Help a Blind Abuse Survivor Rebuild a Life of Independence

Life has never been easy for me, and I’ve spent much of it navigating a world that felt determined to push me down. Born into a home where emotional, mental, and physical abuse were constants, I learned early on how to survive alone. When I was a teenager, bullies took my sight with a brutal beating, leaving me permanently blind. My parents, more concerned with protecting the family image than their own child, lied about what happened, covering it up instead of seeking justice or support for me. From that moment on, their shame over my blindness dictated my life. They denied me help, refused to drive me places, and went out of their way to make everything harder for me.

For years, I’ve lived on a disability pension of less than $11,000 annually, a number so inadequate it barely covers food and essentials, let alone medical needs or adaptive technology. Canada promised a disability benefit five years ago, but despite the political fanfare, it remains just that: a promise. Through the pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, I’ve received no additional assistance while prices skyrocket and resources grow scarcer. Now, I’m not only struggling to survive day by day, but I’m also trying to seize a rare opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to move in a few months where I can rebuild my life with a little more dignity and independence.

But I can’t do this alone. I need help to cover basics like food, medicine, and hygiene items, as well as adaptive technology like a talking microwave to reclaim the independence I deserve. Every penny will help secure the daily necessities I need right now while giving me a chance to save for this move, a step that could finally allow me to break free from the shadows of my past and start fresh. If you’re able, please consider helping me take this step forward. Thank you for reading my story and for any support you can offer.