For people experiencing visual impairment, some everyday tasks can be a challenge.
Independent living expert from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Lynne Jensen is coming to Steveston to provide tips on how to live more comfortably for people who are visually impaired.
The talk will take place on June 13 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Japanese Canadian Culture Centre at 4255 Moncton Street and entry is free.
“Lynne is visually impaired but she has lived a comfortable life, having travelled to many places with her assistance dog,” said Edith Petersen, founder of the Visually Impaired People support, the group who organized the event.
“She will come to share tips to help us make it every day and will answer questions about problems people have. It is a very rare chance to have such an expert to come and talk to us locally.”
For example, Jensen has a make-up series where she teaches people who can’t see how to put makeup on themselves. She also shares tips such as how to get the right shoe on the right foot, according to Petersen.
“What usually takes two minutes to do might take 15 minutes for us. It’s quite frustrating. So knowing those tips can be very helpful, helping people get over their frustration,” she said.
Petersen, 94, started the support group six years ago, when her vision became badly impaired. She looked around but couldn’t find a support group, so she started her own one, which now has 12 members who gather together to chat once a month.
Petersen believes there are much more people experiencing eye problems but the challenge is to send the message out to them about the group and its events.
“There must be well over 1,000 people who have some kind of visual complaint in Richmond. People are living much loger these days, and our eyes are wearing out,” said Petersen.
“I put notices up in a lot of stores around Steveston about our events. But if you can’t see, you rely on somebody else to read it. Some also have their problems getting to different areas.”
The support group meets every second Wednesday from 10 a.m. – noon at the Japanese Culture Centre next to Steveston Community Centre.
