Support Groups
Find a low vision support group near you
The following Wisconsin low vision support groups may be helpful to you or a loved one affected by vision loss. They are not run by Wisconsin Council of the Blind and we cannot guarantee the information listed below is current. Call or email the contact person to get more information. If you have updated contact information or know of a group that is not on this list, please email [email protected] or call (608) 255-1166.
In addition, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired hosts a statewide monthly low vision support group. To learn more visit the event page.
Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually
Impaired
Open to all counties in Wisconsin, WCBVI has the following groups running:
- Trailblazers Low Vision Support Group
Contact: Brent Perzentka
Phone: (608) 237-8112
Email: [email protected]
Online support group meets the second Monday of the month. Led by Vision Services staff. Open to all. - Supernovas: College and Working Age Vision Support Group
Contact: Jim Denham
Phone: (608) 237-8104
Email: [email protected]
Devoted to topics of interest to college and working age adults under 45. The group meets virtually the third Tuesday of the month and is open to people across Wisconsin.
Vision Forward
Meeting info: Offers monthly support group meetings either in person or through a conference call line.
Contact: Erica Weise
Phone: 4146150163
Email: [email protected]
For families of visually impaired children or to learn more about Vision Forward’s Family Connections program.
Contact Name: Colleen Kickbush
Email: [email protected]
Lighthouse Center for Vital Living
Duluth MN, Ashland and Bayfield Counties
Contact: Amanda
Phone: (218) 624-4828 Ext. 1037
Meets by phone third Tuesday of every month from 1:00 -2:00 PM
Topics vary from month to month. Group provides an opportunity to interact with others with similar visual experiences.
Barron County Low Vision Support Group
Barron County Government Center
335 East Monroe Avenue
Barron WI 54812
Contact Name: Chris Hagen (leave message)
Phone: (715) 537-6225
E-mail: [email protected]
Meets first Thursday of the month from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m. Vision loss information and resources discussed, guest speakers and time allocated for discussion, questions and comments.
Transportation is available.
Open to the friends, family members and the public.
Visually Impaired Support Group of Brown County
Salvation Army
626 Union Ct.
Green Bay WI 54303
Contact: Angela Zalig
Email: [email protected]
Meeting Info: Meets the second Tuesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Additional Info: No meetings in September and May
Transportation is available
Appleton VIP Support Group
Linwood Apartments (Meets in Community Room)
425 North Linwood St,
Appleton WI 54911
Contact: Rod Maccoux
Phone: (920) 585-7443
Email: [email protected]
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Speakers, general topics. Sometimes it is just a social gathering.
Transportation is available.
Chippewa County, Dunn County, and Eau Claire County Low Vision Support Group
CV VIP (Chippewa Valley
Visually Impaired Persons) Support Group
Saint John’s Lutheran Church
1804 Highland Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Contact Name: Renee K-S
Phone: (715) 379-9011
Email: [email protected]
Meets the second Wednesday of the month from 12 pm until 2 pm.
(We Do Not Meet in January, June, or December)
Lots of resources and information related to low vision and blindness. Speakers occasionally. Very relaxed and fun atmosphere. Site is wheelchair accessible.
*We meet at Perkins in February and Owen Park in July. Call, text or email with any questions. Transportation may be available.:-)
Monona Low Vision Support Group
Monona Senior Center
1011 Nichols Road,
Monona, WI 53716
Phone: (608) 222-3415
Email: [email protected]
Meeting Info: Meets the 4th Friday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Additional Info: Transportation is available for Monona residents.
Open to the public.
Stoughton Low Vision Support Group
Vennevoll Club House
400 N. Morris St.,
Stoughton, WI 53589
Stoughton WI 53589
Contact Name: Murl MacKinnon
Phone: (608) 873-8585
Email: [email protected]
Meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 11:00 a.m. General topics, occasional speakers.
Transportation is available.
Open to the public.
