Category: Uncategorised

Hi everyone: This is our final reminder re our invitation to you to join us
on October 29 for a countrywide tele town hall “Let’s get it out there.”
We want to thank those of you who have taken the time to register and we are
looking forward to some very exciting and interesting interaction.
Please note: For those of you who have registered, you will be emailed the
guidelines for the rules of engagement starting as of Oct 22. Registration
closes at noon Eastern on Wednesday 26.
We again thank you and now invite you to read on below.

In this announcement: You’ll find info about our tele town hall, bios of
our team; panelists, sponsoring individuals, moderator, and finally some
thought provoking questions to help you get started.

The beginning of each section is marked with 5 asterisks.
We thank you and take this opportunity to wish you a very happy
Thanksgiving.

*****
Save the date!

On October 29 2016, a group of advocates from the blind and visually
impaired community in collaboration with some organizations of the blind
will be holding a tele town hall titled “let’s get it out there.”
A title that was derived through the creative imagination of one of our very
own; Irene Lambert of Montreal.

Time: 1:00 pm Eastern
10:00 am Pacific
11:00 am Mountain
Noon Central
2:00 pm Atlantic
2:30 in NewFoundland

This town hall meeting is being jointly sponsored by the following:
Individuals – Richard Marion, Robin East, Anthony Tibbs, Donna Jodhan.
Organizations –
Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB),
Citizens with Disabilities of Ontario (CWDO),
Getting together with technology (GTT).

The objective of this tele town hall is to give participants an opportunity
to voice their opinions and suggestions in a meaningful and constructive way
on how we as a community can become a stronger voice for consumer advocacy.
What can we do in order to move forward in a positive way.

This tele town hall is not meant to be used as any sort of decision making
mechanism but rather as an open forum for constructive discussion.

Meet our panelists!
Richard Marion, Anthony Tibbs, Melanie Marsden, Albert Ruel, Paul Edwards.
Our moderator is Jane Blaine.
You can read more about our team in the section following this one.

We have prepared a short list of questions which you can use to help you to
spark and formulate your ideas and this is pasted at the end of this email.

If you wish to participate then you may send an email to us at
richard.marion@shaw.ca
You will receive a confirmation of receipt.
During the week of Oct 24 you will receive an email with details of the call
in info along with the rules of engagement.
Registration will close at noon Eastern on Oct 26.
We look forward to hearing from you.

Signed
Richard Marion
Anthony Tibbs
Robin East
Donna Jodhan

*****
Introducing our team!
Meet Richard Marion! (co-sponsor and panelist)
Currently Richard Marion is living in Vancouver British Columbia.
Richard has been involved in advocacy for most of his adult life so far.
He first expressed interest in working on issues concerning people with
disabilities as a student in college when he got involved with the
provincial affiliate of National Educational Association of Disabled
Students. From this point he was hooked and continued working on issues
concerning people with disabilities until now. Over the years, he has
taken a more specific interest in the blind consumer movement in Canada
and has been an active member of Alliance for Equality of Blind
Canadians and served as the organization’s president in 1998 when it was
still known as NFB:AE. Over the years Richard has also been involved in
a number of advisory processes including sitting on CNIB advisory
committees and currently chairing the TransLINK Access Transit User’s
Advisory Committee.

Meet Robin East! (co-sponsor)
Robin East has a Bachelor Degree in Social Work, a Certificate In
Rehabilitation Personal Development, and Professional International
certificates in Adaptive Technologies and Accessibility Guidelines. He has
worked as a Teacher Associate, a Behavioural Therapist, and finally, an
Officer with the Federal Public Service. Add to this volunteer work with
the Community, the Union, the Province of Saskatchewan, a number of national
charitable advocacy organizations, as well as local accessibility and
advocacy organizations.”An advocate is like a catalyst that mixes with an
ally and inspires empowerment” is a coined phrase of Robin’s. He believes
in working with ally’s to overcome barriers and address common issues. He
has been involved in advocacy since the early 80’s and continues to be a
strong leader in which ever role he takes on.

Meet Anthony Tibbs! (co-sponsor and panelist)
Anthony Tibbs has more than six years of experience on the national
board of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians as treasurer and
then president, and has served on a number of other boards over the year
as well (including Guide Dog Users of Canada). With a business and law
background, Mr. Tibbs’ day to day job is as a litigation lawyer (civil,
class action, human rights, administrative law), but he continues to
support the charitable and not-for-profit organizations that play such
an important role to the community.

Meet Donna Jodhan! (co-sponsor and coordinator)
Donna is a past president and second vice president of the Alliance for
Equality of Blind Canadians. She is also a past communications director of
Canadian Blind Sports Association and she is the founder of Barrier Free
Canada – Canada sans Barrières.
Donna is an entrepreneur, blogger, author, audio mystery writer, ongoing
advocate, and law student. She firmly believes that whatever we do today
will affect our kids of the future and that they are the ones that we need
to protect, assist, and nurture.

Meet Albert A. Ruel! (panelist)
Albert has found his passion in the field of access technology for people
who are blind or partially sighted. He has enjoyed a 22 year career in the
not-for-profit rehabilitation, technology training and advocacy sectors for
people with vision impairments. He holds a Social Service Worker
Certificate and is passionate about helping people connect with their needs.
Most importantly, Albert is solution-focused, flexible, has a positive
attitude and has a great sense of humour.

