Reports
Activities Report
December 2008
You may also listen to this activity report on-line, or download a complete MP3 copy for offline listening.
In this Activities Report:
- Holiday Greetings
- Reminders
- Scholarship
- AEBC 2009 Conference
- AGM and Conference Travel Subsidies
- 2008 Chapter Financial Reports
- Comments on the Proposed Accessible Information/Communications Standard
- Presentations and Meetings
- Media Coverage
- Correspondence
Holiday Greetings
The board and staff of the AEBC wish all members and supporters a happy, healthy and relaxing holiday season. We hope everyone will take a little time to reflect on this year's hectic schedule and to re-energize for the busy year ahead.
As you make your list and check it twice, please consider including the AEBC on your Christmas list. Remember, as a registered charity, we can issue a tax receipt for all donations.
Reminders
Has your chapter taken up the challenge? Over the summer, we issued the Chapter Fundraising Challenge. The goal is to raise $12,000 across the 16 chapters to completely cover the cost of the 2009 conference. The chapter able to raise the most money per capita (based on their average number of members on September 1/08 and April 30/09) will be recognized for their accomplishments at the AGM!
We would like to remind all AEBC members that membership fees are due. On a related note, we remind you that the lifetime membership fee has been reduced from $100 to $50. For those of you who can afford to make this contribution, it is a great way to pledge a long-term commitment to the AEBC and to avoid having to remember to pay annual fees each year.
Have you set up an event for Braille day in Canada, January 16, 2009? This day will mark the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth in 1809. Consider the possibility of setting up a display and educating Canadians about Braille.
Mark your calendar for AEBC’s conference, May 1 to 3 2009 in Vancouver. More information on the conference is provided later in this report.
Members at large who would like to apply for a subsidy to assist in attending the Vancouver Conference should do so by January 31, 2009.
Have you considered nominating someone for an AEBC award? It is a great way to recognize the contributions of someone you know. The Volunteer of the Year Award was created to recognize the AEBC member who has made the greatest volunteer contribution to the work of the AEBC during the previous calendar year. Please email your nomination by March 15, 2009, along with a brief rationale in support of the nominee, to AEBC's National Secretary, Marc Workman. Each year, every member organization of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) can nominate one individual to receive the Annual CCD Award. Send nominations no later than March 15, 2009, along with a short blurb about your nominee to our National Secretary, Marc Workman: mworkman@blindcanadians.ca or call 780-989-5658.
Please write an article for our Canadian Blind Monitor magazine (CBM). The CBM is the AEBC’s main vehicle for raising public awareness, and we are always looking for articles we can include. If you have an idea, contact the Editor, Brenda Cooke (mailto:bcooke@blindcanadians.ca).
Did you know about our AEBC list and member list? The AEBC offers a number of public listservs where information is shared and ideas are discussed. Visit the website for more information or to join. If you would like some assistance or have any questions, contact Marc Workman mworkman@blindcanadians.ca.
Scholarships
Report from Richard Quan:
On behalf of the Scholarship Committee of the AEBC, I am very excited to report that there were many extremely qualified and very deserving applications this year. This truly reflects positively on the achievements of legally blind students in Canada at this time. Furthermore, it bodes well in supporting the work that we do in the areas of access, inclusion, and education for which the AEBC exists.
We have 4 scholarships this year including a pair of new ones - the AEBC Rick Oakes Scholarship for the Arts and the Toronto Chapter Scholarship for Ontario residents – joining the Business/Education/Technology Scholarship and the Alan H. Neville Memorial Scholarship that have existed for several years.
Here are the winners of each 2008 scholarship, and short notes of each submission.
1. The AEBC Rick Oakes Scholarship for the Arts
Mr. Marc Workman, University of Alberta - Master of Arts: Politics Very high academic rating and extremely involved in community activities.
2. The Business, Education, and Technology Scholarship
Mr. Darren Minifie, University of Victoria - Master of Science - Computer/Science Exciting development work using mobile devices/gps/transportation, and adapting equipment for daily living.
