Over the course of 2021, we will offer four Creating Confidence workshops each focused on a different topic. The first Workshop of 2021 is our Real Teen Talk Creating Confidence Workshop which begins on January 7, 2021 and will run for four consecutive Thursdays.

Fitting in can be hard.  For children and youth who are blind or partially sighted, it has added social challenges.  Whether we can see or not, what we look like is often the first thing sighted peers notice.  When you can’t see what your peers are wearing, how they are styling their hair, and how they use body language, you wonder about your own physical appearance and style.

Sighted people are often unfamiliar with blindness and may choose not to speak to a person who is blind or partially sighted out of fear that they may do something to offend.  The sooner children who are blind or partially sighted learn how to put sighted peers at ease the easier social interactions will be.  The more comfortable we are with our visual impairment, the more comfortable our sighted peers will be with us, and the more likely friendships will develop.

We all need help sometimes, but when you have a visual impairment you worry when you seem to be asking for help more than others.  It’s important to recognize what you bring to the friendship, but also some ways to make things feel more balanced.

Throughout this workshop, Youth aged 13 – 19 will participate in activities and discussions that will increase confidence and expand social skills, and help them to become more comfortable with themselves. Specific topics include:

• Tips for Navigating social situations and putting people at ease about your visual impairment
• How to determine if your friendships are balanced and what to do if they are not
• Physical appearance – how do you choose your image and style when you can’t see what others look like
• Tips for grooming & personal hygiene including make-up, nails, hair, fashion, etc.
• What is flirting, and how can you tell if somebody likes you
• Problem solving the challenges of menstruation when you are blind (Note: we will provide a private breakout room for those who menstruate for this conversation. A different topic in a separate room will be offered to those who do not)

When: Four consecutive Thursday afternoons:  January 7, 14, 21, and 28, 2021 from 4:00 – 5:30 PM.
Where: The Blind Beginnings Zoom Room – so from the comfort of your home!