Blind Beginnings Calendar
– What kind of careers do people who are blind or partially sighted have? What are some potential career paths? What is it like for an employee who is blind or partially sighted at a workplace? Parents quite often ask these types of questions, and uncertainty about future careers can be very stressful for both families and youth. In order to help answer some of these questions, we are inviting parents and youth to our Blind Beginnings Zoom Room this Fall as we meet individuals who are blind or partially sighted and hear all about their own employment journeys. Each session will consist of two guest speakers who will tell us about how they chose their career, what training, education, and accommodations may have been required for their job, and any challenges they may have had to overcome. Our goal is to not only inform but also to inspire youth that may feel unsure of what kind of jobs may await them as they enter the workforce. Wednesday, September 9, 2020 In this first session, we’ll meet Mark and Lisa Bentz, a brother and sister who are both blind. Mark is a registered massage therapist and the owner of Electra Health, while Lisa has spent most of her career as a Psychiatric Social Worker. Wednesday October 14, 2020 Our second session will feature Shawn and Gail Bishop, a married couple who are both partially sighted. Shawn works for the City of Vancouver as an IT and Identity Administrator while Gail is a Senior Software Developer at Scientific Games Digital. Wednesday November 11, 2020 In this last session of this program, we welcome Patricia Elgersma and Angell Lu-lebel, both of whom are blind and have previously volunteered on the Board of Blind Beginnings. Angell works for Canada Revenue Agency as a bilingual Taxpayer Services Agent while Patricia is a Project Manager at HSBC Canada. When: September 9, October 14, and November 11, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Parents are invited to connect online, without your children, to share your challenges, frustrations, worries, and strategies for coping. Some of you aren’t seeing all the professionals who normally come into your home to work with your child, some of you are juggling home-schooling and working from home, some of you may have lost your jobs. Whatever your situation, this group is a place to receive support from other parents as well as a registered clinical counselor. Who can attend: Blind Beginnings parents across BC – Many children across BC are missing the social connection with other kids at school and in their communities. Each Tuesday, children 7 – 13 years of age who are blind or partially sighted can connect with each other in our Blind Beginnings Zoom room. This is a place to share struggles, strategies, and successes, but also to play games, tell stories, and make new friends. Who can attend:Children & youth who are blind or partially sighted 7 – 13 years – Description: For over ten years, Blind Beginnings has hosted a Youth Leadership Weekend each Spring for teens who are blind or partially sighted. Historically, it has drawn youth 13 – 19 years of age from all across BC to participate in a series of sessions and activities that are designed to build confidence and employable life skills in order to prepare them for their future transition to work and adult life. This year our training weekend had to be cancelled because of COVID-19, but after much thought we are pleased to announce that we have decided to offer this valuable group of sessions remotely and to offer it as a series of online sessions, hosted throughout the Fall. It will include many of the same transferable employment skills as the in-person programs that we have offered before. The sessions will run on six consecutive ThursdFays starting on September 17. Each session will focus on a different leadership skill and in order to graduate as a Youth Leader,(which enables the youth to start volunteering on our youth led projects) participants will need to participate in all six sessions. The sessions are as follows: Session 1 – September 17 – Introductions/Team Building/What makes a good leader Session 2 – September 24 – Communication: Empathy & Active Listening Session 3 – October 1 – Self-advocacy: How to Ask for What You Need Session 4 – October 8 – Public Speaking & Presentation Skills Session 5 – October 15 – Professionalism & Attitude Session 6 – October 22 – Benefits of Volunteering and Youth Leader Opportunities Within Blind Beginnings The objective of this program is to provide youth with transferable skills and volunteer experience that will assist them in their future employment pursuits. Once trained, Youth Leaders will be ready to volunteer for in several capacities including: The deadline to register for this program is Friday, September 11, 2020. Space is limited and spots will be available on a first come first serve basis.
