ABLE - Audio Braille Literacy Enhancement

11/06/2025

Dear ABLE Friends:

At the 60th anniversary ABLE Luncheon we were so delighted to showcase our new tactile video produced by our Audio Specialist Tim Turton. Dawn Koceja, ABLE Board Vice President, introduced this video to the luncheon attendance highlighting our tactile work with the Milwaukee Public Museum. She says:

“I can personally attest that ABLE’s tactile products have deeply influenced visitors of the Milwaukee Public Museum. In the video you will see an example of a piece of native art. Plains ledger art was adopted as a means of historical representation for the Indian peoples of the Great Plains during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although the Plains Indians had no written language in which to record their history, they did have a long tradition of preserving oral histories pictorially.

Also, the butterfly tactile book that ABLE created is shown, and we received a very special thank you from a family whose son is blind and had no idea that museums offered these types of tools.
We want to give a very special thank you to Matt Scholtes, ABLE’s Tactile and Production Manager, who leads these very critical services.”

This video portrays an interview with Matt Scholtes, ABLE Tactile & Production Manager. As Matt talks, there are shots of him talking, interspersed with videos of hands reading our tactile graphics, a visual of our tactile map of the Northwestern University college campus, our butterfly tactile made for Braille Games and the Milwaukee Public Museum, a young child and an older gentleman reading tactiles, and a tactile of Native American art made for the Milwaukee Public Museum. There are also several shots of Matt working on tactiles at his computer or printing tactiles at the tactile embosser as he is talking. Cheryl Orgas makes a cameo in order to answer Matt’s instruction to ask her for tactile numbers. The video finishes with a visual of our donation screen on our website as well as more visuals of hands reading our tactiles. The concluding visual is a page showing our website address and a QR code one can use in order to donate to our organization.

Cheryl Orgas

10/30/2025

Dear ABLE Friends:

ABLE is 60 years old this month. Enjoy the video of our news anchor Sam sharing our history.

Warmly,

Cheryl Orgas

10/29/2025

Dear ABLE Friends:

At our 60th anniversary celebration last Thursday, October 23, we gave special acknowledgement to Lenore Tesch with an Volunteer Excellence award.

Lenore has gone above and beyond in all she does for ABLE -whether it be brailling chapter books, doing the Meals on Wheels menus, making braille cookies, or watering the plants. She is the ABLE Mom.

See Lenore’s award and smiling face in the below photos.

She also received a diamond paperweight which says:

Excellence Award
Lenore Tesch
October 23rd, 2025
In honor of your many years of volunteer service

Lenore, we so appreciate you.

With much gratitude,

Cheryl Orgas

Photo of Cheryl Orgas, Executive Director, with Lenore Tesch holding her award

10/28/2025

Dear ABLE Friends:

ABLE had an incredible 60th anniversary celebration last Thursday, 10-23-25, at the Italian Community Center. Nearly 185 guests were in attendance. We have so many stories to share. You will be seeing posts from us over the next week.

We were deeply honored to receive a Proclamation from Mayor Cavalier Johnson. Our Milwaukee Mayor came to deliver the proclamation along with a powerful message and a heart felt thank you to our volunteer team. The Mayor was so inspirational. Mayor Johnson even declared October 23, 2025, ABLE Day, wow!!!!!

We also received a county proclamation from County Executive David Crowley and a commendation letter from Governor Evers.

It was a proud day for me as Executive Director of ABLE and one of the first students receiving braille from this organization in the mid 60’s.

Find below the language from the proclamation, a photo of Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Michelle Gran, ABLE Board President and myself and a photo of Mayor Johnson handing me the proclamation.

Cheryl Orgas

The City of Milwaukee proudly joins those who are visually impaired, friends and community members in celebrating Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement’s (ABLE) 60th anniversary on Thursday, October 23, 2025; and,

WHEREAS, ABLE was founded in 1965 by Sister Melmarie Stoll, a teacher of the visually impaired and a team of volunteers and community leaders who wanted to ensure all children had access to educational materials; and,

WHEREAS, ABLE transcribes print materials into braille, audio and tactile formats to enhance literacy, dignity, productivity and independence for people who are blind, visually impaired or print disabled; and,

WHEREAS, ABLE now provides thousands of pages consisting of braille, tactile and audio materials each year, supporting students and community members in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin; and,

WHEREAS, ABLE has worked closely with Milwaukee Public Schools and other school districts in Wisconsin to ensure timely arrival of school materials; and,

