Agencies Serving Blind & Partially Sighted People

By country sorted alphabetically

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y 20.11.2009f="../archive/agencies/index.htm">Complete list of countries

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Canada

Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)
1703 N. Beauregard Street, Suite 440, Alexandria, Vancouver 22311, Canada.
Contact name: Mr. Jim Gandorf, Executive Director
Tel: +1 703 671 4500
Fax: +1 703 671 6391
Email: jgandorf@aerbvi.org
Web: www.aerbvi.org
Activities: Formed in 1984 by a merger of the American Association of Workers for the Blind and the Association for Education of the Visually Handicapped, AER is the only organization representing the interests of all professionals who work in education and rehabilitation of the blind and visually impaired. AER supports professional growth through formal and continuing education and advocates public policies which improve and expand services for all individuals with visual impairments. AER's mission is to develop and promote professional excellence through support of those who provide services to people with visual impairments.
Last updated: 23/04/2007

Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA)
5940 South Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 1S6, Canada.
Tel: +1 902 424 8500
Fax: +1 902 424 0543
Email: bt@apsea.ca
Web: www.apsea.ca
Activities: The Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA) is an interprovincial cooperative agency established in 1975 by joint agreement among the Ministers of Education of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The agreement provided for the creation of the Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority and authorized it to provide educational services, programs, and opportunities for persons from birth to 21 years of age with low incidence sensory impairments. This includes children and youth who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, blind, or visually impaired and who are residents of Atlantic Canada.
Last updated: 23/04/2007

B.C & Alberta Guide Dog Services (BCGDS)
10-4767 64th Street, (Ladner) Delta, British Columbia V4K 3M2, Canada. (B.C. Office)
PO Box 5471, Station A, Calgary, Alberta T2H 1X8, Canada. (Alberta Office)
Contact person: Mr. William Thornton, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +1 604 940 4504; +1 403 258 0819
Fax: +1 604 940 4506; +1 403 258 0842
Email: guidedog@telus.net; albertaguidedogservices@telus.net
Web: www.bcguidedog.com
Activities: BCGDS is a registered charity that breeds, raises and trains dogs as guides for the blind and visually impaired residents of British Columbia, Canada.
Last updated: 23/04/2007

Blindness International
1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4G 3E8, Canada.
Contact person: Dr Penny Hartin, Executive Director
Tel: +1 416 486 2500 ext. 7689
Fax: +1 416 480 7677
Email: penny.hartin@cnib.ca
Activities: Established by The Canadian National Institute for the Blind ensuring that blind women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Central America benefit equally from programs concentrating on Braille literacy, rehabilitation, technology, digitalization of library services and organizational capacity building.
Last updated: 04/04/2006

Canadian Braille Authority (CBA)
C/O CNIB Library for the Blind, 1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4G 3E8, Canada.
Contact person: Ms. Joy Charlton, Administration Secretary
Tel: (416) 480 7522
Fax: (416) 480 7700
Email: joy.charlton@cnib.ca
Web: www.canadianbrailleauthority.ca
Activities: The CBA: ensures a unified Canadian voice for the promotion of braille; provides a mechanism that will safeguard the continued existence of braille in the face of technological change; works both in Canada and internationally through the International Council on English Braille (ICEB); maintains a commitment to the English and French bilingual use of braille; informs readers of braille code changes; participates in evaluating braille code changes; issues CBA Newsletters at least twice a year in both official languages; develops and monitors standards for braille teaching, promotes better access to qualified teaching in braille.
Last updated: 23/04/2007

Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB)
National Office, 401 - 396 Cooper Street, Ottowa, Ontario K29 2H7, Canada.
Contact person: Mr. Neven Humphrey, Administrator
Tel: +1 613 567 0311
Fax: +1 613 567 2728
Email: ccb@ccbnational.net
Web: www.ccbnational.net
Activities: The main objectives of the CCB are to give people who are blind or vision impaired a voice in their own affairs (through the consumer advocacy movement) and to provide rehabilitation through peer support and social and recreational activities. To promote measures for the conservation of sight and the prevention of blindness.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

Canadian Deafblind and Rubella Association (CDBRA)
2652 Morien Highway, Port Morien, Nova Scotia B1B 1C6, Canada.
Fax: +1 902 737 1096
Email: cdbra@seaside.ns.ca
Web: www.cdbra.ca
Activities: The CDBRA is both an advocacy, research and service delivery organization. Advocacy and research is conducted at the national level while service delivery is achieved by regional/provincial chapters. Service delivery takes the form of Intervenor Services and operation of Independent Living Residences for Persons with Congenital Deafblindness.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind
PO Box 280, 4120 Rideau Valley Drive, North Manotick, Ontario K4M 1A3, Canada.
Tel: +1 613 692 7777
Fax: +1 613 692 0650
Email: cgdb@sympatico.ca
Web: www.guidedogs.ca
Activities: Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind assists visually impaired Canadians with their mobility by providing and training them in the use of professional trained guide dogs.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

