Marilyn Rushton - Director

Marilyn Rushton is a recently retired Teacher of students with Visual Impairments. She is a strong advocate for people who are blind, partially-sighted and deafblind. A lifelong braille and assistive technology user, she is passionate about the need for greater accessibility of educational materials and opportunities for all nonprint readers. Throughout her 15 years at Vancouver Board of Education, Marilyn supported K-12 students in learning to use braille, braille note-takers and a range of other assistive technologies. As President of the BC Vision Teachers Association, Marilyn focused on providing support and encouragement for the teachers and Ministry personnel working in the vision field throughout BC. She was a member of the committee charged with updating the Canadian National Standards for the Education of Children Who Are Blind and Visually Impaired, and was Chairperson of the 2016 Canadian Vision Teachers National Conference, Seeing Beyond the Horizon.

Marilyn has served on several boards, including the Burnaby Board of Education, Douglas College Board of Governors, Blind Beginnings (a BC nonprofit supporting blind/visually impaired children and their families.) Burnaby Hospice Society and CNIB BC-Yukon Division. In retirement, Marilyn is a member of the mentoring team for students enrolled in the UBC vision teacher training program. From 2008-2018 Marilyn directed The Tempos, a performance choir for youth and adults who are blind and partially-sighted. Marilyn received her Masters Degree in Special Education, Concentration in Blindness/Visual Impairment from the University of British Columbia in 2002. She is certified to teach students with Cortical Visual Impairment, and in several areas of assistive technology for the blind. Her Bachelor of Education degree is in Choral Music.