Accessible communication is critical to enabling independence, and full participation in life. This is dramatically illustrated when you consider important personal information like government documents, banking statements, credit card and wireless bills.

It so happens that in Canada, we are fortunate in this regard - all of the major banks provide accessible monthly billing statements at no charge, as do many of the telecommunication companies - all you have to do is ask!

For blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted Canadians, obtaining financial statements and documents in Braille, large print or audio, provides the equal opportunity to make informed, independent personal & financial decisions.

Here is a list of the phone numbers of the major financial institutions, government departments, and telecom companies across Canada, to request your information in accessible formats. However, this list is not complete. Please help by adding to our list in the comments section below.

Banks

Banque Nationale (National Bank)

Website: http://tinyurl.com/dxkpbhh

Telephone: 1-888-300-9004 (Free)

BMO

Website: http://tinyurl.com/bw7gyy3

Telephone: 1-877-225-5266 (Free)

TTY: 1-866-889-0889 (Free)

CIBC

Website: https://www.cibc.com/ca/accessibility/print-materials.html

Telephone: English: 1-800-465-2422 (Free)

French: 1-888-337-2422 (Free)

TTY: 1-800-465-7401 (Free)

Desjardins Financial

Website: http://tinyurl.com/blc5jy2

Telephone: 1-800-224-7737 (Free)

TTY: 1-800-855-0511 (Free)

RBC

Website: http://www.rbc.com/accessibility/printmaterials.html

Customer Service: 1-800-769-2597 (Free)

Accessible Statements: 1-866-246-5651 (Free)

TTY: 1-800-661-1275 (Free)

Scotia Bank

Website: https://apps.scotiabank.com/brochreq/StartE.html

Accessible Marketing Materials: 1-888-615-8991 (Free)

TTY Customer Service: 1-800-645-0288 (Free)

TD Canada Trust

Website: http://www.tdcanadatrust.com/accessibility/index.jsp

Telephone: 1-800-831-1158 (Free)

TTY: 1-800-361-1180 (Free)

For All Canadian Government Documents

Government of Canada

Website: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca

Telephone: 1-800-622-6232 (Free)

TTY:1-800-926-9105 (Free)

Telecommunications

Bell Canada / Bell Mobility

Website: http://www.bell.ca/shopping/PrsShp_AS_Landing.page

Accessibility Services: 1-800-268-9243 (Free)

TTY In Ontario: 1-800-268-9242 (Free)

TTY In Québec: 1-800-361-6476 (Free)

E-mail: accessible@bell.ca

Cogeco Cable

Website http://tinyurl.com/cw6w64b

Customer Service: 1-800-267-9000 (Free)

Fido

Website: http://www.fido.ca/web/content/accessibility/alternate_billing

Customer Service: 1-888-481-3436 (Free)

E-mail: specialneeds@fidomobile.ca

Primus

Website: http://tinyurl.com/bukvlvn

Accessibility Services: 1-800-806-3273 (Free)

TTY: 1-800-855-1155 (Free)

Rogers

Website: http://tinyurl.com/bp5cuso

Accessibility Services: 1-866-931-3282 (Free)

TTY: 1-800-668-9286 (Free)

Shaw Cable

Website: http://www.shaw.ca/Accessibility/Vision/

Customer Service: 1-888-472-2222 (Free)

Telus

Website: http://tinyurl.com/c768std

Customer Service: 1-888-811-2323 (Free)

Videotron

Website: http://corpo.videotron.com/site/accessibilite-en.jsp

Customer Service: 1-888-433-6876 (Free)

TTY in Quebec: 1-866-468-6763 (Free)

TTY Montreal: 1-514-380-7143