The Canadian Helen Keller Centre, Inc.
210 Empress Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M2N 3T9, Canada
Contact person: Patricia Grant, Executive Director
Tel: +1 416 225 8989
Fax: +1 416 225 4781
TTY: +1 416 225 8989
Email: deafblindinfo@onramp.ca
Web: www.chkc.org
Activities: Provides residential courses in skills of daily living, technology, orientation & mobility, adapted communication, advocacy and community access to individuals who have become Deaf-Blind, in order to increase and maintain independence and autonomy, access to services in the community and decrease isolation.
Last updated: 04/04/2006

Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4G 3E8, Canada.
Contact person: Dr Penny Hartin, Executive Director, Blindness International (for international contacts)
Tel: +1 416 486 2500 ext. 7689
Fax: +1 416 480 7677
Email: penny.hartin@cnib.ca
Web: www.cnib.ca
Activities: Providing rehabilitation and support services to blind and visually impaired Canadians of all ages. The aim is to provide the tools and support to optimize independence in society including counselling and referral, rehabilitation teaching, orientation and mobility, vision rehabilitation, technology assessment and training and career and employment service. Also home to the CNIB Library for the Blind producing digital, audio and braille books.
Last updated: 04/04/2006

Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind (CNSDB)
405-422 Willowdale Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M2N 5B1, Canada.
Email: cnsdb@canada.com
Web: www.cnsdb.ca
Last updated: 04/04/2006

Christian Blind Mission International - Canada
3844 Stouffville Road, PO Box 800, Stouffville, Ontario, L4A 7Z9, Canada.
Contact person: Ms Beth Jost Reiner, Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: +1 905 640 6464
Fax: +1 905 640 4332
Email: cbmi@cbmicanada.org
Web: www.cbmicanada.org
Activities: CBMI is working towards the prevention and cure of blindness and towards the enablement of people with disabilities in developing countries. Saving Sight - CBMI partners carry out screening and treatment programs for children who are at risk of going blind due to vitamin A deficiency. As well, treatment is available for patients suffering from trachoma, saving them from eventual pain and permanent blindness. CBMI-sponsored programs are responsible for distributing sight-saving Mectizan® to people in danger of river blindness. CBMI supports schools for blind and deaf children, as well as rehabilitation projects for adults. Community based rehabilitation is another program giving people with disabilities rehabilitative care and support within their own communities.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

Crane Resource Centre and Library
Brock Hall (Student Services Building), 1874 East Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
Tel: +1 604 822 6113
Fax: +1 604 822 6113
Email: crane.resource@ubc.ca
Web: www.library.ubc.ca/home/access/crane.html
Activities: The Crane Resource Centre and Library is the principal resource for people who are blind, visually impaired, or print-handicapped. Technical resources include an eight studio book recording and duplicating facility, dedicated computers which convert print to synthesized speech, adapted computer work stations with voice synthesis and image-enlarging, a computerized braille transcription facility, a talking on-line public catalogue, closed circuit TV magnifiers, and much more.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB-C)
12th Floor, 890 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M4W 3P4, Canada.
Contact person: Ms. Tamara Petrou, Communications Manager
Tel: +1 416 360 4200
Fax: +1 416 360 0060
Email: info@fbb.ca
Web: www.fbb.ca
Activities: To find the causes, treatments and ultimately the cures for retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and related retinal diseases by the support and promotion of research and the development of public awareness.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

Hamilton Public Library - Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities
Central Library, First Floor, 55 York Boulevard, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 4E4, Canada.
Tel: +1 905 546 3470
Fax: +1 905 546 3202
Email: askhpl@hpl.ca
Web: www.hpl.ca
Activities: Provision of large print books and talking books on cassette, as well as disability information in the form of books, newsletters, clipping files, pamphlets, catalogues of aids and information on organizations in the region providing services for the disabled. Magnifiers and other technical aids available for use in the library.
Last updated: 04/04/2006

Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille (INLB)
1111 rue Saint-Charles Ouest, Longueuil, Québec, J4K 5G4, Canada.
Tel: +1 514 463 1710
Fax: +1 514 463 0243
Email: webmestre@inlb.qc.ca
Web: www.inlb.qc.ca
Activities: The Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille (INLB) is a rehabilitation centre for blind people. The INLB provides a large span of services in rehabilitation, employment and social integration: Low vision centre; Social workers; Orientation and mobility; Low and high technical assistive devices; Braille and talking book library; Guide dogs program in Quebec Province. The INLB acquires and/or produces in its Braille production units, alternate format resources to fill requests for curriculum resources made by Quebec Province schools. It promotes the better education, training, employment and welfare of blind and deafblind people.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

