One hundred years enough for the CNIB

Graeme McCreath, An independent blind activist and executive member of the Canadian Federation of the Blind, Times Colonist, March 18, 2018
Is the CNIB’s centennial this year really something to celebrate? The Canadian National Institute for the Blind came about directly because of the high profile of gas-blinded heroes of the First World War and survivors of the 1917 Halifax explosion. As a self-preservation policy, the institute eventually turned to influencing government to designate all blind Canadians permanent wards of a charity, but in reality, recipients of little. Although blind citizens’ treatment does somewhat mirror the First Nations experience, it does not have the same profile to generate conscious political recognition. Instead, Canada’s custodial treatment of its blind citizens just continues to reinforce the public’s morbid fear of blindness. In 2018, we need government to recognize and treat blind citizens as contributing, respected and worthy members of society.