Searches for information about residential schools for the blind in Canada are barren and missing from search results. Yes, there are lots of results for residential school experiences of other groups of Canadian children but once again people who are blind have been ignored… the lack of information about the experienc…
Searches for information about residential schools for the blind in Canada are barren and missing from search results. Yes, there are lots of results for residential school experiences of other groups of Canadian children but once again people who are blind have been ignored… the lack of information about the experienc…
Editor's Note:. This article is based on John Rae’s presentation "From Invisibility to Rights Holders: Competing Paradigms of Disability," at Ryerson University, October 2009. In his 1990 article, "The Individual and Social Models of Disability," Mike Oliver, an academic in the Disability Studies field, observes: "Ther…
Banks across Canada make an effort to ensure that their services are accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. Some banks offer brochures in braille. Others offer talking bank machines for people who cannot see touch screens. But these options were not always available. In 1991, two banking customers, Ch…
Editor's Note: Marjorie Fulton, who passed away on November 15, 2009, was an advocate on accessibility issues for people with disabilities, including sitting on AEBC's Copyright Subcommittee. Below is an outline of Ms. Fulton's advocacy journey, based on some of Marjorie's own writings. Marjorie Fulton was born on her …
Editor's Note: Chris and Marie Stark are long-time advocates for increased access, universal design and true inclusion for persons who are blind. They live in Ottawa, Ontario. “It’s 6:30 a.m. Please hurry,” the talking alarm clock tells us. Picking up the bedside phone, we disarm the home alarm system and are told that…
When Chris and Marie Stark went house shopping last year, a community-oriented neighbourhood and a home that catered to their special needs were at the top of their special needs were at the top of their wish list. The Starks, who are both blind, found both at Tweedsmuir on the Park, an adult lifestyle community being …
Editor's Note: Dave Greenfield is an AEBC member in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He is a writer of both poetry and prose and an activist in a number of issue areas. During the 20th century, in the decades prior to the founding of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC), there were several attempts in various pa…
It began with an idea and, soon after, while the sun shone and former students and friends congregated, a beautifully embossed image of the Halifax School for the Blind was unveiled. It now stands at University Avenue where, for 112 years, the school was classroom and home for thousands of blind and visually impaired s…
The sun shone brightly on a small gathering that assembled near a Halifax parking lot late last month, though many in the crowd could only feel its warmth on their faces. They had come for the unveiling of a monument that honoured the long-since torn down Halifax School for the Blind, which from 1868 to 1983 was home f…
The attitudes of mind assumed by a well-meaning, and unusually sympathetic public towards those of our fellow-citizens who are deprived of vision are varied, often impractical, and sometimes even amusing. There is the attitude which looks upon the blind as unfortunate, helpless individuals who are pure objects of chari…
It's a Sunday night and all is peaceful. I receive a new toy, a fire truck and learn that I will be allowed to take it with me to "the school". Almost two years before I had attended this unusual place the Halifax School for the Blind. and it had been a pleasant experience. But why was I going now why tonight. Children…
The past one-hundred and twenty-three years following confederation has seen considerable change in both attitude and methodology of education for visually and hearing impaired Atlantic Canadians. Introduction The past one-hundred and twenty-three years following confederation has seen considerable change in both attit…
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference. --Robert Frost Miracles and Medicine I had the good fortune to be born to parents who loved me and who, as far as they could, accepted me as I …
About 600 words and just as many numbers. Fine print, graphics, charts, dates and explanations. That's your monthly phone bill. But say your eyesight was failing. How would you read it? Two months ago, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) forced phone companies and their subsidiaries t…
LEGAL GROUP TAKES ON PHONE FIRMS OVER LACK OF ACCESSIBILITY By: Helen Henderson Editor’s Note: The following article is reprinted from the Toronto Star, October 4, 2003. *Image: Head shot of Chris Stark and Marie Stark. More than a decade ago, after George Bush Sr. was elected President of the United States, American p…
Studying the development of the education of the blind and work for the blind, information has bean largely gleaned from the book,entitled "From Homer to Helen Keller" by Richard Slayton French, Ph.D., written in 1932 when he was Principal of the California School for the Blind. The following quotation is from the Pref…
Tired of being called "Blindey"'s and "cross-eyed queer"'s, Halifax Blind people are organizing to end the social discrimination that they say they are facing. "We're not naive enough to think we can do it overnight, " said Blind Rights Action Movement (BRAM) Executive Vice-President Chris Stark recently, "but we're go…
THE BLIND KNIGHT OF NOVA SCOTIA A Sketch of the Life of the Blind Knight of Nova Scotia Charles Frederick Fraser was born in the township of Windsor, Nova Scotia, on June 4, 1850. Notwithstanding a great handicap, he was destined to be a leader of men. Windsor was settled by the loyalists and even in those days stood h…
