SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Yellowknife-based chapter of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind is hosting a workshop for members of the community with vision loss to share their experiences and learn about creating a positive road forward, from someone who understands their hardship.

Psychologist Wendy Edey says her vision loss provides insight into challenges blind people face.

"It is part of my personal experience to be a blind person, as well. I have had that condition for a long time so I am accustomed to coping with it, but also accustomed to the kinds of obstacles that people face: possibly in ways people treat them, challenges of employment, challenges of walking confidently in your community, challenges of physical barriers," said registered psychologist Wendy Edey. "No matter how well adjusted a person is, you still have to cope with the barriers that are in an environment in a world built for people who are sighted."

Based in Edmonton, Edey has hosted similar workshops that delve into the presence of depression among those with vision loss.

"It's not that blind people necessarily have a really serious kind of depression but it is quite easy, when you have a disability of any sort, to become quite isolated. As people become more isolated, if they're quite fearful about the future, then sometimes that kind of fear and loneliness creates a situation that might lead to depression," said Edey.

"There is a lot that can be done about that just by bringing people together in a very positive environment and working on positive ways of looking at themselves and thinking about what they might be in the future. It's not so much that people get lost in a serious depression, but rather that they really benefit from chances to come together in a positive environment."

CNIB regional manager Norma Jarvis has successfully referred a number of clients to Edey and saw the workshop as an opportunity to offer that support more broadly.

"When you have vision loss, it's very isolating because you often lose your independence. You can't go where you want to go, when you want to go because you can't drive. So, maybe you don't go out as much because it's more difficult," said Jarvis. "It's not that you can't, it's just that it sometimes requires more courage, more energy and more organizing."

Jarvis said the CNIB has a large clientele in Yellowknife but she also hoped to reach other members of the community with the workshop.

"We do have a significant number of people living with vision loss and you wouldn't necessarily know they are legally blind often they have some functional vision," said Jarvis.

The workshop is open to all members of the community with vision loss and Edey said it is important to offer counselling services to people with disabilities because physical challenges of any kind provide additional mental stresses.

"It's not only people that have recently lost vision," said Edey. "But, as time goes on, they learn more and more about how to cope and the circumstances they have, especially if they can begin to kind of create a confidence about going into the future."

Edey will be offering a three-hour workshop on Monday beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Coast Fraser Tower Hotel, with private counselling sessions open on Tuesday and Wednesday. Anyone interested in attending is asked to register with the CNIB.

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