and maintaining strong relationships in the community as the communications director and goodwill ambassador for the sisters who run the center. Her accomplishments include developing the Center’s marketing and communications department from the ground up, launching a professional magazine for the center, and increasing the organization’s recognition by the public by an estimated 75%.

Kathi’s contributions to the Council so far have included her editorship of the Friends of the Council newsletter and a healthy regimen of special events planning for the end of this year. Most recently, she has been working together with other staff to wrap up the charity golf outing benefiting the Council’s support for people with macular degeneration. This was a large event, with a lot of contacts to sort, income to account for and finishing touches to apply before Kathi can file it completely away.

When asked what she enjoys most about working with the Council, Kathi replied that the dedication of the Council family is a treat. “They know the work, and they’ve welcomed me in. I’m part of it now, and we get along well.”

She then spoke of ideas for future work. “I’d like to get to the point where I can send stories to publications around the state to educate the public about what the Council is and does,” she says. These would be outlines of the Council’s work, as well as success stories of people the organization has affected.

To hear Kathi talk about her work, one would think she was relating a favorite hobby. Her voice is lively, and she has an energetic way of speaking that just invites more questions. But she does have hobbies outside of work. She is an accomplished cook, she loves a good book … and then there’s France. “I’m a former French teacher. France is my big love. I’ve been three times, and I want to go again.”

 

SECOND ANNUAL GOLF OUTING A SUCCESS

By Kate Hollander, Council Staff

“It was a beautiful September day, and everyone—golfers, organizers and volunteers—was having a good time,” says Council staff member Marshall Flax of his experience at the Council’s second annual Golf in the Fall event. “I worked at the 10th tee, the Vision Challenge Hole, with Rob Buettner of the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, so we met and talked to every golfer.  People were glad that they could golf on a beautiful day and support a good organization.” More than 100 golfers turned out on September 17 2007, singly and in foursomes, to play 18 holes, participate in putting, driving, and hole-in-one contests—all to raise awareness of the Council, and money for its macular degeneration programs.

“The overall objectives of the golf outing were to increase awareness in the broader community of the Council and its work to help blind and visually impaired people live meaningful, independent lives,” says Kathi Koegle, Outreach and Development Manager, of the event she coordinated. Reaching out to the community was a major goal of the event. “WCB&VI needs friends and supporters from all areas of our society,” adds Marshall, “and the event helped us expand our base of support in the business community.”

The outing itself begins in community, with people coming together. Golf in the Fall is a collaborative effort between the Council and the O’Connor family, a large clan with a personal stake in vision loss issues (patriarch Jim “JB” O’Connor lost his vision at age 41). “ The O’Connor family has held a successful family golf outing for many years at son Tom O’Connor’s golf course, in Valders, WI, which provides financial support to the Council,” explains Karen Majkrzak. “Tom’s brothers John and Pat O’Connor were interested in having an outing in the Madison area and preliminary meetings were held with former Executive Director (and golfer) Dick Pomo and Kathy Lange-Novak. Following Dick’s retirement, Kathy and I held planning meetings with John and Pat for the 1st Annual Golf in the Fall.” The event debuted in September 2006, to much enthusiasm.

Based in large part on the success of that first golf outing, the bar was raised for the second annual event, scheduled for September 2007. Kathy Lange-Novak, who developed and staffed the first event, retired in May. Kathi Koegle stepped into her shoes, bringing her own determination and enthusiasm to make the event a success.

“Working with the O'Connor family was inspiring and gratifying,” says Kathi. Pat O’Connor’s company, Grand Developments, LLC, served as the event’s overall sponsor. Pat’s wife Joan and brother John sat on the planning committee. “They are generous, committed, and supportive people who shared their time, financial resources and creative ideas for the golf outing.  It felt like I had a built-in cheerleading squad!” Kathi continues.  “From beginning to end, the O'Connors worked to help ensure the success of this event.”

The outing, conceived to be bigger, more elaborate, and more fruitful than the last, required the efforts of Council and staff members beyond those on the planning committee. “We received additional assistance from Rebecca Flax in the area of outreach to businesses for raffle prizes,” notes Karen, and “the combination of the very organized work of Kathi and Rebecca, along with other staff and Council support, allowed the planning committee to build on the first year’s effort.” Moreover, many members of the staff and the Council attended the event itself, helping at registration, ferrying equipment back and forth from the Council offices, and welcoming golfers. The post-golf reception was staffed by volunteers from UW Madison’s sorority Delta Gamma, which makes blindness issues one of its priorities.

