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The Equalizer: May 2025


The Equalizer: May 2025

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Links are contained within each Heading. If you are using JAWS or NVDA to navigate the newsletter and you hear your screen reader say link, do the following to activate it:

·      Down arrow to the link you want to activate.

·      Press the right arrow to move your screen reader into the link.

·      Press enter and the link will be activated.

If using JAWS, you can also use the list of links command insert F7 and then down arrow to the link and press enter and the link will activate. On some computers you may also be able to bring up the context menu when on a link by pressing Shift F10 or your applications key then down arrow to Open Link and press enter. To go back to the Table of Contents press the Alt Left Arrow command.

 

 

NEWS FROM NATIONAL


Dear Members and Friends,

 

I hope this message finds you well and energized as we head into a very exciting season for the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians. Over the past few months, we have been hard at work across many areas of the organization, and I’m pleased to share some highlights with you.

 

Our 2025 AEBC and Allyant Scholarship Program is officially open for applications. The deadline to apply is May 30, 2025. Get all the details in FRENCH or ENGLISH.

 

In Bylaws and Governance we are steadily progressing through a thorough review of AEBC’s resolutions, aiming to present recommendations to the Board soon. We look forward to finalizing a new policy manual for approval at our 2025 Annual General Meeting in September.

 

Meanwhile, our annual membership drive is complete — thank you to everyone who has renewed or joined to strengthen our collective voice.

 

Training and development continue to be a priority. Our Executive Director Lee Pigeau led an outstanding session on being an AEBC team member, now available for replay here. Our Tuesday Technology Trainings have been very active, with weekly technology training sessions that have contributed to growing engagement on our YouTube channel, which now boasts 80 subscribers and strong viewership. Be sure to watch the replays if you’ve missed any of our sessions, and subscribe to our channel!

 

In the area of advocacy, our committee recently submitted recommendations on the Accessible Services Delivery Standard and delivered an updated Self-Advocacy Training session in early April (details below).

 

Looking ahead, we are enthusiastically preparing for National AccessAbility Week activities—stay tuned!

 

Thank you for being a vital part of AEBC. Together, we are building a more inclusive and empowering future for all Canadians who are blind, deafblind, or partially sighted.

 

Marcia Yale, National President

 


AEBC SURVEYS

Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive by taking the time to respond to our two recent surveys. Here is a brief summary on the Engagement Survey and the Monday Morsels Survey.

 

Engagement and Accessibility Survey Results

This survey saw its highest engagement to date, gathering 88 responses from members across Canada. The survey captured a wide range of lived experiences, needs, and expectations. Most respondents were over 35 and included both long-time and newer members, reflecting a vibrant mix of seasoned and fresh perspectives. Overall, members emphasized flexibility, inclusion, and the need for practical supports. The survey revealed three main focus areas based on majority responses: advocating for accessibility and systemic change (with top concerns being healthcare, public transit, and disability benefits); strengthening partnerships, youth engagement, leadership, and mentorship; and improving member communication, connection, and accessibility. Respondents expressed a strong desire for more community events, collaboration with other disability organizations, and better communication practices. There was also a hopeful push for AEBC to expand its reach through media visibility, local chapters, and new volunteer incentives.

 

Monday Morsels Survey Results

The Monday Morsels survey received 41 responses, primarily from lifetime members and active volunteers. Most respondents were blind, with a smaller number identifying as partially sighted, and feedback overall was very positive. About 90% of respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with AEBC communications, a significant improvement compared to previous surveys. Participants praised Monday Morsels for its organized layout, particularly the helpful use of headings, although a few noted that the newsletter can sometimes feel lengthy. In terms of navigation, most users reported that they rely on headings or links to move through the content quickly. Members continue to value technology tips and advocacy updates, while showing less interest in lifestyle pieces or external articles unrelated to blindness. This survey reflects clear progress, reinforcing that AEBC’s communications are increasingly effective, and highlighting the need to keep strengthening advocacy content moving forward.

