Press Release

Blind Group Demands Equal Access

April 2005

(Ottawa) - Smashing barriers to employment, information, media and travel for blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted people is the main topic of an Ottawa conference this week.

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC), formerly National Federation of the Blind: Advocates for Equality, holds its bi-annual conference at the Aristocrats Suites Hotel in Ottawa over four days beginning April 28, 2005.

"Despite advances in technology, persons who are blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted must still confront barriers to accessing printed information, government and private websites, regular household products, and library programs," says AEBC President John Rae. "Imagine if every time you went to the bank you had to ask for help in accessing your account, or you wanted to vote but the ballots were unreadable. We're just asking for the same dignity and privacy that every other Canadian takes for granted."

Members of the Canada-wide not-for-profit group, says Rae, have defined what their needs are and how they might be realized. "There are structural changes that have to happen to help us live as independently as possible. Even from a strictly business standpoint, our community is a huge untapped market. There are nearly a million legally blind Canadians, diabetes retinopathy is on the rise and we have an aging population. The public and private sectors must do more to adapt to this reality."

Rae says the group demands the Canadian government immediately install technology for independent voting, provide more audible signals at intersections and that both government and business meet with them to discuss numerous other necessary adaptations. Since empowerment is what the 13-year-old advocacy group is all about, the 50 conference delegates from five provinces will hammer out strategies to make sure blind people are mainstreamed into Canadian life and have all the same rights and responsibilities the sighted take for granted.

Current technology for the blind will also be featured at the conference.

Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians' many programs include mentorship for newly blinded adults and children, a scholarship program for outstanding Canadian students and a national magazine in Braille and audiotape. www.blindcanadians.ca

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