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“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu,
Chinese philosopher (604 BC – 531 BC)

The 2012 Canadian Federation of the Blind convention will be held in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada at Capital City Centre Hotel, 1961 Douglas Street (Corner of Douglas and Discovery Streets)

Everyone is welcome. Please pre-register by April 20th, 2012.

CONVENTION REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

The registration fee is $60 in advance, or $75 at the door. The registration fee includes Friday evening’s reception, and Saturday’s lunch and banquet.

You can pre-register for the CFB convention online at www.cfb.ca using PayPal or email money transfer, or by mailing your registration fee, along with your contact information to the Canadian Federation of the Blind.

HOTEL INFORMATION

Location: Capital City Centre Hotel
1961 Douglas Street (corner of Douglas and Discovery). Victoria, BC
Phone: (250) 382-2111 or 1-888-877-9444

Convention attendees can reserve rooms at the convention rate of $69.95 plus tax, which includes a continental breakfast. These rooms are not pre-booked, so please reserve early. Room rates are non-commissionable and subject to 17.75% taxes and surcharges.

CONVENTION ACTIVITIES

FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012

9:30 AM – 11:30 AM – Online Entrepreneurial Activities Workshop This workshop will introduce you to E-Bay and other online entrepreneurial opportunities. Presented by Mary Ellen Gabias.

11:30 AM – 2 PM – Break

2 PM – 5 PM – Adaptive Technology and Blindness Resource Exhibit Try some of the latest adaptive technology, check out Federation literature, try out an NFB long white cane and purchase CFB merchandise. The exhibit will feature HumanWare, Personal Communication Systems and others.

6 PM – 7 PM – On Site Registration

6:30 PM – 8 PM – Welcome Reception
Enjoy appetizers with your Federation family!

8 PM – A “Rowdy and Raucous” CFB Auction Join us for our auction to raise funds for the CFB. Bid on delicious items, and have a rollicking good time. This Auction definitely won’t be silent!

SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2012

8 AM – 9 AM – On Site Registration

9 AM – 4:30 PM – Full-day Conference
MC: Elizabeth Lalonde, President of the Canadian Federation of the Blind Speakers at the conference will discuss topics such as Braille literacy, independence, rehabilitation, employment, expectations, empowerment, advocacy, the Federation and a positive perspective on blindness and the abilities of blind people, as well as other blindness issues.

6:30 PM – 9:00 PM – Banquet with Keynote Address

9:00 PM – Midnight – Members’ Talent Night
Chat with friends, unwind after the convention and listen to some great talent by CFB members and guests!

SUNDAY, MAY 13, 2012

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM – CFB AGM and Elections

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Recreational activity
Details coming soon.

Federation conventions are unlike typical conferences. They serve as a way for blind people from across distances to get together to learn from each other, to share ideas and to gain confidence and inspiration from being together.

We look forward to seeing you at the convention!

For more information about the convention or the CFB, please contact us.

Canadian Federation of the Blind (CFB)
www.cfb.ca
info@cfb.ca
(250) 598-7154
1-800-619-8789
P.O. Box 8007
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada V8W 3R7

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Orientation and Mobility Specialist

National Orientation and Mobility Certified instructor, Washington State, and active, longtime member of the National Federation of the Blind.

When: Saturday, May 7, 2011. 10 AM to 4 PM.

Where: Victoria, BC, venue to be confirmed.

Go anywhere you want to go, whenever you want to.

On your own with the long white cane.

Denise Mackenstadt will discuss the Structured Discovery method of travel training for blind people, which differs from the conventional, route based method of travel teaching. The Structured Discovery approach is the method taught at the three NFB training centres in the United States and the graduate degree program (national orientation and mobility certification, NOMC), offered through the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University.

The “Find Your Freedom” workshop will include information about the
Structured Discovery technique, discussion, questions and answers and actual practice of this method.

If you do not already have one, long white canes will be available at the event.

With the support of a generous grant from Coast Capital Savings, the Canadian Federation of the Blind is hosting this event as part of its mentoring program.

Transportation grants to get to this event are available.

We welcome blind youth and adults of all ages to join us. We also encourage parents of blind children to come and learn.

Please RSVP.

Canadian Federation of the Blind
PHONE: (250) 598-7154, or TOLL-FREE: 1-800-619-8789
E-mail: info@cfb.ca

www.cfb.ca

More about the Structured Discovery Method of Travel Teaching

Structured Discovery teaches routes Using Critical Thinking and Problem Solving and helps the student build transferable skills.

This approach gives the student the skills to become a confident and
independent traveler, without the need to rely on an instructor.

