My name is Emilee Schevers. I'm from Kawartha Lakes, Ontario and I'm visually impaired. I was born with a genetic condition called Cone Dystrophy. I cannot see distance, colour, and am incredibly light sensitive. I can usually be caught rocking a pair of colourful sunglasses. Numerically, my vision is 20/200 which is about 10% and means that I am considered legally blind.

I am in my first year of college for Early Childhood Education, love spending time outdoors, and will never pass up a game of Yahtzee. I am also a huge disability advocate. About 2 years ago, my sister and I started a social media campaign called Tru Faes. It is an online community where individuals with disabilities can share their stories, educate about disability awareness and connect with others facing similar challenges. Check it out https://sites.google.com/view/trufaces/home 

Additionally, I try to stay involved in my community. I am a CNIB National Youth Council Member, volunteer with the Canadian Council for the Blind, Cuddles for Cancer volunteer, and on a student representative committee for my school. I also engage in public speaking opportunities to share my story.

I am also an athlete! I am currently a tandem cyclist for Team Ontario and was previously on Team Ontario for Goalball as well. Goalball is an adaptive sport for the blind and visually impaired where all the players where blindfolds and a ball with a bell in it is rolled back and forth between teams of three. There is a net behind the players and the object of the game is to get the ball past the other team and into the net. I used to be a gymnast and then gymnastics coach, and curled with my high school.

Thank you for taking the time to read and get to know me. While I am someone with a disability, I am also so much more than that. People with disabilities can do anything, so shoot for the moon!