The mission of AER is to support professionals who provide education and rehabilitation services to people with visual impairments. The vision of AER is to be recognized as the leading authority in providing the necessary services and tools to help educators and rehabilitation personnel in serving the blind and visually impaired. AER develops and promotes professional excellence through support of those who provide services to people with visual impairments by providing: professional support, division memberships, publications, professional development, awards, scholarships and advocacy.
Blind Beginnings is a non-profit organization striving to guarantee quality of life for children and youth who are blind or visually impaired by promoting equal access to the world's resources and opportunities. We seek to challenge the limits of what is deemed possible for blind and visually impaired children and to establish a strong foundation on which to build rich and fulfilling lives.
Braille Literacy Canada is a registered charity dedicated to the promotion of braille as the primary medium of literacy for those who are blind or visually impaired. Our organization is comprised of educators, braille transcribers, braille producers, parents of braille users and braille users. Braille Literacy Canada was originally founded in 1990 as the Canadian Braille Authority. In 2013 we officially became Braille Literacy Canada.
The BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association is a not for profit association of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, deaf-blind, or are blind and have additional disabilities; and their families and other supporters. Our services are provided throughout the province of British Columbia and are available to individuals of all ages. We work closely with the CNIB, other organizations in the field of blindness, other vision professionals, and the generic physical activity system in order to improve access and opportunities for participation in physical activity.
B.C. Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments have been dedicated to teaching, advocating and supporting Blind and Visually Impaired students throughout British Columbia for the past 30 years. The executive and members of BCVTA work actively in a variety of different areas.
CNIB is a registered charity, passionately providing community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life.
The Children's Low Vision Project of British Columbia (CLVP-BC) is designed to provide comprehensive low vision assessment to school age children throughout British Columbia.
The Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI) is a BC Ministry of Education Provincial Resource Program established to assist school districts in educating students whose access to learning is restricted due to a visual impairment or blindness.
PRCVI supports School Districts and independent schools in British Columbia by providing alternate formats including braille, tactile graphics, digital text and large print of BC recommended learning resources to meet the instructional needs of these students. Specialized and adapted learning materials are also available.
In addition PRCVI provides professional development and consultation support to BC vision teachers and other school personnel working with students with visual impairments.
PRCVI supports School Districts and independent schools in British Columbia by providing alternate formats including braille, tactile graphics, digital text and large print of BC recommended learning resources to meet the instructional needs of these students. Specialized and adapted learning materials are also available.
In addition PRCVI provides professional development and consultation support to BC vision teachers and other school personnel working with students with visual impairments.
In British Columbia we are fortunate to have many services for the intervention, support and education of children with visual impairments. While you may currently be working with one of the services listed below, you will also find support from these other community resources.
The Visual Impairment Program located at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children (Vancouver) is a provincial resource program which provides diagnostic assessment and treatment planning services for children aged birth through 19 years who have a suspected or known vision loss.