Five-Star Disability

What is CAPOS?

Writings about Ataxia, being DeafBlind, family life. The best life can offer!

Trip Journal: Lake Joesph, why am I here?

I am in beautiful, hot Lake Joesph camp, run by CNIB, why? Because it is a special week for DeafBlind campers.

That is exciting right? An opportunity to meet many DeafBlind from different walks of life, learn their struggles and triumphs, make new friends and catch up with old ones.

I have attended 5 DeafBlind Camps over the years, each camp had their pros & cons, but one thing is common; all campers were DeafBlind. ASL was the majority language. There were oral DeafBlind, but not a lot.

This camp is unique, DeafBlind ASL users are in minority. There are many hearing blind campers, or blind plus* campers than DeafBlind campers.

I found it strange at first, because I thought it would be 100% full DeafBlind, with intervenors.

However, there are 30 DeafBlind campers, plus 11 intervenors. That means about 70 Hearing blind campers.

At first, I was a bit confused about that, but now everything is smooth!

I’ve always got an intervenor within arms reach, who can provide communication or guiding…

So, it’s a win-win!

Stay tuned!

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About the author

Craig MacLean is DeafBlind with ataxia, a rare condition called CAPOS. He & his wife of 22 years have two sons, the oldest of which has CAPOS as well.

Craig uses American Sign Language to communicate. He is an avid writer, friend, Hot Wheel collector and intervenor advocate.

Craig sits on many committees, boards and associations as a DeafBlind rep. He graduated university with a BA in psychology in 2000.