Let’s go to camp! On Aug. 13, people from across Muskoka converged in a synchronized dock party in support of an important cause that has been beloved by locals, cottagers and campers for more than 60 years: CNIB Lake Joe, a one-of- a-kind camp dedicated to providing uplifting experiences for Canadians with sight loss. This year the camp’s trademark gala, Dock-to-Dock: Taste of Muskoka — hosted by TV personality Joan Kelley Walker and sports broadcaster Rod Black — raised $170,000 to create enhanced watersports programming.
FirstTap uses fun games and activities to children who are blind or have low vision the commands and gestures (like swiping, pinching, and tapping) to use Apple’s operating system (iOS) its built-in vision accessibility features. Created by CNIB for young children (ages 2 +), activities are tailored to different skill levels, so kids can choose exercises that match their age, skill level and interests.
Held every September, Guide Dog Access Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness and understanding of guide dogs, the rights of guide dog handlers, and to champion equal access for guide dog teams.
While guide dog refusals happen in many settings, transportation remains one of the most common areas where handlers encounter barriers and discrimination. That’s why, in support of our commitment to safe and accessible journeys, our advocacy campaign this year is focused on guide dog access in transportation.
It’s not uncommon for vision loss to occur as we age, but for some, its onset can be sudden and unexpected. That was the experience for one woman from Victoria, Madison Sutcliffe, who suddenly lost about 90% of her vision during pregnancy. Looking for support and community, she reached out to CNIB and joined the Come to Work program
To strengthen our voices and support the professional development of our Ontario advocates, ambassadors and CNIB staff, we’ve launched Educate to Advocate – an advocacy program designed to drive achievement and equality through education.
Right now, communities across British Columbia are facing a challenging and rapidly evolving wildfire situation. A provincewide state of emergency has been declared, and thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate as wildfires continue to threaten communities across B.C. If you or someone you know is looking for information about local services and support, please contact CNIB at 1-800-563-2642. Our team can help connect you with relevant community resources and emergency information.