Children and Youth Programs

Children of all ages across the country are welcome to participate in our live reading series Read Aloud to Me. Join us every Wednesday as experienced volunteers give life to picture books, chapter books and short stories. While stories chosen are geared to participants between the ages of 7 to 12, anyone who would enjoy listening is welcome. Every Wednesday from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

The Zoom Zoom Room is growing up, and is now called the Zoom Room for Kids! Children ages 6-10 and older, non-verbal participants are invited to join us as we use music to build our social skills. Each session will be all about the special things going on that month. Make sure to come regularly, because each session you will work as a team to create your own special song. Certified music therapist Melissa Murphy will also have lots of songs and stories to share that are perfect for singing and dancing along. Every Wednesday from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom. 

Join the club that believes the word “can’t“ is not allowed! The “I Can… Club“ is focused on building the attitudes and skills that lead us to think about all that is possible.

Music Therapist Erin Koop hosts weekly sessions on Zoom for children and youth participants across the country. These interactive sessions are filled with songs, stories, and more!  Get ready to make some music!  This group runs on Zoom, every Tuesday from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Pacific Time. 

Join us to play games, chat, and make new friends. Please note that this program is for individuals between 10-14 years of age. Every Thursday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

Music Therapist Erin Koop hosts weekly sessions on Zoom for children and youth participants across the country. These interactive sessions are filled with songs, stories, and more!  Get ready to make some music!  This group runs on Zoom, every Monday from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

Practice Power, Peace and Purpose. Sensei's will guide us through the one hour session and no prior experience is necessary. This program is open to children and youth ages 6-18. Please dress comfortably and bring a water bottle. Second Thursday of every month from 6 to 7 p.m. at the CNIB Ottawa Community Hub. 

Join us for some kitchen fun at the CNIB Ottawa Hub! We will create a new recipe each month and enjoy eating our baking and socializing with peers. Open to participants between the ages of 12-18 in the Ontario East region. Third Thursday of every month from 6:30 to  8 p.m. at the CNIB Ottawa Hub.

Join us at the CNIB Ottawa Hub for a monthly games group! Play games with peers and chat. We will offer a variety of games including board games, indoor axe throwing and trivia style games. This program is offered to children and youth (ages 5+) in the  Ottawa area. Fourth Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the CNIB Ottawa Hub.

Come on out for some Kitchen Fun! Kingston area youth and young adults are invited to join us monthly for a cooking club to create something yummy. We will decide on recipes and create a grocery list of ingredients for the next month.  second Tuesday of every month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the CNIB Kingston Hub. 

CNIB Learning Academy invites youth who are blind or have low vision, parents, and educators to join us for Community Voices, an opportunity to learn from adults living with blindness.  Each month we will hear from a different guest speaker living with blindness who will share their lived experience in high school, post-secondary education, building a career, and social aspects of sight loss. Following the presentations, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions. Last Thursday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern on Zoom.

Youth ages 10 to 16 who enjoy reading from the wealth of fantasy authors, past and present who have entertained us with tales of wizards, warriors, magic, and mystery are encouraged to join this monthly group. First Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom

Start your journey seeking a part-time or summer job with CNIB Learning Academy’s Youth Job Club! There is no time like the present to begin your work experiences. Having a part-time or summer job will put some money in your pocket, and you give valuable skills that employers are looking for. Facilitated by staff with sight loss, this program will help participants prepare for their first summer or part-time job Virtual sessions are hosted biweekly on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom. 

Here’s your chance to become a drawing ninja and to learn from the best blind cartoonist working today – develop your pencil skills with drawing sensei Doug Knight! Attendees will meet on the second Saturday of every month from 10 to 11 a.m. at the CNIB GTA Community Hub.

If you’ve ever been in an art class and felt a little lost, this could be the program for you. The facilitator takes traditional visual art materials and modifies or replaces them with tactile media so that everyone can have fun with art. If you wish to try painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and crafts, join the Finger Magic Art Workshop. Attendees will meet on the second Saturday of every month from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the CNIB GTA Community Hub.

The "I Can...Create" Art project will give you a chance to practice flexing your creative muscles and gain knowledge and confidence in expressing yourself through whatever art avenue you choose. This is a program for the Windsor and Essex area youth aged 29 and under. 

Join the Early Years Digital Literacy Project team and other industry partners for an exciting series of presentations. Topics will focus on supporting the learning and development of children who are blind or low vision, between the ages of 2-6 who are living in Canada. November Session: Are you interested in learning about how braille can support your young child who is blind or low vision but don't know where to start? We're bringing together three industry specialists to share more about the braille and literacy services available to you. Friday, November 29 from 12 to 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Zoom.

This youth peer group is a new, exciting, solutions-focused nationwide meetup. The program is open to youth (Grades 8-12) who are interested in a fun, positive and productive group that can help tackle everyday questions and problems that you may face on your vision loss journey.  As a group we will turn every "I can't" into an "I can!" First Thursday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Zoom.

A great opportunity for young adults to explore the world of pottery alongside other CNIB participants of different age groups. Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Cottage Pottery Studio in London.

Braille Quest – a fun braille literacy program (with prizes!) Use your braille skills at home or school to complete fun challenges including crafts and creative writing! Do a few Braille Quest activities, or do them all! Do as many activities as you like from January 15 – March 15, 2025.

The Braille Institute's Braille Challenge is the only academic competition of its kind in North America for students who are blind or partially sighted. Contestants compete in regional preliminary Braille Challenge events from January through March, and the top 50 students (10 in each category) with the highest scores are then invited to compete in the finals.  The Ontario Regional Braille Challenge motto is: TEST WITHOUT STRESS – Keep Calm, Braille On, and have fun! 

Canadian youth with sight loss are invited to join CNIB Learning Academy for engaging virtual and in-person programs offered throughout the year! Our programs challenge youth from grades six to first year of post-secondary studies to develop pre-employment, leadership, independence and social skills. 

This free manual provides parents and educators with the age-appropriate information they need to teach a child how to interact with an iPad using VoiceOver. To put the latest knowledge at children's fingertips, it incorporates accessible apps with educational content.

OPVIC (formally VIEWS) is a volunteer organization of parents of visually impaired children/youth focused on empowering families and advocating for our kids in Ontario. OPVIC is a friendly and supportive organization of parents, family members and guardians of children with any amount of vision loss.