Originally from the Northwest Territories, Emily Lawson now calls Lethbridge home.
Due to an eye incident during COVID, Lawson was transported out of Yellowknife. “But I also have an eye condition. I had surgery and was told there wasn’t a 24-hour lab in NWT, ‘so you can’t go home right now.’”
Lawson’s options, at the time, were to go to Edmonton, Calgary or Lethbridge.
It’s been a long recovery for Lawson since eye-related surgery, multiple hospital visits and the transition of moving to a new place during a pandemic. “Over the last four years, I’ve slowly ventured out. It’s been a struggle to access services because the Canadian National Institute for the Blind closed their office in Lethbridge in 2019. I’ve had to travel to Edmonton or Calgary for services.”
Since recovering, it’s been a long haul to find independence for Lawson, but a guide dog will help.
Currently, Lawson has started a Go Fund Me fundraiser page online to raise money to secure a guide dog, which so far has cost thousands of dollars.
“I put down $10,000 of my savings and was accepted by Aspen Service Dogs out of Edmonton. I am now at the crunch to raise the remaining amount, and I’ll have to travel to Edmonton and go to the school there and my trainer will come to Lethbridge and certify us as a guide dog team,” says Lawson, who is trying to raise another $20,000 for the dog.
After falling off the sidewalk twice when out walking, Lawson decided to investigate guide dogs and seeing eye dog programs.
“They’re all over-subscribed and they all have very long waiting lists,” notes Lawson.
A guide dog would assist Lawson in avoiding blind spots, tripping hazards and similar scenarios when walking. “That’s huge for me. A guide dog means independence.”
Thanks to the Lethbridge Association of the Blind (LAB) and the Alberta Sports and Recreation Association for the Blind (ASRAB), Lawson joined a women’s dragon boat team after recovery and is now a member of the Blind Ambition dragon boat team, now in its third year.
“LAB has filled in the gap, where CNIB is not here,” adds Lawson.
Lawson remains active and through ASRAB has gone curling and rock climbing and locally has even joined a bowling team through LAB. There’s also a walking club, which is always in need of volunteers.
If anyone is interested in holding an elbow or having their elbow held, Lawson says, volunteers can help people with vision impairment learn to walk. Volunteer sighted paddlers are also needed to help with the Blind Ambition dragon boat team. “So, people can be walked out to the boat.”
One of the struggles for Lawson is trying to get around and navigating through the community. “It’s not the easiest.”
Even with technology like GPS and with the assistance of an escort, it’s still not easy, says Lawson. “It’s taken me a long time to learn and to get help from an escort to find my bus stops and learn how to use the bus system.”
Lawson is also an artist and would love to showcase their work.
To find out more information or to donate visit online at gofundme.com/f/avoiding-blind-spots.
