During emergency situations, such as the recent COVID-19 outbreak, the Canadian Organization of the Blind and Deafblind’s Crisis Action for Responding to Emergencies (CARE) program is activated. Depending on the situation, we are able to provide a variety of supports to blind and Deafblind Canadians and local support to people with disabilities on Bowen Island at the time of the emergency. During COVID-19, the CARE team has worked hard to support Canadians who are blind and Deafblind as well as people with disabilities on Bowen Island. Canadians who are blind and Deafblind can currently access our list of COVID-19 resources on BlindHub Canada or attend the weekly COVID-19 Connection National Roundtable discussions hosted by the Camp Bowen Division of the Canadian Organization of the Blind and Deafblind and Pacific Training Centre for the Blind. For people with disabilities on Bowen Island, we have so far rolled out interpretation services for the Deaf, connected people with disabilities with delivery services that can deliver essential goods during the pandemic, and offered the coordination of medical transport for those unable to access medically necessary appointments. All available personnel and resources not otherwise engaged in other essential programs have been tapped for this project, along with community volunteers.
CARE is open to all Canadians who are blind/Deafblind and all people with disabilities in the community of Bowen Island on a first come first serve basis at no cost. By creating inclusive and accessible responses to emergency situations, CARE promotes the well-being and dignity of people who are blind or Deafblind in general as well as that of people with disabilities residing on Bowen Island, British Columbia. Please contact us if you need access to one of our CARE services or if you would like to volunteer.