Toronto, ON – CNIB, Canada's largest non-profit serving people with sight loss, and Be My Eyes, a global leader in assistive technology and provider of real-time video assistance for people with sight loss, announced their partnership today.
Through this exciting new partnership, CNIB will be joining the Be My Eyes network, becoming the first Canadian organization to offer “Be My Eyes for Work". This value-added service will be available for all CNIB employees and volunteers.
The internal facing service, “Be My Eyes for Work”, will offer employees and volunteers access to a closed network of sighted colleagues, for easy access to visual assistance with work-related tasks and helping to foster a strong collaborative culture.
“CNIB has hundreds of employees across the country and serves thousands of Canadians with sight loss – all of whom will benefit tremendously from sharing information over live video,” says Will Butler, Vice President of Community at Be My Eyes. “With Be My Eyes’ advanced availability algorithm and administrative tools, we’re empowering CNIB to deliver that video support efficiently and with high satisfaction rates. We’re thrilled to see Be My Eyes for Work taking root in Canada and look forward to welcoming other corporate leaders who want to help their employees and customers do more.”
Additionally, CNIB Frontier Accessibility, CNIB’s social enterprise dedicated to accessibility in all aspects of work and life, is now a distributor of "Be My Eyes for Work" and "Specialized Help" across Canada, helping organizations work towards championing a culture of accessibility and inclusion both externally and internally.
Instead of reaching Be My Eyes’ network of sighted volunteers, "Specialized Help" connects users directly with bilingual Be My Eyes Support Specialists who have signed confidentiality agreements and received specialized training to help with personal matters, navigation and wayfinding.
“We are so thrilled to be partnering with Be My Eyes,” says Shane Silver, Vice President of Social Enterprises for CNIB. “As the world continues to rely heavily on virtual platforms, the need for high-quality, accessible, virtual support is at an all-time high. These important services will enable organizations to increase their accessibility and offer greater independence to Canadians with sight loss than ever before.”
To learn more about Be My Eyes in Canada contact CNIB’s Frontier Accessibility at info@cnib-frontier.ca or to inquire about Be My Eyes throughout the world, contact community@bemyeyes.com.
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About Be My Eyes: Be My Eyes is a global community that connects people who are blind or have low vision with sighted volunteers or company representatives. On the app, volunteers assist blind and low-vision users through a live video connection and work together to tackle challenges and handle a wide range of tasks. With the Specialized Help feature, blind and low-vision users can connect with company representatives for accessible customer support. The app harnesses the power of generosity, technology, and human connection to help blind and low-vision people lead more independent lives. Be My Eyes is accessible in more than 150 countries worldwide and in over 180 languages. The app is free and available for both iOS and Android.
About CNIB: CNIB is a non-profit organization driven to change what it is to be blind today. We deliver innovative programs and powerful advocacy that empower people impacted by blindness to live their dreams and tear down barriers to inclusion. Our work as a blind foundation is powered by a network of volunteers, donors and partners from coast to coast to coast. To learn more or get involved, visit cnib.ca.
Media Contacts
Be My Eyes:
Will Butler, Vice President, Community
CNIB:
Alison Byczok, Director, Marketing and Communications
416-272-0464