In August 2021, CNIB Québec teamed up with the Chambre des notaires du Québec to launch the Know Your Rights! campaign. This initiative empowers Quebecers who are blind or partially sighted with tools and training to better defend their rights. It also seeks to raise awareness among Québec legal professionals and the general public of the often-ignored rights and accessibility needs of people with sight loss.
“This is an innovative campaign, since no legal documentation was previously available to people with sight loss,” says Catheryne Houde, Head of Advocacy at CNIB Québec.
Useful tools to learn about the rights of blind people
Inspired by the success of the Know your Rights campaign in Ontario, CNIB developed English and French versions for Québec, including:
- a website (cnib.ca/en/KnowYourRights-qc)
- eight thematic legal information guides
- four public education videos
all in accessible formats.
Highly appreciated training
In the fall of 2021, CNIB offered nine training sessions to over 200 people living with sight loss and a number of Québec legal professionals. The blind participants gained a better understanding of case law and emerged with a firmer grasp of their rights and the resources at their disposal. The training also increased their confidence and their ability to defend their rights on their own.
“These courses will help me find resources and assert my rights,” said one participant. “I really enjoyed the toolkit that came with the training. I’ll use it to educate the people around me.” Another participant noted the motivational boost the training provided: “Thank you, this really helped me psychologically! I now feel less alone,” he said.
The legal professionals who took part expressed appreciation for how much they learned, with many saying they would recommend the program to their colleagues.
While they have signed up to “provide better access to justice for blind clients,” the legal professionals left with a greater awareness of the challenges faced by people living with sight loss. What’s more, they are now able to create accessible documentation and are better equipped to work on behalf of blind clients in cases of discrimination.
“Thank you for this extremely relevant training. It will empower us to better serve and respond to the needs of people who are blind,” said one participant.
The online campaign has also raised awareness for thousands of Quebecers, helping them to avoid situations of discrimination and provide better support and services for people living with sight loss.
Setting up the campaign to meet the needs
At the beginning of the project, CNIB conducted a survey and ran focus groups to identify pressing needs and pinpoint those rights that were ignored most frequently. A committee of legal professionals and people living with sight loss worked for several months alongside the CNIB team to develop the long list of resources that are now available to everyone.
The main message of the awareness campaign is a positive one:
People whoa are blind have the right…
- to access education and employment
- to rent a home
- to access buildings and transportation services
- to receive accessible, confidential care and services
without discrimination.
#KnowYourRights! Together, let’s work to protect the rights of people who are blind!
“The objective is not to slap people on the wrist, but rather to inform them,” affirms Laurence Durocher, CNIB’s communications specialist.
CNIB advocacy initiatives over the years
Since its founding in 1918, CNIB has implemented a number of advocacy initiatives. We’ve helped to secure voting rights for people who are blind and fought to guarantee access for guide dogs. We’ve worked to ensure the availability of accessible books and payment terminals and helped to bring descriptive video into the mainstream. We’ve also worked to establish government funding for rehabilitation, collaborated on the Canadian Accessibility Act and much more!
The #KnowYourRights project continues this legacy, making sure people who are blind know their rights and are empowered to advocate on their own behalf.
To learn about the campaign and share its resources, please visit CNIB.ca/en/KnowYourRights-qc.