Meet Melanie Marsden! (panelist)
Melanie Marsden has been an advocate for over 30 plus years.
Part of this journey started while working on her social work degree at
Carleton University in 1989 While rasing two boys she completed her degree
in 1998.
Personally and professionally Melanie advocates for safe effective
parenting.
Any events that are planned are planned from a best practices cross
disability antiopression framework.
“When we all work together ecknowledging each person has a voice we
accomplish more.”
Melanie enjoys assisting others whenever she can and connecting folks to
one another when appropriate.

MeetPaul Edwards! (panelist)
And in his own words:
I was born in San Francisco California and was one of the early users of an
incubator after being very premature. I was left with a little light
perception which soon went away. At the age of seven I moved to Calgary
Alberta Canada and went to school in Vancouver, British Columbia. At
thirteen, my mother decided we were moving to Jamaica and I stayed there
till I was 21. I graduated from high school sort of and completed my
Bachelor’s SPECIAL Honors degree in History at the Mona Jamaica campus of
the University of the West Indies. I was the first blind student to go there
and ended up in Trinidad because I wanted to do a graduate degree in
international relations which I successfully completed.
I met my first wife there and married during my degree and so was faced with
the need to find a way to support her and my first daughter who was pretty
quickly on the way after our marriage. I taught at a small school in the
rural area of Trinidad partly because there was no other job and partly
because I was not sure if I could really teach. I really enjoyed that first
year because all the girls I taught really wanted to learn. Yes, it was a
girls’ school. I was not making disparaging remarks about boys!
After one year I became the senior history master at Trinity College, the
leading Anglican School for Boys in Trinidad and Tobago. Near the end of my
teaching career, I got a graduate degree in Education from the University of
the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad.
When I left Trinidad ten years later I had three children: two girls and a
boy. I moved to Florida where I went to work for the Division of Blind
Services as a rehabilitation teacher. In this job, I went to people’s homes
and taught them skills that would enable them to adjust to visual
impairment. After three years of this, I became a Rehabilitation Counselor
and worked mostly with high school and college students. In 1983, I moved to
Jacksonville to take over as Executive Director of an agency serving blind
people there. In 1986, I moved to Miami as Director of Services to Students
with Disabilities on the North Campus of Miami Dade College, the largest two
year college in the United States. On my campus we served over seven hundred
disabled students a year. I retired from that job in May of 2012.
While I certainly regard my working life as rich and varied, I have derived
much more pleasure from the work I have done as a volunteer and advocate. I
have worked at the local level, at the state level and at the national level
to try to make things better for people who are blind. I currently serve on
the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, the National Accreditation
Council Board and hold several positions within the American Council and its
Florida Affiliate. I have worked particularly on library issues, promoting
braille and changing laws.
I absolutely believe that I have been given as much by the people I have
tried to help as I have given them. Until I became associated with ACB, I
saw myself as an inferior creature desperately trying to compete in a world
where I could never do quite enough to be accepted. What the blindness
movement taught me is that the only person I have to satisfy is me. That may
sound arrogant and overbearing but that is not how it is intended. I set
high standards for myself and if I can meet them I am likely to meet the
standards of others. I no longer worry about being accepted by society. I
have rights and I will fight to see they are protected. Society does not
need to accept me but they do need to include me. I am proud to be a person
who is blind. I am proud of what I accomplish every day in spite of the
barriers that are there. More than that, I am proud of what every blind
person everywhere accomplishes every day. It isn’t easy to be blind and
anybody who says it is or who suggests that it’s a walk in the park does not
live in the same world I do!
I enjoy modern folk music, fantassy and science fiction and hope that, in
due course, I will find some time to write. The one thing you can be sure I
will not write is an autobiography. My three children are now grown up and I
have ten grand children which is quite enough to keep me occupied and young.
I still have a lot to do and many places where I think I can help. I have
had a good life and only wish I had not been quite so busy. When you don’t
make time to smell the roses, they have often faded before you can enjoy
them!

Meet Jane Blaine! (moderator)
Jane has been involved in programming and administration of blind sport and
para sport for over 30 years. Professionally she is the Executive Director
of BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association and also acts as the CEO of
Canadian Blind Sports. Current interests of Jane’s include the development
of a long term athlete/participant pathway showing how individuals who are
blind or visually impaired enter physical activity and become physically
literate, and move through the stages of long term athlete and participant
development, as well as supporting the research into development of sport
specific classification systems for athletes who are blind. Jane is also
interested in the progress on development of a Canadians with a Disability
Act.

Jane facilitated a previous session for AEBC and looks forward to
facilitating this upcoming session.

*****
Questions for consideration

1. In order to ensure that people who are blind, Partially Sighted or
deaf/blind continue to have a strong voice in Canada,
What do you think the national consumer movement should look like in the
future?
2. Canada is a small country in population. However, it is
geographically quite large. would it be better in Canada to
ensure that on a national level there is 1 organization of the blind
working on projects and advocacy to help
strengthen community activities provincially and locally?
3. National, Provincial and local organizations have tried working in
coalitions. Are you aware of any activities that these coalitions have done?
Would you support a more formal working relationship between the existing
national organizations of the blind?
4. “Why do you think the blindness community is so fragmented in its
approach to advocacy and community activities?”

