Iris Thompson: Steve’s comrade in the visually impaired community

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Steve talks with his friend Iris, whom he met through the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) when Steve first went blind. Iris and Steve share the rare condition of being 100% blind. While Steve’s was sudden, Iris slowly lost her vision, starting when she was a teenager. She had various operations without success but eventually accepted her non-vision as her lifestyle. She is involved with CNIB, curling, and worked at a restaurant in Vancouver called The Dark Table, where patrons dine in total darkness. She also shares her experiences in acquiring service dogs because she wanted to be independent. She also discusses the rights pertaining to ownership of a service dog and the process involved in acquiring a support animal.