WHITE CANE FUND DRIVE

Today approximately 91,000 Wisconsin adults 20 years or older are blind or have substantial vision loss. With increased life expectancy, this number is expected to grow significantly. Vision loss touches everyone. At the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, we stand ready to help people with vision loss toward a better quality of life and greater independence. With contributions from our annual White Cane Fund Drive, we provide free white canes once a year to residents of Wisconsin. These white canes are extremely useful for mobility and to identify individuals as having significant vision loss. In 2000 we distributed 976 such canes.

White Cane Funds also provide financial support to groups and organizations dedicated to helping people with vision loss. Among these are the Madison and Milwaukee Volunteer Braillists, the Wisconsin Lions Camp, the Wisconsin Eye Bank, UW Medical School Ophthalmology Department, Blinded Veterans Association of Wisconsin, Midwest Association for the Blind, Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped Alumni Association, Badger Association of the Blind and Badger Home for the Blind, the Center for Blind Children, and the Center for Deaf-Blind. Each year, we award several academic and technical scholarships to qualifying blind and visually impaired students.

A number of other programs are possible because of the White Cane Fund. Through the Council’s Vision Rehabilitation Service and Rehabilitation Teaching Program, we offer consultations and recommendations for people losing vision. Assistive technology is also available through our Aids and Appliances Program. The Council has, in addition, made hundreds of low interest business, personal, and home loans to visually impaired Wisconsin residents, helping them toward greater independence.

This year’s White Cane Fund Drive will kick off starting the second week in May. Contributors to the White Cane Fund Drive receive a list of the organizations receiving White Cane Funds at the close of each year.