News

Update as of January 7,  2025 - TransLink BC has updated the “Implementation and Guidelines” section of their website for the Design Guide for Bus Stops Adjacent to Cycling Infrastructure, This change is the result of feedback from CNIB and other stakeholder groups regarding concerns with crossing safety for people who are blind, Deafblind, or have low vision.

CNIB is thrilled to announce a generous $50,000 gift from The Arthur & Audrey Cutten Foundation in support of our Inclusive Schools & Accessible Education Project.

CNIB is proud to be among the 11 organizations benefiting from the historic $30-million donation recently announced by The Slaight Family Foundation. This transformational gift includes a $1-million investment in CNIB to support our groundbreaking accessibility and awareness initiatives.

CNIB has long been advocating for the inclusion of electronic voting tabulators in elections, as they are equipped with accessibility features that allow citizens who are blind or have low vision to vote independently and in secret. As such, CNIB joins many people with disabilities in feeling disheartened about the passage of Bill 20, the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, which prohibits the use of automated voting in municipal elections.

At CNIB, we believe that everyone should be able to depend on public transit to get to where they need to go, when they need to go – from the first kilometre to the last kilometre. Join us in championing safer, more accessible journeys. Because everyone should be able to rely on public transit to travel door-to-door, safely and independently. Watch our Public Service Announcement and visit cnib.ca/transit to learn more.

The federal government recently launched a public consultation to gather feedback on the proposed Canada Disability Benefit Regulations (hereafter “the Regulations”) which, once approved by the Government of Canada, will set out technical details for the design and implementation of the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). CNIB submitted feedback to the consultation, informed by an engagement survey distributed to our community members asking for their perspectives on key aspects of the Regulations. Our final submission brief made 14 recommendations to the Government and touched on topics including eligibility criteria, payment amounts, program administration, employment supports, and more.

CNIB Deafblind Community Services (DBCS) is at a critical juncture in British Columbia. Without sustainable funding, the life-saving services we provide to people who are Deafblind may cease. The time to act is now. By signing our letter-writing campaign, you can urge the Government of British Columbia to continue funding essential Deafblind services, ensuring that individuals who are Deafblind have access to the support they need to live safe, independent, and fulfilling lives.

The Canada Disability Benefit Act became law in 2023 and seeks to create a new federal benefit program that will strengthen the financial security and independence of Canadians with disabilities from coast to coast to coast. Now, the Government of Canada is seeking feedback from the disability community on its proposed Canada Disability Benefit Regulations, which will set out the design and technical details of the program, scheduled to launch in July 2025. CNIB is seeking the perspectives of our community members to inform our submission to the Government’s consultation, and we’re asking you to get involved by completing our survey.

CNIB is pleased to announce that Angela Bonfanti, a 13-year veteran of the CNIB team, today became the organization’s first female president and CEO. After holding several leadership positions at CNIB – including, most recently, the position of Chief Operating Officer – Angela succeeds John M. Rafferty, who has been CNIB’s president since 2009.

In May, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control announced new rules for all dogs entering the United States as part of their efforts to prevent dog-variant rabies from entering the country. The changes, which were set to take effect Aug. 1, would have required people entering the U.S. with a dog to complete two new forms, including one signed by a veterinarian to be verified upon arrival by U.S. border agents. CNIB Guide Dogs publicly voiced its concerns about how the changes and cumbersome administrative paperwork would negatively affect guide dog handlers crossing the border.