What We Do

Blind Beginnings provides a one-day course on blindness to new parents, siblings, grandparents, or any other extended family of a child or youth who is blind or visually impaired. These courses covers our no-limits philosophy, basic labeling and organization strategies, introduction to Braille and adaptive technology and the importance of exploration, discovery and echolocation.

Blind Beginnings provides this workshop to groups of children and youth who are blind or visually impaired in all regions of the Province. The purpose of this workshop is to provide children and youth with information and tips to increase self-confidence and comfort with blindness. The workshop covers nonverbal communication, body image, self-acceptance, and self esteem, and can be customized depending on the age and gender of the group.

FlashSonar involves emitting a sound with a tongue click, hand clap or finger snap, and using the return sound that bounces off nearby objects to gather information about one’s surroundings. This specialized training will help children and youth who are blind to become more confident and competent in their daily travel, achieving greater independence.

A series of workshops offer children and youth who are visually impaired with training in nonverbal communication, ‘no-limits’ philosophy, organization and time management, braille and adaptive technology, exploration and orientation, survival skills and employment opportunities. 

Another workshop provides new parents, extended family members and community volunteers with an overview of blindness issues including ‘no limits’ philosophy, braille and assistive technology, and the importance of exploration and self-discovery.

Blind Beginnings provides transition-to-adulthood workshops for children and youth around the Province. These workshops include topics such as: limitless employment possibilities, how and when to disclose blindness, technology and accommodations, funding opportunities and basic survival skills.

This program is currently in the development stages. The objective will be for Blind Beginnings to screen, train, and supervise Blindness Specialists to provide frequent, hands on instruction and support in the home, to infants, toddlers, and pre-school children who are blind or visually impaired. Blind Beginnings will provide consultation, resources, and support to both the Blindness Specialists and the families for the duration of the working relationship.

Blind Beginnings trains experienced parents of children who are blind or visually impaired, to be Support Parents to parents who are new to parenting a blind child. These experienced parents are trained in basic empathy and active listening, advocacy, workshop and support group facilitation, presentation skills, and current services and resources available to children who are blind and their families. Blind Beginnings will pair Support Parents with new parents and offer on-going support to all parents in the program.

The objective is to train Support Parents in all regions of the Province in order to ensure that all families in BC receive on-going support.

Blind Beginnings will develop a network of youth leaders who will conduct Awareness Presentations in their communities, plan special events and Group outings, and offer peer support and mentoring. This program will be offered to youth who are blind or visually impaired in all regions of the Province. Youth will receive extensive training in; presentation skills, organization and time management skills, communication skills including active listening and empathy, responsibilities of being a role model and mentor, and leadership skills including the benefits of working as part of a team.

Following the training, Blind Beginnings will pair these trained youth leaders with children and youth who are interested in a peer support relationship, families who would like to have contact with a blind role model or mentor, or community organizations who have expressed an interest in an Awareness Presentation. Blind Beginnings will do any necessary screening and will provide support to all youth in the program.

Learn more: 2010 Youth Leadership Network Program

Blind Beginnings is contracted by the CNIB to plan and implement three summer camps:

• a literacy camp for youth to learn and perfect their braille reading/writing skills
• a camp for teens to learn independence and leadership skills, make new friends and be exposed to assistive technology
• a Creative/Performing Arts camp where children will be introduced to drama, music, creating writing and sculpture

Blind Beginnings organizes family outings into the community to offer blind children real life, hands on opportunities to learn about basic concepts and the world of work.

This program will be offered in Metro Vancouver to start. If you would like to receive email updates about Community Discovery outings, please contact us or join our Mailing List.

This Club invites blind children and their sighted siblings to meet once a month to develop friendships with other children experiencing similar life circumstances to combat feelings of isolation and loneliness. At the same time, the unique learning and developmental needs of blind children are addressed to help them develop cognitive, social, creative and coordination skills through sports activities, creative arts, music and other recreation activities. 

Blind Beginnings is contracted by the CNIB to provide a monthly drop-in youth group to adolescents with vision loss between the ages of 12 and 18. This is an opportunity for youth to practice some basic daily living and safe travel skills, participate in recreational activities, and share everyday challenges with their peers.  Youth participate in activities such as bowling, ice skating, swimming, martial arts, theatre sports, woodworking, cooking, music, rock climbing.

Blind Beginnings provides awareness presentations highlighting the ‘no limits’ philosophy to schools, businesses, community groups, family members and potential employers.

These workshops are offered on a fee for service basis. For more information or to request a workshop in your community, please contact us.

Blind Beginnings offers a toll free number to family members, professionals, and the general public providing information, resources and support related to blindness.

Call us at 1–866–736–8620 or email shawn@blindbeginnings.ca