3. The Alan H. Neville Memorial Scholarship
Mr. Gabriel Tremblay-Parent, Université de Laval, Laval University - Bachelor of Law Extremely high academic grades, and showed extreme determination through achievements despite very recent blindness.
4. Toronto Chapter Scholarship for Ontario Residents
Ms. Marie-Josée Blier, La Cité Collégiale, City College – Ottawa - Diploma in Graphic Design Both deaf and blind, Marie- Josée stays involved in her community and is in the final year of her graphic design program, despite various health issues.
Congratulations and our very best wishes to the winners, whose bios will be included in the next Activities Report.
We salute the splendid efforts of all applicants this year. I would like to acknowledge the exceptional work of committee members Sara Bennett and Phil Wiseman, with additional assistance from Denise Sanders, John Rae, Garry Gaudet, and Anthony Tibbs.
Richard Quan, Chair
2008 AEBC National Scholarship Committee
AEBC 2009 Conference
The BC Affiliate invites you to attend our 2009 Conference with the theme "Inclusion Today", May 1 to 3 at the Westminster Quay. We will hold workshops on Friday afternoon and most of Saturday on such topics as access to transportation, the landscape of employment, accessible communications, outline of the national strategy, creating a news release, writing a letter, and developing a policy. Voting on resolutions and elections for board positions will begin late afternoon on Saturday and continue on Sunday morning.
For those traveling to our convention with guide dogs, there are suitable areas for both solid and soft surface relieving within a block of the hotel along the Riverside Boardwalk. More information about the surrounding area will be included in the next activity reports.
We hope you will join us at the Inn at Westminster Quay at 900 Quayside Drive, New Westminster, BC.
The Inn at Westminster Quay is a very unique, boutique hotel as it is the only hotel in the Lower Mainland that is built over the Fraser River offering exciting river views from every guestroom. The facilities offer a Fitness Centre, sauna, Jacuzzi and a 2-mile boardwalk on the waterfront. Adjacent to the hotel are the Skytrain transportation system and the Westminster Quay Public Market, with restaurants, food fair, wine shop, clothing outlets, and souvenir shops. The convenience of our location offers you easy access to New Westminster’s newest attraction the Starlight Casino, the airport, ferry terminals, shopping, and theatres.
This is a short bio from our keynote speaker, Donna Jodhan, followed by a brief story about her receiving the UnSung Hero Award.
“For the past 14 years I have worked in my own company, Sterling Creations, as an entrepreneur. I work with several associates across Canada and the United States to offer writing, accessibility, translation, and transcription services. I have worked for such companies as the Royal Bank of Canada, IBM Canada, and the Bank of Montreal. My positions have included: Systems engineer, technical and systems support analyst, and technical writer.
I am a graduate of McGill University of Montreal and one of the first blind persons in Canada to obtain an MBA and a Diploma in Management. I also hold a Microsoft systems engineering certification and a Novell Network administration certification. I am one of the first blind persons in the world to have obtained both of these. One of my greatest passions includes working to ensure that the children of the future have equal access to websites and information on the Internet. I am presently involved in a charter challenge against the Federal Government over inaccessible websites. In 2007, I won my Federal Human Rights complaint against Statistics Canada over their unwillingness to allow me to write my exam in Braille”.
At Toronto's annual celebration in connection with December 3, the International Day of Disabled Persons, Donna Jodhan was one of eight recipients of this year's Unsung Heroes Award.
Two years ago, Donna Jodhan embarked on a Charter of Rights case to challenge the federal government to make their websites more accessible to Canadians who have a print disability. Her lawyer, David Baker, told her that the process would be a very long and difficult one. Donna did not hesitate and in her words: "My objective was solely to help make a difference in the lives of my fellow blind and vision-impaired Canadians. Nothing more."
