Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 23/99) - About 15 Yellowknifers could head to a southern youth conference in September if fund-raising efforts are successful.

What makes the Calgary conference different is it is for children who are blind.

"The conference's focus will be issues relating to children who are blind or visually impaired," said Christina Vernon, regional director of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

"There'll be educators, families and children all in attendance."

To help with fund-raising, Vernon says the CNIB is approaching service clubs and foundations asking them if they can contribute.

The Elk's Lodge has already come through with a $1,000 donation, she said, and the Lion's Club is in the process of committing some funding as well.

Though not money-making ventures, one of the services the CNIB's Yellowknife office provides is both high- and low-technology gadgets at break-even prices.

For high-technology equipment, the organization has what Vernon called closed-captioned televisions. These pieces of equipment have a television with an empty space underneath.

The user puts a piece of paper underneath the television and a magnifying glass directly underneath the TV enhances the size of what is on the paper so larger lettering appears on the screen.

"We don't give these to people, but we let people know that they're available," Vernon said.

"Then we help them to find the money to purchase a piece of equipment like that."

Low-technology gadgets include a liquid level indicator where there are two probes on a piece of metal that is placed inside a mug.

When water touches the end of the probes, the probes buzz.

Flaming neon-coloured eyeglasses are another catchy item for clients.

"Our stuff is for people of all ages, but the majority of people who are blind or visually impaired in Canada are seniors," said Vernon.

Though this fact makes the CNIB's Baker Centre office convenient, it is likely to move to the Jan Stirling building in late August.

The office will then be closer to downtown and next door to the eye clinic while seniors will have more space than in the current CNIB office for arts and crafts.

Vernon says there is a fund-raising golf tournament scheduled for July 23, but that money is not earmarked for the children's conference. It will instead be put in general revenue and could be used for workshops.