ESTEVAN - The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) has multiple programs and projects in the southeast.
Before the pandemic, the CNIB started getting their in-person peer support group up and running in Estevan. But when COVID hit, those efforts had to be switched to a virtual format.
Ashley Nemeth, provincial director for Saskatchewan and Manitoba with the CNIB, said they had patrons in the area participating in their virtual meetings throughout the pandemic, and now they are moving into a mixed setting.
"Now that we are moving into this in-person model again, we have a hybrid going of in-person and virtual. We have started the process of getting that peer group up and running in Estevan. And the peer group is really for anyone who has experienced a vision loss and wants to have some support," Nemeth explained.
Peer group provides a place where people can feel safe, share their experiences with vision loss and receive support from people who find themselves in a similar situation. Participants can get some tips and tricks on things like doing something while visually impaired, as well as managing medication, different lighting or different tools that they're using. The peer group also creates a space where people can emphasize some of the challenges that they are going through.
While the in-person CNIB peer support group is now an option in Estevan, they also continue with virtual meetings for those who might not be comfortable with the in-person format. Patrons can call into that peer support group and receive needed help from the comfort of their homes.
Peer support groups are volunteer-run and staff-led. Employees oversee the program and come out at the beginning of the program and then a couple of times a year. The volunteer runs the groups as they meet and helps the program lead, who arranges speakers and organizes some other things.
"For example, we have Vision Loss [Rehabilitation Canada], they will be coming out to Estevan for their next peer group and chatting about services that are available, orientation and mobility, [etc.] … We're not always right in Estevan, but we're definitely supporting and helping in the background of it, and we have a great volunteer who experienced sight loss and who's going to be helping with that group," Nemeth explained.
During their meetings, participants also hear from pharmacists, police about fraud prevention, cab companies, receive presentations about personal safety, participation in elections and more.
"It's definitely about arming people with all the skills and tools that they need to be able to live the life that they want and break down as many of those barriers that we can for them," Nemeth said.
The group began meeting once a month, and in the fall they will decide if they will continue with the same schedule or switch to meeting every other week.
"It really depends on the participants and what they're looking for," Nemeth noted.
The CNIB also recently hosted a barbecue in Weyburn and the CNIB Charity Golf Classic in Estevan, alongside the local Lions Club.
"We're really trying to engage our rural clients in the Estevan area. We also have our vision mate program available for individuals in Estevan, both in person and virtually," Nemeth added.
The vision mate program matches individuals who are blind, partially sighted or have some sight loss with a volunteer. They can meet virtually or chat over the phone, and the volunteer will check in and just have a social conversation. If patrons choose to have the in-person vision mates, the CNIB matches them with a volunteer who could do various things, depending on what the needs of the person are.
Nemeth noted that the support they provide ranges from "having tea, to reading mail, to helping sort spices or label clothing, to going for a walk or meeting for lunch."
"It really depends on the needs of the individual with sight loss, and that's available in in the Estevan area as well," Nemeth said.
The in-person vision mates program was available to people before the pandemic. During the pandemic, it was fully switched to a virtual model. With it being more convenient for some people, the CNIB decided to keep both formats as everyone is emerging from the times of restrictions.
CNIB also has in-person kids camps happening in Regina.
If families in Estevan are wanting to travel to Regina to attend a camp, the CNIB has one-day and two-day in-person camps for youth who have sight loss, where they do swimming, crafts, games and all kinds of activities that you would find in summer camps.
They also have a virtual option, which they call camp in a box. They send out all of the materials that patrons will need, and some fun extras, like snacks and others. Virtual camps are three days long. Every day participants meet on Zoom twice a day, one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon, and do different activities using the sent materials.
"Virtual camps have been really popular with our rural participants, especially in Estevan and the surrounding area, because still, not everyone can travel in. So, it's a great option for kids to still be able to connect with other youth who are having the same experiences," Nemeth said.
She also noted that there were some concerns brought up by their clientele about the safety of some intersections in Estevan. The CNIB plans to be doing some advocacy and setting up meetings with the city and different people to make sure individuals with vision loss can travel safely around the community and also feel confident in their ability to travel independently.
And there are a lot of other issues that the CNIB keeps their eyes on to help their patrons.
"Another thing that a lot of individuals will say is that vision loss can be very isolating. When you're in a rural area, sometimes it can feel very lonely. And so, connecting people to others who are going through the same thing is so important, especially in rural communities, because it is so isolating. And it does make it hard to get around ... So, it's been really identified by the community that having these programs available. It's just so important for them," Nemeth shared.
For more about CNIB and the services available go to cnib.ca.
