Their challenges operating in the world vary greatly but their motto demonstrates a desire to live life as barrier free as possible.
They are members of the White Cane chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind and they hope that by reaching out they can provide support and social opportunities for members and educate the public.
The group, which also has sighted members to assist, has been active in the community for nearly two years. Cane co-chairs are couple Doreen and Ed Evenzki. Ed is legally blind and experiences macular degeneration; Doreen has reduced depth perception and reduced night vision due to glaucoma.
Many of the group’s members experience vision differently — ranging from an inability to recognize people in the distance beyond a physical outline, and an inability to read grocery store labels without the aid of a magnifying glass, to an inability to read yellow, red or blue printing, from troubles with depth perception like identifying a curb, and a need to wear dark glasses when outside in the sun, to living behind curtains due to brightness. Many members have also given up their driver’s licences due to their vision.
“We are all wanting to be independent,” says group member Denise Thompson. “We can always learn more from people who are like us. We are not looking for sympathy. We are looking for company.”
To that end, the group provides support through the provision of technological devices such as a money reader, a talking phone, a magnetic keyboard and a pen friend.
There are also social events like lunch, crib, bowling and curling.
Vision challenges can be caused by macular degeneration, which causes loss of central vision; cataracts, responsible for blurred vision and sensitivity to glare; glaucoma, that causes tunnel vision, blurring in central vision and reduced night vision; and diabetic retinopathy that results in reduced vision, sensitivity to glare and reduced night vision.
Evenzki cautions that younger people, too, can get glaucoma, suffer reduced vision due to diabetes or experience a detached retina leading to impaired vision. She encourages everyone to have regular eye exams to maintain their macular health.
The group hopes to attract new and young members. Interested individuals are asked to contact Doreen Evenzki at 250-392-5706 or Sandra at 250-398-7614.
Feb. 6-12 is national White Cane Week. On Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the group will hold an event at Boitanio Mall where the public can experience what it might be like to be visually impaired by using a white cane while blindfolded.