In Donna's own words: "I am doing this because I truly believe that it is my obligation to make things better for tomorrow's generation of blind and vision-impaired Canadians. If I do not do anything, then the Federal government will only continue to ignore us as a group and our hope for better employment opportunities and equal access to information will only continue to deteriorate. I am here because others before me fought very hard to make things better for my generation so now it is up to me and my fellow blind and vision-impaired Canadians to continue the fight."
AGM & Conference Travel Subsidies
Members-at-large who would like to be considered for a travel subsidy should submit their request in writing to Anthony Tibbs, Treasurer, at tibbs@blindcanadians.ca no later than January 31, 2009. We will likely only be able to fund one member-at-large to attend. Please indicate why you are interested in attending the conference, and why you think that YOU are the best person to attend.
In the meantime, chapters should also begin to think about the 2009 conference & AGM in Vancouver, and who might wish to attend as a chapter representative. Funding is available to assist one member from each chapter (and one member-at-large) to attend the conference, insofar as airfare, ground transportation in Vancouver, and double-occupancy hotel accommodations are concerned. The conference registration fee (usually $50-$75), local ground transportation, meals (aside from those provided during the conference itself), and other incidentals will generally be the responsibility of the attendee.
There is no rule about who should attend on behalf of a chapter. Ideally, we'd like to see each chapter send someone to the conference who has never had the opportunity to attend in the past, so that they can learn more about the organization and the people that make AEBC what it is. Our hope is that exposure to this kind of educational and networking opportunity will help to encourage such members to become more involved in their local chapters.
More information on the tentative schedule and agenda will be forthcoming, but we'd really like to know who is attending as a chapter representative no later than January 31, 2009.
Sincerely,
Anthony Tibbs
Treasurer, AEBC
2009 Chapter Financial Reports
Chapters are reminded that your 2009 chapter treasury reports are due in to Anthony Tibbs, Treasurer by the end of January 2009. If you need assistance or an example of what is required, please contact him as soon as possible. It is imperative that all chapter financial reports be submitted by January 31, 2009 for audit purposes, and the $50 per year chapter operating grant will only be released when this has been submitted.
Comments on the Initial Proposed Accessible Information and Communications Standard:
On November 17, the Ontario government released the proposed Accessible Information and Communications Standard for a 60-day public review period. The deadline to comment on the proposed standard was subsequently extended to February 6, 2009. The proposed standard outlines how businesses and organizations may be required to provide accessible public information in various formats such as online, print, verbal and digital.
The AEBC’s John Rae is currently preparing a response on behalf of AEBC. If you have comments you would like him to consider, send them to mailto:rae@blindcanadians.ca. Alternatively, you can send comments on your own behalf.
Input from stakeholders will be of great value when the committee finalizes this proposed standard. To review the proposed standard and to provide feedback, visit the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ website at:
English: http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/accessibilityOntario/accesson/business/information
For additional information or to find out about alternate methods of providing feedback, please call 1-888-482-4317 or toll-free TTY 1-888-335-6611.
Presentations/Meetings
Members of the Access 2 Entertainment advisory group, including Anthony Tibbs (AEBC National Treasurer), met with a representative from WestJet on Friday, November 28th, 2008 to discuss their implementation plans for the One Person, One Fare ruling from the CTA. Meeting with the Access 2 partners offered WestJet the opportunity to consult with the disability community and ensure representation from across the community at one time in one room, as well as benefit from the learning the motion picture theatre industry underwent as a result of the Access 2 Entertainment program.
On November 18, Marc Workman, AEBC National Secretary, represented AEBC at a CRTC public hearing examining the accessibility of telecommunications and broadcasting services for persons with disabilities. For a transcript of his presentation, visit http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/transcripts/2008/tt1118.htm
At the 2008 bi-annual conference of the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS), held from November 14 to 16. Anthony Tibbs presented a paper on copyright legislation and its bearing on alternative format production. The paper was well received and generated interesting discussion. Audio files of Anthony’s presentation should be posted on the NEADS website in the near future.
