By Melina Giubilaro, Communications Specialist
“Being blind doesn’t mean I can’t get around,” says Maryse Théberge. “It means I use different tools to do the same things.”
White cane in hand and guide dog by her side, Ms. Théberge makes her way through the halls of the MAB site of the Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre (LLMRC) as part of her daily routine at the Youth and Adult Low Vision Clinic.
Ms. Théberge is a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist with more than 15 years’ experience supporting youth and adults who are adapting to vision loss. She herself is legally blind, having been born with optic nerve hypoplasia, an under-development of the optic nerve.
With the arrival of White Cane Week during the first week of February, Ms. Théberge’s work reflects the heart of the annual event: Raising awareness while breaking down the myths that surround vision loss.
“White Cane Week is about promoting the autonomy of people living with vision loss.”
Maryse Théberge
“It’s about showing that when you have the right tools, you can have a full life that includes working, socializing and travelling.”
Ms. Théberge works primarily with individuals who are adapting to significant vision loss, often at a point where traditional magnification tools are no longer sufficient. She helps them to learn daily life skills by using adaptive technologies, including screen-reading software and braille.
“We teach the skills you need from the moment you wake up in the morning—cooking, cleaning, getting dressed, using technology,” she says. “Some people are relearning how to read. Others are learning how to use a computer or a smartphone without relying on vision.”
Instead of using a computer mouse, clients learn keyboard commands paired with speech output. These tools allow them to manage emails, access information, return to work, continue their studies and stay connected.
“People often don’t realize how much work it is to do everyday tasks without sight,” Ms. Théberge says. “Something that takes seconds for a sighted person can take much longer. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”
For more than 100 years, the MAB site—originally the Montreal Association for the Blind (MAB)—has been providing specialized rehabilitation services to children, adults and seniors living with visual disabilities. That mission continues today through the CIUSSS West‑Central Montreal, where LLMRC teams play a key role in providing specialized, person‑centred vision rehabilitation services that support autonomy, dignity and participation in daily life.
Interdisciplinary teams—including vision rehabilitation therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, occupational therapists and other professionals—support clients at different stages of vision loss, recognizing that no two rehabilitation journeys are alike.
Hiring professionals with personal experience of vision loss, such as Ms. Théberge, is part of a broader commitment to meaningful inclusion.
“Of course it helps,” Ms. Théberge says of being visually impaired herself.
“Clients see that it’s possible to work, to live independently and to navigate the world. It builds trust.”
Maryse Théberge
For many clients, especially those newly adjusting to vision loss, working with someone who understands both the technical and the emotional realities of rehabilitation can help reduce fear, resistance, and stigma in the early stages, Ms. Théberge adds.
One of the most misunderstood aspects of vision loss is the white cane itself. According to Ms. Théberge, for many people with low vision, using a cane can feel like admitting to loss particularly for those who can still see partially.
“They don’t want to use a cane because they don’t identify as ‘blind,’” she says. “But the cane isn’t about limitation. It’s about choice: Your social life, employment and relationships, all of that depends on being able to move independently.”
Each year, White Cane Week creates opportunities for conversation through panels, discussions and activities that raise awareness among the public and CIUSSS employees. But at the MAB site, this work continues year-round.
“My hope is that people understand that vision rehabilitation is about learning,” Ms. Théberge says. “Learning new ways to do the things you want to do. You can be happy. You can work. You can build a life that makes sense for you.”
