Children and Youth Programs

Our winter braille programs for children and youth are now open for registration! These programs focus on building braille literacy skills with fun activities, prizes, and opportunities to connect with peers. 

Canadian youth with sight loss are invited to join CNIB Learning Academy for engaging virtual and in-person programs offered throughout the year! Our programs challenge youth from grades six to first year of post-secondary studies to develop pre-employment, leadership, independence and social skills. 

The TD Summer Reading Club  is Canada’s biggest, bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages, all interests, and all abilities. This free program is co-created and delivered by more than 2,000 public libraries across Canada.  It celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators and stories. It’s designed to inspire kids to explore the fun of reading their way – the key to building a lifelong love of reading.

This free manual provides parents and educators with the age-appropriate information they need to teach a child how to interact with an iPad using VoiceOver. To put the latest knowledge at children's fingertips, it incorporates accessible apps with educational content.

OPVIC (formally VIEWS) is a volunteer organization of parents of visually impaired children/youth focused on empowering families and advocating for our kids in Ontario. OPVIC is a friendly and supportive organization of parents, family members and guardians of children with any amount of vision loss.

This program offers a fun, safe engaging place for youth ages 18-29 to connect and find a sense of community with each other. Programming will be guided by the interest of the participants, and activities may consist of movie and game nights, karaoke battles, dining out at restaurants and monthly excursions to local attractions. At each event, focus will be placed on fostering self-esteem and enhancing socialization skills. Last Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at CNIB Winnipeg (unless otherwise specified).

Whether you believe you can, or you believe you can’t, you are right! Join the club that believes the word “Can’t" is not allowed! The I Can Club is focused on building the attitudes and skills that lead us to think about all that is possible. Are you a child or youth (age 29 and under) who is interested in exploring the world around you and finding ways to look at all the things that are possible, instead of only the obstacle in front of you?  In the I Can Club, you'll meet a group of individuals who challenge the word "Can't" with a “Yes, I can do that,“ or “How can I do that?" attitude. 

Music Therapist Erin Koop hosts weekly sessions on Zoom for children across the country. These interactive sessions are filled with songs, stories, and more! Get ready to make some music!  This group runs on Zoom, every Tuesday from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Pacific Time. 

Join us to play games, chat, and make new friends. Please note that this program is for individuals between 10-14 years of age. Every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

This program offers a fun, safe engaging place for blind or partially sighted youth ages 13-18 (Grades 8-12) to connect and find a sense of community with each other. Programming will be guided by the interest of the participants, and activities may consist of movie and game nights, quest speakers, and excursions to local attractions. At each event, focus will be placed on fostering self-esteem and enhancing socialization skills. Second Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at CNIB Winnipeg (unless otherwise specified). 

This is a space for parents and children that are blind or have low vision ages 0-6 to come and find support and resources from each other. The Parent and Tot Support Group meets on the second Monday of every month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at CNIB Winnipeg (unless otherwise specified). 

The Regina Youth Adventure Club is a monthly program for youth who are blind or have low vision. It provides a supportive social setting where participants develop leadership and advocacy skills, build confidence and self-esteem, and gain knowledge about post-secondary education and work transitions. The program fosters independence and self-advocacy while helping youth discover their capabilities. Through leadership roles, community projects, and guest speakers, participants learn to support themselves and others while building meaningful connections. Third Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the CNIB Regina office. 

Children, youth, family and adults are invited to join us on Thursday, July 31 for a day of fun exploring Science North, sharing lunch and investigating accessible bus travel.

Children of all ages across the country are welcome to participate in our live reading series Read Aloud to Me. Join us every Wednesday as experienced volunteers give life to picture books, chapter books and short stories. While stories chosen are geared to participants between the ages of 7 to 12, anyone who would enjoy listening is welcome. Every Wednesday from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

The Zoom Room for Kids is turning into a Fairy Tale Factory! Join Teaching Artist and Oboist, Joey Salvalaggio on an exploration of the world tradition of fairy tales and nursery rhymes and how they are represented in music. From the familiar to the obscure, from Jack in the Beanstalk to Baba Yaga, these sessions take you on a journey around the world, exploring different cultures and music. But a visit from Mr. Joey wouldn't be complete without creating our own brand new fairy tale classic that will endure for years to come. Every Wednesday from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom. 

