Meet Karen Sullivan

Born and raised in a small southwestern Ontario farming community, Karen was diagnosed in infancy with severe visual, auditory, and cognitive deficits. While most of those issues seemed to rectify themselves over the course of a few years, limited vision has been the norm throughout her life.

Karen combined studies at the University of Western Ontario and the University of St. Andrews on her way to earning an Honours degree in Pure Mathematics. That was followed by a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Ottawa and a much cherished 31 year teaching career as a Mathematics specialist.

While most of that career was spent in her hometown of Blenheim, Ontario, there had to be some adventure thrown in. A two year leave from her regular job allowed for the opportunity to live, work, and explore in beautiful New Zealand. Other adventuring highlights have included acting as chaperone on a Students on Ice expedition to the Antarctic, summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro with her partner, Michelle, and sharing dream trips with her niece and nephews.

Now retired, Karen has embarked on the one adventure that was never supposed to be within reach … becoming a licensed driver in the province of Ontario. As a change in the law created the opportunity for some visually impaired individuals to become drivers through the use of bioptic telescopes, she has worked with specialists to navigate the process herself and is keen to share her experiences to raise awareness and acceptance of this exciting development.