Members of a Powell River advocacy group for people with visual impairment again are aiming to raise awareness with White Cane week.
Many communities across the country will be learning more about the challenges visually impaired people face during White Cane week from February 1 to 7. In Powell River various events are being planned to help sighted people better understand those challenges. Members of the Powell River Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) chapter are planning a blindfolded obstacle course and a variety of other tasks during the week’s main event on Saturday, February 7.
“This year we are doing a very special event,” said Gerry Braak, president of the local chapter.
The group will be hosting an obstacle course at the Town Centre Mall from 10 am to 3 pm, where people are blindfolded and led through an obstacle course, “to see what it is like to try to find their way and feel what it’s like with a white cane,” said Braak.
She added that people will also be blindfolded and brought to various stores around town for shopping.
“They will be getting a list from us and they will have to try to find what it is,” she said. “Of course they will also be with a sighted person as well, but it’s amazing how difficult it is.”
Braak said in addition tips will be shared on how people with visual impairments identify money while shopping. “People think that it is braille on the bills, but it is not,” she added.
Break said that she has invited Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons, City of Powell River Mayor Dave Formosa, as well as officials from emergency services to participate.
There is no need to pre-register for the event and Braak said everyone is welcome to drop by to find out more.
“We hope to have everyone in town come out to talk to us about the Canadian Council of the Blind and how sighted people can help people who are visually impaired,” she said. “It will be informative.”
