Sometimes, a chance encounter with a stranger can change the trajectory of your whole life.
When Joanne Shuttleworth was a teenager, she met a young man named Gary at a party. Gary was blind, and over time, they spent a lot of time hanging out together. Gary taught her a lot about what it was like to live with vision loss and the impact it had on his life, especially in the small town where they lived.
Joanne had always wanted to be a teacher, but now she knew she wanted to do it in a different way. After completing her university degree as an English major, she signed up for a specialized training program at Mohawk College that focused on teaching individuals with vision loss. After graduating, she spent the next ten years as a Rehabilitation Teacher at CNIB, teaching braille and independent living skills to people with sight loss in the Peterborough region.
Loving the work and wanting to expand her career options, Joanne decided to go back to school. Working full -time with two young kids at home, she pursued a Bachelor of Education, taking classes two nights per week, every other weekend and holidays. With her new degree, she joined the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) as a Vision Itinerant Teacher.
One of the perks of this role is being able to bring her students to CNIB Lake Joe each year.
“I’ve always tried to focus not just on the students’ independence, but their belief that they can be independent,” Joanne explains. “I wish people knew that blindness or vision loss doesn’t mean that life is over. They can go out and chase their dreams.”
After spending 20 years as a rehabilitation/vision itinerant teacher, Joanne became a Vice-Principal and Special Education Teacher, a School Principal, Principal of Special Education, and is currently Principal of the Sagonaska Demonstration School for students with learning disabilities.
“Kids inspire you no matter how old they are, no matter what disabilities they may have, and they have so much to offer,” says Joanne, reflecting on what matters most to her throughout her career. “They tell you what they need. We just have to listen and set them up for success.”
And this is exactly what Joanne hopes to do in her role as a CNIB Lake Joe Advisory Board member. She is excited about offering new programs and promoting CNIB Lake Joe in unique ways, including engaging school boards to access our facilities outside of key camp times.
“CNIB Lake Joe holds a very special place in my heart, and it is my hope that I can continue to champion this magical place to others,” she adds.
Joanne is looking forward to volunteering at Lake Joe this summer as part of the CNIB Literacy for All: Canadian Vision Teachers Retreat.
We invite you to meet other members of the CNIB Lake Joe Advisory Board.