MISSION STATEMENT:

VIEWS is a provincial organization working together to ensure that all children who are blind or have low vision are given the opportunity to reach his/her full potential.
VIEWS helps families receive the information, resources and support that they need.
VIEWS educates policy makers, families and the public about the needs and abilities of children who are blind or have low vision.

OUR MEMBERS ENJOY:

  • Annual special family events hosted by local chapters may include Safety Village Day/Barbeque - giving our children an opportunity to drive their own car, Christmas Party - complete with live music and Santa arriving with gifts.

  • Quarterly VIEWSletter which highlight great places to explore, Orientation and Mobility concepts, ideas on, ways to teach daily living skills, updates on policy and programming, upcoming events and various other features.

  • Opportunities to promote learning through real life experiences.

  • Meetings with guest speakers, information sharing, networking opportunites.

  • Annual General Meeting featuring workshops and information sessions relating to the special needs of the child who is blind or has low vision and their families.

  • Siblings are usually welcome for all special events.

CURRENT VIEWS INITIATIVES:

  • Advocating to ensure that every child who is blind or has low vision in our province receives the Specialist Teacher, Orientation and Mobility Instructor, Transcriber and Educational Assistant support in their school, as mandated in Policy and Procedures Memorandum 76C.

  • Promoting the necessity of the implementation of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), as identified in the Canadian National Standards, taught to all children who are identified as either blind or having low vision in our province. As well as literacy, numeracy, orientation/mobility and assistive technology, these standards include social, independent living, personal management, recreation, leisure, career, life management, visual efficiency and self-determination skills.

  • Supporting short term placements to work on specific skills or remedial work for children who are blind or have low vision and their families.

  • Creating partnerships with organizations, educators and researchers to improve opportunities and standards for children who are blind or have low vision.

  • Hosting workshops for members and the community interested in learning more about the needs and abilities of children who are blind or have low vision. Advocating with other stakeholders to have quality preschool programs available provincewide for children who are blind or have low vision.

  • Advocating for increased access to reading materials in braille (uncontracted and contracted), tactile and large print format.