This program is geared toward youth who would like to give back to the community, gain volunteer experience, learn leadership, problem solving and delegation skills by volunteering at various locations around the city.

Introducing CNIB Discovery Saturdays! Each month we will explore different skill areas to expand our horizons and connect with peers. Skills we will explore include art, technology, sports and more! Discovery Saturdays meets on the fourth Saturday of every month at CNIB Winnipeg.  Morning Session (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) Activities for our younger explorers, kindergarten to grade 5. Afternoon Session (1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)  Activities for participants in grades 6-12. 

The FIRST Lego League is a fun an exciting way to learn about Science, Technology, engineering, and Math (STEM). This program will challenge young minds to develop a Lego Spike Prime robot to complete various tasks in a competitive game. This program fosters a love of learning and promotes teamwork and having fun. First Lego League Kids STEM Program meets at CNIB Edmonton. Register for confirmed dates. 

Music Therapist Erin Koop hosts weekly sessions on Zoom for children across the country. These interactive sessions are filled with songs, stories, and more! Get ready to make some music! This group runs on Zoom, every Monday from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

Practice Power, Peace and Purpose. Sensei's will guide us through the one hour session and no prior experience is necessary. This program is open to children and youth ages 6-18. Please dress comfortably and bring a water bottle. Second Thursday of every month from 6 to 7 p.m. at the CNIB Ottawa Community Hub. 

CNIB BC-Yukon is supporting the creation of a new parent/guardian advocacy group which aims to empower and connect families across the province and territory, working to accomplish advocacy-based goals, such as equitable education for students who are blind, Deafblind or have low vision. This program is inspired by feedback from parents, guardians, and students regarding their exhaustion from continually self-advocating within the school system. The BC-Yukon Family Advocacy Group meets on the second Thursday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. PT on Zoom.

Join us for some kitchen fun at the CNIB Ottawa Hub! We will create a new recipe each month and enjoy eating our baking and socializing with peers. Open to participants between the ages of 12-18 in the Ontario East region. Third Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the CNIB Ottawa Hub.

The Saskatchewan Parent Advocacy Group is designed for parents and caregivers of children and youth who are blind, partially sighted or Deafblind to come together to establish a collective voice to advocate for the needs of children living with sight loss in Saskatchewan. Fourth Wednesday of every month (excluding December) from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Join us at the CNIB Ottawa Hub for a monthly games group! Play games with peers and chat. We will offer a variety of games including board games, indoor axe throwing and trivia style games. This program is offered to children and youth (ages 5+) in the  Ottawa area. Fourth Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the CNIB Ottawa Hub.

Share your POV (Point of View)! We can all be part of the solution when it comes to showcasing what people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision are capable of doing. When you lead by example, you are not only helping educate the public about what accessible, inclusive and adaptive living looks like; you are helping those who are new to the community (and their families) in accessing valuable and life changing perspectives and information.

Whether you are looking to become the next podcast sensation or simply learn a new way to share your story with others; the “I Can…Podcasters Club," will bring together the voices of youth living with vision loss to gain knowledge, skills and practice podcasting basics. First Thursday of every month from 7 to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

Youth ages 10 to 16 who enjoy reading from the wealth of fantasy authors, past and present who have entertained us with tales of wizards, warriors, magic, and mystery are encouraged to join this monthly group. We will discuss some familiar books and authors and hopefully learn about many new ones. First Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

If you are an aspiring young artist Toronto Hub Art Saturdays will be a fun way to learn some art skills and hang out with CNIB friends. CNIB staff and volunteers will be on site to supervise the shared space from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for the most part participants are invited to work independently. There will be two one-hour sessions during the day where you can receive instruction and feedback from an adult artist. The rest of your time can be devoted to working on the project of your choice and connecting with other young artists. Second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Time. at the CNIB GTA Community Hub (1525 Yonge Street, Toronto).

The Saskatoon Youth Adventure Club is a monthly program for youth who are blind or have low vision. It provides a supportive social setting where participants develop leadership and advocacy skills, build confidence and self-esteem, and gain knowledge about post-secondary education and work transitions. The program fosters independence and self-advocacy while helping youth discover their capabilities. Through leadership roles, community projects, and guest speakers, participants learn to support themselves and others while building meaningful connections. Third Thursday of every month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at CNIB Saskatoon.

