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Minimizing the impact of the Canada Post strike on CNIB participants and donors

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).
 
The strike, and the subsequent full stoppage of all mail delivery, has led CELA to pause the production and distribution of DAISY CDs, embossed braille, print-braille books, and CELA-supported Envoy Connect devices.
 
In order to help mitigate the impact on those who rely on CELA’s services, our CNIB Beyond Print team is working to find ways to support our community members in accessing their materials through digital downloads.
 
In anticipation of this strike, we also took actions to minimize the impacts on other areas of our work that are reliant on mail services. For instance, our CNIB SmartLife team is utilizing alternate carriers to mitigate any delays in delivery of our products, and we are sending letters via email to serve as temporary stand-ins for those awaiting CNIB ID Cards.
 
We are also actively reaching out to Canada Post about this issue to express our grave concerns on behalf of the people we serve. We are working to advocate for our participants’ right to having a reliable mail service – not only for access to alternative-format materials but many other deliveries they may rely on, like medical supplies, medications, and daily living aids.

At this time of year, as we approach the holidays, CNIB relies on donations more than ever. Although we don’t know how long the strike will last, we encourage donors to give through our website (cnib.ca/donate) or by phone at 1-800-563-2642. If you prefer to donate by mail, we look forward to receiving your donation as soon as postal service resumes. If you’ve already mailed in a donation, thank you. As soon as postal delivery resumes, our team will work diligently to process all donations and issue tax receipts as promptly as possible. 

If you have further questions about how the Canada Post strike may impact the services CNIB provides, to learn how to download digital reading materials, or to make a donation, call us at 1-800-563-2642 or email info@cnib.ca.  
 

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