Our Online Baby Beginnings Program, in partnership with Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada BC, is a bi-monthly drop-in group for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers who are blind or partially sighted and their caregivers. Parents of children birth to five years of age are invited to connect online every second Saturday. We start at 9:00 am with a consultation with Margret Hanke, an Early Child Vision Specialist from Vision Loss Rehabilitation BC. This is a chance for parents to ask specific questions about your child’s vision and/or development. At 9:30 am, All Blind Beginnings children/youth and their families are invited to join the Zoom room for Adam’s Accessible Story Time! Adam will read stories, but also provide image description and explain concepts that might be new to some listeners. Following each story listeners can share their thoughts or ask questions about the story. After the stories, parents are welcome to stay in the room for some social connection and support from other parents, and Shawn Marsolais. This is a chance to share strategies and celebrate successes with a group that can relate to the experience of raising a child with a visual impairment. Who can attend: – Description: For over ten years, Blind Beginnings has hosted a Youth Leadership Weekend each Spring for teens who are blind or partially sighted. Historically, it has drawn youth 13 – 19 years of age from all across BC to participate in a series of sessions and activities that are designed to build confidence and employable life skills in order to prepare them for their future transition to work and adult life. This year our training weekend had to be cancelled because of COVID-19, but after much thought we are pleased to announce that we have decided to offer this valuable group of sessions remotely and to offer it as a series of online sessions, hosted throughout the Fall. It will include many of the same transferable employment skills as the in-person programs that we have offered before. The sessions will run on six consecutive ThursdFays starting on September 17. Each session will focus on a different leadership skill and in order to graduate as a Youth Leader,(which enables the youth to start volunteering on our youth led projects) participants will need to participate in all six sessions. The sessions are as follows: Session 1 – September 17 – Introductions/Team Building/What makes a good leader Session 2 – September 24 – Communication: Empathy & Active Listening Session 3 – October 1 – Self-advocacy: How to Ask for What You Need Session 4 – October 8 – Public Speaking & Presentation Skills Session 5 – October 15 – Professionalism & Attitude Session 6 – October 22 – Benefits of Volunteering and Youth Leader Opportunities Within Blind Beginnings The objective of this program is to provide youth with transferable skills and volunteer experience that will assist them in their future employment pursuits. Once trained, Youth Leaders will be ready to volunteer for in several capacities including: The deadline to register for this program is Friday, September 11, 2020. Space is limited and spots will be available on a first come first serve basis.
Parents are invited to connect online, without your children, to share your challenges, frustrations, worries, and strategies for coping. Some of you aren’t seeing all the professionals who normally come into your home to work with your child, some of you are juggling home-schooling and working from home, some of you may have lost your jobs. Whatever your situation, this group is a place to receive support from other parents as well as a registered clinical counselor. Who can attend: Blind Beginnings parents across BC – On the last Friday evening of each month youth who are blind or partially sighted 12 years and older are invited to connect online for what we are now calling our Creating Connections Workshop! Instead of a structured discussion about how to socialize and fit in, we’re just going to socialize and connect. This is a chance to meet some new youth and make some new friends. I think we can safely guarantee some laughter and fun as well. Who can attend: Children & youth who are blind or partially sighted 12 – 20 years
One of our first Blind Beginnings programs ever offered was our Family Community Discovery program where BC’s children and youth who are blind or partially sighted and their families attended a range of outings in the community to learn new concepts through hands on experiential learning. This fall we are going to try family Community Discovery in a completely new way: our new Online Baking with Blind Beginnings Program! Each month, families who register for this program will receive the recipe and list of ingredients and equipment needed in advance. On the morning of the program, families will join us in the Blind Beginnings Zoom Room from their kitchens across BC. Together we will each prepare and bake that day’s recipe. We will be led through the process by one of our long-time Youth Mentors Jill Sloane. If you attended our online Independent Living Skills Workshop this summer, you know how competent and capable Jill is. Jill grew up with a visual impairment, but lost her remaining sight at age 15, and had to learn how to do everything all over again. She now lives independently, a plane ride away from her family, and has direct experience on how vital these skills are. As Jill talks us through the steps to bake our delicious treats, families will follow along in their kitchens. If you are stuck, you can unmute and ask your questions. When our baking is in the oven, we can enjoy some social time together while we wait for, and then taste what we have made. So what are we making? Prepare your sweet tooth, we’ve come up with a list of recipes that will be sure to please everyone in your household! September 25 – Brownies Who can attend: Any Blind Beginnings family across BC Recipes will be sent on the Friday, a week before the baking session to allow families time to purchase the necessary ingredients. If you know now that you wish to register for all 3 sessions, please include that information when you register.
Events in September 2020
Exploring Work Wednesdays
WHO WE WILL MEET:
Where: The Blind Beginnings Zoom RoomVirtual Parents' Night Out
When: Every 2nd Thursday at 7:00pmKids Connect
When: 3rd Tuesday of the month from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: The Blind Beginnings Zoom RoomYouth Leadership Training
Online Baby Beginnings Program / Adam's Accessible Story Time
From 9:00 – 9:30 – Parents/Caregivers of children birth to 5 years of age
From 9:30 – 11:00 – Any Blind Beginnings child/youth and their families
When: Every other Saturday
Where: The Blind Beginnings Zoom RoomYouth Leadership Training
Virtual Parents' Night Out
When: Every 2nd Thursday at 7:00pmCreating Connections
When: 4th Friday of the month excluding December.Community Discovery Baking with BB
The purpose of this program is twofold: 1) offer blind children and youth opportunities to learn about their community and concepts at their own pace, and 2) offer families to spend leisure time together while meeting other families who form part of their network of support.
October 23 – Cookies
November 27 – Chocolate Zucchini Loaf (which will be a great way to demonstrate to your kids just how delicious vegetables can be)
Please note: This is a family program, so we would ask that each child with a visual impairment is accompanied by at least one parent or responsible adult.