Media Coverage
Bob Brown is the president of the AEBC Brant chapter.
'Green' cars called threat to blind pedestrians -
Hybrid vehicles are too quiet, says city man
VINCENT BALL, Brantford Expositor, Nov. 26, 2008
Setting out from their Buchanan Crescent townhouse for a morning jaunt, Bob Brown and his guide dog, Boone, set a good pace.
It's more like a power walk than a stroll and they work as a team, moving easily around their neighbourhood.
"Brantford's pretty good, pretty accessible," the 33-year-old visually impaired man said. "We can get up to Williams for coffee if we want and I can go up to the (Lynden Park) Mall for groceries and back no problem.
"Sometimes I use public transit or the heel-toe express. It depends on the weather."
He enjoys his independence and mobility. But he worries they will be threatened by the growing popularity of hybrid vehicles, which run on gasoline and a rechargeable battery. In battery mode, they are quiet.
Hybrids may be good for the environment but they are not so good for the blind and visually impaired, said Brown.
"When I'm walking on a sidewalk, I depend on my guide dog and my ability to hear traffic," he said.
"If I can't hear a car coming when it's backing out of a driveway I won't hear it until it's too late.
"I already know what it's like to get hit by a car and I don't want to ever have that feeling again."
He can't go into details about his accident, which happened almost two years ago. But the experience of being hurt and losing his guide dog is enough to compel him to sound the alarm over hybrid vehicles.
He wants the automakers to come up with a way of making the vehicles loud enough so they can be heard by all pedestrians. And if the car companies won't do it voluntarily, Brown said he thinks the government should force this issue through legislation.
"There is some work going on in the United States on this and I think a couple of states are in the process of trying to come up with some regulations, some standards.
"I don't know if there is much happening here in Canada. I think they're taking a kind of a wait-and-see approach."
Brown has been visually impaired since he was about seven. His impairment was caused by retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disorder of the retina that, over time, causes severe vision loss.
Brown isn't the only one raising concerns about hybrid vehicles.
John Rae, the first vice-president of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians, called hybrid vehicles a 'major' safety concern for all pedestrians, not just blind and visually impaired people.
Joggers and walkers wearing headphones are all vulnerable because of the quietness of hybrid vehicles.
"We recognize the importance of saving the environment," Rae said. "But we don't see this as an either-or issue.
"We think vehicles can be good for the environment as well as safe."
He's calling on the various levels of government to force the auto industry to come up with a way of making the vehicles safe enough for pedestrians.
Now, with the auto industry looking for taxpayer bailouts to keep it afloat, is the perfect time for the government to get car makers to address the issue.
"We'd like them (the automakers) to do it voluntarily but if they don't we think the government should step in and force them," Rae said. "So far we haven't received much of a response from the auto industry."
Toyota is one of the industry leaders in developing hybrid vehicles and is the manufacturer of the Toyota Prius, one of the most popular and recognizable of hybrid vehicles.
Rae thinks Toyota is a company that could set the standard for other companies to follow.
Nicole Grant, of Toyota Canada's public relations office, said Toyota is always looking for ways to improve public safety, as well as improvements to sustainable mobility.
Toyota seeks to maintain a balance between those concerns as well as other societal issues such as noise pollution and environmental concerns.
"We're always working towards that balance and public safety is at the top of our list of concerns," she said.
Correspondence
Here is a letter sent to the Chief Electoral Officer. Robin East and John Rae will be meeting with him in late January while they are in Ottawa for the CCD National Council meeting.
November 1, 2008
Mr. Marc Mayrand
Chief Electoral Officer
Elections Canada
257 Slater Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0M6
Dear Mr. Mayrand:
Re: 40th General Election
I am writing you on behalf of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians, to raise a number of concerns and issues that arise from electors who are blind who participated in Canada's 40th General Election.
