Libby Thaw, Saugeen Shores musician and founder of the Checkered Eye Project, was at Blackboard Sound February 7 raising awareness. 

Hub Staff

February 3 to 9 was White Cane Week across Canada, a Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) initiative which aims to raise awareness of the challenges facing people across the country living with vision loss.

Saugeen Shores musician Libby Thaw, who lives with low vision herself, was at Blackboard Sound in downtown Port Elgin February 7 to talk about not only white canes but also the Checkered Eye Project, which she founded in 2000.

“The checkered eye symbol is a wearable symbol for people like me who may not be using a white cane all the time, or may not use one at all, but they have a vision impairment such that they may need to ask for help a lot,” Thaw explained. “That's really the main message about the Checkered Eye and that it gives the same message as a white cane," she said.

As well as education and awareness, Thaw had set up a pop up booth inside the downtown retailer with merchandise to purchase including tote bags, t-shirts and magnifying tools. “The Checkered Eye is doing an international awareness effort so we are trying to raise funds,” explained Thaw.

Juggling demonstrations were also on the day's agenda. “I brought my juggling things because if all you know about a person is that they have a vision disability you really don't know what they can or can't do,” said Thaw. “Somebody like me, I can juggle and ride my bike and things but they see me walking with a white cane so we need that understanding out there.”

Thaw gave thanks to Blackboard Sound for hosting her pop up booth. “They've been involved in supporting the Checkered Eye Project awareness effort all along and they offered me this little opportunity,” she said. “I wrote and recorded a song a couple of years ago about living with low vision called 'Doing Fine' and they donated their studio time and all the mixing and all the technical stuff," said Thaw.

See: Checkered Eye founder commandeers Canadian music talent for awareness campaign

Thaw also praised two other Port Elgin businesses, Ristorante Rosina and Boston Pizza, for having low vision accessible menus. Ristorante Rosina owner Steve Harris said they worked with Thaw and the Checkered Eye last fall to review their menu and options to aid people who had sight restrictions. “We have produced two menus, one large print and clear white pages and dark black letters. The second is in braille,” explained Harris.

“We are happy to offer this to clientele who may need the assistance from our regular menu print. We hope that this is just the start of other local restaurants to also offer similar menus in which to aid with those in need," he said.

To learn more about the Checkered Eye Project visit checkeredeye.com.

Juggling demonstrations were just some of what Libby Thaw had in store for passersby.