Canadian Helen Keller Centre

Links and Contacts

Canada

Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC): Mission is to increase awareness of rights and responsibilities, so blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted individuals can have equal access to the benefits and opportunities of society.
http://www.blindcanadians.ca/

Association du syndrome de Usher du Quebec (ASUQ): Promotes independent living for people with Usher syndrome living in Quebec. The Association's work is defined by the support it provides to its clients in organizing their daily access at school, work and social integration.
http://asuq.powweb.com/

Balance for Blind Adults: Provides Life Skills Training for individuals who are blind.
http://www.balancefba.org/

Bob Rumball Centre for the Deaf: Multi-purpose, multi-program facility that functions both as a community centre for the Deaf, and as a provider of services to the Deaf.
http://www.bobrumball.org/

Canadian Deafblind Association (Ontario Chapter): For more than 25 years CDBRA Ontario has been involved in providing support and services to individuals who are deafblind and their families throughout the province of Ontario.
http://www.cdbaontario.com/index_e.php

Canadian Deafblind Association (CDBA): National organization with chapters in each province, whose goal is to promote and enhance the well-being of people who are congenitally deafblind through: advocacy, the development and dissemination of information and the provision of support.
http://www.cdbanational.com/

Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP): Assists individuals with physical challenges to live fuller lives and raise awareness of their achievements and contributions to society.
http://www.cfpdp.com/

Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA): The national voice of all hard of hearing Canadians. It is a non-profit, self-help, bilingual consumer organization run by and for persons who are hard of hearing.
http://www.chha.ca/

Canadian Hearing Society (CHS): Offers services, including sign language interpreting, language development for deaf and hard of hearing children, employment consulting, sign language instruction, speechreading training, hearing tests, hearing aids and counseling for deaf and hard of hearing Canadians.
http://www.chs.ca/

CNIB (CNIB): National voluntary agency providing services to individuals across Canada to whom loss of vision is a central problem in personal and social adjustments. The CNIB also acts as a consultant and resource agency to the helping professions, government departments and private industry.
http://www.cnib.ca/

Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind (CNSDB): A national consumer-run advocacy association dedicated to helping Canadians who are deaf-blind achieve a higher quality of life.
http://www.deafblindcanada.ca/

Deafblind Ontario Services: Helps create homes where adults with congenital deafblindness can live more independently. Through its supported living arrangements, trained intervention, work experience and other specialized support services, they give each resident the ability to enhance their independent living skills.
http://www.deafblindontario.com/

Deafblind Services Society of British Columbia: Provides intervention services in B.C. to adults who were born Deafblind, or became Deafblindness later in life.
http://www.deafblindservices.com/

Douglas College - Intervenor for Individuals with Deafblindness Certificate Program: This program is offered in partnership with the Provincial Outreach Program for Students with Deafblindness. There are 10 required courses for the Certificate or you can take one two for professional development. Classes held around the Province of BC.
http://www.douglas.bc.ca/

George Brown College - Intervenor for Deafblind Persons Program: Students will learn to help people with this dual disability communicate and become more independent, and also assist them with the activities of daily living. This program, the first and largest in the world, was developed in partnership with a number of service providers and deaf-blind consumer associations.
http://www.georgebrown.ca/

Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC): The overarching goal of the IDRC is to help ensure that emerging information technology and practices are designed inclusively from the very beginning. The IRDC acts as an ADP authorizer for technological devices, and provides information about these devices and many others that benefit individuals with vision and hearing loss.
http://www.idrc.ocad.ca/

Intervenor Organization of Ontario (IOO): The Intervenor Organization of Ontario (IOO) is the first Canadian organization of its kind, supporting the profession of Intervention.
http://www.intervenors.ca/

Mosaic Home Care and Community Resource Centre: Mosaic provides non-medical services in the Greater Toronto Area and York Region, to enhance the lives of those who might otherwise have to move to a retirement home or long term care. As well, access to resources can be had through the Community Resource Centre. Information on homecare solutions, retirement homes, day programs, elder abuse help, downsizing, community programs and community agency information, government programs is available.
http://www.mosaichomecare.com/

North York Seniors Centre: Provides programs and services to promote the physical. Emotional and social well-being of adults 55+ living in the community of North York.
http://www.nyseniors.org/

Ontario Usher Syndrome Association (OUSA): OUSA is for people who have Usher Syndrome. Members provide each other with help and support as they deal with losing their vision and hearing. They share information and personal experiences. They also advocate for themselves when relevant issues arise.
http://www.usherontario.ca/