October 5, 2016, Vancouver, B.C. – Rob Sleath, on behalf of people who are
blind or partially sighted and Access for Sight-Impaired Consumers (ASIC),
and Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. have agreed to settle a human rights complaint
that will see Shoppers Drug Marts in British Columbia offer prescription
medication information in an audio format throughout the province.

“This is definitely a step in the right direction for people who are blind
or partially sighted in terms of having independent access to essential
prescription information,” said Rob Sleath.
“Since my kidney transplant, I have been on a regimen of many different
medications. Having prescription medications with attached audio labels
means I can independently, confidently and safely manage my medications
without fear of consuming any one of them incorrectly. ASIC pursued its
complaint against Shoppers Drug Mart to eliminate the barriers faced by
tens of thousands of people like me in B.C. who live with sight loss.”

As of September 1 of this year, following a human rights complaint filed
on June 2, 2014, Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. has agreed that:
1.   Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies in B.C. will
make available to its customers an auditory labelling service for
prescription medication information at no cost to the consumer. Auditory
prescription labels will contain the same information as on the printed
prescription label
– patient’s name, name and strength of
medication, dosage instructions, quantity, prescription date, refills
remaining (if any), prescriber, name and telephone number of dispensing
pharmacy, prescription number, and warnings.

2.   Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies will ensure
that, absent of exceptional circumstances, the time from when a
prescription request is made to a pharmacy to the time the medication is
available for pick-up is no longer than 48 hours during business days
(excluding statutory holidays and weekends). For prescription renewals,
the medication should be available for pick up at the same time as the
prescription would be available if prepared with a print label.

3.   Where a patient cannot arrange to pick up
the prescription within a reasonable time after it is ready, the Shoppers
Drug Mart pharmacy may deliver the medication to the patient free of
charge where the delivery is within the pharmacy’s regular service
territory.

“While this is a positive outcome for people who are blind or partially
sighted in B.C., it should be noted that delivery within 48 hours is not
equal to the service provided to consumers who are sighted,” said Sleath.
“Furthermore, we are disappointed that Shoppers Drug Mart has chosen only
to offer audio labels, and not the broader range of accessible formats
including large print, braille or QR codes that can be accessed with a
smart phone.”

Sleath and ASIC will partner with other blindness-related organizations,
including CNIB, to encourage Shoppers Drug Mart, and all other pharmacies
offering this service, to close this discriminatory delivery gap.

“This is a victory for people with sight loss, and their efforts to live
fully independent lives,” said Diane Bergeron, CNIB’s Executive Director,
Strategic Relations and Engagement.
“But it is only the first step towards creating an inclusive system that
incorporates the needs of persons with disabilities. This win in B.C. is
just the beginning. ASIC will be partnering with CNIB, where together, we
fully intend to fight to make prescription labels a mandatory component in
all pharmacies across Canada.”

Audio labels are encoded radio-frequency identification (RFID) labels that
are affixed to the bottom of a prescription bottle or container.
The information on these labels can be accessed through a ScripTalk
Reader, which is supplied and delivered by En-Vision America at no cost to
the consumer through any Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy in BC. Accessible
prescription medication information using audio labels are also available
through all Save-On Foods, PriceSmart, Urban Fare, Bulkley Valley
Wholesale, Overwaitea, London Drugs and Peoples Drug Mart locations.



About Access for Sight-Impaired Consumers

Access for Sight-Impaired Consumers (ASIC) is an independent,
consumer-driven advocacy coalition that addresses issues which affect
British Columbian residents who are blind, deafblind or partially sighted.
Many of our affiliate organizations are associated with widely-recognized
provincial or national bodies serving the nearly three-quarter million BC
residents who are affected by one of the four most common eye diseases
which could potentially lead to sight loss. ASIC’s primary advocacy action
plan focuses upon the 64,500 British Columbians who are currently blind,
deafblind or partially sighted.

Our mission is to collaborate with our affiliate organizations and
community partners to increase awareness and understanding of issues
related to sight loss. Our aim is to build inclusive communities for
people with sight loss by promoting equitable access and by supporting
independent living.

Do you have questions about your vision health? Do you want to learn how to access emerging treatments? Do you want to discover your best vision care pathway? If you answered yes, then Vision Quest 2016 is for you!

Every year, the Foundation Fighting Blindness hosts a series of educational conferences across Canada called Vision Quest. Each event is carefully designed to ensure that people living with vision loss and their families can make life-changing connections with Canada’s top eye care specialists and leading vision researchers. Importantly, Vision Quest connects people living with low vision and blindness with a community of support.

