VOLUME 21, NUMBER 3
WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INC.
Incorporated under laws of Wisconsin in November 1952, the Council is directed by 19 volunteer delegates: eleven are appointed by five organizations representing people who are blind; four delegates-at-large are elected by blind people throughout the state; four are appointed by the Council.
The Council is a strong voice for blind citizens of Wisconsin. Its mission is to promote the dignity and independence of people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public. The Council is funded through proceeds of endowments established through bequest grants, private gifts from individuals and corporations, and the White Cane Fund campaign.
NOVEMBER 2008
Council Courier
Nona Graves, Editor
Kathi Koegle, Managing Editor
Kathy Brockman, Proofreader (print)
Karen Perzentka, Proofreader (Braille)
Ann (Schroeder) Salazar, Braille printer
Glenn Schroeder, Cassette producer
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 on 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 Celebration of Leadership and Service
Council Scholarships Support Educational Dreams
Instructional Materials Access Bill
New Position Brings Wisconsin Native Back Home
Let Your Fingers do the Shopping
Digital Players for Talking Books
A Message from the President
By Chris Zenchenko
The end of the year is fast approaching, and so is the end of an era.
In this case, I am talking about cassette tape. Cassettes have enjoyed a great run since their introduction by Philips in1967. In 2008, however, they are hard to find and expensive to buy. Digital audio on CD and over the Internet, as well as on iPods and MP3 players, has driven most manufacturers of cassette tapes to reduce or stop production completely.
Based on the cost of continuing cassette distribution of the Courier versus sending it on CD, the Council voted to begin production of this publication in CD format with the first issue in 2009. We will discontinue all cassette production and distribution, and we’ll look into other audio distribution methods.
In these hard times, we must consider anything we can do to control or reduce costs. Blank CDs are less than half the cost of blank tapes, and that is a major factor. In addition, as the Talking Book program goes digital, the library cassette players will be called back and replaced with digital players.
For us, CD is probably just a temporary measure lasting no more than a few years. Other options should be available soon for audio distribution of the Courier. For now, CD is the best solution.
The end of 2008 also sees at least two Council members leaving the organization. After many years, Richard Johnson has decided to take a break. Richard has served on many committees and contributed greatly to the activities of the Council. Amy Snow has completed her term on the Council. My sincere thanks to both of them.
“Thank you” to the hard working staff at the Council office. Together, Council members and our valuable staff have accomplished great things in 2008. I’m confident that we’ll continue to do even better in the year ahead.
From the Executive Director
By Karen Majkrzak
With your help, tough financial times will not prevent the Council’s outreach to older adults!
Vision rehabilitation services are the next step after vision screening in any plan to prevent low vision-related public health concerns. It is very challenging, however, to get vision rehabilitation services to a population that lives far from urban centers and may not know about the potential life impact of these services. Many older adults diagnosed with progressive eye diseases receive inadequate information to help them make the most of their remaining vision for mobility and other aspects of life.
The Council is especially concerned about how older people in rural areas obtain help to maintain their independence. Our staff and Council members know that low vision rehabilitation services are hard to find. We don’t know the specific extent of unmet needs in rural areas, but health experts are clear that services are difficult to obtain there.
Addressing this challenge is part of the Council’s strategic vision. We have two grant applications pending for Vision Road Show funding to bring mobile services to rural areas, and we need your help, too.
We recently mailed our 2007 Annual Report and White Cane Fund Appeal to you. If you have not had a chance to send a donation, we invite you to do so! These funds help us provide increased services.
We know this is a tough economic time. If every person who receives the Courier sends in $5 for the White Cane Fund before the end of 2008, we will have an excellent start for the Vision Road Show and other services in 2009—a year that promises to be very challenging. With your support, we can continue to offer our free and low-cost services throughout Wisconsin.
May the year ahead bring you many blessings and good health. Thank you for your continued support and, as always, don’t hesitate to call me at 608-237-8103 to share your suggestions or ask questions!
A Celebration of Leadership and Service:
The 2008 Awards Banquet
By Gary R. Goyke
Council members, staff and many guests recognized the service and leadership of some very remarkable and generous individuals at the 2008 Awards Banquet in Stevens Point on Saturday evening, November 8.
Prior to the start of the Council’s business meeting on Friday, Executive Director Karen Majkrzak presented an Outstanding Partnership Award to Associated Bank. She remarked, “The Council greatly appreciates the attention to detail related to our Endowment funds during these most uncertain of financial times. We are grateful for the personal volunteer and corporate support of Associated Bank employees, and we value the excellent customer service given in all aspects of our relationship with Associated Bank.”
After dinner, the Council presented these additional awards:
2008 Legislator of the Year: State Representative Cory Mason of Racine, Wisconsin. Representative Mason was recognized for his legislative proposal ensuring that all State of Wisconsin employees are covered by the ADA. Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have removed all state employees from the ADA’s protection, requiring state legislative bodies to renew their laws in this matter.
