Advocate

An illustration of a megaphone outlined in a black paintbrush style design with yellow accents. Text "be the change."

Help us break down barriers

To create a truly inclusive world where people with sight loss have unlimited opportunities, we need to raise our voices and bring down barriers once and for all.

A family of four sit on the couch watching a television. Displayed on the tv screen is the text: This program is available in described video for the visually impaired.

CNIB Community Input – CRTC Accessibility Consultation

Have your say: Help make TV and streaming more accessible

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has opened a public consultation to help ensure broadcasters, including online streaming services, make their content more accessible for persons with disabilities.

CNIB will be submitting a formal submission, and we want your voice to be included. 

Advocacy Campaigns

By learning about the issues and joining our advocacy campaigns, you can help make tangible change in your community.

Advocacy Programs

When facing barriers to inclusion, knowing how to advocate effectively for yourself and others is key. CNIB advocacy programs and workshops can help you develop and strengthen your advocacy skills. 

A residential street, sidewalks, and parked cars are covered in snow. A man walks down a snow-covered sidewalk.In the bottom left-hand corner of the image, there is a yellow banner overlay with the text “SnoWay!”

Campaign Spotlight

Say #SnoWay and advocate for better snow removal in your region!

As snow blankets our streets and sidewalks, CNIB’s annual “SnoWay” advocacy campaign is back to highlight the barriers that snow and ice create and remind municipalities, businesses, snow removal contractors, and homeowners about their responsibility to clear snow and ice from paths of travel.

Canada Disability Benefit

In 2023, the Government of Canada passed the Canada Disability Benefit Act to create a supplementary financial benefit to support working-age Canadians with disabilities. The program details were finalized through regulations finalized earlier this year and set out requirements for eligibility, payment amounts, and other key topics. The Canada Disability Benefit application process will be open as of Friday, June 20, 2025, with payments expected to begin in July.

An illustration of a newspaper with black and yellow accents.

Equalize Advocacy Newsletter

Stay up-to-date on CNIB advocacy campaigns, initiatives, programs and meet local advocates. Distributed quarterly, Equalize is CNIB's advocacy e-newsletter. 

Advocacy Resources

CNIB has created resources to support community members when engaging in advocacy in their local communities, whether as a formal CNIB Community Engagement Volunteer, a person living with sight loss, or an ally who wants to help bring about change. 

One to One Advocacy Support

If you need help addressing an accessibility barrier or need individual advocacy support, our team may be able to help! CNIB advocacy support services are here to give you the tools and resources you need to take action and confidently advocate for yourself.

Know Your Rights

Through the creation of plain language legal information handbooks and resources, Know Your Rights aims to empower people who are blind, partially sighted or Deafblind to better understand their rights, navigate provincial legal systems and self-advocate to challenge discrimination. 

CNIB Legal Support

To help provide greater access to justice, we are now offering legal support (referral services and litigation funding) to Canadians who encounter legal issues they may require support with as part of the CNIB Advocacy program.

CNIB Presentations

From classrooms to city hall or speaking to corporations, CNIB volunteers regularly deliver educational and informative presentations to external groups about blindness and ways to create a more accessible society. 

Structured presentations cover topics like accessibility and inclusion, blindness etiquette, assistive technologies, white canes and guide dogs, CNIB programs and services, and more. Presentations can be tailored to fit the unique needs of your audience and customized to your group.

Help dispel common misconceptions about sight loss and learn how your group can become more inclusive by inviting us to speak at your next event! 

Two Community Engagement Volunteers deliver a presentation in front of a large group of school-aged children sitting in a gymnasium.