CCB ARCHIVAL SITE!
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Overview
The Canadian Council of the Blind was founded in 1944 by returning war veterans and schools of the blind. There is a national office in Ottawa, with nine provincial divisions and 65 community-based chapters across Canada.An organization OF THE BLIND - the board of directors and officers are blind and visually impaired.
We are the VOICE OF THE BLIND®.
Our Goals
- Empower the blind and visually impaired through education and employment opportunities
- Encourage and offer support to address the unique challenges of life
- Enrich the quality of life through sports, recreational and social programs
- Maximize independence through education and employment
- Raise awareness of issues impacting blind and visually impaired Canadians
Our Programs
CCB President Harold Schnellert
helps introduce the new fifty
dollar bill at the Canadian Mint.
Advocacy
Encourage all sectors to be aware of the effect of their decisions on those with visual deficits.
An example of this is identification of new currency for the blind.
Speaker of House of Commons
with CCB officials.
Awareness
Elevate public consciousness of the blind and visually impaired through activities such as White Cane Week.
Training programs for educators and transportation providers at airports, taxis, train and bus services.
Identifies blind and visually impaired children at the prenatal stage or at birth. This resource does not presently exist in Canada.
The earlier the detection, the more likely there is a possibility to cure or reduce the impact of vision loss on children. If treatment is not successful, then the opportunity exists to access programs for the affected children and their families.
CCB Executive Director Jim
Prowse signs bursary agreement
with Carleton University President
Richard Van Loon.
Bursary
$1,000,000 bursary established at the Paul Menton Centre for the Disabled at Carleton University.
This program is the first of its type in Canada for the blind and visually impaired and available to students throughout Canada.
The CCB plans similar programs at educational institutions across Canada.
Manitoba bowlers enjoy
a day at the lanes.
Chapter Assistance
Financial assistance for the Chapters to allow local functions and activities.
The Chapters are the most important component of the CCB that provides support and services at the grassroots level.
Legal Assistance
Provides basic legal assistance for CCB members.
- Landlord and tenant
- Consumer
- Charter of Rights issues
(Photo credit: The Canadian
Paralympic Committee.)
Sports and Recreation
The blind war veterans believed that participation in sports and recreation forced the practice of using other senses to compensate for vision loss.
The CCB supports elite blind athletes through the Paralympic Foundation.
The CCB's support of the Paralympics takes place during White Cane Week.
CEO Barry Winfield, CPF;
Dennis Finucan, CCB Ontario
Director; Senator Fairbairn;
Jim Prowse; and Gord Hope.
Senator Joyce Fairbairn, Chairperson of the CPF, was kind enough to receive us at her office.
Most of us will never reach this high standard. The main focus is on the Chapter level to encourage all types of recreation and athletics to social functions such as card games and bowling.
Governor General Adrienne
Clarkson meets blind curlers.
Some sports for the blind include goalball, track and field, cycling, judo, powerlifting, sailing, swimming, cross-country and alpine skiing, biathlon, and curling.
Peer Support
The effects of blindness or sudden vision loss can lead to severe emotional distress.
Peer and emotional support is available at the Chapter level, and also through a toll-free number for confidential support and service.
Some Chapters have training programs such as developing basic household functions such as kitchen training, budgeting and household safety supervised by a qualified Rehabilitation Instructor.
Skills Training and Employment
The focus of the CCB is on the ability, not the disability.
Advances in computer technology means unprecedented access for the blind and visually impaired into the workforce.
The CCB assists in coordinating training to acquire skills, and proceeds to identify and match these skills with employment opportunities in the marketplace.