Dear Friend of the Council,
Since 1952, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired has been helping people like Sandi. Sandi lost her vision in 2004 from complications due to anesthesia during surgery. “I looked my daughter-in-law in the eyes as they wheeled me into surgery, and that was the last time I physically saw her.”
Sandi is one of the growing number of people who thought they would never need the services of the Council. She did not expect to become blind. In America, 4.6 million people over the age of 40 are visually impaired or blind. The fastest growing segment of people experiencing age-related vision loss is Baby Boomers. As they turn 65 at the rate of 10,000 people per day, the need for services to those who have changing vision will increase dramatically.
With help from the Council, Sandi received a white cane, orientation and mobility training, and she learned about products and aids from the Sharper Vision Store that helped her stay independent and safe in her home. She received vision rehabilitation services from our Vision Services Department. Additionally, she was matched with a dog guide, Freedom.
The Council was founded 60 years ago to advocate for those who are blind or experiencing vision loss. When Sandi lost her sight, she was referred to the Council for services which she says “ha(ve) had a profound impact on my life.” Sandi is just one example of how our work will be increasingly more challenging and needed in the future. In 2010, the Council served more than 11,400 people– an increase of 50% from the previous year!
We need your help because it is estimated that every seven minutes, someone in America will become blind or visually impaired. This growing demand will only increase as people experience age related vision loss. While most of our services are free to clients, they do cost the Council to provide them. We never want cost to be an obstacle for people who receive our valuable services.
We want to continue to provide this much-needed work! We want to be there to serve the many other “Sandi’s” who contact us this year. We need your continued support to ensure that help is there for those who turn to us.
Please give today to the 2011 Annual White Cane Fund!
$35 will buy one white cane to give away. $75 will pay for one low vision evaluation. $100 will pay for one home visit by a vision specialist. $500 will pay for optical aids for those unable to afford them. $1000 will pay to convert a year of our newsletter into Braille or an audio version. $1500 will support an annual scholarship for a blind or visually impaired student.
When asked what folks might be surprised to learn about the Council, Sandi reflected, “I am amazed by the overwhelming amount of knowledge and the broad spectrum of expertise the staff offers to help you deal with your disability and move forward. They give you support and help build self-esteem. They understand. They offer an unbelievable number of resources to the visually impaired citizens of our community.”
The Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired is a private, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization. Your donation to the 2011 White Cane Fund is tax deductible to the full extent of the law. For more ways to support our work, please call 1-800-783-5213. You can make an online donation at http://shop.wcblind.org/Make-A-Donation_p_360.html.
On behalf of Sandi and the thousands of others we serve each year, thank you so much for your generosity and continued confidence in our work.
Sincerely,
Loretta A. Himmelsbach
Executive Director