The hard work of staff, Council members, volunteers, and of course the O’Connor family paid off. “The 2006 event was a very good first effort,” Karen notes, “with 72 golfers participating. That event raised $10,000 after expenses.” By contrast, “this year we hoped to have 100 golfers, and we were delighted to welcome 108,” says Kathi. “So we certainly met and exceeded our goals.” In addition, says Karen, “ The very successful event of 2007 increased sponsorships and resulted in $30,000 being raised after expenses.”

Golfers are encouraged to mark their calendars for next year’s event on September 15, 2008. “Planning is underway!” says Karen. “This new special event assists the Council in bringing in needed revenue and also helps us increase awareness of issues that impact the blind and visually impaired individuals we serve, as we make new Friends of the Council.”

 

CELEBRATING ACHEIVEMENT

By Becky Williams, Council Member

For 55 years, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired has provided services and advocacy for citizens who are dealing with vision loss or total blindness. The Council has helped to create laws and retain and improve needed programs. All Council members are people with vision problems, and their abilities, together with their determination to enrich the lives of those coping with vision loss, have inspired many people to succeed in higher education and employment.

At an annual banquet which has become one of the most uplifting events of the Council's year, recognition is granted to scholars, volunteers, advocates, employers, and fund-raisers. This year the members of the Council decided to combine a celebration of its 55th anniversary with a very special recognition event.

On Saturday, November 10, the excitement will begin in the main ballroom of Madison's Best Western Inn on the Park. It is particularly fitting that members of the Blinded Veterans of Wisconsin, the Council's newest affiliate, will open the ceremonies with a presentation of the colors. On Veterans' Day Eve, each Veteran will march into the ballroom carrying a special flag representing a branch of the military service—U.S. Army, Naval Air Corps, Navy, Korean War veterans, Army Air Corps, and U.S. Air Force. Veterans scheduled to participate in the color guard include Jim Abrams, Lyle Martin, Jan Kapus, Elbert Kimmel, Herb Edwardsen, and Council member Gary Traynor.

How well would you do in school if the books and materials you needed were not available in your preferred reading format? Recognizing the right of all students to an adequate, positive atmosphere in which to learn, State Rep. Donna Seidel, a Democrat from the 85th Assembly District ( Wausau), authored Assembly Bill 469, Wisconsin's Instructional Materials Accessibility Act. She believes students who are blind or visually impaired should receive materials they need in their chosen format at the same time their classmates receive the texts. Because of her dedicated work on their behalf, Rep. Seidel will receive the Wisconsin Council's 2007 Legislator of the Year award.

This year's Louis Seidita award, granted for outstanding volunteer service to people who are blind or visually impaired, will be given to Phil Tyrrell ( Janesville). For over 45 years, he taught music at the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped and spent hundreds of hours beyond the school day enhancing lives and increasing the self-esteem of his students through his instruction and through the music he conducted and composed. Phil reached out to adults, as well as young people, and many of them credit their success in music to his inspirational teaching.

Kevin Meyers and Kerry Wiegel nominated Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company's Milwaukee office for the Employer of the Year award, which the Council is proud to support. Computer technology has opened many jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired, but employers often hesitate to hire them because of unwillingness to make accommodations. This was not the case with Northwestern Mutual. The Council applauds their role in creating a positive working environment for Kevin and Kerry.

Madison Volunteer Braillists and Tapists Inc., will be honored with a public service award. They have provided hundreds of hours of study, leisure and family reading, and pursuit of hobbies like cooking which require you to go "by the book" for many people who are blind or visually impaired. They have indeed enriched our world.

Awards are exciting, but they are only the beginning of this spectacular evening of celebration. Be sure to read the Courier article about our scholarship winners. We will be motivated by terrific speakers and entertained by talented musicians. Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who is working to make this event so memorable. Your support helps us remain enthusiastic as we move into the future.

 

2007 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

By Amy Snow, Council Member

The Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired is pleased to be able to present several deserving students with financial awards to assist them in attaining their vocational goals. The committee had a total of fourteen applications and was able to award a total of eleven scholarships.

There were ten academic scholarships available this year, each worth $1,500. The winners are:

Imran Ahmed is originally from Pakistan, but now resides at Carroll College in Waukesha. Imran is majoring in computer science and plans to become a software engineer. In his spare time, he works with several organizations involving international students.