2008 Employer of the Year: S. C. Johnson & Co. of Racine, Wisconsin. The company was nominated by one of its visually impaired marketing employees who praised S.C. Johnson & Co. for all its efforts in workplace accommodation, educational training and technical support.
2008 Distinguished Public Service Award: State Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Dr. Michael Nelipovich, Director of the Office, accepted this award on behalf of the entire staff. The Office has performed extraordinarily well under continued budget reductions and constraints.
2008 Outstanding Individual Leadership Award: Mr. Ken Sosalla, Waukesha, Wisconsin. Mr. Sosalla has been involved as a volunteer leader in the BOLD (Blind Outdoor Leisure Development) program of Waukesha County for more than 34 years. He has successfully helped hundreds of blind and visually impaired individuals participate in recreational opportunities.
The 2008 Louis Seidita Award: Mr. Bob Hueller of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The Louis Seidita Award is the Council’s highest and most distinguished internal recognition. Bob Hueller has served on the Council with great distinction, helping with fundraising, capital campaigns, marketing, public relations and many special events. His gracious demeanor, cheery disposition and continuous hard work have earned him this important recognition.
Neil Ford, Chair of the Council’s Awards Committee, thanked all recipients for their dedication and determination. “We all strongly believe that these individuals deserve our thanks and praise. Their individual and collective efforts help us fulfill the Council’s vision and mission.”
Council Scholarships Support Educational Dreams
By Scott Hegle
At the 2008 Awards Banquet, the Council was pleased to present scholarships to these recipients:
Hina Altaf and Imran Ahmed are a Pakistani brother and sister who attend Carroll College in Waukesha. Both plan to pursue degrees in computer engineering. We are happy to support their personal and professional goal.
Daniel Haumersen lives in Racine and is a freshman at UW-Milwaukee. He hopes to receive a degree in business marketing. We appreciate that Daniel is one of our youngest applicants and that he has already accomplished a great deal.
Matthew Kickbush hales from Milwaukee. He is attending Northern Illinois University, with plans to become a teacher of the visually impaired.
Jessica Raichle from Kenosha is attending Carthage College as a music major. She is very involved in many extra-curricular committees, many of which are music related.
Richard Warner is attending UW-Milwaukee and is a Milwaukee resident. We can only pretend to understand how he majors both in Chinese and accounting and is involved in many extra-curricular activities.
Meghan Whalen attends UW-Madison, and she is from Madison as well. She majors in English and serves as the current vice president of the Dane County Chapter of NFB. Meghan is active in many other activities, too.
We also awarded a runner-up scholarship to Rebecca Arrowwood, who is from Appleton and attends Lakeland College. She hopes to complete a degree in accounting or business administration.
The Council was delighted to award a Business Enterprise Scholarship to Rhonda Staats. For many years, Rhonda has been an integral part of the Council. She’s working toward certification in the BEP program at Northcentral Technical College.
Congratulations and best wishes to our 2008 scholarship recipients!
New 2009 Elected Council Members
The ballots have been counted, and the results are in for the 2009 elected Council members.
They are: Karen Heesen, Nona Graves, Rhonda Staats and Ed Weiss.
Congratulations to all, and thanks to everyone who sent in ballots for this important election.
Instructional Materials Access Bill:
A Priority for Next Session
By Rhonda Staats
The Council and the Legislative Committee are gearing up for the re-introduction of the Instructional Materials Access Bill early in the 2009-10 Wisconsin legislative session. As one of our legislative priorities, we anticipate that this bill will need a lot of hard work and a large amount of student testimony to ensure its passage.
The goal of the Instructional Materials Access Bill is to extend to post-secondary students who are visually impaired the same rights to timely access to college texts and materials as currently exists for visually impaired K-12 grade students.
The bill would mandate that textbook publishers make alternative format text available to blind and visually impaired students at the beginning of each semester--similar to what exists for textbooks in regular print. The college student who is visually impaired would need to buy or rent his or her textbook in the usual manner, and the alternative format version would be available at no extra cost to the student or the postsecondary school he or she attends.
The bill is designed to create a textbook repository so that every book ordered in an alternative format would be available at a central location for use by additional schools and students. This feature would further expedite the access and delivery process.
We anticipate that mandatory access to publishers’ materials and the textbook repository would provide significant help to Disability Services offices around the state because it would simplify the process of seeking, ordering and procuring text materials. When signed into law, the bill will positively impact students in technical colleges, private colleges and universities, and the University of Wisconsin system.
