Access For Sight Impaired Consumers

Education and Training

The Hadley School for the Blind is the largest worldwide distance educator of blind and sight-impaired people, their families and blindness service professionals. Founded in 1920 by William Hadley and Dr. E.V.L. Brown, Hadley offers courses free of charge to its blind and sight-impaired students and their families and affordable tuition courses to blindness professionals. Today, the school serves more than 10,000 students annually in all 50 states and 100 countries.

The Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology is Canada's primary institution of learning If you are considering a career as an orientation and mobility instructor or a rehabilitation teacher.

Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired provide services for students who are blind or sight-impaired who are attending school in British Columbia. They publish materials for primary and secondary students using various formats including Braille, large print, E-text and audio.

The Visually Impaired Adult Program at Vancouver Community College is designed to give both blind and sight-impaired students the basic education required for admission to further career and academic training to enhance their employability. Classes of individualized instruction are available in subjects ranging from English and mathematics, to training in communication skills such as braille and keyboarding. Computer courses include Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, using the Scanner and Internet training using speech, braille and large print access. Students at advanced levels are normally encouraged to integrate into regular upgrading or training programs at Vancouver Community College. Classes are held from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday. An evening class in computer training is available Monday and Tuesday evenings from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.