Work has begun on a new home for the deafblind on the former Royal Canadian Legion site at 150 Eighth Street.
Construction is underway on a new 56-unit housing development for the deafblind in New Toronto.
The upcoming Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) with six floors is being built at 150 Eighth Street, on the site of a former Royal Canadian Legion hall, which has been demolished.
Heavy equipment is digging up the site in preparation for a 6,500 square feet state-of-the-art training centre where deafblind people can learn essential life skills to aid their independence.
Preparations have begun for the new six storey state-of-the-art building for the blind.
Every June is National Deafblind Awareness Month and the CHKC estimates more than one per cent of Canada’s population or about 466,420 people are deafblind. In Ontario, an estimated 211,250 people are deafblind.
“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,” the organization said. “People with other disabilities will use any remaining units.”
The building will include communication systems such as American Sign Language (ASL) and tactile ASL to braille and print-on-palm.
The Canadian Hellen Keller Centre will house and help deafblind people achieve an independent lifestyle.
There will be training in home management skills such as cleaning, laundry, and home safety, organization and maintenance.
Residents can learn about cooking, safe food handling/storage, personal grooming, money management and technology, including computer skills, Apple and Android devices and deafblind-friendly apps.
“CHKC is unique because we have a 16-unit affordable housing building where deafblind consumers live independently in their own apartments,” said executive director Jennifer Robbins. “For over 30 years, these residents have received support from intervenors, who become the eyes and ears of people with vision and hearing loss.”
The Centre has secured $32 million of the $38 million needed to complete the project. They plan to raise the remaining amount from donors and sponsors.
The centre is one of seven being parftially funded by the City to help the 466,420 people who are deafblind in Canada.
“Our entire team, which includes members of the deafblind community and independent committee members, is working passionately to help more people with dual sensory loss access an independent life,” Robbins said.
She said they are experienced housing provider for those who are deafblind and know what is needed to create independence and community under the same roof.
The City and province are funding seven new affordable and supportive housing developments that will provide 260 units for the deafblind and others.