By: Chelsea Masson
At 26-years-old, I was building the life I had imagined. I had a career I loved as a Logistics Coordinator, proudly served as a Reserve Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces Cadet Organizations, and spent my weekends hiking the trails around my home in Victoria, British Columbia. Then, almost overnight, everything changed. Following a medical crisis, I lost a large portion of my sight.
Like many people adjusting to sight loss, I wasn't just learning new skills. I was grieving the life I thought I would have.
Less than two years later, convinced I was ready to return to work, I connected with CNIB's Come to Work program. I expected to talk about employment. Instead, we talked about accommodations, assistive technology, and workplace supports. I became so overwhelmed, that I had a panic attack and walked away from the program.
Looking back, it wasn't the program I was resisting. It was what those conversations represented. I wasn't ready to accept my new reality, I didn't know my rights, and I didn't know how to advocate for myself.
Over the next two years, I slowly rebuilt my confidence. Being partnered with my guide dog, Rango, gave me back more than my independence. He helped me find my voice.
As people began asking about my white cane and guide dog, I realized I wasn’t just sharing my experiences—I was changing perceptions. That shouldn't have surprised me. I'd loved teaching since I began instructing through the Cadet Program at 16. Losing my sight didn't change that. It simply gave me a new perspective to teach from.
When I was finally ready, I reconnected with the Come to Work program. After navigating closed doors and difficult interviews, I found meaningful employment with the very program I had once resisted.
Those early experiences shaped the advocate I am today and inspired me to return to university to study social work and disability studies, where I continue advocating for a more inclusive campus.
Today, I educate wherever I can. I present to employers, health care professionals, students, and community organizations, create educational content on TikTok and LinkedIn, and speak openly about sight loss, guide dogs, accessibility, and employment. Whether I'm on a stage, online, or answering a stranger's question, every conversation is an opportunity to replace assumptions with understanding and make the path a little easier for the next person than it was for me.
Connect with me
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-masson-508827300
- TikTok: @chelo_rango
Get Involved
Want to get involved in CNIB’s Guide Dog Access Awareness Month campaign this September? Contact Taylor Bauer for details at taylor.bauer@cnib.ca or learn about how to become a guide dog champion.