Evansville Primetimers
Evansville Senior Center
102 Maple St.
Evansville, WI 53536
Contact Name: Kristin Fountaine
Phone: (608) 882-0407
Email: [email protected]
Meeting Info: Meets 1st Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM. Open to the public.
Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually
Impaired
Open to all counties in Wisconsin, WCBVI has the following groups running:
- Trailblazers Low Vision Support Group
Contact: Brent Perzentka
Phone: (608) 237-8112
Email: [email protected]
Online support group meets from 2 – 3:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month. Information & support for anyone affected by vision loss. Led by Vision Services staff. - Supernovas: College and Working Age Vision Support Group
Contact: Jim Denham
Phone: (608) 237-8104
Email: [email protected]
Online support group meets from 7 – 8 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. Devoted to topics of interest to college and working age adults under 45. The group meets virtually and is open to people across Wisconsin.
Northern Door Visually Impaired Support Group
First Baptist Church
2622 S. Bay Shore Dr.
Sister Bay, WI 54234
Contact name: Angie Zalig
Phone: (920) 241-2641
Email: [email protected]
Meeting Info: Meets the second Tuesday every other month from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Additional Info: Meetings are held every other month. January, March, May, July September and November.
Revital Eyes
St. Catherine’s Commons
3527 7th Ave.,
Kenosha, WI 53140
Contact: Tami
Phone: (262) 925-6097
Email: [email protected]
Meets second Thursday of every month from 1:30-3:00 PM. We meet monthly to give insight into living with a visual impairment and provide resources for anyone with vision loss.
Limited transportation provided, call Tami.
Coffee Connection
La Crosse County
American Legions Post 336
731 Sand Lake Rd
Onalaska, WI 54650
Contact: Jeannie Nylander
Phone: (608) 781-3361
Meeting info: Meets the first Friday of the month from 10:30 to 12:00 There is a virtual option as well. If interested please call Jeannie.
Manitowoc Low Vision Together Group
Manitowoc Senior Center
3330 Custer Street Manitowoc, WI 54220
Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Please call Jean Kenevan (920) 831-2090 for more information.
Open to the public.
Not Currently Meeting/ On Hold
Out of Sight
Low Vision Support Group
Barney Center
1000 E Montgomery St,
Sparta WI 54656
Contact: Evelyn Allen
Phone: 608-433-4031
Email: [email protected]
Meets the third Monday of the month at 1:00 p.m. Variety of topics.
Open to the public.
Appleton VIP Support Group
Linwood Apartments (Meets in Community Room)
425 North Linwood St,
Appleton WI 54911
Contact: Rod Maccoux
Phone: (920) 585-7443
Email: [email protected]
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Speakers, general topics. Sometimes it is just a social gathering.
Transportation is available.
Northwoods Low Vision Support Group
Contact: Brent Goodman
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 715-525-2060
Website: viplunch.wordpress.com
VIP Meetings (Visually Impaired Persons)
Frank L. Weyenberg Library
11345 N Cedarburg Rd
Mequon, WI 53092
Contact name: Gary Norton
Phone: (414) 248-6861
Email: [email protected]
Last Monday of the month from 10:30-noon except for November and December due to the holidays.
Portage County VIP Support Group
ADRC – Portage County
1519 Water St,
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Contact Name: Conor O’Keefe
Phone: (715) 343-6272
Email: [email protected]
Meets the third Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. April through October, and December, (does not meet November, January – March).
Open to the public.
Revital Eyes
Society’s Assets
5200 Washington Ave.
Suite 101
5200 Washington Ave. Suite 101
Racine, WI 53406
Contact: Tami
Phone: (262) 925-6097
Email: [email protected]
Meets first Thursday of every month from 1:30-3:00 PM. We meet monthly to give insight into living with a visual impairment and provide resources for anyone with vision loss.
Limited transportation provided, call Tami.
Creekside Place Low Vision – Evansville, WI
102 Maple St,
Evansville, WI 53536
Contact: Kristin Fountaine
Phone: 608-267-4038
Meets 1st Thursday of every month at 10 a.m.
