Ann Jackson tears up as she recalls meeting dozens of partially sighted and blind children for the first time at the CNIB holiday celebration last December.

B次元官网网址淚t made me very happy that I was there and our club was able to help,B次元官网网址� she said.

Since she started losing her vision 12 years ago, Jackson has become an aggressive advocate for the blind as president of the Victoria White Cane Society, a non-profit support group for people dealing with vision impairment.

The society, which celebrates its 66th anniversary this month, recently partnered with the CNIBB次元官网网址檚 Victoria office to provide canes to school-aged children, an expense not covered by provincial health plans.

B次元官网网址淢ost of the children that we see have some vision, but many of the children need assistance,B次元官网网址� said Mary Kay Kennedy, CNIB orientation and mobility specialist.

One of the key mobility tools for children is a cane, Kennedy said, used by children as young as two-and-a-half.

B次元官网网址淎 cane is designed to grow with your size. So, as the children get taller, the cane gets taller,B次元官网网址� she said.

Vision can also change as a child gets older, making it necessary to purchase different types of mobility canes along the way.

Kennedy is one of three specialists who provides assessment and mobility services to the IslandB次元官网网址檚 estimated 75 partially sighted and blind students.

B次元官网网址淭hat number actually might be greater than that, those are the children we know of at CNIB in the school system,B次元官网网址� she said.

Jackson said her cane serves as a safety belt, helping her navigate her daily activities with more confidence.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 saved my life many times,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just for the children, itB次元官网网址檚 for anybody who is blind or partially sighted.B次元官网网址�

The Victoria White Cane Society will celebrate itB次元官网网址檚 66th birthday at the CNIB on Wednesday (Sept. 12), providing cake and musical entertainment for its roughly 50 members.

For more information on the society, call 250-385-3707. To donate to the CNIB, visit cnib.ca.