CCB ARCHIVAL SITE!
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Advocacy
The advocacy program is designed to articulate the accessibility issues of the blind with present and forthcoming programs and legislation. The program is not based on confrontation, but more of an awareness and educational function. Many legislators and decision makers fail to understand the problems, which the blind and visually impaired must address each and every day.
The main theme of the program is to encourage the general public, agencies, businesses and government institutions to consider the effects of their daily routines and decisions on those who live with visual deficits. This is a very pro-active function.
In rare instances, only when there is a strong body of facts to support a position against intransigence does an adversarial process become necessary.
Jurisdiction
The program applies to municipal, provincial and federal levels of government, and often, the private sector. Members and volunteers to the CCB are the advocates.
Examples
Some examples of the CCB’s advocacy program include:
· Presentations to schools and other educational institutions and act as advisors to educators; 600 presentations were made in 2003
· Expert consultation to institutions and agencies, examples include Federal Department of Transport, British Columbia Justice Department and airport authorities across the country
· Teaching and training personnel: taxi drivers, teachers, and hospitality, justice system and health workers, to provide appropriate and accessible services for the blind and visually impaired
· Support for preventative vision care by working with organizations such as the Canadian Association of Optometrists
· Consultation with the Bank of Canada on the accessibility features on new bank notes (as seen in photos on this page)
· Consultation with the Canadian Mint on the issuance of the new coins to enable easier identification by the blind and visually impaired
For more information, please contact us.
Canadian Council of the Blind Position Statement
Issue: Identification symbols with respect to low vision
Statement: Canadian Council of the Blind, like CNIB, recognizes the white cane as the symbol for vision loss including total blindness and low vision.
The Canadian Council of the Blind is a national self-help consumer organization of persons blind, deaf-blind and visually impaired. Also known by its acronym CCB, The Canadian Council of the Blind is a Federally Chartered, registered non-profit charitable organization founded in 1944. The Council is governed by a Board of Directors, all of whom are blind or have low vision.
The CCB is also a member of the World Blind Union (WBU) which is the worldwide voice of people with vision loss. We agree with CNIB, the service agency for Canadians who have low vision or are blind, in support of the symbol WBU endorses now and in the future.
The first full week of February each year is celebrated by the Council as “White Cane Week”. It is a time of increased awareness and the spotlighting of abilities of blind individuals. Therefore, it is important for the Council to recognize the white cane as a symbol of vision loss. Individuals in wheelchairs who have difficulties with handling a cane may also choose to wear a lapel pin. By no means will the pin replace the importance of a white cane.
Accessible Bank Notes
Several features in the Canadian Journey and Birds of Canada bank note series are designed to help blind and visually impaired Canadians recognize bank note denominations either by touch, by sight, or by electronic signal.
Harold Schnellert, National President, is pictured here pointing out the tactile features on the fifty-dollar bill at the formal launch of the bill in Calgary, October 2004.
The tactile feature is located in the upper right corner on the face of Canadian Journey series notes. It consists of a series of symbols formed by groupings of six raised dots separated by a smooth surface. Each symbol is composed of two columns of three raised dots. These dots are embossed and back-coated to enhance their durability. These symbols are not Braille: they are a system developed in consultation with blind and visually impaired Canadians after research indicated that not all potential users read Braille.
For more information on the accessibility features on the new dollar bills, please visit Bank of Canada.
Do Not Call List
Bill C-37 (Do Not Call List) We invite you to read Dr. Gordon Hope's (Member and Program Coordinator, CCB) speech to the Standing Committee on Industry, Natural Resources, Science and Technology with regards to the National Do not call list. The Do Not Call List could have serious repercussions on charitable organizations such as the CCB. Such a list could prevent the CCB from contacting both current and potential members via telephone.
As a side note, Dr. Gordon Hope speach was cut short, as were the other presenters that day, due to a vote in Parliament.
To read Dr. Gordon Hope's speech, visit: Dr. Hope's Speech.