Community Resources
Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA)
The Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA) is an
interprovincial co-operative agency and serves children from birth to 21
years of age who are blind, visually impaired or deaf, hard of hearing or
deafblind and who reside in Atlantic Canada.
APSEA Programs and Services are provided in partnership with Provincial
Departments of Education and include:
- Consultative and itinerant teacher support for school-based teams and
school districts in the provision of adaptations required for students
(e.g., braille, visual efficiency, independent living skills, orientation
and mobility, assistive technology), information and support for parents and
families, as well as community agencies.
- Preschool consultation and support for parents, preschool staff and
preschoolers.
- Orientation and Mobility (O&M) services provided in school and community
settings.
- Assessment Services to provide parents, schools and community agencies
with information that supports optimal learning and development.
- Assistive Technology, equipment, and materials are provided along with
training for students and teachers.
- Library services that provide and/or produce text books, electronic text,
braille or large print and audio format.
- Teacher and school team provides consultation and training in teaching
strategies, techniques and assistive technology that accommodate for
blindness or visual impairment.
- Teacher training support for M.Ed teacher training programs for teachers
of students with vision loss.
- Short term programs to provide educational opportunities to develop the
social, technological, recreational and personal independence skills and
abilities that will accommodate for the effect of vision loss on learning
and development.
- Family Support and consultation services including workshops for
parents/families, teachers and other agencies.
- Transition Planning services for students who are preparing to leave
secondary school for community work, or post secondary training including
career development and summer employment support.
Bell Aliant Pioneer Volunteers
www.aliantpioneers.com
Blind Sports Nova Scotia is a recreation group for persons living with
vision loss. For information and contact information, visit
www.blindsportsnovascotia.ca.
Canadian Bible Society: Contact the Canadian Bible Society for a copy of the
New Testament at no charge in alternate format - large print or audio.
Please note that your CNIB Registration Number is required.
Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB):
- Halifax Club: Meets the first Tuesday of each month September through June. Meetings take place at 7:00 p.m., CNIB Centre, 6136 Almon Street, Halifax. Contact Leon Keyes at 902-464-0038.
- Queensland Chapter (Charlottetown): Meets the second Sunday of the month,
3:00 p.m., Charlottetown. Contact Stella Walsh at 628-9005.
- Prince County Chapter (Summerside): Meets the first Sunday of the month,
St. Eleanor’s Lions Club, 121 East Drive, Summerside. Contact: Robert Burt
at 436-6317.
Colchester Vision Impaired Recreation Association: Promotes activities such
as bowling, fishing and summer barbeques for socialization and fun. Please
contact Philip Doucett at 895-7426 or
pdoucett@ns.sympatico.ca.
The Halifax Blind and Visually Impaired Bowling League meets every Wednesday evening, 6:30 p.m., Fairlanes Bowling Centre, Halifax Shopping Centre. $5.00 per person each evening. New members welcome. Contact Leon Keyes at 902-464-0038.
The Nova Scotia Blind Golf Association. An opportunity for people with
vision loss to participate in the sport of golf either for leisure or
competition. For information, visit
www.geocities.com/nsblindgolf.
Fishing Licenses:
- Nova Scotia: Recreational fishing licenses are available at local Nova
Scotia Department of Natural Resources offices across the province. There is
no charge for people with vision loss. When requesting a license you will be
required to show a CNIB identification card or other proof of vision loss
such as a letter from your doctor.
- Prince Edward Island: Recreational fishing licenses are available at no
charge for anyone over 65 years of age. Apply to any fishing license outlet.
Parking Permits:
- Nova Scotia: Applications for Accessible Parking Permits are available to
people with vision loss at Access Nova Scotia. Application forms must be
completed and signed by your family physician. Permits are free of charge.
Contact 1-800-898-7668.
- Prince Edward Island: Accessible Parking Permits for people with vision
loss are available at the Prince Edward Island Council of the Disabled, 25
University Avenue, Suite 300, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N7. Application forms
must be completed and signed by your family physician. An annual fee is
charged for parking permits. Contact: 892-9149.
Veteran Services: Veterans Affairs Canada and CNIB have a service
relationship for veterans with vision loss who qualify. Contact Veterans
Affairs Canada or your VAC worker for details. Contact Atlantic Regional
office at 1-866-522-2122 English or 1-866-522-2022 French.