Editor’s Note: What follows is volume 7 of Blind News Victoria. For convenience, headings have been added to this archived version. The timestamp on this archived copy reflects the month the original newsletter was snet out but does not reflect the time nor date at which the newsletter went out via email.
Blind News Victoria
A publication of the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind
Vol. 7: Winter 2018
2018 is off to a busy start at the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind (PTCB). We have recently hired two new instructors, Erin Lacharity and Thomas John (TJ) Evans. Both are former students of and volunteers for the PTCB. Erin brings a solid working knowledge of Braille while TJ brings excellent orientation and travel skills. They both have independent living skills and use adaptive technology in their everyday lives. Each will work one day a week for the centre. In the Fall, PTCB also contracted Heidi Propp (another former PTCB student) to assist with cooking classes once a month.
Welcome Heidi, Erin and TJ.
Also in the Fall, PTCB welcomed its first Home-Stay student who is staying with a PTCB host while she attends PTCB two days a week and receives additional one-on-one training between classes. There are no fees charged to Home-Stay students, just a very reasonable room and board monthly amount to cover expenses. If you would consider becoming a Home-Stay host or know someone who lives outside the Greater Victoria area who would like to attend as a Home-Stay student, please let us know.
Call 250-580-4910 or email
info@pacifictrainingcentre.ca
Please consider becoming a member of the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind Society. Membership is only $5 per year. The greater the membership, the more successful the Society will be in acquiring grants from the government which are essential to us carrying on the vital work of the PTCB.
To join call Elizabeth at 250-580-4910 or email
info@pacifictrainingcentre.ca
Did You Know?
The Vancouver Island Society for Adaptive Snowsports
has a “Have-a-Go” Program at Mount Washington. This program offers a day of Snow Boarding, Alpine or Nordic Skiing or a half day of 2 different snowsports. It includes instruction, equipment and lift/trail tickets at no cost. Participants are required to have a membership in BC Adaptive Snow Sports
https://www.bcadaptive.com/content/membership
Call 250-334-5755 to sign up for the “Have a Go” program.
If you have questions, contact Peter Gardiner-Harding, at 416-363-4972 or email Peter@PlaysThatWork.com.
You can find out what’s happening in Victoria between Blind News Victoria newsletters by listening to the live Victoria Community Report on AMI Audio at 7:00 a.m. (repeated at 9:00 a.m.) every fourth Thursday. The next report will be on Thursday February 8.
AMI Audio can be found at 889 on your television or on line at
The Victoria Society for Blind Arts and Culture offers an Arts and Cultural Bursary to its blind members, reimbursing 50% of the cost of an arts or cultural activity up to $50.
For information or to apply, contact Linda Bartram
250-595-5888
Email: lbartram@telus.net
Mark Your Calendar
VocalEye at the Belfry Theatre
Sunday February 11 at 2:00
“Forget about Tomorrow” is a play about a family – a loving family in crisis. When Jane’s husband Tom begins having trouble remembering things, she enters a world of denial. The play – at times extremely funny and always deeply moving – is Jane’s long and reluctant journey to accepting her husband’s fate, and the new role that she is expected to play.
Belfry Theatre, 1291 Gladstone Ave., Victoria
Tickets: $30.98 including tax. There is no special rate for companions this year.
Call 250-385-6815
About the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind
The Pacific Training Centre for the Blind (PTCB) is a Canadian grassroots nonprofit charitable service organization founded and run by blind people. Its training fosters independence, where blind people empower blind people to be employed, independent and free.
The Blind People in Charge Program, provided by the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind, is the only program of its kind in Western Canada that offers regular, intensive rehabilitation to people who are blind or who are losing their vision; it is also the only program that uses an empowering, problem-solving model of instruction, where blind people are the teachers, planners, directors and administrators.
The program involves a collaborative, positive, and empowering approach to blindness, where blind people learn from and teach each other in a supportive, can-do atmosphere. Instructors and mentors teach the skills of independence such as Braille, adaptive technology, cane travel, cooking and other life skills, and develop strategies for coping with blindness and vision loss in a sighted world.
The Blind People in Charge Program held at the Victoria Disability Resource Centre 817a Fort St., runs two days a week from 10:00 – 4:00 and participants are encouraged to attend as full time students (12 hours a week). Drop in students are also considered. Teaching takes place in group and one-on-one sessions and participants progress at their own pace. Past participants have ranged in age from 24 – 88. Anyone over 18 who is blind or is experiencing significant vision loss may apply including those who are experiencing other challenges. There is no charge to students; however donations are always welcome. For more information, or to participate in our program, please contact us.
Phone: 250-580-4910
Email: info@pacifictrainingcentre.ca
