In a morning filled with learning, laughter, pizza making & a few life lessons, this was my favourite part: after teaching each other new code,these friends showed off how well they could read it. Make the kid the star. Make them the subject matter expert. Make the learning fun.

Ensuring visual access doesn't stop in the classroom...and making it happen is easy: 1) Find a desk 2) Bring the tech 3) Turn it on Everyone at Sir John A Macdonald has the chance to see & celebrate the excellence of their peers. Make sure your students have the same opportunities.

For the first time ever, he beat me. He then went on to win the next match when his transcriber & a sighted peer joined us. Braille UNO made in partnership with National Federation of the Blind provides a fully accessible way to lose against 7 year olds. What a horrible way to end the week.

This is why Sir John A Macdonald is my happy place: It’s a transcriber who knows how to best present work to her student. It’s a student who knows that brailling is faster than using a pencil. It’s a place where finished work looks like this which is awesome, perfect and celebrated.

Today, Woodland Heights PS and Vision Resource remembers. #LestWeForget

When you master using JAWS to independently start up a Google Meet & learn the hotkeys to turn on/off your camera/mic, you gotta call up your buddy at Sir John A Macdonald and flex a bit. Learning their world is a grind. Give them opportunities to celebrate with someone who gets it.

Just a regular Monday at Sir John A Macdonald... numeracy made accessible by the SmartBoard shared to an iPad via a Google Meet. Written work made accessible via a CCTV. Expensive? Yes. But every kid with a visual impairment has the human right to learn alongside their sighted peers.

Hello Starbucks Canada, just wanted to let you know that your menus in braille are appreciated. Today, this kiddo learned braille is everywhere, people like him are valued, and good things come to those who take risks (like asking your amazing staff today for the menu). ☕️#ldnont

That kid came prepared: fish crackers, cucumber, mini muffins. That’s how you bring your A-game to a braille UNO tournament. Thanks for having us, Medway! The crew from Sir John A Macdonald & Woodland Heights PS loved it. Your student leaders were fantastic and so awesome with our kids.

Braille Club at Sir John A Macdonald looked a lot different this week: Blindfolded Twister. With blindfolds, no matter what sight the players have, everyone is on a level playing field. And it's a not so subtle way to build understanding & empathy for the challenges others may face.

Think of how challenging it might be at 8 yrs old to talk about something only you in the class do... something that sets you apart in your school day... to not just all your peers but a bunch of adults too. When you know you're really good, you stand like this and own the room.

By taking risks, putting in effort, and getting just a little bit further along each time they try, my students at Sir John A Macdonald come to know what I knew the very first day I met them: they are capable of greatness. Look up. Way up. That's one of them.

What a privilege tonight watching the amazing coaches from Whitecaps Academy London build the next generation of athletes who are visually impaired in #ldnont. I was blown away by their professionalism & expertise. This 8 yr old had an incredible time & can't wait to come back next week.

If they can't find you handsome, they might as well find you handy... Thanks WD-40® Brand for helping us out with our cane today (it was getting annoyingly hard to fold up). Rather than work out more, he decided to take the easier route.

Oh, is it February? Awesome.

Outstanding!

Not all learning happens from behind a desk.

The is what the blending of pastels can look (and feel) like for some kids in the Thames Valley DSB. Visual art doesn't have to be visual. Think outside the box. There's always a way. Art is for everyone.

How many of us have the chance to hold an Olympic Gold Medal? Feel the weight of it? Run your fingers over the surface of it? You're a true gentleman, Mr. Warner. Thank-you for your kindness and taking the time to make sure my students got everything they could from your visit.