Elizabeth (Beth) Allred of Madison is attending UW-Madison majoring in music. Beth hopes to become a voice teacher and professional singer. In addition, she enjoys performing with the Madison Bach Musicians.

Like her brother Imran, Hina Altaf is originally from Pakistan, but now resides at Carroll College in Waukesha. Hina hopes to become a software engineer and is majoring in computer science. In her spare time, she is involved with organizations that work with international students.

Rhonda Anderson of Milwaukee is involved in Silver Lake College’s Business Administration program and hopes to become a human resource specialist. She volunteers at a local nursing home.

Matthew Kickbush of Milwaukee is attending Northern Illinois University in DeKalb in pursuit of a degree in education. He hopes to become a teacher of the visually impaired.

John Krause from Hartford hopes to secure employment in the international business field. He enjoys swimming, golfing, and involvement in the German club.

Michael Magnuson is from Oshkosh and is currently pursuing Masters degrees in business and sociology. Michael is a full-time pastor and enjoys involvement in the board of directors of his denomination.

Nick Sinran is a senior at Prairie du Chien High School and, although he is uncertain of what his major will be, is considering careers in psychology or rehab counseling. Nick is active in sports, Eagle Scouts, and the Political Science Club.

Zachary Smith of Lake Nebagamon is a senior at Northwestern High School. Zachary hopes to attain a PhD in the field of genetics. He participates in cross country and wrestling.

Nicole Zimmerman of Oshkosh attends the University of Stevens Point and is majoring in Water Resources. She hopes to become a librarian in the area of environmental education. Nicole is on the Disability Council at UW-SP and is involved in intervarsity Christian Fellowship and student government.

For the second year, the Council has been able to award scholarships to people involved in the Business Enterprise Program. This year, one applicant was chosen to receive a scholarship worth $1,000.

Vince Alexander is currently a student at Northcentral Technical College and plans to finish the BEP program in May of 2008. He currently resides in Wausau.

The Scholarship Committee wishes to thank all of this year’s applicants.

HAVE YOURSELF A SHARPER VISION SEASON

By Rhonda Staats, Council Member

 

Get things through the mail.
Just call Brent,
He’ll tell you what we have for sale.

Imagine a Christmas song that sings the praises of the Sharper Vision Store! Imagine yourself calling store manager Brent Perzentka at 608-237-8100 for helpful suggestions for holiday gift items to delight anyone who is visually impaired or blind.

If you are looking for a stocking stuffer that is also practical, try the ever popular large print address book. This address book comes with a 20/20 pen, and costs $11.50. Large print calendars also make a great gift. These calendars provide space to list important dates and appointments.

All of us have fond memories of sitting around a table with family and friends while playing cards or board games. Don’t let your visual impairment keep you from making new memories of friendship and fun. The Sharper Vision Store carries many popular board games in large print and Braille versions, as well as large print and Braille playing cards. Continue to have hours of fun with marathon sessions of Bingo, Monopoly, or Scrabble in either large print or Braille

versions! Play Uno or Crazy 8’s with your children or grandchildren! Continue your winning ways at bridge, or euchre, or poker. Continue to skunk your opponents with a tactile cribbage board!

Watches or clocks make excellent Christmas gifts. We all need to know what time it is when we wake at 3:00 AM, or set an alarm or keep appointments. The Sharper Vision Store carries a wide variety of large print, Braille, or talking watches and clocks. Popular models include a gold or silver face talking watch for men or women for $40, or an atomic talking clock for approximately $50. You can also choose a large print or Braille watch that won’t talk back to you!

The Sharper Vision Store carries all sorts of practical items to make our lives easier, and allow us to maintain our sense of independence. Sharper Vision carries a wide variety of sunglasses designed to reduce glare and offer UV protection. We have large button telephones featuring different options and prices from $30 to $100 or above. Since tuning knobs are a thing of the past, Sharper Vision carries a large button universal remote for about $30. Other Sharper Vision holiday suggestions include kitchen or sewing items, magnifying or lighted mirrors, and full spectrum or daylight lamps in floor or table models. No need to give up small mending tasks or sewing on buttons with a needle threader and the perfect lamp.

