The Canadian National Institute for the Blind’s BC/Yukon branch held a mobile hub in downtown Prince George today (Thursday) to promote services and programs to assist those who are deaf or visually impaired.
(Photo supplied by Brendan Pawliw. My PGNow.com staff)
Manager of Programs and Operations Ana Booth says several advancements in technology have really improved the demographic’s quality of life.
“Being blind these days is a very different experience. You have technology that can take you from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed in an independent way even if you can’t see. We have an app that can read letters, read mail and labels in your kitchen.”
“We have software like screen-readers that can read everything so they turn information to audible so you don’t need your eyesight anymore to work with computers and manage things with a bank teller – there is technology out there these days that has changed the world for anyone who is blind.”
She adds the technological advances put a lot less emphasis on more traditional learning methods.
“Without a doubt. Before, braille was one of the main tools and it still is one of our tools but it’s not the only tool. We have an app that can scan a picture of your mail or any document that you have and it reads everything to you.”
Booth mentioned anyone who has visual impairments in Prince George can still find meaningful employment through the organization.
“If you are interested in employment, we have employment services that takes any participant with sight loss and introduces them to the resources they need and into assistive technology, which helps level the playing field.”
The PG chapter offers Assistive Technology Training every third Wednesday of each month at the Q3 Creative Business Hub on 3rd Avenue.
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