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A statement from CNIB for International Day of Persons with Disabilities

For more than 100 years, CNIB has been changing what it is to be blind through innovative programs and powerful advocacy that enable Canadians impacted by blindness to live the lives they choose.

While the world has changed dramatically since our founding in 1918, people with sight loss continue to face significant barriers every single day – from navigating the educational system to pursuing employment opportunities to fully participating in their communities. People who are blind, partially sighted, or Deafblind continue to carry the advocacy burden on their shoulders, having to constantly speak out and educate the sighted world on their right to experience life free from accessibility barriers and discrimination.

It shouldn’t be that way.

Ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3), CNIB has launched its Know Your Rights project in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan. Through the creation of plain language legal information resources, Know Your Rights aims to empower people who are blind, partially sighted or Deafblind to better understand their rights, navigate provincial legal systems and self-advocate to challenge discrimination.

CNIB is calling upon the Government of Canada to incorporate accessibility as part of the approval process for new health care devices, and work with manufacturers to remove warnings on insulin pumps that exclude people living with diabetes and sight loss. Be a part of the solution. Take two minutes to add your name to our petition in support of accessible insulin pumps. If we secure 500 signatures, the petition will be formally presented before the House of Commons and the Government of Canada will be required to respond.

CALGARY, November 15, 2022 – CNIB, Canada’s largest non-profit supporting people who are blind or partially sighted, has been selected as one of 12 finalists for the iA Financial Group philanthropic contest!  The Canada-wide philanthropic contest awards a donation of $100,000 to the four charities that receive the most votes. The remaining eight charities will each receive $10,000. 

With a mission to give everyone the power to create and share ideas and information instantly without barriers, it is unacceptable that Twitter’s Accessibility Experience Team has been eliminated as part of the company’s mass layoffs.

As part of Diabetes Awareness Month, the Accessible Insulin Pump Taskforce is working with stakeholders and allies across North America to advocate for accessible insulin pumps and glucose monitors, in line with the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) theme for World Diabetes Day – “If Not Now, When?” 

CNIB is proud to announce the appointment of Robert (Bob) Fenton as Chair of our Board of Directors. Robert, who has been blind since birth, is a passionate advocate for people with sight loss and a long-time leadership volunteer for CNIB.

Imagine arriving at a job interview, excited at the thought of discussing your qualifications with a prospective employer, only to be told that you won’t be considered for the job because of your mobility device. For Stephanie, a guide dog handler from Sudbury, Ontario, this scenario became a reality when she was told she couldn’t be hired because her guide dog might bite or harm a client. But Stephanie’s experience is not an anomaly.

CNIB is honoured to share that The Birks Family Foundation has generously sponsored two future guide dogs named Birks and Drummy. Birks is a male yellow Labrador Retriever while Drummy is a male black Labrador Retriever. They are brothers who were born on May 9, 2022 in Australia and are now being raised in Calgary before they begin their formal training at the CNIB Canine Campus in Carleton Place, Ont.

CNIB is saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We are proud to have had a long history with the British monarchy; as the Queen's representative in Canada, the Governor General has been CNIB's official patron since our founding in 1918.