AEBC: WHO WE ARE

AUDIO VERSION By Penny Leclair The Senate of Canada proclaimed June as National Deaf Blind Awareness Month (NDBAM) in 2015, chosen because Helen Keller was born and died in June. The Canadian Survey on Disability estimates there are over 600,000 Canadians living with this disability and there is a wide spectrum of situations that cause these individuals to be classified as Deafblind. A person is considered Deafblind when their combined sight and hearing impairment results

AUDIO VERSION By Linda Bartram Despite all the accommodations that have been put in place by the air travel sector, flying can still present challenges for people who are blind. A recent trip I took to Europe involved three Air Canada flights accompanied by two different sighted companions and one Aegean Airlines flight, which I took on my own. In all cases I informed the airline in advance that I am blind, and this was indicated on my e-ticket. The assistance (or lack of i

BC Affiliate members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting on June 25 via Zoom. Join us to hear highlights from the past year, learn about current initiatives, and help shape the future of the Affiliate. We encourage you to participate and share your ideas for the activities and priorities that matter most to you. Date: Thursday June 25, 2026 Time: 7:00 p.m. Pacific Location: Virtually in the BC Affiliate Zoom Room: https://blindcanadians-ca.zoom.us/j/491319312?pwd

Where did the year go? Here we are again! It has been another busy and rewarding year for the BC Affiliate, with many opportunities to advocate, collaborate, fundraise, and connect with one another. One of our first highlights was the Vision and Hearing Resource Fair held in Vancouver in September 2025. Several AEBC members attended, and I would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who helped manage the AEBC table throughout the day. Your willingness to volunteer yo

AUDIO VERSION By Linda Bartram I recently returned from a month-long trip to Greece and Great Britain. Originally, I had planned a 15-day trip to Greece with my sister in May and a trip to Britain with an elderly friend in the Fall. The latter was moved up to this spring, so the two trips were combined into one month-long journey in May. I usually do thorough research before travelling but the revised and extensive itinerary made this very time-consuming. In hindsight, mor

AUDIO VERSION By Richard Marion Uber has been a great option overall for people who need low-cost door-to-door transportation and do not drive. However, for people with disabilities using guide or service dogs, it has presented many accessibility challenges and barriers. Last year, Uber implemented a feature on their app so that a person could notify a driver that they are travelling with a guide or service dog. However, the driver only receives this notification as they a