1. ID:
The requirement to provide two pieces of identification, one of which included a photo was applied inconsistently. Some voters were only asked for one piece of ID while others including myself were asked for two. Some electors were able to use their CNIB card which contains a photo and others were not.
The requirement to provide two pieces of identification, one of which must contain a photo, often poses difficulties for individuals who are homeless and persons who do not have a driver's licence, especially those who live in provinces that do not yet offer a non driver's driving licence for identification purposes. It also poses some difficulties for blind electors who may not retain copies of bills that come in print.
2. The template:
While we are pleased this template contains Braille numbers, one member indicated the ballot slipped out while he was en route to where he was to mark it. Perhaps a clip would make it more secure and prevent it from slipping.
3. Braille Lists of Candidates:
Despite the settlement in Ms. Linda Bartram's CHRC complaint, no list of candidates in braille seemed to be available in any polling place. When will Elections Canada follow through on this settlement and provide a list of candidates in braille?
4. Treatment at the Poll: Kelowna, BC:
Ms. Denise Sanders of Kelowna, BC has written to you as follows on what she describes as her "humiliating" voting experience:
October 17, 2008
Dear Mr. Mayrand,
I am writing this letter to inform you of my humiliating experience as a voter who is blind.
My friend and I arrived at the advanced polls as we were both going to be out of town on Oct. 14. The greeter asked if we had our voting cards. I replied I had my card and handed it to her. The greeter says to my friend "SHE needs to go to table 606" as if I were not even there or invisible.
My friend guided me over to table 606. The lady at 606 asked my name and said I would need my driver's licence for the gentleman beside her. When the gentleman was free, I moved over and handed him my ID.
I asked for a braille list of the candidates.
He said we do not have this list.
I said are you sure as I was under the impression we were to receive this list.
He replied no again.
I asked him if he was going to assist me to the booth.
He said yes then asked my friend to take me.
I interjected and said I asked for your assistance as it is not my friend's responsibility or her business who I vote for.
He nervously guided me over to the booth, lined my ballot up in the template with braille numbers, read off the candidates and said he was leaving so I could mark my ballot in private.
I folded my ballot and he asked if I wanted him to put it in the box. By this point, I was so angry at how I was being treated that I said ok then left with my friend.
I was very angry and humiliated as I had not been addressed as a human being at the door, tried to be shuffled off to my friend at the table, and did not receive a Braille list of candidates so I could cast my vote in private. With our current voting system, I was not able to verify my vote as all other Canadians are able to do.
I believe an electronic system is required so I am able to vote independently and verify my vote. I recommend more training is necessary as two out of three workers were very uncomfortable and did not treat me with respect.
I hope my next voting experience will be an improvement over this one.
Yours truly,
Denise Sanders
5. Another incident from Kelowna voter "Sarah":
I believe from what Sarah reported, that Sarah's vote was compromised due to a lack of training by Elections Canada. Sarah asked for the brailled list of candidates names. She was handed a plastic template with numbers, but there was no list to be had. Instead of the officer admitting that she didn't know > what to do with the template, or accessing a returning officer for assistance, Sarah was led behind the polling booth by the officer. The officer > carried the template in one hand and the ballot in the other.
Sarah stated that she was read the list of candidates, the officer asked her who she was voting for, and the officer marked her ballot for her. She was not offered the pencil or given the ballot to mark her own X.
When she came out from behind the polling booth I asked her if she was able to mark her ballot. Sarah remarked that they had marked the ballot for her.
Did the officer put the ballot into the template? Did the ballot stay put in > the template? Sarah said she didn't hear the lady put the ballot into the template. Did she fold her own ballot? No. the lady folded the ballot.
The lady was about to drop the ballot into the box, when I remarked to her that Sarah was capable of putting it into the box herself. I asked Sarah if anyone else knew who she voted for? Sarah said the lady did. The lady who marked her ballot assured Sarah that she would not remember who she voted for.
We went to report what I felt was a compromised ballot. Outside of being given Elections Canada's address, there were no forms available to lodge a complaint there and then.
While Sarah does not assert herself as well as she might, they made some assumptions about her ability and did not provide her with proper instruction. > I suppose they thought it was just easier to do it for her!
6. Independent Verification:
Of greatest concern to the AEBC is that, again in this election, blind electors could not independently verify how we voted. As you know, this has been a long-standing issue between the AEBC and Elections Canada.
Given the content of Sec. 151 (1) of the Elections Act, would it not be possible to begin using a voting machine right now that enabled electors to use a traditional ballot provided that machine marked an (x) in the appropriate place:
Manner of voting
- (1) An elector shall, after receiving a ballot,
(a) proceed directly to the voting compartment;
(b) mark the ballot with a cross or other mark in the circular space opposite the name of the candidate of his or her choice;
(c) fold the ballot as instructed by the deputy returning officer; and
(d) return the ballot to the deputy returning officer.
What plans does Elections Canada have to test alternative methods of voting, such as an electronic option, in the next bi election that will make that election totally accessible to all electors?
We would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss these issues and concerns. I will contact your office in the next few days to request such a meeting.
Yours very truly,
Robin East
President, AEBC
Another letter on the issue of elections was directed to the newly-appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Robert Douglas Nicholson.
Honourable Robert Douglas Nicholson
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Re: Ongoing Barriers in Canada's Electoral System
On behalf of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC), a national organization of rights holders who are blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted, I would like to congratulate you on your recent appointment to the federal cabinet as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
The AEBC's work involves public awareness and providing input into issues of public policy that affect members of our community. For background on our organization and work, please visit our website: http://www.blindcanadians.ca.
The AEBC has been very concerned over barriers to our full participation in Canada's electoral system. Despite some progress, a variety of barriers remain in such areas as access to print materials on party platforms, participation at all candidates meetings, working for parties, seeking nominations, etc.
Our greatest concern, however, involves voting itself. We remain unable to independently verify how we vote. Despite meetings with Canada's former Chief Elections Officer, which did bring about some improvements, we have seen no movement on this vital aspect of casting one's vote. While we will be meeting with Canada's current Chief Electoral Officer in January, we are turning to you for your leadership and assistance to remove this ongoing barrier.
We are enclosing our Brief which outlines our concerns in greater detail, and look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Sincerely,
Robin East
President, AEBC
This letter was sent to politicians, broadcasting CEO’s, and CRTC chairpersons. It calls on those who are responsible to work harder to further the accessibility of TV broadcasting through increasing audio description.
Mr. Lacroix,
I am writing you on behalf of the Alliance For Equality of Blind Canadians / L'Alliance pour l'Égalité des Personnes Aveugles du Canada (AEBC). We are a national not for profit organization of Canadians who are blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted, founded in 1992. Our work focuses on public awareness and providing input on issues that affect our community.
An AEBC member recently contacted our Board of Directors to report that in one weekend there had been two stories on the CBC National news involving people speaking in languages other than English. Because there were subtitles without audible translation of what was being said, our member was unable to fully participate in the program. Moreover, she was not afforded information on how to comment on anything she had seen on the news, as there was no verbal narration of the contact information shown on the screen. It is unconscionable that print disabled Canadians should suffer lack of access from material aired by the publicly-funded CBC.
The member stated she is frustrated with this type of programming being presented by all television networks in Canada. For decades, Canadians with vision limitations have been subjected to this disregard for equal access from distributors of entertainment, advertising, public announcements and informative programming.
All programs viewed in Canada should be accessible to all citizens, including those customers with limited vision or print disabilities.
We would like to remind you of paragraph 60 of Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2004-2.
"Greater programming accessibility can be achieved through the provision of "audio description" and/or of "video description". Audio description consists of basic voice-over recitations or descriptions of the text or graphic information that is displayed on the screen. Although a measure of sensitivity and creativity on the part of a broadcaster is necessary to ensure the quality and effectiveness of audio description, no special equipment is required. All broadcasters can, and should, provide audio description."
