By: Kamini Rodhan
During the peak of the pandemic, I noticed a need for a safe and supportive place where women with sight loss could connect. Our first women’s group meeting took place over Zoom in May 2021. Since then, the group has grown to include 24 women from diverse backgrounds and age groups with varying degrees of sight loss.
As pandemic restrictions began to ease, we saw the opportunity to begin to move away from a virtual platform. The group held an in-person meeting in Toronto, providing a safe and supportive environment for members to connect. Since then, the group has held in-person meetings at various restaurants, community centres, and other locations throughout the city.
I have made it my mission to ensure that, wherever we go, service staff are educated about how to provide sighted guides and that the space is accessible for all who attend. The members of our women’s group want to be present in their communities, advocating for accessible spaces and breaking down stereotypes about sight loss.
I am incredibly grateful for the friendships I’ve developed through this group, and I’ve received great feedback about how much it means to our members. Many women with sight loss need a space where they can talk about relationships, parenting, work, and their experiences as women with sight loss. I am thankful that this group means so much to the members, and we are excited to discover where we go next and what barriers we’ll smash.
If you identify as a woman (either living with sight loss or sighted) and are interested in joining the group, please email kaminirodhan@yahoo.ca.