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Media

Media Requests

Please direct media requests to media@cnib.ca. If you need general information, please call 1-800-563-2642 or fill out this form.

CNIB Inclusive Language Guidelines

Your words have power! Our understanding of inclusive language is constantly evolving. Words that we might have used years ago to describe others may no longer be acceptable. Outdated or derogatory language can make people feel excluded and create a ripple effect that negatively influences how others view and behave towards them. Through consultations with people across Canada who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision, CNIB's Inclusive Language Guidelines are designed to be a resource for people of influence and all Canadians to learn inclusive, respectful ways to write, speak about, and represent people who are living on the blindness spectrum.

Photos of people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision 

Photos should capture people who are blind or partially sighted in an authentic and positive light, while showing diversity in age, ethnic background and level of sight loss. When possible, photos should feel candid and not staged. They should highlight people impacted by blindness living the lives they choose and doing regular activities with confidence and independence such as navigating their surroundings with a white cane or guide dog. When publishing an article about sight loss, photos of people with other disabilities should be avoided.

Blindness in Canada

Findings from the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability showed that over 2 million Canadians, aged 15 years and older, reported having a seeing disability. Source: Statistics Canada, 2022.

The Way Forward, CNIB’s 2023-2028 strategic plan

Built on the direction of people who are blind, Deafblind or have low vision across Canada, CNIB established its strategic plan, The Way Forward, to revolutionize the way we serve our community from coast to coast to coast. Based on feedback from people impacted by blindness, we established three commitments that will guide our work.

Our Commitments