For World Braille Day 2023

By Vangelis Nikias

For many blind persons all over the world, braille is the equivalent of the Gutenberg Press. For some time, educators, parents and other allies have also developed a strong appreciation for the benefits the braille system of reading and writing brings to the blind and society more broadly. We have Louis Braille to thank for this gift, the gift of literacy. When I think of the literacy of the blind, I always remember the story shared by a blind man. The man was attempting to immigrate to Canada from an English-speaking country. He already had a university degree. Because, however, being totally blind, he could not read printed letters, the immigration official who interviewed him told him he had to be classified as illiterate.

November 14 2022

Assessment of AEBC’s Current Situation

AEBC serves: Blind, deafblind and partially sighted Canadians.

Our internal stakeholders are:
Staff – part-time contracted national bookkeeper
Registered members: BC Affiliate – 52; Halifax – 11; Ottawa – 28; Toronto – 44; no affiliation – 48; total 183
involved members– National level: (approximately 25). This figure is higher at the chapter/affiliate involvement level.

Involved members :

• Serve on national, chapter/affiliate boards
• Serve on committees
• Volunteer for special national projects
• Serve as AEBC representatives to external bodies/committees
• Fund raise at the national level
They contribute between 5 and 120 volunteer hours a month.

How old were you when our organization was born?

In 1992, when Paul and Mary Ellen Gabias successfully birthed the National Federation of the Blind: Advocates for Equality, which was modeled after the National Federation of the Blind in the US, I was married with two preteen girls. My husband and I were both working full-time, and I was volunteering for a provincial cross-disability organization in Alberta. The articles of incorporation for the new organization were signed in June that year.

For Paul and Mary Ellen, bringing their dream to fruition was analogous to building a house from the ground up requiring a plan, a strong foundation, bricks and mortar for building, and resources to make NFB:AE a sustainable reality.

April 25, 2022
BY EMAIL
To the family of the late John Rae
c/o Marcia Yale
President
Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians
PO Box 20262, RPO Town Centre
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 9H2
Dear Ms. Yale:

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of John Rae. On our own behalf, and on behalf of the entire team at the Canadian Human Rights Commission, many of whom shared our great pleasure of knowing and working with John, please accept our most sincere condolences, which we hope you can extend to John’s family, friends, colleagues and loved ones.

Thanks for the kind invitation (to the celebration of life). Sadly, I will be on the road, where John would have wanted me to be: Making music and giving concerts.

John and I met at a pub concert I gave in Toronto, back in 2008 or so. He was a mensch! He followed my career and corresponded via email regularly ever after. And took in a good couple dozen shows between in-person and on-line events. We were just writing to each within the last month.

He never let the distance between Chicago and Toronto be a deterrent to friendship or community. He was keenly aware that community is what we make of it, and about our commitment to those whom we consider our community. He remained committed to our friendship, especially during the Pandemic.

1. It is well recognized that there are barriers in Canadian society that people with disabilities are facing on a daily basis. People who are blind, deafblind or partially sighted face barriers such as transportation accessibility, access to the built environment and access to print materials. What is your party prepared to do to reduce and eliminate these barriers? Canada’s Conservatives are committed to boosting the Enabling Accessibility Fund. We will provide an additional $80 million per year through the fund to provide: • Additional incentives for small businesses and community projects to improve accessibility. • Grants and support for all types of accessibility equipment that disabled Canadians need to work.