Vision
That Canadians who are deaf-blind will be integrated in society through access to information and services that meet their specific needs.
Mission
To provide persons who are deaf-blind access to information and training opportunities to achieve independence and self-reliance through maximizing their abilities, as is their right.
About CHKC
CHKC opened its doors in July 2001 to provide deaf-blind Canadians with training opportunities and services, and to raise public awareness about the needs of people who are deaf-blind.
Core programs at CHKC are Skills of Daily Living (cooking, cleaning, home organization, shopping, personal finance, grooming, etc.), Computer Essentials/Technical Devices, Adapted Communication (sign language, 2-Hand Manual), Braille, Orientation and Mobility (safe travel) and Peer Support.
Individualized classes are provided at the Centre 7 days a week between the hours of 9am and 10pm. Services are also provided in people's homes because learning in the home is sometimes more effective.
All of CHKC's services are flexible but they depend on finding experienced instructors and intervenors who can communicate in the student's preferred communication style. Each student has different interests and access/learning needs, so classes are provided one-on-one.
CHKC provides services to adults and seniors living in the Toronto area. People who live in the GTA can access CHKC when funding is available. People outside the GTA are able to stay at CHKC while they are in training, however funding opportunities are limited. Because CHKC operates out of a residential property, there are 3 bedrooms available for resident students. CHKC is continuously looking for funding and ways to provide services to Canadians who do not live in Toronto.
CHKC is grateful for the government funding it receives from the Ministry of Community and Social Services but we still need to continue to fundraise in order to cover many activities. Public awareness is one of those activities.
CHKC also supports seniors who have become deaf-blind by working directly with seniors who live in supported environments and in the community. CHKC also provides training to people who work with seniors. Seniors learn to live more safely and independently. Staff learn to identify functional deaf-blindness, improve communication skills and make environments and activities more accessible. Through these services, CHKC is increasing awareness about deaf-blindness and is helping people to develop coping skills.
Volunteer Board of Directors
The Canadian Helen Keller Centre and Rotary Cheshire Homes held our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday September 27, 2011 at the CNIB Centre, 1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario. The evening was a great success. Landra Berwick, CHKC Orientation and Mobility Instructor, gave a very interesting and information keynote address about Guide Dogs. A special thanks to departing board members Kim Wrigley-Archer, Brian McLean, and Larry Corke for your dedication and contribution over the past several years.
How It All Began:
CHKC was developed by Rotary Cheshire Homes to fulfill the un-met needs of the deaf-blind community by providing training in independent living skills, communication, computers, and other activities of daily living.
In 1998 a property was purchased at 210 Empress Avenue in Toronto, Ontario to begin the development of the centre.
After securing a five year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, RCH officially opened The Canadian Helen Keller Centre on May 1, 2001.
In 2007, CHKC secured funding from the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services to provide individual training, workshops, and seniors support services to deaf-blind in the Toronto area.
CHKC still relies on fundraised dollars to cover various programming, administrative and facility related costs, as well as funding to provide services to individuals outside of the Toronto area.
Since the inception of the Canadian Helen Keller Centre, our accomplishments include:
- Developing a capable team of Instructors and Intervenors.
- Increasing our national base of clients and partners.
- Providing personalized courses in skills of daily living, orientation and mobility, technology, and communications.
- Raising public awareness through connections to government and community resources, and organizing events such as 'JuneFest', an annual event that brings awareness to the disability of deaf-blindness.
- Providing support services to seniors and their caregivers.
DONATE ONLINE
ALL DONATIONS TO THE CANADIAN HELEN KELLER CENTRE ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE
2011 - 2012
RCH & CHKC Board
of Directors
Officers of the Corporation:
Ben Joshan, Chair
Krystyne Rusek, Vice- Chair
Vivian Bright, Secretary/Treasurer
Hon. Vim Kochhar, Ex-Officio
Directors:
Mark Albert
George Berger
Deirdre Gibson
Kelly Pollock
Betty-Jean Reid
Elio Riggillo
Jasmin Simpson
Honourary:
Khalid Khokhar
Joan Mactavish
