It was after the First World War that the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) was created. More than 100 years later, the organization continues to offer initiatives and assistance to individuals in the community who are blind, Deafblind or have low vision.
The CNIB Mobile Hub returned to Vernon on Wednesday, May 7, to educate and bring together individuals at the Schubert Centre.
Originally launched in 2023, the hub aims to allow participants to receive support from the CNIB without having to travel.
"This is called a mobile hub, and this is where we bring a lot of our representatives from different groups, so they can present what they have," said Vittoria Spindor, community engagement coordinator with CNIB Foundation of B.C. and Yukon. "There's a coming to work team which has been around for 100 years and the Okanagan Regional Library we also partner with."
Spindor also mentioned the technology team that was on hand, which showcased the newest in tech for individuals who are blind, Deafblind or have low vision. An Intro to Assistive Technology course was also provided, where individuals learned of new and improved technological tools to enhance their way of life.
According to the CNIB, the most common cause of sight loss in Canada is age-related macular degeneration, which affects more than 1.5 million people.
"When you lose your sight, you're losing something of yourself, so it is important to be around people who are like yourself," added Spindor.
Stephanie Lieppi, a program lead with CNIB, organizes peer support groups with the organization.
"Every third Tuesday of the month, we have a space at the library and we bring in sighted volunteers to help support the group and just have those experiencing the same challenges come together to share stories and connect with one another."
The support groups have exploded in popularity, having gone from around five people attending a month to 25 in about a year.
"We want to make it as easy as possible for people to get help and connect with like-minded individuals so that they have that sense of community," said Lieppi.
More information can be found at CNIB.ca.
