Building Independence Together
Servicing Members of the Deafblind Community
We Are Growing
Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) is currently embarking on its most ambitious project to date. The organization is building a 56-unit affordable and accessible apartment building. The new housing development will help reduce CHKC’s waitlist and give more people with a combination of hearing and vision loss access to an independent life. People with other disabilities will use any remaining units.
CHKC’s new apartment complex will also have a more than 6,500 sq. ft. state-of-the-art training centre where deafblind people can learn essential life skills to aid in their independence. This includes communication systems such as American Sign Language (ASL) and tactile ASL to braille and print-on-palm. There will be training in home management skills such as cleaning, laundry, and home safety, organization and maintenance. Consumers can learn about cooking, safe food handling/storage, personal grooming (e.g., shaving, putting on make-up), money management (e.g., budgeting, online banking) and technology (e.g., general computer skills, Apple and Android devices, deafblind-friendly apps). As well, CHKC offers social programs that evolve around sharing meals, gardening and other peer group activities.
Our Vision
“CHKC is unique because we have a 16-unit affordable housing building where deafblind consumers live independently in their own apartments. For over 30 years, these residents have received support from intervenors, who become the eyes and ears of people with vision and hearing loss. We also offer intervenor support to deafblind consumers living in the community.”
~ Jennifer Robbins, Executive Director, CHKC.
So far, CHKC has secured $32 million of the $38 million needed to complete the project. The organization’s goal is to raise the remaining $6 million from generous donors and sponsors and that’s where we ALL come in!
By making a donation to Canadian Helen Keller Centre, you will help to bring much-needed health and wellness services to our area, help more seniors stay in their homes for longer, encourage more families to join our community, foster more investment, and bring more good jobs to the area.
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