The examples of foreign language translation and textual contact information are clear illustrations of where audio description can, and should, be provided to make programming more accessible.
This very issue was recently raised by the AEBC at a CRTC hearing aimed at addressing unresolved issues related to accessibility of telecommunications and broadcasting services for persons with disabilities. The availability of audio description is an important issue for our members.
We urge all of the communication networks and their governors to now enforce regulations and craft further policies to ensure full accessibility. This should be accomplished through direct and full consultation with democratically-organized consumer groups.
Our membership wants to know what specific plans you and your corporation currently have to eliminate this disparity in service, and your timeline for implementing such action.
Please feel free to forward this letter to other appropriate persons concerned with this issue. You are invited to contact us at the above address for any further information that you may require. I look forward to hearing from you.
Respectfully,
Robin East
President, AEBC
Copies:
CEO’s: CBC, CTV, Canwest Global
Cynthia Stockley Director, Regulatory Affairs of CRTC
Konrad W. von Finckenstein, Chairman, CRTC
Vince Carlin, Ombudsman - CBC
Robert A. Morin, Secretary General, CRTC
Hon. James Moore, MP
Bill Huzar, President, The Consumer Council of Canada
The final piece of correspondence outlines a number of AEBC’s priorities, including poverty, quiet cars, accessible elections, copyright, and website accessibility.
Hon. Diane Finley
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development
I am writing to you as National President of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC), a national organization of rights holders who are blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted, to congratulate you on your recent appointment as Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and to raise a number of issues that are of importance to our community.
The AEBC believes firmly the Government of Canada must develop a broader social policy agenda, that includes a comprehensive economic strategy to address both the labour market and income security plight of so many Canadians with disabilities who continue to live in poverty. This is even more critical in the current period of economic downturn.
We see an increasing number of quiet, hybrid automobiles on our streets. While the AEBC supports measures that can help preserve our environment, we also strongly believe these automobiles pose a safety hazard to all pedestrians, not just blind persons, and they must be required to add a device that will emit enough sound to be heard by pedestrians.
Canada's electoral system does not yet make it possible for blind electors to independently verify how we vote. We leave the voting booth believing we voted for the candidate of our choice, but we cannot be certain. Alternatives still exist that would remove this barrier and these must be implemented in Canada.
During the last Parliament, amendments to Canada's Copyright Act were introduced, and we assume some amendments are likely to reappear during the new Parliament. It is critical these changes do not pose new barriers to access to print materials for Canadians who are blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted.
Websites, including some federal government websites, continue to pose barriers to members of our community. In particular, sites that contain material only in PDF format pose real access barriers, and PDF versions should only be used when a text or html version is also available.
These are some of the many issues that affect our community, where the Government of Canada can play a positive role.
We also believe the program that has funded a number of national organizations, including rights holder organizations such as the Council of Canadians With Disabilities (CCD) must be continued and opened up to organizations such as ours, that have been waiting for an opportunity to apply for needed support through that important federal initiative.
We would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you in the near future to explore these and other issues in greater detail.
Sincerely,
Robin East
President, AEBC
That completes the AEBC Activity Report for December, 2008.
Once again we invite your feedback on our conversion to using CD’s to circulate the print, large print and audio versions of Activity Reports, and the Canadian Blind Monitor. It is by far the most economical way of circulating information to members, saving postage, paper and printing costs, and speeding production and distribution by about a week.
We continue to commission copies in Braille for members who use that format, and we invite members who feel that they would prefer Activity Reports by Canada Post in hard-copy print or by audiocassette, to advise National Secretary, Marc Workman: mworkman@blindcanadians.ca.
Now on behalf of the President, Board members and support staff of AEBC, I’m Garry Gaudet, thanking you for your keen interest, support and participation, and wishing you a happy and blessed Christmas season, and a healthy, tranquil and prosperous New Year.
