Dear BALANCE community members: clients, colleagues, volunteers and friends:

The COVID-19 epidemic has demanded creativity of all of us, on many levels. At BALANCE, we began planning last Friday for a change in the way we deliver our services to you, in order to accommodate what we believed would be a requirement to stay home as much as possible. And indeed, that call was strengthened by Toronto’s Chief Medical Officer yesterday. BALANCE is supporting the call to stay home, in the following ways:

1.   Suspension of Yoga, Strength and Stability programs, until further notice

2.   Using teleconference to provide Sharing Space Support Group and Anxiety and Stress Management programs

3.   Adding a virtual “Coffee Connection” opportunity for our clients, by zoom or telephone, with Elizabeth Mohler, 2x weekly (information in this newsletter)

4.   Providing, as much as possible, remote assistive technology lessons. If you have scheduled lessons, Doug and George will be in touch about providing these remotely. If this is not possible due to the nature of the lessons, your lessons will be suspended until April 6, at which time we will reassess the situation

5.   Cancelling all Orientation and Mobility lessons.

6.   Providing a new “virtual support service” which will involve telephone outreach to our clients by Cristina Lopes, Community Outreach Specialist, and our two O/M instructors, who are redeployed to this service

The physical BALANCE office at 2340 Dundas St. West is closed until April 6, at which time we will reassess. Please do not come to the office.

We urge our clients to follow the strong recommendations of public health officials, and stay home unless it is necessary to obtain essentials. If you go out, practice social distancing. We understand that this can be extremely challenging for people who are blind. IF YOU LIVE ALONE, AND YOU DO NOT BELIEVE YOU CAN MANAGE ON YOUR OWN AT THIS TIME, or you feel you may be at risk, please call this Home and Community Care number: 416-506-9888

BALANCE is doing everything we can to help prevent the spread of this virus, and to take the best care possible of our clients through a shift in the way we provide our services and supports. Please help us to help you by reducing your telephone contact with the office unless your call is urgent, or you are requesting service. We will be reaching out to as many clients as possible over the coming days and weeks.

Yours in good health,

Deborah Gold

Executive Director

Where to get reliable information:

In times like these, a great deal of misinformation is often distributed. You should go to the following sources for reliable information about COVID-19:

Public Health Agency of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

City of Toronto: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/

Also: Please do NOT call 911 unless it is an emergency. Instead, take the following self-assessment:

The following is taken directly from the Ontario Health website, coronavirus self-assessment page:

If you are feeling unwell with any of the following symptoms:

Fever, new cough or difficulty breathing (or a combination of these symptoms)?

Muscle aches, fatigue, headache, sore throat, runny nose or diarrhea? Symptoms in young children may also be non-specific (for example, lethargy, poor feeding).

And have experienced any of the following:

Have you travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days?

Does someone you are in close contact with have COVID-19 (for example, someone in your household or workplace)?

Are you in close contact with a person who is sick with respiratory symptoms (for example, fever, cough or difficulty breathing) who recently travelled outside of Canada?

If you answered yes to these questions, you should seek clinical assessment for COVID-19 over the phone.

The majority of COVID-19 illnesses are mild. A clinician can help guide whether you will require further care or potential testing in person. Please use one of the following options:

·      Contact your primary care provider (for example, family doctor). Let them know that you have used this self-assessment tool.

·      Contact Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 and speak with a registered nurse. Let them know that you have used this self-assessment tool.

If you start to experience worsening symptoms, please visit your local emergency department. Call before you go and let them know you have used this self-assessment tool.

If you answered no to these questions, it is unlikely that you have COVID-19.

You should:

·      Continue to monitor your health for a full 14 days after your return to Ontario or have contact with someone who is ill. If you develop any new symptoms, please seek clinical assessment and testing for COVID-19.

·      Learn more about self-monitoring.

·      If you start to feel worse or have questions or concerns about your health, call your local public health unit, primary care provider (for example, family doctor) or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000.

Again, the number to call if you think you have symptoms/want to be screened: 1-866-797-0000

If you have any underlying condition, such as a depressed immune system due to certain medications, you must isolate yourself immediately and take extra cautionary measures if you must go out. If you do not believe you have enough food in the house to get you through the next two weeks, or you are in need of medications, please call Home and Community Care: 416-506-9888.