“It’s an inspiring day. The best part is to meet other individuals and parents LIVING (not just getting by) with vision loss. To know that there is hope for us is beautiful.” – 2015 Vision Quest attendee

Here are the new and exciting initiatives at Vision Quest 2016:

• Each Vision Quest event will have 3 co-chairs, including a clinical chair, a research chair and a patient chair, who will work together to build the best possible program
• Sessions focused on specific disease areas to allow more in depth questions and community building
• Interactive Science Gallery will allow attendees to get hands on experience with cutting edge vision research that is paving the way to new treatments
• New sessions devoted entirely to clinical trials in Canada and around the world
• Launching new How to Guidesthat provide straight-forward instructions about how to access your best vision care, including, How to Get Genetic Testing and How to Enroll in a Clinical Trial
• Click on the links below to register for your local event today:
• St. John’s (October 15)
• Ottawa – Age-Related Macular Degeneration (October 22)
• Ottawa – Inherited Retinal Diseases (October 22)
• Toronto – Inherited Retinal Disease clinical trial session (November 4)

Do you want Vision Quest to come to your city! Let us know!

Dear members,

Please find attached the WBU press release for World Sight Day 2016. You will also be able to find this press release on our website on the home page and “News” section in October as well.

We hope that this press release will be a useful information source and we invite you to edit it as needed for your use locally. Additionally, if possible, please send me examples of any press coverage that you receive regarding World Sight Day.

With kind regards,

Caitlin Reid

Communications Officer | Project Coordinator – Marrakesh Treaty Ratification and Implementation Campaign

World Blind Union

1929 Bayview Avenue

Toronto Ontario

CANADA M4G 3E8

Tel: +1 416 486 9698

Fax: +1 416 486 8107

Mobile: + 1 647 281 4477

Email: caitlin.reid@wbu.ngo

Website: www.wbu.ngo, www.worldblindunion.org

Twitter:@BlindUnion

 

wbu-press-release-world-sight-day-2016

On October 29 2016, a group of advocates from the blind and visually

impaired community in collaboration with some organizations of the blind

will be holding a tele town hall titled “let’s get it out there.”

A title that was derived through the creative imagination of one of our very

own; Irene Lambert of Montreal.

Time: 1:00 pm Eastern

10:00 am Pacific

11:00 am Mountain

Noon Central

2:00 pm Atlantic

2:30 in Newfoundland

This town hall meeting is being jointly sponsored by the following:

Individuals – Richard Marion, Robin East, Anthony Tibbs, Donna Jodhan.

Organizations –

Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB),

Citizens with Disabilities of Ontario (CWDO),

Getting together with technology (GTT).

The objective of this tele town hall is to give participants an opportunity

to voice their opinions and suggestions in a meaningful and constructive way

on how we as a community can become a stronger voice for consumer advocacy.

What can we do in order to move forward in a positive way.

This tele town hall is not meant to be used as any sort of decision making

mechanism but rather as an open forum for constructive discussion.

Meet our panelists!

Richard Marion, Anthony Tibbs, Melanie Marsden, Albert Ruel, Paul Edwards.

Our moderator is Jane Blaine.

You can read more about our team in the section following this one.

We have prepared a short list of questions which you can use to help you to

spark and formulate your ideas and this is pasted at the end of this email.

If you wish to participate then you may send an email to us at

richard.marion@shaw.ca

You will receive a confirmation of receipt.

During the week of Oct 24 you will receive an email with details of the call

in info along with the rules of engagement.

Registration will close at noon Eastern on Oct 26.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Signed

Richard Marion

Anthony Tibbs

Robin East

Donna Jodhan

*****

Introducing our team!

Meet Richard Marion! (co-sponsor and panelist)

Currently Richard Marion is living in Vancouver British Columbia.

Richard has been involved in advocacy for most of his adult life so far.

He first expressed interest in working on issues concerning people with

disabilities as a student in college when he got involved with the

provincial affiliate of National Educational Association of Disabled

Students. From this point he was hooked and continued working on issues

concerning people with disabilities until now. Over the years, he has

taken a more specific interest in the blind consumer movement in Canada

and has been an active member of Alliance for Equality of Blind

Canadians and served as the organization’s president in 1998 when it was

still known as NFB:AE. Over the years Richard has also been involved in

a number of advisory processes including sitting on CNIB advisory

committees and currently chairing the TransLINK Access Transit User’s

Advisory Committee.

Meet Robin East! (co-sponsor)

Robin East has a Bachelor Degree in Social Work, a Certificate In

Rehabilitation Personal Development, and Professional International

certificates in Adaptive Technologies and Accessibility Guidelines. He has

worked as a Teacher Associate, a Behavioural Therapist, and finally, an

Officer with the Federal Public Service. Add to this volunteer work with

the Community, the Union, the Province of Saskatchewan, a number of national

charitable advocacy organizations, as well as local accessibility and

advocacy organizations.”An advocate is like a catalyst that mixes with an

ally and inspires empowerment” is a coined phrase of Robin’s. He believes

in working with ally’s to overcome barriers and address common issues. He

has been involved in advocacy since the early 80’s and continues to be a

strong leader in which ever role he takes on.

Meet Anthony Tibbs! (co-sponsor and panelist)

Anthony Tibbs has more than six years of experience on the national

board of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians as treasurer and

then president, and has served on a number of other boards over the year

as well (including Guide Dog Users of Canada). With a business and law

background, Mr. Tibbs’ day to day job is as a litigation lawyer (civil,

class action, human rights, administrative law), but he continues to

support the charitable and not-for-profit organizations that play such

an important role to the community.

