Welcome to the Canadian Helen Keller Centre
The Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) is the only residential training centre in Canada for people who are deaf-blind.
CHKC provides training in skills of daily living, and support to seniors and their families and workers. CHKC also works to raise awareness and advocates with the deaf-blind community for increased services.
Through our web site, our goal is to inform persons who are deaf-blind, their families, service providers, volunteers, supporters, and the general public about the needs, concerns and challenges of persons living with both vision and hearing loss.
All services at the Canadian Helen Keller Centre are free to Toronto residents and individualized to meet the needs of the learners who are deaf-blind. Courses are taught one-on-one, using the individual's preferred mode of communication.
CHKC is without permanent funding and relies heavily on fundraising. If you'd like to make a donation online, please click here or call CHKC at (416) 225-8989.
News:
CHKC Gets a Facelift
Last year CHKC received a generous grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to make the Centre more accessible. Over the past year, CHKC has undergone extensive renovations and we are pleased to announce that these improvements are now complete! Please come by for a visit and see all of the work that has been done. Here are some of the improvements you can expect to find:
- There is a new large deck at the back of the Centre with a ramp. This ramp will allow wheelchair access to the kitchen and the ground floor.
- The ground floor bathroom is now fully accessible to people using wheelchairs and mobility devices.
- The upstairs bathroom has been renovated with a new shower, improved contrast and lighting.
- The kitchen is much larger! New equipment and work space means that more people can work in the kitchen together.
- The training room has new computers, a wireless braille display, an iPad and a new CCTV that connects to a computer.
- Stairs and railings in the Centre have tactile and glow-in-the-dark markings.
- The front porch and railings have been replaced and the parking area has been repaved.
All CHKC classes have resumed at the Centre. We welcome visitors to drop in and see the new facilities. CHKC would like to thank the Ontario Trillium Foundation for its support in making these projects a success.
iPad Workshop a Success
CHKC held 2 full days of iPad workshops in July and October. The first workshop in July was extremely popular, so another day of workshops was offered in October. Consumers learned about the many accessibility features of the iPad and some Apps that are particularly useful for people who are deaf-blind. We may offer more iPad workshops in the new year. If you are interested in participating in the workshop, please contact us at info@chkc.org.
"60 and Better Club" begins January 24th
Are you deaf-blind and over 60? Do you want to get out more often and meet some new people? CHKC will begin hosting a senior's drop-in on Tuesday, January 24th. The 60 and Better Club will meet every 2 weeks from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Every meeting will feature a different activity such as: health care clinics (diabetes, heart health, foot care), guest speakers, cooking and nutrition, games, and of course time to socialize and have a cup of tea. If you would like to join us, please contact CHKC at info@chkc.org or Tel/TTY: 416-225-8989.
Nutrition Workshop: "How to Eat Healthy on a Restricted Diet"
Do you have food allergies or diabetes? Do you find it difficult to eat healthy? Attend this important workshop and learn how you can eat well on a restricted diet. The workshop will be held on Friday, February 3rd at CHKC from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. A healthy lunch and snacks will be provided. You will need to book your own intervenor for this workshop. There are limited spaces available, so please register by January 16th. If there is a lot of interest in this workshop we will hold additional sessions. Interested? Contact us at info@chkc.org.
CHKC Cooking Club
Do you enjoy cooking and learning new recipes? You should join our cooking club! We meet every other Thursday or Saturday. Together we cook and eat healthy, delicious meals. Skills needed: basic chopping skills and safe food handling. For more information or to register for either the Thursday or Saturday sessions please contact us! info@chkc.org
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ALL DONATIONS TO THE CANADIAN HELEN KELLER CENTRE ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE
The Canadian Helen Keller Center
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