When inclusion leads, everyone moves forward

This year, AEBC has continued doing what we do best—making Canada more inclusive for people who are blind, Deafblind, and partially sighted.

Over the past few months, we have trained advocates, pushed for accessible transportation and better websites, advised governments, supported scholarships, and built partnerships that open real doors. Every meeting, every policy win, every workshop is powered by the same belief: accessibility is not charity—it is equality.

And when barriers are removed or prevented for our community, everyone benefits.

Think about how many everyday things started with accessibility in mind: 

Text messaging was a boon for deaf and hearing people alike and it is now part of all of our lives.

Speech-to-text helped people who are deaf by making communication easier. Dictation is now a part of everyday life that we all use.

Curb cuts built for wheelchairs made life easier for parents with strollers and travellers with luggage.

Audio description and captions, once designed for people with vision or hearing loss, now help millions watch videos in noisy places or learn new languages.

Even dark mode on smartphones, originally for low-vision users, now saves everyone’s eyes after a long day.

AEBC has been directly involved in advocating for initiatives like the Ontario Photo Card, which provides government-issued identification to Ontarians who do not have a driver’s licence, making it easier for people to open a bank account and access government benefits. It was established in 2012 after a multi-year campaign led by AEBC’s Toronto Chapter.

That is true inclusion. The solutions that help a few often end up helping all.

With your help, AEBC will keep leading that change.

Your donation—whether $10 or $100—directly supports the advocacy, mentorship, and education that make this possible. It helps us ensure that future technologies, workplaces, and communities start off accessible instead of requiring retrofits.

As we mark Giving Tuesday on December 2 and the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, I invite you to give to AEBC and keep this momentum going. You can make your donation today at www.blindcanadians.ca/donate or through CanadaHelps.org.

When inclusion becomes the standard, everyone moves forward.

Thank you for standing with us and for believing in a Canada where accessibility benefits all.

With appreciation,

Marcia Yale

President

Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians