Reports
Activity Report
May 2005
NEW NAME NOW A REALITY
On March 17, 2005, our new name took effect. The former NFB:AE is now known as the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians / L'Alliance pour l'ÉgalitÉ des Personnes Aveugles du Canada. Our new and improved website is www.blindcanadians.ca. We can be reached at info@blindcanadians.ca or by phone at 1-800-561-4774.
The AEBC had some media coverage in connection with our new name on VoicePrint, and in Victoria and Collingwood. Thanks to those members who arranged these appearances.
OTTAWA CONFERENCE A BIG SUCCESS
The inaugural Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians conference took place in Ottawa, from April 28-May 1, 2005. In addition to celebrating our new reality, the Conference included the annual President's Report (available from National Office); a plenary session on Social Policy in Canada; and workshops discussing such topics as Employment, Technology, Travel and Transportation, Depiction in Canada's Media, Access to Information and the Duty to Accommodate.
During the Business Meeting, the 2004 audit was adopted, 25 resolutions were discussed, and elections were held for four positions on our national Board of Directors. Elected for two-year terms were: John Rae, President; Rick Oakes, 2nd Vice-President; Marcia Cummings, Secretary; and Devon Wilkins, Director without Portfolio. We want to thank Paul Thiele for his years of service on our national Board, and thank all candidates who sought office this year.
Following adjournment of the Conference, meetings of both the Board and Chapter Presidents took place.
AEBC GRANTED SUMMER STUDENT POSITIONS TO BEGIN RESEARCH INTO ACCESSIBLE PRODUCTS
The AEBC has been granted two summer student positions, which will enable us to begin our work on accessible products. Over the next couple of weeks, Daylin Mantyka will be asking members to complete a questionnaire which will ask you about the accessible products you currently use, where you buy them, what adaptations you have made to make it easier for you to use products more independently, and what areas of products are of greatest interest. Your participation is important to the work of this overall project.
ANNUAL CCD AWARD
Each year, each member group of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) has the opportunity to nominate one individual to receive the annual CCD Award. Beryl Williams of Saskatoon will be receiving this year's AEBC CCD Award, which will be given out at CCD's AGM in Winnipeg in June, and presented to Beryl in Saskatoon at a later time.
APPOINTMENT
Congratulations to Mike Hambly who is working hard to organize our next Chapter in Calgary. He has just been appointed for a 3 year term to sit on the Alberta Premier's Council for the Status of Persons with Disabilities. "This is a great honor for me and I look forward to this challenge."
AEBC PARTICIPATES IN CANADIAN VISION TEACHERS CONFERENCE
Robin East and Kim Kilpatrick participated in the Canadian Vision Teachers conference in Halifax from May 12 to 14. The AEBC had a booth at which we gave out information and materials to resource teachers for blind, deaf blind and partially sighted students. Thanks to Mike Hambly from Calgary for creating a CD of accessible games, which was a big hit with conference participants. We also talked to some blind Canadians, other exhibitors, parents, and other professionals such as orientation and mobility specialists, from all across Canada.
Robin and Kim also gave a presentation in collaboration with Frontier computing about breaking down barriers. They discussed many topics of interest to resource teachers including: teaching children to advocate for themselves at young ages; how to educate the public; the importance of braille literacy; and providing information in alternative formats at the same time as other students receive information in print.
SIGN UP FOR COMMITTEES
The AEBC has a wide range of Committees, and we want to invite members to sign up and participate in our ongoing work.
Access to Electoral Process Committee: Penny Leclair, Chair
Assistive Devices Program Committee (ADPC): Linda Bartram, Chair
AGM Committee, Chair, to be determined
Education/Employment Committee, Chantal Oakes, Chair
Finance Committee, Denise Sanders, Chair
Fund Development Committee, Rick Oakes, Chair
Human Resources Committee (HRC), Denise Sanders, Chair
Library Working Group, Chair to be determined
Membership Committee, Devon Wilkins, Chair
Mentorship Program Committee, Penny Leclair, Chair
Products Committee, Marcia Cummings, Chair
Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee, John Rae and Carole Robertson, Co-chairs
Scholarship Committee, Marcia Cummings, Chair
Web Design Committee (WDC), Marcia Cummings, ChairWhile new members are always welcome, the Committees that are particularly looking for new participants are: Fund Development, Education/Employment, Public Awareness and Advocacy, and Membership. Please contact our National Office at 1-800-561-4774, or e-mail info@blindcanadians.ca.
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM SEEKS MORE MENTORS
The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (formerly the National Federation of the Blind: Advocates for Equality) offers an exciting opportunity for children, youth and adults experiencing partial or total vision loss to connect with experienced blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted role models, in order to share experiences, ideas, and strategies.
The Mentorship Program provides support, information and inspiration through regular contact with mentors via telephone, email, letter-writing or in person.
The mentorship relationship allows individuals to learn from the experiences of others, as well as gain valuable emotional and practical support for many of life's challenges.
To read more about or register with this exciting program, please go to: the programs page.
AEBC HAS TWO DISCUSSION LISTS
For newer members, the AEBC operates two discussion lists, one, which contains discussions and information on a wide range of topics, and the second, which focuses on our efforts to expand funding for the purchase of assistive devices.
To join the AEBC listserv, send a message to majordomo@blindcanadians.ca leave the subject line blank, and in the body of the message, type subscribe aebc. You will receive a confirmation message.
To join the assistive devices listserv, send a blank e-mail to majordomo@blindcanadians.ca and in the body of the message type subscribe devices. You will quickly receive an e-mail indicating that you are subscribed. Alternatively, you can use our automated subscription form.
CALLING OUT SUBWAY STOPS
Members of the AEBC's Toronto Chapter are supporting David Lepofsky by attending his human rights tribunal hearing concerning the calling out of all subway stops, an issue which he also litigated some years ago. Our National Secretary, Marcia Cummings, appeared on both CBC and Global news, and was quoted in the Toronto Star.
AEBC ACTIVE IN BC ELECTION
AEBC members were active during the BC election, raising issues, especially the right to vote independently and the need for a publicly-funded assistive devices program. Here is an example of the work, which took place:
Get Out of my Voting Booth, Say the Blind: The last time Eddy Morten voted, his mom had to read him his ballot and then guide him into the voting booth. The deaf-blind Burnaby man is angry at being denied the same dignity and privacy of independent voting other Canadians take for granted. For further information, visit: the press releases page.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
May 27, AER AGM, Toronto
June 2, Access to Entertainment Card, Toronto
June 3, Consultation with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
June 10-12, Council of Canadians with Disabilities National Council and AGM, Winnipeg
June 13-14, Access Ontario Conference, Burlington
June 18, Chapter Presidents' meeting
June 18, Meeting in CalgaryRECYCLING CASSETTES
The national office reuses cassettes so members are welcome to return cassettes at any time; they can be sent "Free Matter for the Blind" to AEBC, 6-1638 Pandosy Street, Kelowna BC V1Y 1P8.
