Katherine Schneider is joined by two of her “Blindness 101” students on a walk through a neighborhood of houses on a cool spring day. As they walk down the sidewalk, one young lady is blindfolded and using a white cane. Not far behind her is Kathie, her guide dog besides her. The second student, with her blindfold removed and held in her hand, observes from the grass adjacent to the sidewalk.

Blindness 101: Two Hours to Gain a Bit of Understanding

In response to the question, “What is it like to be blind?,” Katherine Schneider has developed Blindness 101. This practical and fun simulation of the blindness experience leaves learners with a realistic impression of not only the challenges of being blind, but also the useful adaptive techniques employed by blind people.

Annika Konrad and her new husband walk hand in hand across an open field towards a lush, green row of trees. As the sunshine bares down, the pair casts long shadows behind them. Annika wears a white lace gown that features a deep v down her back and a train that follows behind her. To the couple’s left in the distance is a rustic red barn. In the blue sky hovers only a faint spattering of puffy white clouds.

Learning to Love Without the Visual Details

In “Learning to Love without the Details,” Annika Konrad reflects on the visual nature of planning her wedding. Between navigating and delegating decisions about wedding colors, wedding party attire and invitation font, Annika wonders: Will her visual impairment keep her from enjoying the big day?

Dressing Up the Grill with ID Mate

Grilling season is right around the corner! Janell Groskreutz enjoys making this delicious and colorful shish kebab recipe when hosting cookouts. She also explains how she incorporates technology into her cooking to increase her independence in the kitchen.

Parochial Perils

From having to lug around large print books to being teased about having the front row seat in class, memoirist Dan Sullivan chronicles in relatable fashion the bullying and blessings he received while a student losing his vision attending St. Joe’s in rural Wisconsin. He writes about the hope the prayers of the Sisters gave him when he found out he had macular degeneration, an incurable eye condition.

Peanut Butter Perfection

How important is it that your cakes and muffins look as if a first-class pastry chef has made them? Baking enthusiast Katherine Schneider believes many home bakers who have gone blind later in life might give up their hobby because they may not be able to produce sweet treats that are visually pleasing. In “Peanut Butter Perfection,” Katherine encourages other visually impaired bakers to keep in the kitchen and offers a simple-to-create peanut butter cookie recipe.

The Wise Old Buck

As a long-time hunter, Steve Johnson had a lifetime goal of harvesting a “braggin’ buck.” When he lost his sight in 1986 he thought that dream would fade away. Yet, little did Steve know that on a snowy December day many years later, he still might have a chance. In “Wise Old Buck,” Steve shares a detailed account of trekking through the Coulee Region hills with his hunting assistant to attempt to make his dream a reality.