Meet Our Board

Marilyn Rushton

Marilyn Rushton has been on the Board since 2009 and is currently the President of Blind Beginnings.  She is a vision teacher with the Vancouver School District, and has been blind since birth.  Marilyn has also been on the Board of the Burnaby Hospice Society since 2010, and belongs to a North America-wide women’s group  that provides educational  opportunities for women around the world.  She is married and has two sons and one grandson.  Her hobbies are music, hiking and reading romance novels.  She performs with the Mapleleaf Singers and is the founder of the Tempos; a performance choir made up of singers who are  children, youth, and adults who primarily are visually impaired.

Bio  

Peter Moroney

Peter Moroney is currently the Past President of Blind Beginnings and is a member of the founding Board of 2008.  He is the Director of the Division of Applied Technology & Professional Programs with Continuing Studies, University of British Columbia. He holds a master's degree in political science from the University of Western Ontario, and a bachelor's degree in political science and sociology also from the University of Western Ontario. Since 1990, Peter has held a number of management and leadership roles in university continuing education. His areas of interest include continuing education, Internet technologies, entrepreneurship, economic and social trends, and organizational effectiveness. He is also actively involved in the development and commercialization of web-based services.

Peter resides in Vancouver, British Columbia with his family and was introduced to the world of blindness with the birth of his daughter, Alethea. Peter was fortunate to meet Shawn Marsolais within the first week after Alethea's birth, and it was Shawn's positive and determined attitude that convinced him that there was no reason Alethea could not have a rich and fulfilling life. Meeting and discussing issues with other families became a priority for Peter and his wife, Winnie. They found that attitudes and expectations of others were largely based on early experiences - whether positive or negative. They became convinced that even with the support of existing health and social services, there needed to be more proactive support for families to help them develop the attitudes and competencies that would give them confidence in the future - not only for their blind or visually impaired child, but for themselves, siblings, extended families, and the broader community.

Peter and his wife support Shawn Marsolais in the founding of Blind Beginnings because of her vision, energy and demonstrated commitment to the support of blind and visually impaired children and their families.

Kim Zebehazy

Kim Zebehazy is currently the Treasurer of Blind Beginnings and has been on the Board since 2010.  She is an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia in the Blindness and Visual Impairment Concentration; the UBC program prepares teachers who want to become teachers of students with visual impairments. Kim has been with UBC in this role since 2009. Prior to working in the university world, Kim was a teacher of students who were blind or visually impaired and an orientation and mobility specialist in Vermont. She worked with kids birth through high school age and their families. As part of her experience as a teacher, she was frustrated by situations where her students encountered lower expectations in the school systems because people didn't understand blindness. Promoting student potential has always been Kim’s goal as an educator, and families play a key role in their child's growth. She is thrilled to be a part of Blind Beginnings and the programs and opportunities they offer kids and their families.

Deacon Jones

Bio to follow.

Bridie Cotter

Bridie Cotter is one of the founding members of the Board of Blind Beginnings and is a mother to two daughters, both of whom have been blind since birth.  Bridie was working as a professional in early intervention in 2005, when her first daughter Mira was born without sight. Bridie believes whole heartedly in the value of intensive early intervention, and that the Government's promise of "Success by Six" is one for which they should be held accountable. Bridie's family's experience has been that the program in place for blind and visually impaired pre-schoolers is not receiving adequate funding to meet the needs of families. She believes that for children to reach their full potential there needs to be a Provincially accessible, cohesive and appropriately funded no-limits model of intensive intervention driven by families with support available on a weekly basis.

Over the last three years Bridie has had several opportunities to connect with other families and professionals in the field who share her vision. She feels particularly fortunate to have met Shawn, who, while in her role as Youth and Family Counsellor with CNIB, distinguished herself as a person who deeply believes that a change in the level of service to families in the visual impairment community is essential and parents within that community need to have their voice be heard. When Shawn began plans for Blind Beginnings, Bridie saw the society as a path to empowerment for families with blind or visually impaired children in our Province and knew she had to be involved.

Ultimately, Bridie believes that the ability for a child to meet their full potential should not be hindered by limited thinking or inadequate support. She is confident that through the work of Blind Beginnings, the promotion of their no limits philosophy, and their work with like minded professionals, children who are blind or visually impaired and their families will have their needs met. She is wholly dedicated to seeing this non-profit flourish and our children blossom along with it.

Bridie has served as Secretary, Treasurer and member at large.  Bridie recently sold her business in the Kootenays and is now also taking on the role of Donor Relations.  Bridie admits she has a lot to learn, but is honoured and excited to be fulfilling this new role.

Patricia Elgersma

Patricia Elgersma joined the Board of Blind Beginnings in 2010.  She is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Vancouver Island University. She will be heading to Simon Fraser University this fall to complete two prerequisites before applying to the Masters program in Counselling Psychology, with particular emphasis on elementary school counselling. Her ultimate dream is to work with blind and visually impaired children of this age group, but loves kids in general so is excited to see where the future takes her.

Growing up in a rural community in BC as someone who has been blind since birth, Patricia often times experienced less than adequate services, and did not have a constant role model who was blind or visually impaired. She now feels her purpose in life is to help others in similar situations. She would love to see consistency in the level of support services provided province wide for children who are blind and visually impaired, which was one of her reasons for joining Blind Beginnings.

Patricia has been working at Service Canada in various positions for the past four summers. She is a musician, playing piano and flute, and would love to learn violin and guitar one day.

Angell Lu-Lebel

Angell Lu-Lebel joined the Board of Blind Beginnings in 2011 as a Member at Large.  She is a SFU student and has been visually impaired since birth.  Angell also volunteers on the Board of Dapper Jumpsuit Productions, is the starting centre on the BC Provincial Goalball team, and enjoys playing piano and singing.  Angell can definitely relate to some of the obstacles and difficulties that can arise when you are blind, and is very excited to be working with an organization to further changes to society and provide support to families.

Sabaon Weera

Sabaon Weera joined the Board of Blind Beginnings in 2011 as a Member at Large.  He has a visual impairment from birth which has gradually degenerated and will continue to do so with age.  Sabaon has worked with CNIB for about ten years mostly in Ontario and for the last year here in Vancouver.  He has worked in various offices in the roles of Independent Living Skills and Assistive Technology Specialist.  He has also worked with various other disability groups at times throughout his career. 

In Sabaon’s current role, he provides assessments, recommendations and training on Assistive Technology.  The majority of his clients are adults although he does periodically work with youth and children when needed.  His main coverage area is greater Vancouver however he does travel to Northern BC and Yukon when necessary. 

Sharon Disanto

Sharon Disanto was also one of the founding members of Blind Beginnings.  After a 2-year hiatus, she has returned to the Board as a Member at Large.  Sharon is a recently retired Social Worker.  Her career consisted of:
1) Working in the field of mental health including government positions as well as Executive Director of a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center called the New View Society
2) Executive Director of a family driven society called 'Western Family to Family Society' supporting families during the closure of Woodlands
3) 'Director of Social Networks' for a family driven society called 'Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network' supporting adults who are socially isolated.
4) Canadian National Institute for the Blind ('Child and Family Counselor' and then later 'Director of Children and Youth Services' for the Province of BC).
 
Sharon has two direct family members (sister and husband) who have been visually impaired since birth.  She brings a lifetime of experience serving on many community Board of Directors as well as founding, or working for, several family driven societies.  Sharon has a personal commitment to supporting opportunities for children who are blind, and their families, and a commitment to Blind Beginning's mission and goals.