Meet Donna Jodhan! (co-sponsor and coordinator)

Donna is a past president and second vice president of the Alliance for

Equality of Blind Canadians. She is also a past communications director of

Canadian Blind Sports Association and she is the founder of Barrier Free

Canada – Canada sans Barrières.

Donna is an entrepreneur, blogger, author, audio mystery writer, ongoing

advocate, and law student. She firmly believes that whatever we do today

will affect our kids of the future and that they are the ones that we need

to protect, assist, and nurture.

Meet Albert A. Ruel! (panelist)

Albert has found his passion in the field of access technology for people

who are blind or partially sighted. He has enjoyed a 22 year career in the

not-for-profit rehabilitation, technology training and advocacy sectors for

people with vision impairments. He holds a Social Service Worker

Certificate and is passionate about helping people connect with their needs.

Most importantly, Albert is solution-focused, flexible, has a positive

attitude and has a great sense of humour.

Meet Melanie Marsden! (panelist)

Melanie Marsden has been an advocate for over 30 plus years.

Part of this journey started while working on her social work degree at

Carleton University in 1989 While rasing two boys she completed her degree

in 1998.

Personally and professionally Melanie advocates for safe effective

parenting.

Any events that are planned are planned from a best practices cross

disability antiopression framework.

“When we all work together ecknowledging each person has a voice we

accomplish more.”

Melanie enjoys assisting others whenever she can and connecting folks to

one another when appropriate.

Meet Paul Edwards! (panelist)

And in his own words:

I was born in San Francisco California and was one of the early users of an

incubator after being very premature. I was left with a little light

perception which soon went away. At the age of seven I moved to Calgary

Alberta Canada and went to school in Vancouver, British Columbia. At

thirteen, my mother decided we were moving to Jamaica and I stayed there

till I was 21. I graduated from high school sort of and completed my

Bachelor’s SPECIAL Honors degree in History at the Mona Jamaica campus of

the University of the West Indies. I was the first blind student to go there

and ended up in Trinidad because I wanted to do a graduate degree in

international relations which I successfully completed.

I met my first wife there and married during my degree and so was faced with

the need to find a way to support her and my first daughter who was pretty

quickly on the way after our marriage. I taught at a small school in the

rural area of Trinidad partly because there was no other job and partly

because I was not sure if I could really teach. I really enjoyed that first

year because all the girls I taught really wanted to learn. Yes, it was a

girls’ school. I was not making disparaging remarks about boys!

After one year I became the senior history master at Trinity College, the

leading Anglican School for Boys in Trinidad and Tobago. Near the end of my

teaching career, I got a graduate degree in Education from the University of

the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad.

When I left Trinidad ten years later I had three children: two girls and a

boy. I moved to Florida where I went to work for the Division of Blind

Services as a rehabilitation teacher. In this job, I went to people’s homes

and taught them skills that would enable them to adjust to visual

impairment. After three years of this, I became a Rehabilitation Counselor

and worked mostly with high school and college students. In 1983, I moved to

Jacksonville to take over as Executive Director of an agency serving blind

people there. In 1986, I moved to Miami as Director of Services to Students

with Disabilities on the North Campus of Miami Dade College, the largest two

year college in the United States. On my campus we served over seven hundred

disabled students a year. I retired from that job in May of 2012.

While I certainly regard my working life as rich and varied, I have derived

much more pleasure from the work I have done as a volunteer and advocate. I

have worked at the local level, at the state level and at the national level

to try to make things better for people who are blind. I currently serve on

the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind, the National Accreditation

Council Board and hold several positions within the American Council and its

Florida Affiliate. I have worked particularly on library issues, promoting

braille and changing laws.

I absolutely believe that I have been given as much by the people I have

tried to help as I have given them. Until I became associated with ACB, I

saw myself as an inferior creature desperately trying to compete in a world

where I could never do quite enough to be accepted. What the blindness

movement taught me is that the only person I have to satisfy is me. That may

sound arrogant and overbearing but that is not how it is intended. I set

high standards for myself and if I can meet them I am likely to meet the

standards of others. I no longer worry about being accepted by society. I

have rights and I will fight to see they are protected. Society does not

need to accept me but they do need to include me. I am proud to be a person

who is blind. I am proud of what I accomplish every day in spite of the

barriers that are there. More than that, I am proud of what every blind

person everywhere accomplishes every day. It isn’t easy to be blind and

anybody who says it is or who suggests that it’s a walk in the park does not

live in the same world I do!

I enjoy modern folk music, fantasy and science fiction and hope that, in

due course, I will find some time to write. The one thing you can be sure I

will not write is an autobiography. My three children are now grown up and I

have ten grandchildren which is quite enough to keep me occupied and young.

I still have a lot to do and many places where I think I can help. I have

had a good life and only wish I had not been quite so busy. When you don’t

make time to smell the roses, they have often faded before you can enjoy

them!

Meet Jane Blaine! (moderator)

Jane has been involved in programming and administration of blind sport and

para sport for over 30 years. Professionally she is the Executive Director

of BC Blind Sports and Recreation Association and also acts as the CEO of

Canadian Blind Sports. Current interests of Jane’s include the development

of a long term athlete/participant pathway showing how individuals who are

blind or visually impaired enter physical activity and become physically

literate, and move through the stages of long term athlete and participant

development, as well as supporting the research into development of sport

specific classification systems for athletes who are blind. Jane is also

interested in the progress on development of a Canadians with a Disability

Act.

