Please read the full insert here.
Toronto Star Supplent
White Cane Magazine 2021
Help Celebrate White Cane Week 2021: A Special Invitation
*All times Eastern Standard Time
Expo Forum Saturday February 13th at 2:00 p.m.
Topic: Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program
Moderator: Dr. Keith Gordon (Senior Research Officer of the Canadian Council of the Blind); Panel: Ian White (President of the CCB Toronto Visionaries), Mike Potvin (Editor of White Cane Magazine), Samantha Moore (CCB Coordinator of Public Relations and Youth Programs), and Minette Samaroo (President of the Toronto Chapter of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians)
Watch the event on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=184&v=wJux4n35-JU&feature=youtu.be
ViewFBC’s View Point February 17 at 10:30 AM
Topic: Uncovering the Role of Vitamin D in AMD
Wednesday, February 17th at 10:30 a.m.
In this live session, we will be joined by FBC-funded researcher and ophthalmologist Dr. Jacob Rullo, who will speak about his research into the connection between vitamin D and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
EXHIBITOR SHOWCASE
For the first half hour of the webinar, we will be joined by Stephen Ricci from CNIB Smart life. Ricci will showcase some of the latest and greatest accessible devices and technological aids for people living with vision loss.
There will be time for a Q&A session. Please send questions in advance to [email protected].
Vision Summit 2021, Wednesday February 17th at 2:00 p.m.
Topic: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Moderator: Dr. Keith Gordon (Senior Research Officer of the Canadian Council of the Blind); Panel: Louise Gillis (National President the Canadian Council of the Blind), Michelle McQuigge (Assistant News Editor at the Canadian Press), and Dr. Orla Galvin (Director of Research Policy at Retina International)
Watch the event on YouTube:
CCB’s Vision 2021 Summit Discussion on The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic – YouTube
White Cane Week Vision Gala 2021 Thursday February 18th at 2:00 p.m.
White Cane Week’s Annual Award Event-Enjoy CCB’s Annual Dinner Gala without the dinner. Highlighting annual awards and special speakers.
Host: Michael Baillargeon (Special Advisor to the Canadian Council of the Blind); Speakers and special guests: Louise Gillis (National President Canadian Council of the Blind), White Cane Person of the Year Award Recipient, President’s Award Recipient, David Errington (President and CEO at AMI), Peter Burke (VP of Marketing and Communications at AMI), musicians Lucas Haneman and Megan Laurence, Doug Earle (President and CEO at Fighting Blindness Canada), Dr. Keith Gordon (Senior Research Officer of the Canadian Council of the Blind), Ric Watson (Executive Chef and Director of Food Services at The Ottawa Mission), and more
Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UQiJV8iERsabfOyPHTprJA
VISIONS – February 2021
White Cane Week 2021 – BC Yukon Division Virtual Events
BC-Yukon Division
White Cane Week (WCW)
February 7 to 13, 2021
Please Join us
This year the CCB BC-Yukon Division is planning four virtual WCW events via a Zoom Webinar with special event host Fraser Hiltz
Webinar 1: Sunday February 7th at 1:00 PM PST
Topic: History of CCB & WCW
Presenter: Amy Amantea
Webinar 2: Tuesday February 9th at 10:00 AM PST
Topic: Evolution of Assistive Technology
Presenter: Albert Ruel
Webinar 3: Thursday February 11th at 7:00 PM PST
Topic: World Blind Union (WBU)
Presenter: Charles Mossop
Webinar 4: Saturday February 13th at 11:00 AM PST
Topic: Life Experience, A Success Story
Presenter: Betty Nobel
How to Connect with Us
Please click this link to join us:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86809309057
(you will be asked to enter your email and name; and once connected, you will be automatically muted during the presentation)
Or join by using one-tap mobile:
Canada: +17789072071,,86809309057# or +12042727920,,86809309057#
Or join by telephone: (use the nearest area code)
Webinar ID: 868 0930 9057
(when phoning you will be required to punch in the webinar ID)
Canada: +1 778 907 2071 or +1 204 272 7920 or +1 438 809 7799 or +1 587 328 1099 or +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588
US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 6833
For more information email [email protected] or call 604-795-3885 or 1-800-874-4666
IDA Survey on Experience of Persons with Disabilities Adapting to COVID-19 Global Pandemic
A Survey by Persons with Disabilities for Persons with Disabilities
IDA Survey on Experience of Persons with Disabilities Adapting to COVID-19 Global Pandemic is available in English, Spanish and International Sign. More languages on the way!
