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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday March 19, 2008 - 15 Worship DIRECTORY You Are Part of the Family Find More than Eggs this Easter Worship Services Maundy Thursday y March 20th 6:00 PM Gala to give blind children a better chance By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Good Friday March 21st 10:00 AM Easter Sunday March 23rd 9:30 AM Minister Reverend Jeff Crittenden Glen Abbey United Church 1469 Nottinghill Gate Between 3rd Line and Dorval Dr. (905) 825-5292 g glenabbeyunitedchurch.com y INDEPENDENT ANGLICAN St. Columba's Anglican g Church Services at Grace Lutheran Church Corner of Spruce and Reynolds Streets LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER MOM'S VIEWS: Susan Wolak is seen here with her son Daniel, a Grade 5 student who is blind.Wolak formed an advocacy group called VIEWS, which is hosting a fundraising gala, Reaching for the Top, April 11, to give blind children better opportunities. Holy Communion B.C.P. Sundays at 12:00 noon I.A.C. Canada Synod 905-357-3331 Supporting Anglican Essentials, Canada and the Anglican Network Anglican Church, g Province of North America, Inc. NON-DENOMINATIONAL OAKVILLE CHRISTIAN CENTRE 146 Trafalgar Road Pastor Jameel Ali ­ 905-842-8211 Welcomes You GOOD FRIDAY 10:00 a.m. EASTER SUNDAY 10:30 a.m. Go & Tell The Word Ministries FCA WORSHIP SERVICES: R Good Friday March 21st at 10:00 am F 0 Easter Sunday March 23rd at 9:30am There is very little 10-yearold Daniel Wolak won't try -- piano, judo, rock climbing, hiking, running, horse riding, sailing and canoeing. None of these are easy feats for the Grade 5 student at Burlington's Ryerson Public School, who is blind. Try is a small word with big meaning in the VIEWS crowd. VIEWS is a registered charitable organization founded by Daniel's mom, Susan Wolak, which supports children who are blind or have low vision by giving them opportunities to rock climb, play piano and socialize, for example. VIEWS began in Burlington, but is a provincial organization working to ensure children who are blind or have low vision are given opportunity to reach their potential. The experiences cost money, which is why VIEWS is running its first fundraiser Friday, April 11. Called `Reaching for the Top,' the dinner, dance and auction at the Burlington Convention Centre is expected to generate camp funds and raise awareness, said Wolak. VIEWS runs weekend sports and summer Braille music camps, and offers public education, family support and information. Blind children do not have the same opportunities for incidental learning as sighted children, so hands-on experiences and teaching is vital. The unemployment rate among blind people is 75 per cent, a far higher number than the six per cent rate in the general population. Building a better future for children now and helping blind children say `I can' is at the heart of all VIEWS' efforts. "Given the appropriate tools and opportunities children who are blind can grow to lead independent and fulfilling lives and certainly reach their potential," said Wolak. Tickets to the fundraiser cost $90 and are available by contacting 905-637-9006 or www.viewson.ca. Daniel's confidence does not harken to his rocky start in life. Born premature at 26 weeks and weighing little more than a pound, a disease called retinopathy stole his vision, despite seven surgeries in his first year. Worry about his future became imminent for Daniel's parents, Susan and John. "Blindness is a low incidence, high needs disability, and few people have training in that area," said Wolak who formed VIEWS to advocate for such help. Daniel eventually learned how to safely move about his house, neighbourhood and school and how to read Braille. The Wolaks worked hard at getting Daniel ready for school, yet still he went for a period of time with no teacher of the blind. When his classmates were progressing, learning to read and write, Daniel seemed to be left aside. He needed a Braille teacher. "That was a very traumatic time, you wonder how your child will possibly have a future if they can't read and write," said Susan. Today Daniel is doing really well at school. He's integrated in a regular classroom and has all the supports he needs: a Braille transcriber, a specialist teacher and an orientation and mobility instructor. "People have ideas about what these kids can do. We know that as long as they are given the chance to try, they are capable of doing just about anything," said John. VIEWS has proven to be a medium that opens doors for kids like Daniel. It started with a local parent support group that captured interest from others further afield. "The more we began to do, the more we realized needed to be done," said Wolak. "Everything we do in VIEWS is about hope, the belief that children who are blind are full of potential, if provided the opportunities and the skills." Wanting to live independently as an adult is among Daniel's goals ­ as is teaching blind children how to read music in Braille. For his parents, it's assurance confidence is being instilled in their son. "Daniel has taught us so much. He is a wonderful little boy and we are so lucky to have such a great kid. Teaching Daniel really gets us out doing things we probably would never have done were we not always on the lookout for the next thing that he can touch to learn," said Wolak.