Advocacy
Canadian Council of the Blind leadership and Chapters are involved in a variety of advocacy efforts across Canada. Committee members attend local and national forums to speak on behalf of CCB members and tirelessly advocate for accessibility and independence in all areas of life for people living with vision loss.
The right to accessibility in transportation, banking, voting venues, office and public building environments, bus stop announcement systems and non-drivers ID cards are just some of the subjects that have been addressed in recent years.
On-going concerns include representation on health boards, advocacy to drug companies, information & concerns communicated to local, provincial and federal governments across Canada to ensure that proper and best practice eye-care health is foremost.
Vision Health Partners' Coalition (VHPC)
The CCB is a proud member of the Vision Health Partners Coalition. The Vision Health Partners’ Coalition (VHPC) is a group of not-for-profit organizations that advocate for policy change, promote public awareness, and support research and educational initiatives for vision care in Canada. VHPC firmly believes that every Canadian, irrespective of location, income, or background, should be entitled to affordable and comprehensive eye care that enables them to live, work, and participate fully in their daily lives. To this end, VHPC has come together in support of Health Canada’s efforts to develop a National Strategy for Eye Care by developing a unified set of recommendations to guide its development and implementation.
VHPC Resources and Publications
Past and Present Advocacy Efforts
CCB has played an integral part in ensuring that Canadian bank notes are accessible to people living with vision loss by advocating for and testing the ease of use and durability of Brailled bank notes.
CCB Past President, Louise Gillis, joins a group inspecting Marine Atlantic Transportation to ensure they are accessible to persons living with all types of disabilities.
CCB Past President, Louise Gillis, was a guest at the unveiling of the new accessible $50.00 and $100.00 banknotes at the Bank of Canada in June 2011.
CCB members in Atlantic Canada listen attentively to a speaker during a 2014 Advocacy meeting.