Canadian Blind Hockey is thrilled to announce the return of the Ottawa 67’s Youth Blind Hockey Team for another incredible season in the nation’s capital! Each year this program keeps getting bigger and better, with more enthusiastic players and amazing volunteers joining the fun. Every Saturday (October 25, 2025 to  March 14, 2026) at the McNabb Community Centre (180 Percy Street, Ottawa).

Canadian Blind Hockey and CNIB are thrilled to partner with True North Sports and Entertainment, NHL First Shift and Jumpstart to offer the first ever Para First Shift program in Manitoba.

The Braille Institute's Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind in North America for students who are blind or partially sighted. Contestants compete in regional preliminary Braille Challenge events from January through March, and the top 50 students (10 in each category) with the highest scores are then invited to compete in the finals. Test your braille skills in the Ontario Regional Braille Challenge 2026! Registration deadline: January 9, 2026.

This past August we held our Peel STEM Camp at Hazel McCallion Library and we had a lot of fun learning some new skills. In an effort to keep the ball rolling, we are starting a STEM Club to be offered out of Hazel McCallion and we’ll continue with our Code Jumper training, AI skills development and experiences with 3-D printed materials. Saturday, November 1, 15 & December 6 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Eastern Time at the Hazel McCallion Central Library  (301 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Mississauga).

CNIB is inviting London area families to come and enjoy a fun monthly Saturday afternoon of connection, play, networking and community building. Meet other parents of children with blindness and partial vision in a relaxed setting, enjoy some snacks and have your children participate in a variety of engaging activities together. Kids can share the experience of watching movies with descriptive audio, engage in simple but tasty baking projects and foster their creativity with crafts. Second Saturday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time at the CNIB London Community Hub (171 Queens Ave Suite 101, London).

A fast and fun way to kick off a year of Braille Literacy in January 2026! We’re looking for tactile, fun, and creative artworks that feature braille. Show us your craftiest creations! Create your name or a few of your favourite words in braille! Instead of fingertip-sized dots, think big and creative, maybe Timbit or basketball braille. Open to elementary and secondary students across Canada, English and French entries welcome. For students curious about braille and those who already use it!

Write a short story, essay, or poem on any topic or re-purpose something you've written for school this year! Show off your creative writing talents for a chance to win cash prizes. The contest is open to primary and secondary students (grades K-12) who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision and live in Canada. 

Braille Quest: a fun braille literacy adventure (with prizes!) Put your braille skills to the test, at home or school! Complete fun challenges for a chance to win a prize. Do a few Braille Quest activities, or do them all! Do as many activities as you like from January to mid-March, 2026.

We are looking for Youth Leaders (14-21) in Calgary, Edmonton, or surrounding areas interested in getting involved with planning activities for their peers! 

Join us at Rideau Hall for a tour and a skate on the rink – a beautiful space for the local community to enjoy the magic of winter and sport! Sunday, January 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rideau Hall Rink, via Princess Gate (101 Princess Ave., Ottawa).

Tumble, Twist, Balance, Bounce and Roll! Come out to Reach Gymnastics in Brantford and try the awesome sport of gymnastics. Join the Reach gymnastics instructors as they walk you through some of the basic gymnastic moves and stations that you would typically see in their community classes. Along with CNIB staff, they will work to show your child/youth that this sport can be adapted and inclusive. Sunday, February 1 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ET at the Reach Gymnastics Club (160 Brantwood Park Road, Brantford). 

Children and youth have the opportunity to learn from STEM community mentors TEAM UMOJA #7712 on select upcoming Saturdays! Participants will begin constructing simple robots and program them to perform basic tasks using the LEGO Spike Prime Platform. All participants will work one to one or one to two with a senior student from Team Umoja. Working groups are kept small for maximum support. Attendees will meet in person on designated Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Eastern Time. at the CNIB GTA Community Hub (1525 Yonge Street, Toronto).

CNIB is now accepting applications for our annual Writing with Feeling Retreat! Whether you're a new braille user with a passion for creative writing or crafting a poem, story, or essay for the CNIB Braille Creative Writing Contest, join CNIB’s Writer’s Retreat for kids and teens with sight loss! Connect with young writers from across Canada, get tips from professional authors, and take part in fun, braille-themed and accessible activities. August 31-September 5, 2026 at CNIB Lake Joe in Muskoka, Ontario.