Jane facilitated a previous session for AEBC and looks forward to

facilitating this upcoming session.

*****

Questions for consideration

1. In order to ensure that people who are blind, Partially Sighted or

deaf/blind continue to have a strong voice in Canada,

What do you think the national consumer movement should look like in the

future?

2. Canada is a small country in population. However, it is geographically quite large. would it be better in Canada to ensure that on a national level there is 1 organization of the blind working on projects and advocacy to help strengthen community activities provincially and locally?

3. National, Provincial and local organizations have tried working in coalitions. Are you aware of any activities that these coalitions have done?

Would you support a more formal working relationship between the existing

national organizations of the blind?

4. “Why do you think the blindness community is so fragmented in its

approach to advocacy and community activities?”

Dear Ms. Gillis,

 

In May, the Government launched an independent, evidence-based review of Canada Post to ensure Canadians receive quality and sustainable postal services at a reasonable cost.

 

This letter is to inform you that the first phase of the review process is complete. Today, I received the discussion paper prepared by the independent Task Force I established to undertake Phase 1 of the Canada Post review.

 

During this first phase, the Task Force undertook an analysis of Canada Post’s services and current financial situation, conducted public opinion research, met with key stakeholders, and examined international best practices for postal delivery.

 

It is clear that postal services are highly important to Canadians. Canada Post is an institution that is relevant and valuable to Canadians, and part of our fabric as a nation.

 

A copy of the discussion paper can be found on the Department’s Canada Post Review website.

 

The discussion paper will help inform the second phase of the review, which is being led by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. The committee is carrying out national public consultations with Canadians from coast to coast to coast, beginning in Ottawa on September 20th. For more information on the consultations and how you can participate, please visit the committee’s website.

 

Based on its findings, the parliamentary committee will make recommendations to the Government on the future of Canada Post by December 2016.

 

This is only the beginning. A great deal of work has been done and more still needs to occur before the Government makes any decisions with respect to the future of Canada Post.

 

As always, please do not hesitate to share your thoughts on the review that will help ensure Canadians receive the postal services they value and need.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Judy M. Foote, PC, MP

Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Madame Gillis,

 

En mai, le gouvernement a entamé un examen indépendant fondé sur des données probantes de Postes Canada dans le but de s’assurer que la population canadienne reçoit des services postaux de qualité et durables à un coût raisonnable.

 

Je tiens à vous informer que la première étape du processus d’examen est terminée. J’ai reçu aujourd’hui le document de travail préparé par le groupe de travail indépendant que j’ai mis sur pied pour entreprendre la première étape de l’examen de Postes Canada.

 

Durant la première étape, le groupe de travail a analysé les services et la situation financière actuelle de Postes Canada, en effectuant des recherches sur l’opinion publique, en rencontrant les principaux intervenants concernés et en étudiant des pratiques exemplaires relatives à la distribution postale adoptées à l’échelle internationale.

 

Il est clair que les services postaux sont d’une grande importance pour la population canadienne. Postes Canada demeure une institution pertinente qui fait partie intégrante du tissu social de notre nation et qui tient à cœur à la population canadienne.

 

Le document de travail peut être consulté sur le site Web du Ministère portant sur l’examen de Postes Canada.

 

Le document de travail permettra d’étayer la seconde étape de l’examen, que dirige le Comité permanent des opérations gouvernementales et des prévisions budgétaires de la Chambre des communes. Le Comité mènera des consultations publiques nationales auprès de Canadiens de partout au pays, la première d’entre elles étant prévue le 20 septembre à Ottawa. Pour obtenir de plus amples renseignements sur les consultations et la façon d’y participer, visitez le site Web du Comité.

 

En se fondant sur ses conclusions, le comité parlementaire soumettra au gouvernement d’ici décembre 2016 des recommandations quant à l’avenir de Postes Canada.

 

Il ne s’agit là que du commencement. Un travail considérable a été réalisé et continuera de l’être avant que le gouvernement ne prenne une décision quelconque à l’égard de l’avenir de Postes Canada.

 

Comme à l’habitude, n’hésitez pas à nous faire part de vos commentaires sur l’examen mené en vue de garantir que la population canadienne reçoit les services postaux dont elle a besoin et qui lui tiennent à cœur.

 

 

Je vous prie d’agréer, Madame, mes salutations les meilleures.

 

 

 

Judy M. Foote, C.P., députée

Ministre des Services publics et de l’Approvisionnement

The Marrakesh Treaty and the Future of Literacy for the Blind and Print Disabled: International Literacy Day 2016

September 8th, 2016

Toronto, Canada: Fifty years ago, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrated the first International Literacy Day on September 8th, 1966. In honour of the anniversary, this year’s theme is “Reading the Past, Writing the Future.” For the World Blind Union (WBU), the future of literacy for the blind and partially sighted is with the ratification and effective implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty.