Resource Centre for Manitobans who are Deaf-blind: Exists to promote opportunities for independence, dignity and empowerment for adults in Manitoba who have become Deaf-Blind. Services consist of adaptive/adjustment services that recognize the unique needs of Deaf-Blind people.
http://www.rcmdb.mb.ca/

Rotary Cheshire Homes (RCH): Rotary Cheshire Homes is the only barrier free independent living residence for persons who have acquired the disability of deaf-blindness in North America. RCH provides intervenor services, outreach services, case management, and emergency services.
http://www.rotarycheshirehomes.org/

Vision Aids: This retail store helps you make life easier by supplying you with products to make your everyday tasks easier and more convenient. The goal is to help visually impaired and blind achieve all their goals.
http://www.visionaidcanada.com/

International

Deafblind International (DbI): The world association promoting services for deafblind people.
http://www.deafblindinternational.org/

Helen Keller National Centre (American-not affiliated): A residential training centre located in New York State. The centre is for individuals who are deaf-blind and wish to learn more about skills of daily living. The centre has day programs for youth, adults and seniors who are deaf-blind, and also provides state representatives to assist people who are deaf-blind in their communities.
http://www.hknc.org/

National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness: A US based technical assistance and research center for children and youth who are deaf-blind. It brings together the resources of 3 agencies in the field of deaf-blindness, The Teaching Research Institute (TRI) at Western Oregon University, the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC), and the Hilton/Perkins Program at Perkins School for the Blind.
http://www.nationaldb.org/

National Foundation of the Blind: The largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.
http://www.nfb.org/

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) (England): Offers support and advice to blind and partially sighted people in the UK, helping people who have lost their sight to find their lives again.
http://www.rnib.org.uk/

Sense International: Works in partnership to provide services and raise awareness of the needs of deafblind people and their families so they can connect, participate and contribute to their communities.
http://www.senseinternational.org.uk/

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Testimonials

"Staff and trainers are wonderful and patient to teach in a second language that helps persons who are Deaf-Blind to understand better."
Sharon Durnan, Participant/Teacher

"Learning at CHKC has given me the confidence to handle what the future brings, as my hearing and vision continue to deteriorate."
Megan McHugh, Participant/Teacher

"What I really like about the Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) is the way the teachers show patience while we who are Deaf-Blind are learning the program we applied for."
Stephen Lindop, Participant

"Through learning about computers and e-mail at the Canadian Helen Keller Centre, I have gotten to know my family better and they've gotten to know me better too."
Catherine Dominie, Participant

"I enjoy learning at CHKC because it is a comfortable place and everyone can communicate with me."
Lee-Ann Huitema, Participant

"The single most valuable aspect of the CHKC program for me was the personal and custom tailoring of the program to me and my goals, work ethic and capabilities."
Mary Dignan, Participant from Sacramento, CA

"My teacher has taught me to use the computer. I have learned how to play games and have learned how to use the Internet."
Jeff Chow, Participant

"Before I came to CHKC, I was pretty dependent on others. Now I can cook and clean and I have the desire to learn more because I want to expand my skills and be more independent. I learned the value of having more than one activity to enjoy so that I never become bored."
Sara Quinton, Participant

"The day I contacted CHKC for the first time was the best thing I ever did. CHKC opened the doors of communication and taught me how to use a white cane. I learned to do emails like nobody's business and along the way I met other people who are Deaf-Blind. I went for years thinking that I was the only person with the two handicaps."
Audrey Southorn, Participant

"My course in American Sign Language has helped me to communicate with other people who are Deaf-Blind and Peer Support has made my life easier. I also took Cooking Club and Computer Essentials. All my instructors were very helpful, patient, and friendly."
Karen Murphy, Participant

"Finding you was like finding gold." "You have not taken my troubles away, but you have changed my life - now it is easier." "I don't know where we'd be without you."
Seniors on CHKC's Seniors Support Services

"Excellent training and educational information." "The workshop was precise and very informative... more of them are needed!"
Nursing Home Staff on CHKC's Seniors Support Services

"It's just wonderful that I'm independent. It's changed my life. It's like a new life".
Harry Z, CHKC's Seniors Program

"The CHKC residential experience was perfect for me. It was about as close to a real home-living situation that a program like this can offer, and being able to make my own meals was great."
Mary Dignan, Participant from Sacramento, CA