Institut de readaptation en deficience physique de Quebec (IRDPQ)
525, Boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel, Quebec, G1M 2S8, Canada.
Tel: +1 418 529 9141 ext. 2259
Fax: +1 418 529 7318
Email: communications@irdpq.qc.ca
Web: www.irdpq.qc.ca
Activities: Offers adaptation, rehabilitation, and social integration support services, as well as attendant care and support services for close friends and family. The IRDPQ's programs aim to help people with impairments realize their full potential and compensate their limitations, thus enabling them to carry out daily activities.
Last updated: 04/04/2006

Institut Raymond-Dewar (IRD)
3600 rue Berri, Montréal, Québec, H2L 4G9, Canada.
Contact person: Ms. Sylvie Bilodeau, Deafblind Program Coordinator
Tel: +1 514 284 2214 ext. 3236 (deafblind program)
Tel: +1 514 284 2214 ext. 3610
Fax: +1 514 284 5086
TTY : +1 514 284 3747
Email: sbilodeau@raymond-dewar.gouv.qc.ca (deafblind program)
Email: biblio@raymond-dewar.gouv.qc.ca (library)
Web: www.raymond-dewar.qc.ca
Activities: The Institut Raymond-Dewar (IRD) is a French rehabilitation centre for the
deaf, hard-of-hearing, deafblind and those with other communication disorders (dysphasia, central auditory disorders etc.).
Last updated: 04/04/2006

International Council on English Braille (ICEB)
c/o CNIB, 1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4G 3E8, Canada.
Contact person: Darleen Bogart, Coordinator
Fax: +1 416 480 7700
Email: darleen.bogart@cnib.ca; info@iceb.org
Web: www.iceb.org
Activities: The purpose of the International Council on English Braille is to coordinate and improve standards for braille usage for all English-speaking users of braille.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

La Magnetotheque
1055 Rene-Levesque boul, Office 501, Montreal, Québec, H2L 4S5, Canada.
Contact person: Mrs Marjorie Theodore
Tel: +1 514 282 1999
Fax: +1 514 282 1676
Email: info@lamagnetotheque.qc.ca
Web: www.lamagnetotheque.qc.ca
Activities: A specialized library service offering French talking books; RFNV radio service and a sound transcription service of public interest documents.
Last updated: 04/04/2006

Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth
Program and Student Services Branch, 206-1181 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 1W9, Canada.
Contact person: Donna Passey, Coordinator - Blind/Visually Impaired Services Unit
Tel: +1 204 945 7840
Fax: +1 204 945 7914
Email: dpassey@gov.mb.ca
Web: www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ks4/blind
Activities: Teacher consultant service to the blind/visually impaired school students. Alternate format lending library service as well as production of school materials in Braille, large print and audio tape. Equipment lending library of computerized Braille devices.
Last Updated: 04/04/2006

The Materials Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired Unit (MRC), Learning Resources Centre, Alberta Learning
12360 142 St NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5L 4X9, Canada.
Contact person: Irene Miller
Tel: +1 780 427 4681; +1 780 427 5239
Fax: +1 480 427 6683
Email: Irene.Miller@gov.ab.ca
Web: www.lrc.learning.gov.ab.ca
Activities: The MRC provides alternate format resources (Braille, large print, audio, e-text) professional resources, learning kits and specialized equipment to Alberta schools for use by students who are visually impaired or by students who are perceptually disabled in order that these students make the most effective use of their educational opportunities. Services are provided to Alberta schools as a first priority. Alberta Learning supports the sharing of resources interprovincially. As a second priority, the MRC loans alternate format resources, when available to Department of Education Special Materials Resource Centres in other provinces. The MRC acquires and/or produces braille, large print, audio or e-text in its production units, to fill requests for curriculum resources and standardized testing.
Last updated: 04/04/2006

Montreal Association for the Blind
7000 Sherbrooke St West, Montreal, Québec, H4B 1R3, Canada.
Tel: +1 514 489 8201
Fax: +1 514 489 3477
Email: mabinfo@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Web: www.mab.ca/
Activities: Provides services for the visually impaired in education, rehabilitation, low vision, employment and residential care.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