The chief sponsor of this bill is Representative Donna Seidell, a Democrat from Wausau. She plans to re-introduce the bill at the beginning of the next session. As the bill moves through the required committees and then on to the floor of the Senate and Assembly, we will need testimony from current and former students. They will tell their stories and explain how the Instructional Materials Access Bill will make their academic lives easier and more productive. We plan to offer testimony at every opportunity. The Council, the Legislative Committee, and friends will contact legislators and urge them to support the bill. We plan to maintain contact with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor and remind them of the importance of this legislation for Wisconsin citizens who are blind/visually impaired.
The WCB&VI Legislative Committee believes that the Instructional Materials Access Bill is extremely cost effective. The mandate that publishers make their materials accessible and the creation of a textbook repository will provide significant savings to two- and four-year post-secondary schools in terms of reduced staff time and effort involved in tracking down textbooks, and it will hold them accountable. Additionally, these institutions will no longer need to spend money to produce materials in house. There will be a cost advantage for students who formerly became discouraged and quit school because textbooks and materials were not available in a consistent and timely manner.
The Instructional Materials Access Bill is an important piece of equal opportunity legislation for Wisconsin students who are blind or visually impaired. Students may be of any age, so this is not simply
a young person’s issue.
First White Cane Walk: a Positive Step Forward
By Kathi Koegle
No one could have asked for a more beautiful day on Saturday,
October 11, when approximately 125 participants of all ages enthusiastically took part in the Council’s first White Cane Safety and Awareness Walk.
The event included an educational program before the walk began. Girl Scout Troop 893 presented the Colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Michael Nelipovich, Director of the Office for the Blind & Visually Impaired, offered a historical perspective on White Cane Safety Day, and Superintendent David Collins from the Division of State Patrol and Transportation Safety read the “Proclamation by Governor Doyle for White Cane Safety Day 2008.” White cane in hand, Marshall Flax, Certified Low Vision Therapist and Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist at the Council office, reflected on safety for all and invited guests to examine one of the new Quiet Cars. Walkers, attired in special event T-shirts, then headed outside, where they walked the half-mile loop once or several times.
It was a great opportunity for the Council to raise awareness of the White Cane Safety Law and increase understanding of the needs of visually impaired pedestrians.
Special thanks go to Associate Bank who sponsored our first annual walk!
Judith Joins Council Staff
By Kathi Koegle
She has studied French, Spanish and Arabic. She’s a massage therapist, and she loves to get her hands dirty. Introducing new program assistant Judith Rasmussen!
Judith joined the Council staff in August. She’s no stranger to our organization, as she has purchased items from the Sharper Vision Store, had a booth at a few of the macular degeneration symposia, and received orientation and mobility training over the years from Marshall Flax.
Hers is the voice you’ll often hear if you call the Council office. Judith also helps with store orders, event registration and general inquiries. She brings telephone experience from a previous job she held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison McBurney Disability Resource Center.
Judith is a Braille user, and she’s brushing up on her Spanish because she loves other languages and cultures, and she hopes to someday assist Spanish-speaking people.
An interesting tidbit: Judith spent time twice in Cairo, Egypt, with fellowships from the government-funded Arabic Studies Abroad Program.
Having grown up on a farm, Judith loves being close to nature and getting her hands dirty. An avid flower enthusiast, she has eight orchid plants. Pottery is another pastime she has enjoyed.
New Position Brings Wisconsin Native Back Home
By Jean Kalscheur
Hello, Courier readers!
I’m Jean Kalscheur, and I have been enjoying my work as a Vision Rehabilitation Teacher at the Council. I am learning lots from colleagues and the people with whom I’ve already worked.
I have been an occupational therapist for many years, and that knowledge base and skill set are serving me well. I worked in academic settings at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN, and at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY – from the land of 10,000 lakes to the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. I continue to teach one class this fall in St. Catherine’s Weekend College program.
My teaching has been with undergraduate and graduate students in occupational therapy. I have taught a diverse range of classes, including occupational therapy’s role with infants and children, assistive technology, therapeutic activities, occupational science, and lifespan occupations. My therapy work has recently been in assistive technology with children and adults.
I was born and raised in southern Wisconsin and earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and my graduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, MO. I enjoy reading, mostly fiction and biographies. I bead, but I don’t make jewelry. I do three-dimensional objects or combine beading with knitting or embroidery. All my beading is with small seed beads.
I am a volunteer tutor with the Literacy Network, and I do home safety evaluations for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Dane County. I have enjoyed living in different cities and meeting lots of wonderful people along the way. Now, it is nice to be back where I started, learning new things and finding a productive balance between occupational therapy and vision rehabilitation.
Holiday Shopping Made Easy at the Sharper Vision Store!
By Brent Perzentka
Need some holiday gift ideas for Mom, Dad or others who have visual impairments? The Sharper Vision Store carries a wide variety of products to help them remain independent.