As people who are blind, we have always strived to do as much for ourselves as we can. We have always fought to be independent and self reliant. This life force drive to be the best we can be means that we have had to exercise judgment and know when the help we accept is charity, or friends helping friends because that…
Trying to vote is a challenge Finally, we have identified an experience more painful than visiting the dentist. In Ontario, voting for us, persons who are blind, is more traumatic than a root canal procedure. Shortly after the 1999 election was called, we received a print only information sheet. We called Elections Ont…
Out of sight out of mind is the day to day lifestyle reality of many Canadians who are blind. Begging for arms at the church door or money at the castle gate has been replaced with a contemporary lifestyle of restrictions, dependency, poverty and lack of meaningful choices. This article draws attention to quality of li…
"Telephone call for Sylvester Stallone" was the message that crackled over the public address system as we approached the pool for the first time. The message convinced us that we had certainly arrived at a posh place! The promotional literature for the complex proclaimed, "Club Regina Puerto Vallarta... Your kind of P…
"It's a mine field!" "It's really hazardous out there." "It's life threatening." "It's a product of an unthinking and uncaring society." These are just a few of the phrases used by people who are blind to describe today's beautiful, well-planned, resident-friendly suburban neighbourhoods. Planners, architects and traff…
One evening in 1990, we received a call from Irene Lambert, a founder of the Montréal chapter of AEBC. She said that the phone company was going to charge for directory assistance and not give her a phone book she could read. She asked if anything could be done. This request started a fifteen year struggle with the Can…
He’s never had a sick day in his nine years of work and he’s the only public servant who has earned praise for sleeping under his desk while on the job. I’m talking about Quincey, Chris Stark’s professional, certified guide dog. During his career, Quincey travelled for the Agency to every province in Canada, many state…
The leaves are beginning to turn red and gold. The summer temperatures are giving way to the early morning frosts of fall. It is time to start planning for our annual winter vacation in the warm sun of the Caribbean. Our guide dogs need relief from the cold temperatures, ice, snow and salt on the sidewalks. Just like w…
Sunday, July 24, 1994 We're Talkin' Baseball on CJAD I'm Jim Fanning, talkin' baseball on CJAD -- and I want to tell you about the nice people you meet at the ball game. A couple from Ottawa sat by me last night -- they arrived about the 4th inning accompanied by two beautiful golden retrievers. They had tickets in the…
It was snowing hard. Drifts were beginning to form. Sounds were muffled. It was nearly 4 a.m. on Sunday morning and we were waiting for Sam , our cab driver, to take us to the airport, where we would start our vacation to Cancun. All the previous evening we had listened to reports of the approaching storm. Airports in …
The length of the line of passengers never diminishes, despite the work being done. In the midst of this crowd, you are confronted with a passenger who does not put her bag on the counter as you have asked her to do. Do not jump to the conclusion that this passenger is uncooperative and trying to make a difficult situa…
As those senior moments become more frequent, quality of life becomes increasingly important. As we age with dignity, the desire to enjoy life becomes stronger. Retirement is imminent. Comfort, security and enjoyment are life forces growing in strength. We have long wanted to do an article on personal advocacy. It prov…
Most of us attend meetings, conferences and exhibits, whether for work, community involvement or personal interest. Unfortunately, people who are blind frequently encounter barriers preventing their full participation. Even in the United States, where the Americans with Disabilities Act should have brought the U.S. lig…
Ritchie Guide Dog proudly trotted down the boarding bridge and onto the aircraft. He soon settled down to start the long trip across the Pacific back to Canada. He had just completed ten days of work in Japan. As the plane lifted off the runway at Narita Airport, Ritchie began reflecting on his professional successes a…
FEATURE Visiting Israel had been a dream of ours ever since childhood, growing up blind and trying to achieve success and independence. We related to the struggle of people in this new country striving to survive and to make a harsh land bloom again. We had also read several books about Israel, including "Exodus" by Le…
Paw Prints In The SandBy the Stark Family "Here comes Bob" were words that brought smiles to our faces since they announced the long-awaited start to our trip from Ottawa to Aruba. The long hours of planning were starting to pay off. The first hurdle was about to be overcome. Our entourage of two guide dogs, two teenag…
Monday 7 August 2000 A furry thigh brushes against a leg, and both animal and human stop at the curb edge. Inches away, a large truck roars by, buffeting those at the curb with wind. Seconds later, it is time to step into the road that was such a hazard before the traffic light changed. Obeying a soft "forward" command…
I am a Scorpio, just like my companion, Chris Stark, and his reader, Helen Lanctôt. I will be two years old on October 26. I am a 79-pound golden retriever. I am also a professional, a certified guide dog. I was born in England. I spent my first year in Canada with my puppy walkers, the Dockendorff family of Stittsvill…
