Advocacy

Advocacy is at the heart of what we do at AEBC. We believe in the power of collective voices coming together to bring about change--making life better for those who are blind, partially sighted, or deafblind. Our dedicated members ensure that the concerns of our community are heard and addressed at all levels of society and government, safeguarding equal access to goods, programs, services, and education.

Advocacy Committee

AEBC has an active Advocacy Committee that meets monthly, as well as working groups that address special topics. The goal of these volunteer committees is to:

Advocate for Accessibility: We work tirelessly to promote accessibility in all aspects of life for blind individuals, advocating for inclusive policies and practices.
Empower the Community: We empower blind Canadians by raising awareness, providing resources, and advocating for their rights.
Collaborate for Change: We collaborate with government bodies, organizations, and communities to create systemic change and promote inclusivity.

Position Statements

AEBC stands firmly behind a series of pivotal position statements aimed at advancing the rights and accessibility of blind individuals across Canada.

We advocate for comprehensive and enforceable legislation guaranteeing equal access to education, employment, technology, and public spaces.
We champion inclusive design principles to ensure that all infrastructure, products, and services are universally accessible.
We strongly endorse initiatives promoting digital accessibility standards and the integration of assistive technologies to bridge the accessibility gap.

Past Submissions

Through our Advocacy Committee, we actively engage in the legislative process and public consultations to advocate for policies that uphold the rights and needs of blind individuals. We consistently participate in government consultations, providing comprehensive briefs and submissions that highlight the perspectives and concerns of the blind community. Our submissions aim to shed light on the impact of proposed legislation or policies on accessibility, employment, education, and societal inclusion for blind, deafblind and partially sighted Canadians.

Current Advocacy Projects and Initiatives

Consumer Access Group

Canadian Transportation Agency Accessibility Advisory Committee

Banking Project

Pandora Project-Triple Vision

Champions for Blind Person’s Rights

Self Advocacy

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.

Some of the advocacy tools and techniques may be new to you and this is where the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) can help. We can provide mentoring support and resources that will help you address your advocacy issue.

Successful advocacy involves a number of steps. From preparation and planning to the follow-through and follow-up of a determined course or courses of action, there are important tasks one must perform, in order to increase the likelihood of achieving your goal(s).

We will be holding a training in the Spring of 2025 on Self Advocacy which will take you through our Self-Advocacy Guide (linked below), case scenarios, advocacy resources, and so much more.

AEBC's Self-Advocacy Guide

The following are some common advocacy topic areas. Some areas AEBC is already working on, and you can join us to get involved. Other areas we can assist and mentor you in your advocacy work.

AEBC's 2025 Advocacy Topic List

Get Involved

Join us in our advocacy efforts! Whether you're a blind, partially sighted or deafblind individual, an ally, or an organization passionate about inclusivity, there are numerous ways to contribute:

Volunteer: Become an advocate by volunteering your time and skills. Visit this link for more info.
Donate/Sponsor: Support our initiatives financially to further our advocacy efforts. Visit here.
Spread Awareness: Share our mission, position statements, and projects within your network to raise awareness.
Become an Advocate! Learn about self-advocacy with our Self-Advocacy Guide. We can help!

For inquiries, partnership opportunities, or to get involved, please contact us at this page. We welcome collaborations and contributions that align with our advocacy goals.

If you are an organization looking for assistance in creating a more accessible workplace, please contact execdir@blindcanadians.ca or download our brochure on workplace accessibility here.