The Sharper Vision Store also carries items which allow us to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For under $75, you can watch your weight with a talking scale. There are no buttons or switches to operate this scale. Just step on the scale and it will politely announce your weight. This scale is so optimistic, it even thanks you after announcing that very personal number. Monitor your exercise and energy output with a talking pedometer, and you can truly say, “Walk a mile in my shoes!” The Sharper Vision Store carries a talking blood pressure monitor to watch those numbers, and a talking glucometer for those who need to control their blood sugar.

Choose a gift card from the Sharper Vision Store if you are hesitant about making a selection. In fact, a gift card is definitely recommended if you are thinking about purchasing a magnifier for someone. Sharper Vision carries a wide variety of magnifiers, but the choice and efficacy of a magnifier is dependent on factors unique to the individual. A Sharper Vision gift certificate for a magnifier is a great idea because it allows the recipient to visit the store for knowledgeable assistance in choosing the magnifier that works best.

COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE AND ART EXHIBIT 2007

By Kate Hollander & Janis Nussbaum Senungetuk
Council Staff

Imagine a chilly winter afternoon, sun setting early, perhaps a few flakes of snow on the wind. But the Council office here in Madison is brightly lit and bustling with guests and good cheer. On December 7, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, the Council will host its second annual Community Open House and Art Exhibit, and we would love you to be part of it!

As in the past, food and drink will be provided by the Council and our friends, colleagues, and neighbors on Willy Street. The Council office will be transformed not just into a social space, but also into a gallery of beautiful art.

This year our featured artist is Janis Nussbaum Senungetuk, who has spent the past several months as our artist-in-residence and marketing intern. Janis has created portraits of flowers that both depict their physical resemblance and evoke the emotions of spring and summer. The dramatic interplay of sunlight filtered through the translucent petals and leaves of the plants illuminates their innate beauty.

Janis describes herself as an image maker who uses photography as a tool to capture a moment in time. Images are photographed using natural light. Then, they are printed on cotton rag printmaking paper that further distances them from their photographic origin.

The artist earned Master of Fine Arts and Master of Arts degrees in printmaking and drawing from Northern Illinois University-DeKalb. She was awarded her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting with honors from the San Francisco Art Institute. The exhibit is funded in part by a grant from the Madison Arts Commission, with additional funds from the Wisconsin Arts Board.

The focus of the exhibit is the production and presentation of visual art that is accessible for viewers with visual impairment. Nussbaum Senungetuk has impaired vision from diabetic retinopathy. Image title cards and a descriptive commentary of the exhibit are available in large type and Braille.

The exhibit, which runs through February 28, 2008, is free and open for viewing from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at the Council offices. Please stop by and see it, even if you are not able to attend the Open House! If you’re planning on coming to the Open House on December 7, please give us a call at 608-255-1166. Thanks!

COURIER AVAILABLE BY EMAIL

By Kate Hollander, Council Staff

We here at the Courier are very proud that our newsletter goes out in four formats—large print, Braille, cassette tape, and e-mail—because we want to make sure that everyone who subscribes can access the Courier in the way that works best for them. The e-mail format was introduced just about a year ago, and we’ve gotten great feedback from readers who love getting the newsletter electronically: it’s fast, coming right to your inbox, and once it’s there you can enlarge the text or have your computer read it to you, depending on your preference.

We’d like to encourage everyone who’s interested to give receiving the Courier electronically a try. The fewer copies we have to print, Braille, or record, the more resources the Council can put towards other programs and services—and it saves trees and prevents pollution, too.

If you’d like to try receiving the Courier by e-mail, please fill out the form at the back of this newsletter, or send an e-mail to me at (kate@wcblind.org) with “Subscribe to Electronic Courier” in the subject line. Don’t forget to include the e-mail address you would like us to use!

FREE WHITE CANES

By Ann (Schroeder) Salazar
Council Staff

You are entitled to one free white cane per year from the Council. There are several kinds of canes to choose from, including support, ID, and mobility canes. Canes can be available in rigid or folding models. For further information, please contact Ann (Schroeder) Salazar at 800-783-5213 Ext. 211, if your vision is 20/70 or less and you have never had a white cane, or want to replace a cane that you have had for more than a year.

A NOTE ON CALENDARS

Please note that our 2008 large print calendars will soon be available! The price is $3.00, which includes tax and shipping. Please feel free to order them by mail, by phone or using our website! Call 608-255-1166 or visit www.wcblind.org to order.