I was finally compelled to write after listening to the Tuesday March 23, 2004 program on the issue of guide dogs and other assistance animals traveling to Britain. As citizens of the Commonwealth, this restriction has long been an annoyance for both of us. We both work with guide dogs, for the independence and partner…
I first met Eli Meiri in Florida at the 1999 World Congress of the Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped (SATH) where we toured a cruise ship together to examine its accessibility features. Eli is an Israeli tour operator who specializes in disability travel and also a wonderful human being. We next…
Time to evaluate our behaviour towards our colleagues who have disabilities. Some of us may react hesitantly due to shyness or worry when we meet them. We must overcome these negative and uneasy feelings by telling ourselves that people with disabilities are people just like you and I. Here are some hints and advice wh…
NAVIGATING THE KINGDOM OF PEACE My Journey in Jordan BY RITCHIE II, ALL-TERRAIN GUIDE DOG, AS TOLD TO MARIE AND CHRIS STARK My name is Ritchie and I am two-and-a-half years old. I have been trained extensively and now work as an all-terrain navigator. The main duties in my job description involve being constantly on ca…
On Canada Day, it is appropriate to reflect on life in this country as a citizen who is blind. Much has changed in my lifetime. Much has not. The opportunities, experiences and exclusions are descriptive of the diverse nature of Canadian society. School was in a residential institution. Sent from home at age five for t…
People with disabilities are visiting more places around the world more often than ever before. Travelling in a wheelchair through the rain forest of Costa Rica on an accessible track, using a walker in the Andes mountains, taking guide dogs on a Caribbean cruise or taking a tour of Boston on a bus equipped with an inf…
Editor's Note: Chris Stark is a long-time advocate for increased access, universal design and true inclusion. He is an AEBC member living in Ottawa, Ontario. It seems to me that the older I get, the harder it is to be independent. While my specialist and hospital clinics communicate with me by email, Health Canada and …
Hup up, Luna Dog! Hup up! With a wag of her tail, a shake, and a jangle of the harness, this golden retriever guide dog answers the "all aboard call" to start the long airplane journey home at the end of another enjoyable vacation in the hot sun. Travelling abroad with a guide dog can be complicated, time consuming, hi…
Travelling with guide dogs in the United States is still sometimes an adventure, even after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We were looking for a place to relieve our guide dogs at O’Hare International Airport. We had 57 minutes between flights en route to San Diego for a baseball sports trip. We ha…
From Warehouse to Greenhouse to Open House An Address to the Air and Space Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association By Chris Stark August 1991 Table of Contents p. 1 Introduction p. 2 The Warehouse p. 3 The Greenhouse p. 6 The Open House Appendices p. 9 Appendix A – Significant Canadian Cases Affecting Persons with …
The hospitality industry is striving to keep its market share and to keep its rooms occupied. Competition is stiff. Customer service and satisfaction are key elements in strategies to keep and expand market share. Does this strategy extend to guests who are blind? The experiences of frequent travellers Marie and Chris …
DOG DAYS AND THREE DOG NIGHTS The joy of meeting that new guide dog is overpowering. The eagerness to work, the energy and the friendliness create a lifetime of memories. It is difficult to accept that in less than ten years that loveable creature will need to retire and will die a few short years later. Just thinking …
A VISION OF CULTURE BY: CHRISTOPHER STARK Blind persons are expressing a need for a sense of identity. This search for identity has resulted in a fresh examination of the traditional perceptions of blindness. This quest for a more meaningful self-concept has resulted in a re-examination of the traditional impressions o…
Voting in elections for people who are blind continues to be a process of indignity and a violation of our privacy and democratic right to cast a secret ballot with confidence. That we are making the choice on the ballot we intend Only minor changes in federal, provincial and municipal elections have been made in the l…
Editors Note: This article was written in 1992 but 20 years later our son is having to cope with the same issues. When will educators learn to respect the human rights of people who are blind? EQUAL TREATMENT School board agrees to provide information to blind parents One principal told us: It's your responsibility to …
Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-430 Route reference: Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing 2008-8 / Telecom Public Notice 2008-8 File number: 8665-C12-200807943 Ottawa, 21 July 2009 Accessibility of telecommunications and broadcasting services In this Regulatory Policy, which addresses unresolved i…
Legal group takes on phone firms over lack of accessibility HELEN HENDERSON (Extracts from an article published in Fall 2003) ARCH: A Legal Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities has been gathering information for more than 20 years. It's about to formally open a library housing a wealth of information on everyt…
Hearing on Accessible Telecommunications and Broadcasting at the CRTC by Lana Kerzner, Staff Lawyer Telephones and televisions are essential forms of communication that allow us to work, go to school, call for help in an emergency and participate in community life. However, many people with disabilities cannot particip…