The student learns to use clues in the environment, such as the directional sounds of traffic, texture changes, landmarks, and other pieces of information to determine direction and routes independently.

Another aspect of the “structured-discovery” method involves the use of sleep shades, or (blindfolds).

There are several reasons for and benefits of using sleep shades while teaching and learning cane travel.

Because people with some residual vision tend to use that vision as their primary sense, the goal is for the student to learn techniques that are non-visual in nature. The student’s residual vision often becomes a strong deterrent to learning; it interferes-sometimes subconsciously-with the student’s ability to develop the knowledge and skills of non-visual travel. Relying on limited vision can also cause mental and physical fatigue. Thus learning nonvisual techniques to complement ones vision can help tremendously to increase a person’s independence.

When: Friday, May 6. 7PM – 9PM.

Where: St. Aidan’s United Church, 3703 St. Aidan’s Street, Victoria.

Sky Mundell, who is 20 years old, recently opened for Grammy Award winner Michael Bolton, and will soon be travelling to Vegas to perform at Planet Hollywood as part of V: The Ultimate Variety Show.

We are honoured to have Sky headline this event.

The CFB fundraiser will feature other vocal and instrumental performances, such as singer Kristen Birley, who has a Masters in Vocal Performance from the University of Victoria, is music director and choreographer of the St. Luke’s Players, is a member of the PRIMA Youth Choir, and a member of the University of Victoria Chamber Singers.

Cost: Admission is by donation.

If possible, please RSVP using the contact info below.

A concession and silent auction will also be part of the event.

More details to come.

For more information about the concert, or the Canadian Federation of the
Blind and its programs, please visit our website at www.cfb.ca or phone us
at 250-598-7154, or 1800-619-8789.

To hear Sky Mundell play, visit the following YouTube links.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apZXqe-c-K0&hd=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jeq-stGvPlY

Blind people from across the province gathered Tuesday at the Parliament Buildings in Victoria for a historic demonstration to tell government and the public there is an urgent need in B.C. and Canada for intensive training in blindness skills, such as braille, cane travel and adaptive technology. And, as a basic human right, it must be publicly funded and accountable -not offloaded to charity.

Many well-educated blind people need this type of blindness-specific training.

Three such blindness skills immersion training centres exist where people can go from six to nine months to get the best training available (Colorado Center for the Blind; Louisiana Center for the Blind; and Blind Inc. in Minnesota). The intensive immersion-based training at these centres equip graduates with necessary skills and self-confidence, vastly improving employability and quality of life.

Blind people need to be given choice of where to attain this training. Presently, these three centres are where it’s at. But, government needs to fund attendance.

With proper training and opportunity blind people can compete on terms of equality with sighted peers.

It was an historic event for blind Canadians in Canada.

For the first time blind Canadians organized. We organized in a gathering of blind people to speak for ourselves. WE didn’t have an intermediary speaking on our behalf. We spoke for ourselves, and our message was loud and clear.

We want change. We want Choice. We want government to heed our voice!

And people did hear.

We received a wonderful message from Dr. Maurer, leader of the National Federation of the Blind, and from Jack Layton, leader of the Federal NDP party.

We received excellent coverage from local television and other media.

I want to thank those of you who made the time and the effort to stand in solidarity with us. Many of you traveled long distances to be there. We are grateful for your commitment.

I also want to thank those of you who couldn’t be with us, but who believed in the cause and sent your strength and support.

Thank you to all of the people who worked so hard to plan the event and who made the rally a success: my parents for their tireless support of my efforts in the Federation; Larry and Graeme for billeting our guests from out of town; Thelma, Joyce, Joanne, Christine and others who drove people to the event; Gail who made the signs, prepared the leaflet and other materials for the rally; Mary Ellen and Oriano for the calls they made to the media and other friends and members; Harold for taking the photographs; Erin for doing media interviews; Doris and Larry for handling the treasury; Paul for providing the rallying cry; the National Federation of the Blind for providing the inspiration of decades of civil rights action.

The list goes on.

The problem with mentioning specific names is that I am sure to forget someone.

Thank you to all of you who made the effort to come. Being there was the most important contribution you could make to this momentous occasion.

This is a time to be proud of ourselves on a personal level, and proud of what we are able to do when we join together as a collective of like-minded blind citizens. On February 15, we took a big step towards changing things for blind people in BC and in Canada; this is just the first of many steps we will take in the coming months.

Let us continue working towards our goal of getting people to training centres, and convincing government they must take notice and give blind people the basic rights of citizenship: the chance to earn a living, to experience complete independence and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to society. We must and we will take our places along our sighted peers and obtain true equality.

