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Get to know the CNIB Foundation

The needs of our community are constantly evolving, and we need to keep evolving too. If you've been to our website lately, you probably noticed that we've made a lot of changes. So let's break those changes down one by one…  

Our nameCNIB Foundation featuring black upper case lettering

The most obvious difference you'll notice about us is that we're not just CNIB anymore – we're the CNIB Foundation. For a long time there's been a public misconception that we're a government-funded organization. Our research tells us that adding the word "foundation" to our name will help people understand that we're a charity, and not part of the government. We're also using a new logo that features the word "CNIB" in white, upper case letters set against a black background. Underneath that is the word "foundation" in black, upper case letters. 

Yellow and black icons including a sun, a briefcase, a shoe and a braille book Our look 

Our website has also been updated with a new colour scheme and imagery. In order to make our site as accessible as possible, we're now using a limited high-contrast colour palette consisting of just black, yellow and white. Some of our website visitors might also notice that we're using a new visual identity with bold, black brushstrokes and bright yellow icons throughout. 

Our programs 

We're not only enhancing our existing programs to make them more impactful than ever, but we're also introducing a range of new programs designed to help people not only live with blindness, but thrive with it.

Here's a taste of the programs we're working on… 

  • A yellow and black icon featuring two faces Entrepreneurship programs that give people with sight loss the support they need to open or expand a small business
  • Professional internships for individuals looking to get their feet wet in the working world and "returnships" for those who want to get back into the workforce later in life
  • Our new guide dog program, which is currently matching its very first trained dogs with their handlers! 
  • Social, sports and recreation programs that enable people with sight loss to make friends, get active and build a network of support 
  • New advocacy programs that help people stand up for their rights and raise their voices for inclusion 
  • Community Hubs that provide people with innovative, accessible places to learn new skills, make friends, have fun and try out the latest technologies (Learn more about our Community Hubs by clicking here) 
  • Our new Phone It Forward program, which gives smartphones to people with sight loss who need them (Learn more about Phone It Forward by clicking here) 

Stay tuned for more information about these programs in the months to come!

Read more articles from the October, 2018 issue of Insight:

More News

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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.
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