Rae-Edzo (Oct 30/06) - A genetic disorder in Behchoko (Rae-Edzo) has left much of the community in the dark. At 500-times the world average the community has the highest rate of visual impaired people on the planet.

Twenty five per cent of residents in Behchoko carry a gene that causes low vision and blindness or are themselves visually impaired.

Susan Ponchillia looks over Rambo Dryneck's shoulder as he uses a laptop with a special keyboard with enlarged numbers and letters. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

Susan Ponchillia has been in Behchoko for the last two weeks providing a workshop to people with retinitis punctata albescens (RPA) or retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Both genetic conditions result in a progressive loss of vision.

Ponchillia, from the University of Western Michigan has an education doctorate focusing on blindness and low vision. RPA causes progressive night blindness in individuals, which causes Ponchillia concern.

"Behchoko should be the most well lit community in the country."

Ponchillia has been providing a workshop over the last two weeks providing information on accessibility.

"The workshops are an introduction to assistance technology that would allow someone with a vision problem, or blindness, to function in a learning setting or a work setting," Norma Jarvis said.

Jarvis works for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in Yellowknife, and she and Ponchillia, along with the Tlicho government and NWT for Council for Persons with Disabilities are working together to bring the workshops to Behchoko.

"We're just introducing them to this, it's not going to prepare them, per se, for employment. It will start a foundation so that they can use this assistance technology to continue to learn and hopefully get employment in the future."

The technology includes programs that read out letters as they are typed, and read out commands on the computer (like save, delete, quit).

Other technology, such as closed circuit television (CCTV), was also introduced to those with low vision.

Freddy Dryneck has been using CCTV for many years. CCTV has a camera that points down at a page and enlarges it on a monitor.

"I use it for reading the newspaper. I use it for reading and writing," Dryneck said of the equipment.

"When I first moved to Yellowknife is when I learned about CCTV," said Dryneck

Jarvis said, "part of the problem is for people who have low vision to admit that they have a problem. No one wants to use a white cane.

"We did have a client who was hit by a car, and it was at dusk." Jarvis said this could have been avoided if he had been using a white cane, as the car may have seen him in time.

Corine Nitsiza works for the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities, and was brought on board by Jarvis.

"I do have some clients who I thought would be suitable for this."

She attended the workshop with her clients and said that they learned a lot.

"There's so many little things I've learned, like what type of resources there are out there. I found out more about clients and what levels they were at."

The workshop also taught students a few things that many people take for granted, like pouring a drink.

Nitsiza was amazed by the reactions from some of her clients and other students.

"I think most of them were there every day, so they were really engaged."

"Last week we had people coming on time every day," Jarvis said. "I think it would be great if they could meet once a week."

"There's a greater need for services," Ponchillia said.