phone bills give blind more independence: Needing others to read statements reduces privacy, woman says BYLINE Lisa Gregoire, Journal Staff Writer About 600 words and just as many numbers. Fine print, graphics, charts, dates and explanations. That's your monthly phone bill. But say your eyesight was failing. How would …
Taking Charge of My Career By Chris Stark As I approach retirement and hang up the spurs, it is fitting to think about how I achieved a satisfying career, earned a living, and with my wife, raised a family. I believe that in order to succeed, you have to take charge of your destiny, make your own decisions, after a…
From Warehouse to Greenhouse to Open House An Address to the Air and Space Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association By Chris Stark () August 1991 Table of Contents p. 1 Introduction p. 2 The Warehouse p. 3 The Greenhouse p. 6 The Open House Appendices p. 9 Appendix A – Significant Canadian Cases Affecting Persons …
FURRY FIRST MATES Cruise Travel with Guide Dogs BY MARIE LAPORTE-STARK A call from a friend asking if we would go cruising with her and her husband got us moving one dreary fall day. Now we had something to look forward to during the cold months of winter! We received a stern warning from an acquaintance in the i…
Bureaucrats Delight ‘If we would pay your airfare and hotel, would you like to go to Panama?’ Of course, I said, ‘Yes.’ I was assured there was no problem for my guide dog to accompany me, so I started to work on my presentation for the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference and then the problems star…
Breaking down barriers—our way by Princess Zena Stark (and Marie Laporte-Stark), Human Resources, NHQ 2002 I am a minority, unpaid employee of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, working as a mobility specialist. My partner Marie and I have been employed by CIC for more than a year now. Our office is in the Diversity U…
BLINDING GRINDING POVERTY By Marie and Chris Stark Editors Note Although written in 2002 it is submitted that the situation has not markedly improved for persons who are blind. This article is reproduced as an open invitation to prove us wrong. Who is up to the challenge? Article begins Four out of five working a…
Real Life Encounters of a blind kind Even us blindies for life were shocked at discovering just how embedded the mysticism of lack of vision was entrenched in the Canadian psyche Four months of homelessness was our introduction to the cold shoulder of Canadian hospitality. It was the time between the sail of our fami…
At Home Community-oriented neighbourhood in Kanata By Randy Ray Ottawa Forever Young January, 2002 When Chris and Marie Stark went house shopping last year, a community-oriented neighbourhood and a home that catered to their special needs were at the top of their wish list. The Starks, who are both blind, found both at…
Ready, Aim, FIRE! Note to readers Real time research is the best approach since time will pass by this snapshot in time. Introduction: Recently, I have been asked to monitor my blood glucose level. This article outlines the research that I undertook, and what I found out about the two glucose monitors for measuring s…
An Unhealthy Medical Environment in Ontario As I age, it is difficult to do so with dignity. The health needs expand and become more complex, but the available information – in usable formats – decreases seemingly in direct proportion to needs. The provision of multiple formats seems to have undergone a metamorphos…
Note to Readers This article was written at the end of the 20 th century. More than a decade later it is interesting to see the results.. It is evident that the access rights obtained have a short shelf life. Our son is fighting the same access to information struggle we thought had been resolved 20 years ago. Access…
ADVOCACY AND PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT By: Chris and Marie Stark Editor's Note: Chris and Marie Stark are long-time advocates for increased access, universal design and true inclusion for blind persons. They live in Ottawa. People who are blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted have been sucker punched for years by produc…
Originally Written by Marie Stark See through barriers. Making conferences and events accessible to people who are blind. People who are blind frequently encounter barriers that prevent their full participation in meetings, conferences, and exhibits. Here are a few low-cost and no-cost ideas to make people who are bl…
Accessible Islands on A Sea of Dreams By Chris J. Stark The face of cruising is changing, and people with disabilities are an important part of that change. Passengers with disabilities are no longer uncommon. At the Captain's welcome party, you may chat with a shipmate who has a tropical punch in one hand and a …
Taking Charge of My Career By Chris Stark As I approach retirement and hang up the spurs, it is fitting to think about how I achieved a satisfying career, earned a living, and with my wife, raised a family. I believe that in order to succeed, you have to take charge of your destiny, make your own decisions, after a…
At Home Community-oriented neighbourhood in Kanata By Randy Ray Ottawa Forever Young January, 2002 When Chris and Marie Stark went house shopping last year, a community-oriented neighbourhood and a home that catered to their special needs were at the top of their special needs were at the top of their wish list. …
Chris Stark was the Manager of Monitoring, Liaison and Mediation for the Accessible Transportation Directorate of the Canadian Transportation Agency. His first role at the Agency involved the resolution of complaints from travelers with disabilities. Before joining the Agency, Mr. Stark held several positions with Tran…