The CNIB Foundation is honoured to announce that Georgian has responded to the urgent need for guide dogs in Canada caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by sponsoring a dog for its entire working life.
With a strong sense of social responsibility to the community, Georgian and its employees nominate and vote on charitable organizations they'd like to support each year. CNIB Guide Dogs is delighted to have been a chosen as a recipient in 2021.
Since COVID-19 restrictions were put in place last year, CNIB Guide Dogs has seen a 375 per cent increase in interest and application for dogs. Travel restrictions have halted access to guide dogs from the United States, so Canadians who would normally travel to an American guide dog facility are no longer able to do so.
People with sight loss who have received guide dogs say the experience is nothing short of life-changing. With a guide dog by their side, a Canadian who is blind or partially sighted can safely and confidently navigate the world – whether that means going to the grocery store to get essentials, travelling to and from work, or visiting family and friends when it's safe to do so.
Thank you, Georgian, for opening doors to mobility and confidence through the life-changing gift of a guide dog.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) went on strike this morning, Friday, November 15. CNIB is working to minimize the impact the strike will have on Canadians who are blind, Deafblind, or who have low vision, particularly as it relates to the delivery of alternative-format materials provided through our partners at CELA (Centre for Equitable Library Access).
At CNIB, we believe that everyone should be able to depend on public transit to get to where they need to go, when they need to go – from the first kilometre to the last kilometre. Join us in championing safer, more accessible journeys. Because everyone should be able to rely on public transit to travel door-to-door, safely and independently. Watch our Public Service Announcement and visit cnib.ca/transit to learn more.
The federal government recently launched a public consultation to gather feedback on the proposed Canada Disability Benefit Regulations (hereafter “the Regulations”) which, once approved by the Government of Canada, will set out technical details for the design and implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). CNIB submitted feedback to the consultation, informed by an engagement survey distributed to our community members asking for their perspectives on key aspects of the Regulations. Our final submission brief made 14 recommendations to the Government and touched on topics including eligibility criteria, payment amounts, program administration, employment supports, and more.
We are thrilled to announce that registration is now open for Connecting the Dots 2024, Canada's largest conference focused on education, technology, and employment for people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision. This year, we're bringing the event to four dynamic cities across Canada, and we can't wait for you to join us!
The Canada Disability Benefit Act became law in 2023 and seeks to create a new federal benefit program that will strengthen the financial security and independence of Canadians with disabilities from coast to coast to coast. Now, the Government of Canada is seeking feedback from the disability community on its proposed Canada Disability Benefit Regulations, which will set out the design and technical details of the program, scheduled to launch in July 2025. CNIB is seeking the perspectives of our community members to inform our submission to the Government’s consultation, and we’re asking you to get involved by completing our survey.