# Rehab Centres in Canada

Category: Daily Living

## Post 1 by Shaydz (Veteran Zoner) on Monday, 26-Jan-2015 1:50:57

Hi,
I am interested to hear from any Canadians on the site as to whether they think the idea
of a rehab type centre for the blind would work in Canada. Has anyone attended a rehab
or educational program in either Canada or the US, and where? Do you think the idea of a
western Canada based rehab centre would be helpful to those newly blinded, or perhaps
for young adults wishing to learn living and employability skills?? Do you think any of the
CNIB offerings are at all helpful in this area, and would a centralized training facility be a
better option?
I am beginning the exploration of whether such a centre would be feasible in Canada, and
what model it should follow. Any opinions are greatly appreciated.

## Post 2 by CrazyMusician (If I don't post to your topic, it's cuz I don't give a rip about it!) on Monday, 26-Jan-2015 11:33:00

I know the Pacific Training Gentre for the Blind is starting to get things going, based on the NFB model. Right now it is a community-based organization, with no residential facilities, but they are definitely getting started.
IMHO, the CNIB is woefully inadequate, both in advanced resources and staff. It takes weeks to months to book non-essential O&M services, and I have not seen any indication that they are willing to teach more than basic skills in either cooking or technology. IMHO many blind people are left to their own devices simply due to these shortfalls.

## Post 3 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 26-Jan-2015 15:08:44

Forgive my ignorance, Victor and Kate, but I'm curious about something. I hadn't realized that Canada didn't have any rehab centers. This also makes me realize how for granted I apparently take such centers. Here in the US, there are multiple private centers, not to mention that most states have their own government-run ones. So what do newly blind people in Canada do for training? What about people who may have grown up blind, but received inadequate training and need more to live independewntly? I know this is only asking more questions, not answering the ones posed by Victor, but this was not an issue I had thought about.

## Post 4 by CrazyMusician (If I don't post to your topic, it's cuz I don't give a rip about it!) on Monday, 26-Jan-2015 15:16:51

Basically, Alicia, there is little or no training apart from CNIB facilities. Adults who are newly blinded, or who did not receive training in their home environment from either their families or school (either with professionals at public school or the only school for the blind, which is in Ontario, or APSEA in Atlantic Canada) basically have to rely on ourselves, friends and family, or hope and pray that the CNIB services will be adequate.
I know there are a couple of fringe groups out there, but for the most part, adults are left to our own devices. There is nothing nearly as comprehensive as the centres in the States; basically, an adult is given 1-3-hour sessions in O&M, independent living (cooking, cleaning, etc.), and it is by no means uniform across the country: services in Vancouver are different from services in Ontario.
This is really rambling... sorry!
Kate

## Post 5 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 26-Jan-2015 15:21:38

Nope, that wasn't rambling. I actually liked that you gave details, so thanks. In short..not many options at all. That bites. Can Canadians come to any of the centers in the US? I know sometimes the private ones have international students.

## Post 6 by CrazyMusician (If I don't post to your topic, it's cuz I don't give a rip about it!) on Monday, 26-Jan-2015 15:44:55

I think that's up to the centres in the States themselves... from what I can understand, a Canadian would have to pay for transporation to the centre, and am not sure what would happen for things like healthcare or taxes... there's really weird tax things for Canadians who spend time in the States. I haven't been there long enough to even consider that.
I don't know of any Canadians who have expressed an interest in attending an American centre; it is a HUGE commitment - 6-9 months, right? - and going from small 1-3-hour sessions to an immersion situation might be a bit much in any case.
I know of many states whose services for the blind include 4-6-week training "schools" during the summer... though I am sure that varies from state to state...
Kate

## Post 7 by Shaydz (Veteran Zoner) on Monday, 26-Jan-2015 22:06:07

Kate, thank you for answering Alicia's questions so adequately.
I have heard of Canadians attending some of the American rehab schools, but you are
right, there certainly are issues with a Canadian spending more than 90 days at a time in
the States, and of course there are insurance issues as well. I know of someone who
spent some time at the school in Minneapolis, forgive me I don't remember the name
right now.
I completely agree that the CNIB is woefully inadequate in their services, and have not
heard great things about the school in Brantford, Ontario either. I will look into the
progress of the Pacific Training Centre, I have not come across them in my research so far
but will see what they are doing.
Canadians are really left in the lurch should they lose their vision later in life and not have
the opportunity to learn skills through their community or family. I have rapidly seen how
a lack of these resources can leave people unable to adjust well, or learn skills to be
employable, and am struggling with some of these issues myself. A dream of mine is to
ensure that this problem is addressed for following generations here.