WHEREAS, ABLE partners with the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library to make audiobooks by Wisconsin authors available to members of our community who are blind, visually impaired or print disabled; and,

WHEREAS, ABLE had produced accessible materials for the people of Wisconsin through their 60 years of service, benefiting thousands of residents; and,

WHEREAS, The City of Milwaukee celebrates the 60th anniversary of Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement (ABLE) and wishes them continued success in all future endeavors; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, CAVALIER JOHNSON, Mayor of the City of Milwaukee, do hereby proclaim Thursday, October 23, 2025, to be AUDIO & BRAILLE LITERACY ENHANCEMNT DAY throughout the City of Milwaukee.

CAVALIER JOHNSON
Mayor

10/15/2025

Dear ABLE Friends,

Today is White Cane Safety Day - celebrate this day supporting safety for blind and low vision people crossing the street. Drivers must pay attention to those using a white cane or guide dog.

Bill and I were proud to accept the proclamation of our village, Shorewood WI. We bought a house in Shorewood in 1989 and have been proud residents of this village ever since. We raised our son in this fine village and we walk the streets of Shorewood every day. Many people know Bill was hit by a car in 2014 by an inattentive driver who didn’t pay attention to the rules of the road and the white cane. This issue is very personal for us.

Support pedestrians with low vision on this day and every day.

There is a photo of Bill and I with the Village President, Ann McKaig. Bill and I are holding the proclamation.

I am representing ABLE and Bill is representing the NFBW Milwaukee Chapter.

We are grateful to the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired for seeking support for the White Cane Safety Day from communities throughout the whole state.

Honor this day, October 15, 2025.

Warmly,
Cheryl Orgas

10/08/2025

Today is the final registration day! -

Please join us at our annual volunteer recognition and benefit Luncheon. It is our 60th year giving to the community - creating access to the printed word for blind, visually impaired or print disabled individuals. Today is your last chance to register! We have to have our meal counts in to the Ital...

10/01/2025

ABLE Luncheon just around the corner! Registrations due October 8th! -

Your reservation with meal choice is due in one week. Sign up for the luncheon today - don’t delay! Help us celebrate this special year, our 60th year giving excellence in braille, audio and tactile service to the blind and print disability community.

09/18/2025

https://mailchi.mp/c85ca57f828b/join-our-distinguished-sponsors-in-supporting-able

In 2025 Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement (known as ABLE) is celebrating 60 years of service to thousands of blind, low vision, and print disabled individuals in our community. Each year, ABLE transcribes thousands of pages of print materials into braille, audio, and tactile formats. Projects mig...

09/17/2025

ABLE Luncheon just around the corner!

09/04/2025

Dear ABLE Friends:

Please share this recording with WTBBL Patrons. It’s a great demonstration of the new digital player.

Warmly,
Cheryl Orgas

Hi Everyone,
If you were not able to attend yesterday’s training you can watch the recording here https://youtu.be/Kayd7BlkrmE or on our page if you have an account. Thanks everyone! Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have further questions.

Katie Saldutte
Outreach Librarian
Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library

Jim, assistive technology specialist for the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, joins the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library to he...

08/28/2025

Please Celebrate With Us! -

We are so excited to invite you to this Year’s 60th anniversary ABLE annual fundraising and volunteer recognition luncheon. Celebrate with us our 60th year of braille, tactile and audio access to people who are blind, low vision or print disabled. We have an exciting program planned for you. Pleas...

08/28/2025

Our team from ABLE were so excited to be working with Carly and her team at the Wehr Nature Center making their amazing space even more accessible for blind and low vision individuals.

Last Monday, the 25th, we had the opportunity to walk some of the new board walk as we brainstormed numerous accessibility options.

This is such a wonderful partnership.

Photos below of Staff Cheryl Orgas, Executive Director, Karen Duerr, ABLE Office Manager, Board member, Xinyue and her friend, ABLE volunteer, Kris Drollinger and staff and a volunteer from Wehr.

Thank you Carly!

Cheryl Orgas

Overlay text on video: “It might often feel like the human world is designed for sighted people but every one deserves to be seen and have access to nature. Today, I had the opportunity to step back and let others lead on a walk at Wehr. The cool part? They led with their canes, curiosity, and courage. Thank you to ABLEnow for working with us. Soon, we will have a braille trail booklet and tactile map to assist people who are blind or have low vision to confidently travel the trails. See those ?”