Since the COVID-19 pandemic official announcement in March 2020, many surveys have been circulating at global, regional and national levels attempting to collect data on the experience of persons with disabilities. During this challenging time, documenting violations of human rights of persons with disabilities during the pandemic and gathering evidence of any good practice has been a key priority for the International Disability Alliance, our members and partners.
To hold governments accountable toward disability movement and with the support of the United Nations Partnership for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN PRPD), we have launched IDA survey on Experience of Persons with Disabilities Adapting to COVID-19 Global Pandemic, and invite all persons with disabilities around the world to dedicate some time to answer it, and share it widely within their networks.
What is different about this survey?
While many of you may have participated in surveys about COVID-19 before, there are a few things making IDA survey different:
- The survey is using plain language and is available in International Sign, so it is more accessible;
- The survey is for persons with disabilities only. Family members, support persons and allies can, of course, help persons with disabilities to answer the survey and also circulate it to persons with disabilities in their networks, but the survey is not documenting their experience;
- The questions of this survey have been developed by persons with disabilities and their representative organizations themselves including by contribution of under-represented groups including women with disabilities, indigenous persons with disabilities and persons with psychosocial disabilities.
- The survey is documenting various economic, social and cultural consequences of the pandemic as well as experience of persons with disabilities who have contracted COVID-19.
What should you do to participate?
- Click here to access the survey in English
- Click here to access the survey in English and International Sign
- Por favor haga click aquí para acceder a la encuesta en español
- Por favor haga click aquí para acceder a la encuesta en español y en lengua de señas internacional
- Please click here to access the survey in Arabic
- Please click here to access the survey in Creole
- Please click here to access the survey in French
- Please click here to access the survey in Portuguese
- Please click here to access the survey in Serbian
You can create an account, or answer the survey as a guest. Creating an account will give you the option to save your answers and come back to continue the survey later.
If you face any technical difficulties answering the survey, please send an email to [email protected]
If you are not able to answer the survey through the online platform and need the word document, please email [email protected]
VISIONS – January Edition
A CCB/FBC/IFA Request for Priority Access to COVID-19 Vaccinations
Please find below (in both word and PDF formats) a letter signed by the Canadian Council of the Blind, Fighting Blindness Canada and The International Federation on Ageing requesting priority access to vaccinations for those amongst us living with vision loss. The letter (30 letters in all) was sent to Prime Minister Trudeau, Minister of Health Hajdu, Minister for HRSDC Carla Qualtrough and personally addressed to all Provincial and Territorial Premiers and Ministers of Health. This letter is also appearing on Page 3 in todays, Wednesday, December 16th, Hill Times. Putting our request for immediate action in the hands of every Federal, Provincial and Territorial member and over 22, 000 other politically active and motivated recipients of the paper.
Please contact your local member of parliament (MP) and provincial and territorial members (MPP), requesting they support this important initiative.
VISIONS – December 2020
Canada Announces New Measures to Prevent Drug Shortages
November 28, 2020 – Ottawa, ON – Health Canada
Drug shortages remain a global challenge and COVID-19 has increased demand for certain drugs, adding to the complexity of ensuring drug supply where it is needed. The Government of Canada remains steadfast in its efforts to ensure Canadians have access to the medications they need, when they need them.
Canada is a small market, representing 2% of global drug sales, that sources 68% of its drugs internationally. The need for vigilance in maintaining the national drug supply continues.
In 2017, the Government of Canada added requirements for manufacturers to report drug shortages publicly. Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, announces new measures to protect Canada’s drug supply from bulk importations that could worsen drug shortages in Canada.
Starting November 27, certain drugs intended for the Canadian market are prohibited from being distributed for consumption outside of Canada if that sale would cause or worsen a drug shortage. Companies will now also be required to provide information to assess existing or potential shortages, when requested, and within 24 hours if there is a serious or imminent health risk.