## Post 8 by Shaydz (Veteran Zoner) on Tuesday, 27-Jan-2015 11:50:46

I think a large part of the problem in Canada is that with a relatively small population
spread out over such a huge geographical area, it is hard to have regional centres. I
would love to see the Pacific Centre have a vision to expand nationally, perhaps have one
centre in BC but be able to serve clients from all provinces.
I have contacted them and would love to share my ideas, perhaps join their board, and
continue my MA Counselling aspirations to help them in a practical sense. I do not wish to
have a competing model or take away from what they have already accomplished, it
appears they share the same philosophy as I do on the subject.
Thanks Kate :)
I invite any Canadians reading this to get on board and support such an initiative. It's
time that we are no longer treated as second class citizens.

## Post 9 by CrazyMusician (If I don't post to your topic, it's cuz I don't give a rip about it!) on Tuesday, 27-Jan-2015 12:23:34

Completely agree!
IMHO, the CNIB has the brand recognition, without necessarily having to work for it. I can't tell you the number of times I have been on a bus route passing the CNIB building here in Edmonton, and the bus driver for another passenger has said, "This is your stop!" when we got there. This hasn't happened sicne I got my guide dog... but the idea is that the CNIB meets the needs of all blind people...

## Post 10 by Shaydz (Veteran Zoner) on Tuesday, 27-Jan-2015 13:20:28

Imho, they are a well oiled fund raising machine that also has lobby power with
government. They essentially have a monopoly on the blindness services market and pass
themselves off as the one stop resource for the blind, when in fact they don't have the
resources or front line staff to really provide much support. I believe they are top heavy.
Anyways I am not meaning to bash the CNIB here, but it is time for government and
employers to realize that a better service model is needed and that they are not simply
the only player in the game.

## Post 11 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 27-Jan-2015 15:44:20

I agree with pretty much everything Crazy Musician has said. Aside from their library services and the BGowen Island and SCORE programs, CNIB has been completely lacking in terms of assistance.for me. Orientation and Mobility is a joke, and everything I've ever learned about daily living came from my parents and personal experience. The pacific training center may be a step in the right direction. You could contact the Canadian Federation fof the Blind, which is another organization we have here. They may be able to give you some detailed information.

## Post 12 by Westcoastcdngrl (move over school!) on Wednesday, 28-Jan-2015 16:19:32

My Mom got little support from the CNIB when she lost most of her useable sight... she
was blind for several weeks but managed to recover the left hand side of her field of
vision... she can see from straight on and to the left, but any sight to the right of that is
gone... she and my Dad had to come up with their own work arounds for day to day
living... it was a huge learning curve for the two of them (and me as well, when I moved
back to Canada)... in the first couple of years, she had numerous bruises on her legs
because I would absentmindedly leave the dishwasher door open and my Dad gave her a
sprained ankle because he forgot that she can't see as well as she used to... they were
rushing to get somewhere and he was leading/pulling her along and she fell over stepping
off of a curb.
Mom still has her driving license, even though she's not gotten behind the wheel of a car
since early August 2006... she keeps renewing it every 5 years, coughs up the 17$ fee
and doesn't tell the department of motor vehicles that her vision is shot... they don't ask
and she doesn't "look" like someone who has low vision (she is completely ambulatory) so
that's how she gets around that. She has no desire to drive anymore and just wants the
license to use as ID.

## Post 13 by season (the invisible soul) on Friday, 30-Jan-2015 7:56:41

Actually, lots of countries, even develop countries have no rehab centres. I think it is a great idea to start a rehab centre, specially for those that is adult/newly blind.