 

Federal Election Survey for AEBC Members

We want to hear from you regarding your experience voting in the 2025 federal election. Your responses will help us advocate for a more accessible and inclusive electoral process. There are 24 multiple-choice questions and 2 short answer questions. To thank you for your participation, you have the option to enter a draw for a $50 gift card. All responses will be kept confidential and completely anonymous. Here is the survey link:

 


CHAPTER/AFFILIATE HAPPENINGS 

BC AFFILIATE NEWS

The next meeting of the Executive is scheduled for May 7, 2025 and we encourage members to join the call as everyone is welcome. The agenda will include confirming a date for the AGM and we anticipate this will be towards the end of June. We will be planning a hybrid meeting to maximize participation; responding to Several members expressing their desire to gather in person to facilitate socializing after the meeting. It is important to connect as friends to continue cultivating friendships and to hopefully meet new people in the process.

 

Back in March, we reported the possibility of services for British Columbians who are deafblind being cancelled due to lack of funding. Although the BC Government confirmed funds will be available for one year which will ensure continuity for those who require intervener services, this solution is far from acceptable if persons who are deafblind are to thrive in their community like everyone else. While this is a step in the right direction, the BC Affiliate will move forward with writing appropriate Ministers and other parties to convey the message that providing services to persons who are deafblind should be considered a necessity.

 

Lastly, if you have not taken part in the Affiliate chat in a while, you should consider joining us soon and remember to bring your ideas for special topics of conversation for the first Thursday of the month.


Keep well and stay safe, Chantal Oakes, President, BC Affiliate


OTTAWA-GATINEAU CHAPTER

Our most recent meeting focused on a few advocacy issues including Ottawa’s expanded e-scooter pilot. Our members have raised serious accessibility and safety concerns. City testing shows that geofencing failed over half the time, and many people reported scooters blocking sidewalks. We are sending letters to city officials on our concerns. We also have concerns about Para Transpo’s new bus rollout possibly limiting options for riders with specific needs. Another issue was flagged regarding push-button doors on Ottawa’s O-Train. We also discussed voting experiences—while some had positive assistance, accessible voting machines remain unavailable. Members suggested exploring Seeing AI and earbuds for future elections. Future plans include a social gathering at Sir John A. MacDonald Pub on May 13 and we expect about a dozen attendees.


TORONTO CHAPTER

Minutes from Toronto’s December AGM and January meetings are available. Membership and engagement remain a concern for Toronto.

 


FROM THE AEBC BLOG

Access at the Accessibility Professional Network Conference

Linda Bartram, shares her experiences attending the Accessibility Professional Network Conference 2025 that recently took place in Vancouver. Check it out here: https://wix.to/XHvopg6

Tips for Filling in Online Surveys & Forms

AEBC often sends out surveys to members to get feedback on our activities and future goals. There are also so many online forms these days and often, they are not accessible or easy to navigate with a screen reader. Here are some tips as well as links to our training sessions on working with online forms. https://www.blindcanadians.ca/post/tips-for-filling-in-online-surveys-forms

Local Accessibility Advisory Committees Can Be Effective 

Discover how Local Accessibility Advisory Committees can make a significant impact in our communities!  https://wix.to/jIV4aUH

AEBC Members Receive King Charles III Coronation Award

We are thrilled to congratulate AEBC members Penny Bennett, Brian Bibeault, Peter Quaiattini, and David Lepofsky on receiving a King Charles III Coronation Award for their commitment and dedication within the Canadian blind, Deafblind and partially sighted community. Read more about this incredible achievement here: https://wix.to/Li55ScC

Making the Switch to Windows 11

Are you making the switch to Windows 11? Our latest blog post lists some resources for setting up NVDA or JAWS so you can navigate the transition more smoothly! Read more here: https://wix.to/S11sYoR 

AEBC Reacts to the Canada Disability Benefit Announcement: A Step Forward, But Is It Enough? 