Currently, over 90% of published materials are not available to the nearly 300 million people that are blind or have a print disability. Access is especially low in developing and low-income countries where less than 1% of materials are accessible. This has resulted in a global “book famine” and the World Blind Union (WBU) has campaigned for years for a Treaty that would help overcome the book famine.

The result of our efforts and the efforts of our partners and other stakeholders is the Marrakesh Treaty, which was adopted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states in 2013. The Treaty needed twenty countries to ratify in order for it to enter into force and that momentous goal was achieved earlier this year on June 30th when Canada became the twentieth ratifying country. The Treaty will officially enter into force this month, on September 30th, 2016.

The President of the WBU, Arnt Holte celebrated upon the news of the 20th ratification, remarking that “the fact that the Marrakesh Treaty is coming into force might be the most positive development for blind and partially sighted persons and their right to read since Louis Braille developed the Braille alphabet. Accessible books being shared across borders will change the world for all people with print disabilities.”

The Treaty directly addresses the book famine in two important ways;
First, it will enable “authorized entities,” such as blind persons’ organizations and libraries, to more easily reproduce works into accessible formats for non-profit distribution. Second, the Treaty will permit the same authorized entities to share accessible books and other printed materials across borders with other authorized entities, helping to end the needless and inefficient duplication of efforts.

Now that the treaty is about to enter into force, its implementation has become an important focus for the WBU and its members from all over the world. WBU’s Immediate Past President and our Right to Read Chair, Maryanne Diamond, commented on this importance: “Literacy for all is fundamental to getting an education, work and participating in the community. The Marrakesh treaty must be properly implemented to make it possible for people who are blind or have a print disability to have the same experiences as persons without print disabilities.”

Our hope is that every country will ratify the Marrakesh Treaty and then effectively implement its provisions in line with the treaty’s overarching goal of furthering the human rights of persons with print disabilities by promoting their access to literature and information. The WBU and its members will continue to work with countries that have ratified the Marrakesh Treaty to ensure that it achieves its goal.

To learn more about the Marrakesh Treaty, our Right to Read Campaign and what you can do to encourage your government to ratify the treaty, visit our Campaign Page.

The World Blind Union (WBU) is the global organization that represents the estimated 285 million people worldwide who are blind or partially sighted. Members consist of organizations of blind people advocating on their own behalf and organizations that serve the blind, in over 190 countries, as well as international organizations working in the field of vision impairment. Visit our website at www.wbu.ngo
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For further information, please contact:
Caitlin Reid, Communications Officer, World Blind Union
Caitlin.Reid@wbu.ngo

In-person consultations to inform the development of planned accessibility legislation announced

August 23, 2016 Whitby, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada

Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, visited the Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ontario, and hosted a panel with three young Canadian innovators to discuss how accessibility drives innovation. The Minister toured the centre, noting the accessibility measures in place there, which serve as an example for other communities across Canada. Minister Qualtrough also announced the schedule of the in-person consultations organized to inform planned accessibility legislation.

Minister Qualtrough participated in a dynamic discussion with the three young Canadian innovators:

Maayan Ziv, the creator of an online platform that uses crowdsourcing to pinpoint the accessibility status of locations on an interactive map;
Micah Rakoff Bellman, the designer of Lift, a height-adjustable and movable table with integrated storage that provides home cooks a comfortable and flexible work surface in the kitchen; and
Quayce Thomas, an architecture student who has developed Timsle, a Fitbit-type app that promotes healthy, active living using social networks.
Many more thought-provoking discussions such as these will happen in the next few months, as the Minister travels across the country to engage and consult with Canadians about what an Accessible Canada could look like. In-person public sessions will be held in 18 cities from September to December. Canadians are encouraged to visit Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada to find an in-person consultation session in their area. These sessions will provide all Canadians with an opportunity to share their ideas on how to improve accessibility and inclusion across Canada.

Canadians can also participate in the consultation exercise online at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada, and can follow @AccessibleGC and the hashtag #AccessibleCanada on Twitter and Accessible Canada on Facebook. The consultation process will run until February 2017.

Minister Qualtrough also encouraged young people from across Canada to apply to participate in the National Youth Forum on Accessibility, which will take place on November 1st. This event will provide Canadian youth who have experience and expertise in disabilities and accessibility with an opportunity to engage in the policy discussion. More information is available at Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada.

Quotes

“Today we are taking another exciting step in our discussion on accessibility. Increasing accessibility is not only the right thing to do, but it also has social and economic benefits for all Canadians. Canada is well positioned to become a global leader in innovative service delivery, technology and universal design. Together, we will reshape the landscape for Canadians with disabilities.”

– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

Further Information

News Release: What does an accessible Canada mean to you?

Planned Accessibility Legislation

#AccessibleCanada

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Contacts

Ashley Michnowski
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
819-934-1122 / TTY: 1-866-702-6967

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook

Backgrounder

Abilities Centre

The Abilities Centre is an internationally renowned, innovative community hub where people of all ages and abilities enrich their lives by engaging in social, health and cultural programs. The centre delivers sports, health and fitness, arts and culture, leading-edge research, education and life skills programming in a welcoming, positive, energetic environment. The Abilities Centre is a not-for-profit corporation and a registered charity operating in Whitby, Ontario. The centre is a 2016 winner of the Ontario David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility.