With love and respect,

Elizabeth Lalonde, President
Canadian Federation of the Blind
www.cfb.ca
PHONE: (250) 598-7154
TOLL-FREE: 1-800-619-8789
E-mail: info@cfb.ca
P.O. Box 8007
VICTORIA, BC V8W 3R7
Together we are changing what it means to be blind.

Rally Information

Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2011, 12pm – 1pm
Location: Victoria Parliament Buildings, Belleville Street

With proper training, blind people can compete on terms of equality with their sighted peers. But unfortunately the opportunity to learn and master essential blindness skills is not le to most blind Canadians. The true cost of this neglect has fallen on the backs of blind people, who too often live lives of poverty and isolation.

Blindness skills training in Canada is wholly inadequate, and can only be accessed through charity. The charity-based model of rehabilitation has failed blind citizens of our country, where only two out of 10 blind people of working age are employed. Public funding must be allocated to ensure this basic human right.

“The public does not realize that blind citizens are not receiving the services they need and deserve. Government takes no responsibility for the situation, and chooses to leave the lives and futures of blind citizens in the hands of charity,” says Elizabeth Lalonde, president of the Canadian Federation of the Blind, a grassroots advocacy organization made up of and led by blind people.

“I have gaping holes in my life skills, and nowhere to go to really learn the skills I need to be independent,” says Miriam Youssefi, a blind Victoria woman in her early forties. “Others have suggested I move to a group home or get home support, but I would rather dig my grave than do that. I want to learn the skills so I can help myself.”

“I am 31 and have academic credentials, but I don’t have the confidence or the support I need to actually get a job and be self-sufficient,” says Erin Lacharity, another blind woman in Victoria.

“I lost my sight in an accident a few years ago. When I went blind, I was only given minimalassistance with the cane and one cooking lesson, and that’s it. Because I have had no intensive training, it has really affected my quality of life personally and professionally,” says Shane Baker, a Victoria resident in his early thirties.

The rally will be the first time blind and visually impaired people will come together en masse to talk about the situation and to advocate for positive change.

“The rally is a proactive move forward, a positive step taken by blind people to change their lives, and is the first of many actions we will take to improve the lives of blind Canadians,” says Lalonde.

Summary

Publicly funded, intensive training centres for blind Canadians will enable blind people to be selfsupporting and to contribute to the economy. Blind Canadians need to have the choice of where this
rehabilitation comes from in order to be successful.

Background:

- Blind adults in Canada have limited or no opportunity to learn Braille, cane travel and other essential blindness skills
- Only two out of every 10 blind Canadians of working age, are employed.
- The average yearly income of blind people in Canada is $12,000, far below the poverty line.
- Only 10% of blind children are taught Braille in public school
- There are no blindness immersion programs in Canada.
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, was adopted by our country in 2009, but blind Canadians have been excluded from the right to publicly funded and accountable rehabilitation.

Solution:
- Blind people who receive immersion training in blindness skills, and positive mentoring from blind role models, are more likely to be self-supporting
- Skills and mentoring training for blind adults takes only six to nine months in a blindness immersion setting.
- 80% of employed blind people are literate in Braille
- The United States has three blindness immersion centers operated by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) that accept international students

Source: The Canadian Federation of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind

Please contact the Canadian Federation of the Blind at 250-598-7154 or info@cfb.ca.

With great care, respect and honesty, Mr. McCreath documents the complicated and systemic issues affecting the lives of blind people in Canada. He reviews the social factors underlying the current situation, describes how our history brought us to where we are today and clearly outlines positive and proactive solutions for change.

After reading his book, we can no longer stand aside, turn away and ignore the existence of this far-reaching and terrible problem in our society.

Mr. McCreath explains how we arrived at the present situation of a 75 per cent unemployment rate for blind Canadians, a staggeringly high level of poverty, a severe shortage of proper education and training for blind individuals and a disgraceful lack of knowledge or concern about the plight of blind Canadians on the part of government, the public, and organizations that are supposed to help blind people.

Mr. McCreath’s book brings clarity to the struggles of blind people in this country and describes the obstacles that plague their journey to dignity and equality.

“The Politics of Blindness” stands as a monument of history, a testament to the unrecognized blind citizens of our country and a guide to motivate positive change for blind Canadians now and in the future.

I am grateful to Mr. McCreath for his commitment, for his perseverance and for his courage in writing this book. I implore all who read it to take steps to make sure this shameful situation does not continue in our country. As Mr. McCreath says in the final pages of his book, “Let’s make it r.e.a.l.” Blind Canadians must achieve respect, Equality, assimilation /integration into society, and liberty. Only with these achievements can we hope to attain first class citizenship and equal status with the sighted.

With heartfelt thanks,

Elizabeth Lalonde, President
Canadian Federation of the Blind