By: Sarah Rouleau
In August 2021, CNIB Québec teamed up with the Chambre des notaires du Québec to launch the Know Your Rights! campaign. This initiative empowers Quebecers who are blind or partially sighted with tools and training to better defend their rights. It also seeks to raise awareness among Québec legal professionals and the general public of the often-ignored rights and accessibility needs of people with sight loss. 
“This is an innovative campaign, since no legal documentation was previously available to people with sight loss,” says Catheryne Houde, Head of Advocacy at CNIB Québec.
Inspired by the success of the Know your Rights campaign in Ontario, CNIB developed English and French versions for Québec, including:
- a website (cnib.ca/en/KnowYourRights-qc)
- eight thematic legal information guides
- four public education videos
In the fall of 2021, CNIB offered nine training sessions to over 200 people living with sight loss and a number of Québec legal professionals. Participants gained a better understanding of case law and emerged with a firmer grasp of their rights and the resources at their disposal. The training also increased their confidence and their ability to defend their rights on their own.
“These courses will help me find resources and assert my rights,” said one participant. “I really enjoyed the toolkit that came with the training. I’ll use it to educate the people around me.” Another participant noted the motivational boost the training provided: “Thank you, this really helped me psychologically! I now feel less alone,” he said.
The legal professionals who took part expressed appreciation for how much they learned, with many saying they would recommend the program to their colleagues.