Staying Resilient in Trying Times, Adapted by Cristina Lopes, RSW, Community Engagement Specialist

As the news about the coronavirus pandemic hits home, and governments and businesses issue closing or work-from-home directives, many of us are experiencing a variety of negative emotions. We feel anxiety in response to the uncertainty of the situation; sadness related to losing our daily sources of meaning and joy; and anger at whatever forces are to blame for bringing this upon us. Here are some recommendations to help maintain mental resilience as we navigate our way through this crisis.

Accept negative emotions

It is important to acknowledge that a lot of anxious thoughts and emotions will show up during this time, and to accept them rather than trying to push them away or escape them. The same goes for sadness stemming from the loss of our regular ways of living, worry about lack of supplies or financial supports.

Allow negative emotions to come and go, and focusing on how to spend this time to still include engaging in meaningful and joyful activities.

Instead of fighting with our emotions it is imperative to invest our energy in creating the best possible life, given the circumstances.

Create and keep to a new routines

It is important to create and keep up with a new routine. Create a schedule for yourself that includes a wake-up time and a time to go to bed. Ensure you are keeping up with daily hygiene as you would before. It’s important to establish structure, predictability and a sense of purpose with these new routines. Block time for yourself to create, whether that means to write, cook, paint or sculpt. When Shakespeare found himself quarantined from the plague, he wrote King Lear. We are all capable of greatness. This might be the perfect time to learn to play that guitar that has been collecting dust in your room, or to connect with somebody to chat in a new language, through the website Conversation Exchange. Check YouTube and Pintrest for lessons and ideas.

Reinvent self-care

With Gyms, coffee shops and our favourite spots recently closing, it’s an especially difficult time to focus on our physical and mental health. However this is the most important time for self-care; science has shown that exercise, good nutrition and socializing are directly linked to emotional well-being, so now is the time to get creative.

Create a healthy-living routine for yourself, the new routines will give you mental strength. If you have stairs, walk up and down them many times during the day; take the time for some light stretching or take a walk outside if you can; if you have a yoga practice, keep it up on your own or with help from one of the many teachers available on YouTube. Hold yourself a dance session, to your favourite music and dance like nobody is watching, because nobody is watching!

Reflect, relate and reframe

This crisis also offers us an unexpected chance to check in with ourselves. This is an opportunity for slowing down and reflecting on life and our goals. Think about what you want, do your priorities reflect this? If not, now is a great time to reassess and implement change to your daily living and routines.

Please keep in mind that experiencing stress and negative emotions can have positive consequences. Studies show that people who go through very difficult life experiences can emerge from it with a stronger sense of psychological resilience, rekindled relationships and a renewed appreciation of life. Some describe starting to live more fully and purposefully. With care and planning, we, too, can stay psychologically strong during the pandemic and perhaps even grow from this transformative experience.

Adapted from:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/anxiety-coronavirus-mental-wellness-tips/2020/03/16/f187faf2-67b8-11ea-9923-57073adce27c_story.html

Connect and Share with Elizabeth Mohler

Friends and colleagues! We know the importance of social distancing in order to keep others safe; we also know the power of connectedness and community. So, we have the perfect answer for you--a virtual coffee cluster! Come join Elizabeth and friends in her Zoom room  for a time of conversation on ways to stay connected during this difficult time. You bring the coffee; we’ll provide the platform. You can dial in if you do cannot join through your computer.

Topics  can include, but are not limited to:

--How to be a virtual volunteer.

--How to shop online or over the telephone.

--How to optimize your technology to stay connected with friends, family, and your broader community.

--Discussion of online events pertinent to the disability community.

--Finding that great recipe based on what's in the pantry.

--Hey, unless otherwise advised, we can still go out in the fresh air, right? Let's explore where group members have found safe, accessible walking trails.

--Heard a great podcast? We want to hear about it, and Elizabeth promises to bring one favorite podcast per session for your listening pleasure.

While we want this group to be a fun and social space, this is NOT a counselling group. BALANCE has several great resources for that, if you need it.

Humans are social beings; let's come together in virtual community to support one another.

For more info, e-mail Elizabeth at:

cmohler@uwo.ca.

Connecting Clusters will run Saturday mornings from 10:30-Noon, and Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:00 PM, starting Tuesday March 24.

No need to register; just join us in the Zoom room! Don't feel confident just yet getting into Zoom, we've got you covered--we have a phone in option; see details below!

Elizabeth Mohler is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Connect and Share with Elizabeth Mohler

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/6597609376

Meeting ID: 659 760 9376

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Dial         +1 647 558 0588

Meeting ID: 659 760 9376