CNIB brings smart vision tech to Brandon

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind brought a range of assistive technology and vision-support devices to Brandon on Monday as part of its mobile hub program.

The event, held at the Central Community Centre, gave Westman residents a hands-on look at devices designed to support people living with sight loss.

Mobile hub and wellness lead La Toya Gibbons said a major feature of the visit was the CNIB Smart Life Store, which travels with the hub to demonstrate adaptive technology available for purchase and use at home.

“We showcased a Spot Vision Screener, a portable device that can detect potential eye conditions in approximately 90 seconds,” she told the Sun. “The device scans a person’s eyes and generates results that may indicate conditions such as astigmatism, helping determine whether further assessment by an eye doctor is needed.”

Gibbons said the screener is part of a pilot program in Manitoba and Saskatchewan aimed at improving access to vision screening in rural and northern communities. “This is kind of to reach some of those folks, especially younger children, preschool-age children,” she said.

The display included talking clocks and watches, tactile home markers for appliances, SmartLux digital magnifier, along with other handheld and desktop systems that can enlarge print, adjust contrast or read text aloud.

Gibbons demonstrated several of the tools, including devices capable of magnifying text up to 22 times and converting printed material into speech.

“These items help you around your home,” she said.

Gibbons said the travelling initiative brings programming, rehabilitation services and adaptive technology directly into communities outside of Winnipeg.

“We had clients from Carberry, Virden, Rapid City and other communities in attendance,” Gibbons said.

“It’s really just getting everyone engaged, so whether it’s advocacy, whether it’s peer support relationships, whether it’s fitness programs and more.”

The Brandon stop is part of CNIB’s regular outreach schedule, which brings the mobile hub to the city twice a year. While this was Gibbons’ first time leading the Brandon visit, she said the program itself is well established across Manitoba communities.

The day’s programming included interactive peer support activities, starting with a tactile herb identification exercise designed to highlight how people with vision loss can still engage in everyday activities such as gardening.

“We started with that,” Gibbons said. “It’s important for people to remember that, regardless if you have sight or you’ve lost your sight, you can still do the things you used to do.”

Participants also received demonstrations from vision rehabilitation services, which help clients adapt to daily life changes, from cooking and cleaning to mobility training using tools such as white canes.

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