Blind adults need to participate, too

Written in March 2012

There is a question that I am asking myself as I write this. I know! In so many cases, society tends to gravitate much more easily towards the needs of our kids, and rightfully so. They are our future and we need to do all in our power to ensure that theirs would be a bright one, nurtured and jealously safeguarded and protected at all cost.

So far so good but what about adults? Especially blind adults? Are we doing enough to ensure that they, too, are being given a fair chance to enjoy as much as they can? I am asking this question based on a recent experience that I had with an organization called Courage Canada. Last year I approached this particular organization to see if they would be interested to try and set up a program to teach blind adults how to ice skate. At that time the person that I spoke to expressed an interest and over the summer we exchanged ideas and emails. However, July was the last time that I heard from him until I bumped into him in Ottawa in early February at a conference.

After we were introduced, he proceeded to tell me that he did not have a budget to teach blind adults and that blind kids were the priority. Everyone has a budget and everyone has a priority but this really hurt me and as a blind adult who is extremely passionate about the joys and benefits of ice skating it was both sad and shocking to hear this person tell me this.

So, just imagine my surprise when I saw a news item on CTV a few days ago in which this same man was promoting his organization’s learn-to-skate program for kids. On the one hand I was extremely delighted to see that blind kids were being given a chance to experience the joys and excitement of ice skating. But on the other I felt very sad and disappointed for once again blind adults were being left out in the cold.

The kids would no doubt grow into adults and when they do become adults would Courage Canada be telling them that they can no longer take learn-to-skate classes because they are now adults? Would Courage Canada be telling them that they are now ineligible because they are adults and that they can no longer afford to teach them because they do not have a budget to teach blind adults how to skate?

As a blind adult who enjoys ice skating, I truly believe that other blind adults should be given every opportunity to experience the joys of ice skating. For after all, this is Canada, isn’t it? My parting words to Courage Canada are these: Please find a way to expand your program to include blind adults. Kids are not going to be kids forever and they are kids for a much shorter time than they would be adults. You need to find a way to include blind adults in your offerings.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to come visit me any time at www.sterlingcreations.ca.