Vision Canada
Unmet Needs of Blind Canadians

Publisher:  Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Canada
Year Published:  1977
Pages:  150pp   Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX455

A study with four main objectives: 1) to determine the current needs of visually handicapped people, 2) to determine whether needs are being adequately met, 3) to suggest what changes are required to improve existing programs or develop new ones, 4) to collect informaiton on the special unmet needs of multi-handicapped people.

Abstract: 
This report was commissioned by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in cooperation with the Department of National Health and Welfare. The steering committee for the Unmet Needs Study gathered information in all ten provinces by means of a strategy best described as 'maximum consumer participation' - blind consumers, parents, relatives, professionals and volunteers were involved in every stage. The study had four main objectives: 1) to determine the current needs of visually handicapped people, 2) to determine whether needs are being adequately met, 3) to suggest what changes are required to improve existing programs or develop new ones, 4) to collect informaiton on the special unmet needs of multi-handicapped people.

The section "Blindness and Poverty" reports that over half of the blind adults in Canada subsist below the poverty level. Up to forty per cent are supported by welfare assistance and those who work are very poorly paid. The committee recommends that organizations involved with the blind employ appropriate means to inform the public of the plight of the blind and that the government be petitioned to provide 'cost of blindness' allowances to welfare recipients.

The 'Human Rights' chapter provides examples of how the blind are victims of discrimination in employment, housing and in access to accommodation or public facilities. The study recommends revisions to the federal and provincial human rights code as well as the formation of legislation and human rights advisory committee by the Canadian National Institue for the Blind. The report concludes by making 50 major recommendations.