Operation Eyesight Universal
4 Parkdale Crescent, NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 3T8, Canada.
Contact person: Pat Ferguson, President
Tel: +1 403 283 6323
Fax: +1 403 270 1899
Email: fergusonp@operationeyesight.ca or info@operationeyesight.ca
Web: www.operationeyesight.ca
Activities: Operation Eyesight Universal is a Canada-based international development organization dedicated to eliminating avoidable blindness. Since 1963 this organization has brought sight-restoration and blindness-prevention treatment to many millions of people in the developing world. Operation Eyesight seeks to create high-quality eye care and community development programs that are self-sustaining and able to provide the best service for the world’s poorest people. Headquartered in Calgary, Canada, Operation Eyesight has offices in Vancouver and Toronto, as well as international offices in India, Australia and the USA.
Last updated: 29/03/2007

Philip E. Layton School
7000 Sherbrooke St. W., Montréal, QC, H4B 1R3, Canada.
Tel: +1 514 489 8201
Fax: +1 514 489 3477
Email: dwhitestar@gmail.com
Web: homepages.together.net/~mstar/default.htm
Activities: An English Montreal School Board School located on the grounds of the Montreal Association for the Blind serving students with visual impairments registered in the English language school system throughout Quebec.
Last updated: 04/04/2006

Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI)
106-1750 West 75th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6P 6G2, Canada.
Contact person: Fred Poon, Manager
Tel: +1 604 266 3699
Fax: +1 604 261 0778
Email: fpoon@prcvi.org
Web: www.prcvi.org
Activities: Provincial resource centre providing alternate format textbooks and specialized learning equipment to support the educational needs of visually impaired students in British Columbia and the Yukon. Produces Braille, audiotape, large print, Braille/print and electronic texts (e-text) of British Columbia Learning Resources. Outreach Coordinator provides on-site consultation to school districts. Supports school districts by providing training and in-service opportunities for teachers of students with visual impairments. Inter-library loan of alternate format materials limited to members of the Canadian Association of Educational Resource Centres for the Visually Impaired (CAER).
Last updated: 04/04/2006

Rehabilitation Centre for Children
633 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 0A8, Canada.
Tel: +1 204 452 4311
Fax: +1 204 477 5547
Email: info@rccinc.ca
Web: www.rccinc.ca
Activities: The Rehabilitation Centre for Children supports children with special needs in Manitoba and surrounding areas, in reaching their goals and participating in their communities. Together, with families and organisational partners, the Centre provides for children's rehabilitation which includes direct service, education, research and innovative technologies that are developed and delivered in an integrated, service system.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

Society for Manitobans with Disabilities (SMD)
Head Office, 825 Sherbrooke Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A 1M5, Canada.
Tel: +1 204 975 3010
Fax: +1 204 975 3073
Email: info@smd.mb.ca
Web: www.smd.mb.ca
Activities: SMD is a family of organizations that are working together to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in Manitoba.
Last updated: 24/04/2007

Visual Impairment Program
Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children, 3644 Slocan Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V5M 3E8, Canada.
Contact person: Dr Carey Matsuba
Tel: + 1 604 453 8300
Fax: + 1 604 453 8301
Email: cmatsuba@cw.bc.ca
Web: www.cw.bc.ca
Activities: The Visual Impairment Program (VIP) is an assessment, diagnostic and treatment planning service for children who have a suspected or known loss of vision. Our goal is to provide a range of services to support children and their families, as well as their community professionals.
Last updated: 04/04/2006

W. Ross Macdonald School
350 Brant Avenue, Brantford, Ontario, N3T 3J9, Canada.
Contact person: Mr. Clive Hodder, Superintendent
Tel: +1 519 759 0730
Fax: +1 519 759 4741
Email: clive.hodder@edu.gov.on.ca
Activities: Residential and day school (Grade1 - Graduation) for students who are visually impaired or deaf-blind. Schooling includes Orientation and Mobility, Life Skills, Transition Training, Sports, Conservatory, Non-Conservatory and Therapeutic Music, Physiotherapy, Specialized Programming, Work Experience and Academic Subjects. Resource Services Department provides consultations for students who are deaf-blind, blind and visually-impaired attending regular schools throughout Ontario. Resource Services Library provides elementary, secondary and post-secondary books in large print, audio and Braille format; Teacher Training Workshops and a Preschool Pilot Project.
Last updated: 04/04/2006

York Region Talking Book Service
Fredericton Public Library, 12 Carleton Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 5P4, Canada.
Tel: +1 506 460 2808
Fax: +1 506 460 2801
Email: deirdre.sorensen@gnb.ca
Provides books on cassette tape to patrons unable to read conventional print materials. Titles are available to qualified persons through interlibrary loans to other libraries.
Last updated: 04/04/2006