Consultation to inform the development of accessibility legislation

Minister Qualtrough, Canada’s first Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, was mandated by the Prime Minister to lead an engagement process with stakeholders—including Canadians with disabilities, provinces, territories and municipalities—that would inform planned legislation to transform how the Government of Canada addresses accessibility.

The consultation process is now open, until February 2017.

Starting in September, Canadians across Canada will be able to participate in the in-person consultation engagement process. In-person public consultations are planned to take place in the following cities:

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador / November 3, 2016
Halifax, Nova Scotia / December 9, 2016
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island / December 8, 2016
Moncton, New Brunswick / October 20, 2016
Québec, Quebec / November 10, 2016
Montréal, Quebec / November 16, 2016
Ottawa, Ontario / November 30, 2016
Toronto, Ontario / February 8, 2017
Thunder Bay, Ontario / October 12, 2016
Winnipeg, Manitoba / October 3, 2016
Regina, Saskatchewan / September 28, 2016
Calgary, Alberta / October 13, 2016
Edmonton, Alberta / October 7, 2016
Vancouver, British Columbia / November 26, 2016
Victoria, British Columbia / November 7, 2016
Iqaluit, Nunavut / September 24, 2016
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories / September 26, 2016
Whitehorse, Yukon / September 22, 2016.
For the most up-to-date information on in-person venues and dates, and to participate online, please visit Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada.

Minister Qualtrough will also participate in roundtable discussions, as well as a National Youth Forum that will engage Canadian youth with disabilities in the policy discussion.

National Youth Forum

Minister Qualtrough, as part of her mandate to consult with Canadians on the development of new accessibility legislation, will host a one-day National Youth Forum in Ottawa on November 1st 2016. The Forum will provide an opportunity for Canadian youth with disabilities to discuss what accessibility means to them, share ideas for the new legislation, connect with peers and celebrate youth leadership in building a more accessible Canada.

Applicants must:

– be between 15 and 30 years old in November, 2016;

– be residents of Canada;

– have a disability or have life, academic or work experience related to disability and accessibility; and

– demonstrate their leadership or involvement in an area related to disability and accessibility in their community, region or nationally.

The deadline to submit an application is September 15, 2016. Successful applicants will be contacted by The Office for Disability Issues in the fall.

For more information about how to submit an application to participate in the National Youth Forum please visit: Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada.

Innovator Bios

Maayan Ziv – Founder and CEO of AccessNow

Mayaan has a passion for creating a more accessible world for people who use a wheelchair. Mayaan created the AccessNow mobile app, which uses crowd sourcing to collect and share accessibility information all around the world.

Micah Rakoff Bellman – Winner of the 2016 annual Innovative Designs for Accessibility (IDeA)

Micah is a student at Carleton University’s Industrial Design program. Micah has developed an invention called Lift, which is a height-adjustable, movable table which integrates storage that provides home cooks with a comfortable and flexible surface in the kitchen. The device strives to give more freedom to older individuals and people with disabilities.

Quayce Thomas, Winner of the 2015 annual Innovative Designs for Accessibility (IDeA)

Quayce is an entrepreneur and architecture student at Carleton University, has seen his app taking the top prize in the IDeA competition in 2015. Timsle is an app that promotes healthy active living by checking in to make sure users are meeting the goals they’ve shared with their social network. This “accountability network” helps meeting academic or other goals and preventing depression.

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Starting in September, Canadians across Canada will be able to participate in the in-person consultation engagement process. In-person public consultations are planned to take place in the following cities:

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador / November 3, 2016
Halifax, Nova Scotia / December 9, 2016
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island / December 8, 2016
Moncton, New Brunswick / October 20, 2016
Québec, Quebec / November 10, 2016
Montréal, Quebec / November 16, 2016
Ottawa, Ontario / November 30, 2016
Toronto, Ontario / February 8, 2017
Thunder Bay, Ontario / October 12, 2016
Winnipeg, Manitoba / October 3, 2016
Regina, Saskatchewan / September 28, 2016
Calgary, Alberta / October 13, 2016
Edmonton, Alberta / October 7, 2016
Vancouver, British Columbia / November 26, 2016
Victoria, British Columbia / November 7, 2016
Iqaluit, Nunavut / September 24, 2016
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories / September 26, 2016
Whitehorse, Yukon / September 22, 2016.
For the most up-to-date information on in-person venues and dates, and to participate online, please visit Canada.ca/Accessible-Canada.

DATES FOR 2016 TOURNAMENTS:

◊ Sunday, October 2 to Saturday, October 8 – Lewis Miller Woods Mixed Bowling

◊ Sunday, October 9 to Saturday, October 15  – Maycourt Ladies

◊ Sunday, October 16 to Saturday, October 22  – Open Singles -Partially Sighted (Male & Female)

◊ Sunday, October 23 to Saturday, October 29 – Totally Blind Singles (Male & Female)

 

For more information on tournament rules and to download tournament entry and results forms, please visit the EVENTS: Email Bowling page or contact Bill Rizzo atBill.rizzo@sympatico.ca.

Please also send all results by e-mail to Bill.rizzo@sympatico.ca.