Learning and Living with Visual Impairment: Sharing with Grade 9 Students

Story provided by Mary Anderson – M.SpEd – Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments 

In the 2022-2027 District Strategic Plan, the Human and Social Development priority focuses on helping students feel welcome, safe, and connected, while proactively addressing inequalities experienced by students to support meaningful and positive connections.

The Kamloops-Thompson School District Accessibility Committee was established a year ago to examine and ensure that our learning environments inspire students to thrive. We can only know what learning and living life in our school system is like for students when they share their experiences.

On May 7, 2024, Kyra Barrett, a SKSS Grade 9 student with a visual impairment, teamed up with Keisha Anderson, program coordinator and event planner from Blind Beginnings, and Mary Anderson, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, to present information and education on visual impairments.

“I wanted to share my experience as a person with a visual impairment to educate them and hopefully make it easier for other people who live with visual impairments,” said Kyra Barrett. “Doing the presentation felt good and I did not feel nervous doing it.”

The Grade 9 audience of close to 80 students learned about accessible media options, such as braille and large print, and the assistive technology that supports access for people with visual impairments. Students also learned sighted guide techniques, etiquette when encountering service dogs under harness, and debunked stereotypes around visual impairment and blindness. As one student said: “It was cool to see my classmate talking about her visual impairment, I learned a lot.”

“I’m so impressed with Kyra’s ability to speak in front of her peers. It takes a lot of confidence and she did so well educating us on what it’s like to live with a visual impairment,” said Case Manager Jocelyn Pelley.

Thank you to Jocelyn Pelley for organizing the classes and providing the space in her classroom and to all the teachers who brought their students to learn. Thank you to all the students and teachers who asked good questions and encouraged healthy dialogue related to diversity and inclusion.

“Kyra was very knowledgeable and it was well organized. The students in my class learned lots and responded well to the questions asked,” said PHE teacher Cory Yamao. “The accomplishments of the presenter were impressive and I think it was great for our students to hear.”

Kyra and Keisha did a fantastic job of socially advocating and raising awareness for the school and greater community. This experience was a wonderful example of one of our students working with community outreach to advocate for inclusion.