Get Together with Technology (GTT) Nanaimo

Sponsored by the Canadian Council of the Blind

Vancouver Island Regional Library, and

No Obstacles for the Vision Impaired (NOVI)

Please share this announcement widely to anyone you think will benefit from our collective knowledge.

Theme: General Accessible Tech Discussion

Where:

VIRL Downtown Branch, 90 Commercial St Nanaimo

Date:

February 23, 2019

Time:

10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon

First Hour:

Albert Ruel will lead the group in a general discussion of accessible and assistive technology for accessing print information, independent navigation and the pursuit of entertainment.

Second Hour:

During the second hour we will discuss anything else the participants want to bring up in the area of assistive technology.

To RSVP, or for more information:

Contact Albert Ruel at 250-240-2343, or Albert.GTT@CCBNational.net.

Check for other meetings on the GTTProgram Blog:

www.GTTProgram.Blog

Backgrounder

NOVI Social and Recreational Organization, and the Get Together with Technology group come together to serve the peer mentoring, assistive technology and daily living skills development needs of Nanaimo and area residents.

Since 2001 the Nanaimo Organization of the Vision Impaired (NOVI) has served the social and recreational needs of Nanaimo residents, and recently this group altered its name to better reflect the dynamic nature of their brand of mutual support and forward thinking ideas and activities. It is now known as “No Obstacles for the Vision Impaired” (NOVI), and meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the 710 Club from 1:30 until 3:30 PM.

Since 2013 Get Together with Technology (GTT), a program of the Canadian Council of the Blind, has been meeting monthly in Nanaimo to provide opportunities for blind and partially sighted residents to learn more about the assistive technology so prevalent in our lives as we attempt to level the playing field in education, social interaction, recreation and independent living.

These two groups have embarked on an amalgamation of their efforts while expanding their support to the blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted residents of the Nanaimo and Parksville areas. In order to facilitate this collaboration GTT has moved its meetings to align with the Tuesday NOVI gatherings so the two organizations can consolidate their human resources that more and better support may be delivered.

1st Tuesday from 1:30 until 3:30 PM, NOVI Social/recreational gathering in Nanaimo lead by Henk Pauelsen.

Forth Saturday from 10:00 AM until 12 Noon, GTT Nanaimo and NOVI members will meet at the Vancouver Island Regional Library, Nanaimo Downtown Branch, 90 Commercial Street to discuss access to information issues, assistive technology and anything pertaining to living with, and adjusting to vision loss. VIRL staff also participate in these Saturday morning meetings to provide information about services and supports available through the Public Library system.

NOVI and GTT will retain their independent organizational structures and membership dues, however will work in collaboration on local social activities, learning independence skills and peer mentoring endeavours.

For more information please contact:

NOVI:

Henk Pauelsen at 250-586-6285 or NOVI-Group@Shaw.ca

Living Without Looking/Independent Living Skills:

Donna Hudon at 250-618-0010 or IAmDonnaHudon@Gmail.com

GTT:

Albert Ruel at 250-240-2343 or GTTWest@CCBNational.nett

First Hour:

Michelle Creedy will lead a discussion of, and will demonstrate those basic non-adapted home devices and items that make living independently possible, enjoyable and efficient. Michelle will bring to the meeting some of her non-adapted items from home, and all of you should bring your questions and concerns for discussion and resolution.

CCB Backgrounder:

The CCB was founded in 1944 by a coalition of blind war veterans, schools of the blind and local chapters to create a national self-governing organization. The CCB was incorporated by Letters Patent on May 10, 1950 and is a registered charity under the provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The purpose of the CCB is to give people with vision loss a distinctive and unique perspective before governments. CCB deals with the ongoing effects of vision loss by encouraging active living and rehabilitation through peer support and social and recreational activities.

CCB promotes measures to conserve sight, create a close relationship with the sighted community and provide employment opportunities.

The CCB recognizes that vision loss has no boundaries with respect to gender, income, ethnicity, culture, other disabilities or age.

The CCB understands in many instances vision loss is preventable and sometimes is symptomatic of other health issues. For the 21st century, the CCB is committed to an integrated proactive health approach for early detection to improve the quality of life for all Canadians.

As the largest membership organization of the blind and partially sighted in Canada the CCB is the “Voice of the Blind™”.

Category: Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL)

GTT/NOVI Nanaimo Meeting Invitation, General Accessible Technology Discussion, February 23, 2019

Get Together with Technology (GTT) Nanaimo

Theme: General Accessible Tech Discussion

Where:

Date:

Time:

First Hour:

Second Hour:

To RSVP, or for more information:

Backgrounder

GTT Duncan Meeting Invitation, February meeting cancelled due to snow, Back To Basics, Low Tech Devices, February 14, 2019

We are cancelling today’s meeting due to the impending snowfall this afternoon. We will be back with the same subject matter on March 14 from 4 PM until 6 PM at the same place.

Get Together with Technology (GTT) Duncan

Theme: Low Tech Devices at Home, Back to Basics

Date: February 14, 2019

First Hour:

Second Hour:

For More Information:

CCB Backgrounder:

CCB National Office