While this represents the culmination of years of legislative work, the reaction from the disability community—particularly members of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC)—has been mixed. Read member thoughts here: https://wix.to/wO3g6tT

Many Canadians with Disabilities Face Barriers to Communication and Internet Access 

New data from Statistics Canada shows that nearly half of Canadians with disabilities have trouble communicating in daily life. Read the breakdown of the data here in this article: https://wix.to/XfzRS7o 

 


ADVOCACY NEWS

Self Advocacy Training Replay

On April 5th, we held a special training introducing our updated Self Advocacy guide. In 2006, AEBC published "Stand Up Speak Out," an advocacy guide for AEBC members. This 96-page document was recently updated and condensed into a shorter document and approved by the AEBC Advocacy Committee. Advocacy is vital to ensure that the rights and needs of blind individuals in Canada are recognized and addressed by government agencies, businesses, educational institutions, and employers. If you have an issue you would like to address, we can help you advocate effectively. Check out the revised self advocacy guide recently published on our website. You can also find the replay of our training session here: https://youtu.be/QLKzfpRTxg4

 


WHAT WE ARE READING

 

 

 


UPCOMING AEBC EVENTS

EVENTS CALENDAR

Check out our EVENTS CALENDAR for posted dates and links to information about events.


CHAPTER/AFFILIATE CHATS

National Public Chats: Join us every Friday at 4PM Pacific, 5PM Mountain, 7PM Eastern

 

BC Affiliate Public Chats: Join us Thursday Nights at 8 PM Pacific

 

Halifax Mid-Week Meltdown: Join us on the second Wednesday of every month at 8 PM Atlantic. The Halifax Meltdowns are open to anyone--both members and friends of AEBC. If you are not a member, please email us at halifaxchapter@blindcanadians.ca so we can send you information about the meltdowns.


TRAINING VIDEO REPLAYS

Missed one of our training or other events? There’s a good chance that you will find a video replay on our YouTube channel. Check it out and be sure to Subscribe to our channel and Like our videos!

 

AEBC NATIONAL BOARD MEETING DATES 2025

Board meetings for 2025 will be held on the 4th Monday of every month with the exception of August. All meetings begin at 4 PM Pacific 7 PM Eastern. Members are welcome to attend all meetings--alternating attendance as observers and member mashup at the end of a meeting as follows:

 

May 26, 2025 - members as observers

June 23, 2025 - mashup

July 28, 2025 – members as observers

August 2025 - no meeting

September 20, 2025 – Annual General Meeting

 

THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP WITH AEBC

Did you know that we have a lively members-only email discussion group? That members receive our weekly Monday Morsels e-newsletter that is chock full of resources and news geared specifically for our members? And that membership is only $10 a year!? Consider being a part of our AEBC family by joining today! Visit our website for membership information HERE.

 

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ALLIANCE FOR EQUALITY OF BLIND CANADIANS

 

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) is a national charitable organization committed to empowering blind, partially sighted, and deafblind Canadians to lead a life filled with opportunity, inclusivity, and equality. We advocate, support, and strive to make the world a better place for everyone, regardless of their visual acuity. Together, we can create a brighter and more accessible future for all.

 

Visit our website at www.blindcanadians.ca and follow us on social media

Mastodon:  @blindcanadians

YouTube:  @blindcanadians

 

We aim to bring you timely and informative news from the organization. We appreciate your feedback on our newsletter or submissions for consideration. Contact us at EMAIL Newsletter.

 

If you are interested in becoming more involved in our advocacy work or joining any of our working committees, please reach out to EMAIL ADVOCACY.

 

If you’re not already a member and would like to join, Visit our website for more information HERE. 

 

Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Subscribe HERE to receive future issues. 

 

Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians

PO Box 20262 RPO Town Centre

Kelowna, BC V1Y 9H21-800-561-4774

Copyright (c) 2025 Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians

 

 


 

 

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