Milestones in Blindness Rights in Canada (and Globally)

AUDIO VERSION

The journey toward equal rights for blind and low-vision people hasn’t been quick or effortless. Most of the access, technology, and public attitudes we see today were won through advocacy, not generosity. From education to employment to equal access in daily life, here are some of the major turning points that helped shape blindness rights in Canada and across the globe.

1820s — The Birth of Braille

Communication is the foundation of independence, and Louis Braille’s invention of the tactile reading system in 1824 changed everything. At just 15 years old, Braille refined an early military code into a full alphabet. It wasn’t widely accepted at first. In fact, teachers resisted it, but blind students insisted on using it. Today, Braille remains one of the most important tools for literacy and autonomy.

Early 1900s — First Schools for the Blind in Canada

Canada established some of its first residential schools for blind students in the late 1800s and early 1900s, including institutions in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. These schools provided access to education at a time when few public schools would accept blind children. While many early institutions were paternalistic by today’s standards, they laid the groundwork for the right to equal education.

1918 — CNIB Is Founded

After World War I, many returning soldiers had lost their vision. In response, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind was established to support both veterans and civilians. It helped create national programs for rehabilitation, mobility training, and employment—services that were previously unheard of.

1940s–50s — White Cane Laws Emerge

The white cane, developed earlier in Europe, became standardized as a symbol of blindness. By the mid-20th century, several countries, including Canada and the U.S., passed laws recognizing white cane users’ right to safe passage in public spaces. This was one of the earliest forms of legal protection for mobility rights.

1970s — Rise of Disability Rights Movements

Inspired by civil rights struggles, blind activists began demanding systemic change rather than charity. Organizations led by blind people, not just for blind people, became more common. Advocacy shifted toward employment, equal access, independent living, and representation.

1982 — The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Section 15 of the Charter cemented disability as a protected ground under Canadian law. It recognized that people with disabilities have the same legal rights as anyone else — a major step in shifting accessibility from “optional” to mandatory.

1990 — The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Globally, the ADA in the U.S. became a major benchmark. It introduced strict accessibility rules for public spaces, transportation, and employment. Although it’s an American law, it influenced policy-making in Canada and beyond, setting international expectations.

1992 - AEBC is Born

While not a major milestone globally, we would be remiss in not mentioning where AEBC fits into this chronology. In 1992, Paul and Mary Ellen Gabias found the National Federation of the Blind: Advocates for Equality, modeled after the National Federation of the Blind in the USA. In 2004, our name is changed to Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians.

2007 — UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Canada signed the UN’s CRPD in 2007 and ratified it in 2010. For the first time, disability rights are recognized as human rights on a global scale, and not just health or social issues.

2019 — Canada’s Accessible Canada Act

This federal law aims to create a barrier-free Canada by 2040. It applies to government services, transportation, banking, telecom, and more. While progress is still uneven, the Act marks a shift from reactive accommodations to proactive accessibility.

Today — Accessibility Moves Into Technology

From screen readers and AI image descriptions to tactile signage and audio navigation apps, accessibility is evolving faster than ever. But technology alone isn’t enough — laws and attitudes must continue to evolve with it.

Progress Made — Progress Still Needed

The history of blindness rights is still being written. Each milestone happened because people spoke up, organized, and refused to accept being excluded. The next breakthroughs won’t come from policy alone, they’ll come from people continuing to demand equal access in workplaces, classrooms, hospitals, shops, and online spaces.

Accessibility didn’t begin as a favour. It began as a fight, and it remains a shared responsibility.