Blackhawk Pioneers
Blackhawk Pioneers are visually handicapped people living in the Beloit and Janesville areas. This activity is sponsored by the Janesville and Beloit Evening Lions Clubs.
Monthly social meetings are held from September through June for visually-impaired persons living in the Rock County area. The meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and are held at various locations in Janesville and Beloit.
Examples of monthly activities include: bowling, dining out at a local restaurant, playing games, assisted horseback riding, and guest speakers/presentations.
Members of the Janesville and Beloit Evening Lions Clubs transport the Blackhawk Pioneers members to and from their activities.
Please let me know if you have any questions or would like more information.
Contact: Janesville Lions
Email: [email protected]
Website: janesvillelions.org/blackhawk-pioneers/
Shawano Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) Support Group
4th Monday of the Month
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Waterview Apartments – Community Room
325 E 5th St, Shawano, WI 54166
Call to confirm meeting time & location:
Jeannnine Kenevan : (920) 831-2090
Sheboygan Low Vision Support Group
Meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 1:00-2:30 p.m. (except November and December).
Located at Uptown Social.
1817 N. 8th St.
Sheboygan, WI 53081
Please call Jennifer Shimon (414) 405-3524 to ensure the time, date, and location are the same, and for more information.
Northwoods Low Vision Support Group
Contact: Brent Goodman
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 715-525-2060
Website: viplunch.wordpress.com
Walworth County VIP Support Group
Woodview Senior Apartments
353 Tyrrell Ct,
Delavan, WI 53111
New London Blind and Visually Impaired Support Group
600 W. Washington St. New London, WI 54961
(enter using the driveway off Dickinson St.)
Meets first Thursday of each month from 1pm-2:30pm
Contact: Jeff Quaintance
Phone: (920) 982-4457
E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook: New London Blind and Visually Impaired Support Group
Cedar Ridge Low Vision Support Group
113 Cedar Ridge Drive,
West Bend, WI 53095
Contact Name: Audrey McGarvie
Phone: 262-353-3193
Meets the second Monday of every month in the community room from 10:00-11:00 a.m..
Appleton VIP Support Group
Linwood Apartments (Meets in Community Room)
425 North Linwood St,
Appleton WI 54911
Contact: Rod Maccoux
Phone: (920) 585-7443
Email: [email protected]
Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Speakers, general topics. Sometimes it is just a social gathering.
Transportation is available.
Oshkosh VIP Support Group
Evergreen Retirement Community
1130 North Westfield St
Oshkosh, WI 54902
Contact: Shirley Schmid
Phone: (920) 235-8138
Email: [email protected]
Meets the 1st Tuesday of the month from 1:00pm – 2:30 p.m. General topics and discussion. Open to the public. No meeting in January or July.
Hadley
Hadley offers practical help, connection and support free of charge to anyone with a visual impairment, their families and professionals supporting them. With Hadley, you can discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult due to vision loss and connect with a network of peers who “get it.” Hadley’s help comes to you online, on the phone or through the mail. Visit our HadleyHelps.org website or give us a call to join our many discussion groups, our peer-to-peer program, our remote support groups, or explore our 500+ practical help workshops. Download the new HadleyHelps App from your App Store or Play Store to connect even easier.
Contact
Phone: (800) 323-4238
Email: [email protected]
Lighthouse Guild
The Lighthouse Guild coordinates several tele-support groups for various ages and interests. To learn more about the various groups and how to register, visit the Lighthouse Guild Tele-Support Group webpage.
Tele-Support Groups for All Ages. The Groups Include:
Tele-Support for Parents
Tele-Support for Teens
Tele-Support for Young Adults (age 20 – 34)
Tele-support for Adults (35+)
Tele-Support for Partners of People with Vision Loss
Contact
Phone: (212) 769-6318
Vision Aware
For information on how to select a support group, how to start your own support group, and links to other organizations that host support groups, visit the VisionAware website.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
You may also be interested in resources available through the Council’s Sharper Vision Store and our Vision Services program. Please call with questions.