The Tap Memo ($150) is a new, easy-to-use digital recorder. It’s just the thing to help keep phone numbers, appointments and memos. The unit is voice activated, with only one button to push, making it very user friendly.
Our new talking atomic clock with indoor/outdoor temperature and calendar ($45) helps make life easier with just the push of a button.
Worried about the winter and slipping on the ice or snow? Let our Yaktrax keep you on solid footing! Yaktrax feature a slip-on coil device to wear over your shoes or boots, giving you extra traction and helping you avoid falls and injuries. They come in Small-men’s sizes 5-8.5, women’s 6.5-10; Medium- men’s sizes 9-11, women’s 10.5-12.5; Large- men’s 11.5-13.5, women’s 13-15. These are $20 per pair.
How about giving a game? We carry lots of games that provide fun times with friends and family.
We offer:
Large-print Scrabble with ½ inch black on white letters and a revolving board for $54. The Tactile Cribbage board is $22.50, and large print,
1 ½ inch numbered playing cards by Hoyle are $3 a pack. You’ll also find
Go Fish, Old Maid, and Crazy 8’s--all in large print and Braille for $9.
We have a large print, coil-bound crossword puzzle book, with more than100 puzzles printed in 14 point font, for just $15.
You’ll also find a large selection of magnification products and lighting tools to help with reading. We can help make sure you or your loved ones get the right magnification for their eyes by scheduling them for a low vision assessment with Marshall Flax, our Low Vision Rehabilitation Specialist.
Our portable CCTV Senseview ($800) is a hand-held digital magnifier that can zoom up to 22.5 times. It has a large 4.3” screen, six different color modes, a “freeze” button, and it operates on a lithium rechargeable battery (up to 5 hours of continued use) or a plug-in AC adaptor. The unit is lightweight at 7.8 ounces, and it comes with a protective carrying case.
Still don’t know what to get? Purchase a gift card from the Sharper Vision Store, and let others pick out what they want.
All shipping in Wisconsin is free, and we accept both Visa and MasterCard. Please feel free to call us toll free at 1-800-783-5213 or visit The Sharper Vision Store for more information or to place an order.
Let Your Fingers do the Shopping
By Sarah Heesen
Do you wish you lived close to a storehouse filled with items like talking, programmable alarm clocks, large-print playing cards, personal check-writing guides and talking thermostats?
Thankfully, such a place exists, and it’s closer than your own back yard. It’s the Council’s Sharper Vision Store, and you can see it for yourself on your computer. I’ve created a simple, step-by-step guide to help beginners access the store’s many offerings. You’ll find it www.wcblind.org/storehelp.
New Art Exhibit is Heavenly!
By Kathi Koegle
Our final 2008 art exhibit features the work of Dr. Linda Broussard-Norcross. If you attended the Council’s June 20 vision loss seminar in Kimberly, Wisconsin, you may remember Linda’s name. She delivered a presentation on genetics, genealogy and vision loss from her personal perspective.
Retinitis Pigmentosa and Leukodystrophy have left Linda legally blind and physically challenged. With the use of special lighting and magnification, she continues to write and paint.
Featuring acrylics, paper and fabric, this collection of approximately 20 works includes images of guardian angels and illustrations from The Day Acadian Angels Returned to Bayou Lafourche, the children’s book Linda wrote.
Stop by the Council offices and enjoy this inspiring exhibit that runs through January 15, 2009! Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
’Tis the Season to Make Merry…and Shop!
By Kathi Koegle
When it comes to the “holiday season,” social calendars can fill up quickly. Be sure to add the Council’s Community Open House to your list. We’ll gather at the Council offices for conversation, light refreshments and good cheer from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, December 5.
Meet staff. Learn about our work on behalf of those who are blind and visually impaired, and find great holiday gifts in the Sharper Vision Store. Games, clocks, watches, cooking tools, calendars—Santa thought of everything to stock in the store.
Digital Players for Talking Books
Gary Traynor, President of the Blinded Veterans Association of Wisconsin, alerted the Council about a special opportunity.
The New Jersey State Library for the Blind and Handicapped is accepting reservations for the new digital players for Talking Books. The distribution of players gives a preference, by law, to men and women who served in the United States Military. Other players will be distributed by date of reservation. Readers Services (1-800-792-8322) are handling reservations.
Wisconsin citizens who are blind or visually impaired are entitled to receive one free white cane per year from the Council.
We offer several kinds of canes, including a support cane, an ID cane and mobility canes. Some canes require a bit of training, and all canes are available—rigid or folding.
Call 1-800-783-5213 if your vision is 20/70 or less, and you’ve never had a white cane, or want to replace one you’ve had for more than a year.
754 Williamson Street Madison, WI 53703
(608) 255-1166 Toll Free 1-800-783-5213
Sharper Vision Store (608) 237-8100
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