The Pacific Training Centre for the Blind

Editor's Note: What follows is volume 1 of Blind News Victoria, released in November 2016. For convenience, headings have been added to this archived version. The timestamp on this archived copy reflects the time the original word document was last edited and does not reflect the time at which the newsletter went out via email. Blind News Victoria. A publication of the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind FIRST EDITION November 2016 Welcome to the first edition of Blind News Victoria. This newsletter is a publication of the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind Society (PTCBS) You are receiving this newsletter as you are a member of the PTCBS or you are an organization which serves the needs of blind persons in Victoria. We encourage you to pass this newsletter on to your contacts. The Pacific Training Centre for the Blind Society is a not-for-profit charitable Society which offers blindness skills training to individuals experiencing vision loss. There is more information about the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind at the end of this newsletter. You would probably agree that one of the biggest challenges we face as persons with vision loss is access to information. We hope that this newsletter will inform you about one approach to rehabilitation for persons with limited vision as well as some activities and events which you may wish to participate in but may not have been aware of. If you have items you think might be worth sharing, please send them well in advance of the event to: blindnewsvictoria@gmail.com If you have general comments or suggestions about Blind News Victoria, or if you would like to be removed from our mailing list, please email us at: blindnewsvictoria@gmail.com Mark Your Calendar. Vocaleye Described Art Show. There will be two free described tours at this year’s Victoria Disability Resource Centre Art Show. Date: Saturday December 3 Time: 11:00 AM or 12:30 PM Location: Victoria Art Gallery, 1040 Moss St. Contact: For more information call Linda at 250-595-5888 or visit www.drcvictoria.com Move Adapted Fitness. Dance classes for all levels and abilities Date: Monday November 28, 2016 Time: 5:15pm-6:15pm Location: Move Gym, #301-531 Yates Street Contact: moveadaptedfitness@gmail.com Or Phone: 778-433-6559 to register VocalEye Described performance at the Belfry Theatre. “I Think I’m fallin’” songs of Joni Mitchell Date: Sunday November 27, 2016 Time: 2:00pm Location: Belfry Theatre 1291 Gladstone Avenue Contact: Tickets are $24.68 for VocalEye patrons For tickets and more information call 250-385-6815 Get Together with Technology Group. Techno support group for persons who are blind or those with low vision. Date: December 7, 2016 Time: 1:15 Pm – 3:45 PM Location: Community Room, GVPL Central Branch, 735 Broughton Street Contact: Albert Ruel at 250-240-2343, or email us at GTT.Victoria@Gmail.com FUN TRIVIA NIGHT. The Canadian Federation of the Blind is hosting a Trivia evening Date: November 5, 2016 Time: 6:30 PM-9:30 PM Location: Norway House, 1110 Hillside Avenue Tickets are $25.00 per person and payment can be made by cheque, cash or by e-transfer to treasurer@cfb.ca Contact: For more information please contact Graeme McCreath at 250-479-2679 or andrewmccreath@shaw.ca Did You Know? About the Victoria Society for Blind Arts and Culture. The Victoria Society for Blind Arts and Culture (VSBAC) was formed in the spring of 2015 by a group of blind persons and their sighted friends who wanted to promote access to arts and cultural activities for persons with vision loss. The organization has been involved in several one-time projects and has two on-going projects. 1. The VIP Singers – This group of blind and sighted singers and musicians meets once a week to learn the words and harmonies (by ear) for original arrangements of popular songs and old time favourites. Anyone who likes to sing is welcome. The VIP Singers perform gigs at seniors’ homes and hospitals. Practices are on Mondays from 10 – 12 at the James Bay New Horizons, 234 Menzies St. 2. VocalEye described performances at the Belfry – VSBAC partners with VocalEye to promote one described performance of each of the Belfry’s four shows every season. VocalEye patrons (persons with vision loss) wear a headset during the performance, listening to a description of the action of the actors, their facial expressions and other visual effects during the lulls in the dialogue. VSBAC negotiates a special price for VocalEye patrons and this season it is $24.68. An attendant is also entitled to a 25% discount. To learn more about VocalEye go to: www.vocaleye.ca Or send an email to: info@vocaleye.ca To find out more about the Victoria Society for Blind Arts and Culture or to join ($5 a year) email Linda Bartram at lbartram@telus.net Or call: 250-595-5888 What’s New at the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind? The PTCB has moved. New Location: The Victoria Disability Resource Centre 817a Fort St. Victoria, BC, V8W 1H6 Membership. The Pacific Training Centre for the Blind is seeking members. Members must pay a five-dollar annual membership fee and abide by the Pacific Training Centre constitution and bylaws. To become a member, please mail $5 to our address 817a Fort St Victoria, BC, V8W 1H6 Or use our donate button to pay online with PayPal. Along with your membership fee, please send your name, address, phone number, email and whether you are blind or have low vision to info@pacifictrainingcentre.ca About the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind. The Pacific Training Centre for the Blind (PTCB) is a Canadian grassroots nonprofit charitable service organization founded and run by blind people. Its training fosters independence, where blind people empower blind people to be employed, independent and free. The Blind People in Charge Program, provided by the Pacific Training Centre for the Blind, is the only program of its kind in Western Canada that offers regular, intensive rehabilitation to people who are blind or who are losing their vision; it is also the only program that uses an empowering, problem-solving model of instruction, where blind people are the teachers, planners, directors and administrators. The program involves a collaborative, positive, and empowering approach to blindness, where blind people learn from and teach each other in a supportive, can-do atmosphere. Instructors and mentors teach the skills of independence such as Braille, adaptive technology, cane travel, cooking and other lifeskills, and develop strategies for coping with blindness and vision loss in a sighted world. The Blind People in Charge Program held at the Victoria Disability Resource Centre 817a Fort St., runs two days a week from 10:00 - 4:00 and participants are encouraged to attend as full time students (12 hours a week). Drop in students are also considered. Teaching takes place in group and one-on-one sessions and participants progress at their own pace. Past participants have ranged in age from 24 - 88. Anyone over 18 who is blind or is experiencing significant vision loss may apply including those who are experiencing other challenges. There is no charge to students; however donations are always welcome. For more information, or to participate in our program, please contact us. Phone: 250-580-4910 Email: info@pacifictrainingcentre.ca

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