The Canadian Deaf-Blind Council is an organization that was established in a collaborative effort by the Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind and the Canadian Deafblind Association of Canada. The purpose of the council is to facilitate advocacy for all persons who are deafblind in the application for and conducting of research and the dissemination of the results and reports of research studies to organizations who are involved with services for, and behalf of, all persons who are deafblind.

The Canadian Deaf-Blind Council (CDBC) - is managed by a Board of Directors, with equal representation from the Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind (CNSDB) and the Canadian Deafblind Association (CDBA). The board members are not elected but are appointed by their respective member organizations each having four members. The by-laws of the CDBC state that the Presidency shall rotate between the Presidents of the two member organizations every two years. This being the case, my colleague, Jane Sayer was President for the first two years and following that period, I became President in January 2005 for a two-year period.

The first major task of the CDBC was to administer “A Study of Deaf-Blind Demographics and Services in Canada”. Since the conclusion of the study and preparation of the final report, the findings have been distributed across the country and beyond to all groups who represent persons with deafblindness in Canada as well as many government and service agencies. Another task, due to the benevolence of the Baker Foundation, is the establishment of this website.

It is the intention of the CDBC, as much as possible, to avail itself of research opportunities and to conduct further studies and projects to facilitate awareness and prevention of the causes of deafblindness and to assist organizations in their efforts to provide services to deafblind Canadian citizens.

President

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• A Survey Of Late Emerging Manifestations Of Congenital Rubella In Canada, February 1999.  Read now.  (759 KB)
• Developing a National Volunteer Registry of Persons with Deafblindness in Canada, June 2001.  Read now.  (1.05 MB)
• A Study of Deaf-Blind Demographics and Services in Canada, January 2005.  Read now. (1.34 MB)

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Canadian Human Rights Commission Welcomes a Key Decision for Deaf and Blind Persons (Media Relations, January 27, 2009)
Ottawa, Ontario Canada  The Canadian Human Rights Commission applauds today's Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision involving Mr. Eddy Morten and Air Canada as welcome news for Deaf and Blind persons. .. (A 42-page full detailed report in a PDF file available for viewing)  Read more

June is Deaf-Blind Awareness Month (Canada NewsWire, June 11,2008)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada  Welcome to JuneFest 2008, the annual showcase of talent in support of Deaf-Blind Awareness Month. Deaf-Blind Awareness Month Take a moment and think about ...  Read more

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See it to believe it ... (YorkRegion.com -- York, Ontario Canada, December 7, 2011)
Supported by DeafBlind Ontario Services, visitors will see grass paintings on canvas using grasses as paint brushes to create unique sensory art by sensory ...  Read more

Bradford boy throws first pitch at Jays game (The Barrie Advance -- Barrie, Ontario Canada, June 1, 2011)
A Bradford pitcher took the field at Rogers Centre Monday. Steffen Zimmer, 9, threw out the ...   Read more

Ripping off the labels (Brantford Expositor -- Brantford, Ontario Canada, May 27, 2011)
The Brantford-based Ontario chapter of the Canadian Deafblind ... Katherine Hesson-Bolton, director of operations at the Canadian Deafblind Association, ...   Read more

Racing the darkness: Blizzard (Toronto Sun -- Toronto, Ontario Canada, March 25, 2011)
Both boys have Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Typically, children are born deaf. In later childhood, their eyesight deteriorates. ...   Read more

Deaf, blind, and fiercely independent, Elio Reggillo is looking ... (Toronto Sun -- Toronto, Ontario Canada, March 20, 2011)
Reggillo is president of the Ontario Usher Syndrome Association and advocates on behalf of the deaf/blind. He's worked in grocery stores for 23 years — the ...  Read more

Fiorito: Ontario about to cut services for deaf-blind (Toronto Star -- Toronto, Ontario Canada, March 16, 2011)
Cyril is deaf-blind. He lives at the Rotary Cheshire Home, near Finch and Yonge. He could, I suppose, arrange to have things done for him, and to him;...  Read more

C'mon, Premier Dad, where's your heart?: Blizzard (Toronto Sun -- Toronto, Ontario Canada, March 3, 2011)
Born profoundly deaf, the Ottawa teen suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Usher Syndrome. Caitlin has attended the Provincial School for the Deaf in Milton since she was five, living in residence and going home to Ottawa on weekends...  Read more

Deaf-blind couple can feel the love (The Toronto Star -- Toronto, Ontario Canada, February 14, 2011)
They are both deaf-blind. After 32 years of marriage, Mary and Stephen Lindop still start each day with a hug. When Stephen wakes up, he embraces his ...  Read more

TTC eases cuts to bus routes (The Toronto Star -- Toronto, Ontario Canada, January 31, 2011)
On 19 more, part of the proposed reduction in service has been restored, including the 98 Willowdale-Senlac bus, which serves the Rotary Cheshire Home and ...  Read more

Fiorito: Cuts threaten bus service to Toronto's deaf-blind community (The Toronto Star -- Toronto, Ontario Canada, January 31, 2011)
Nazar Strejko, who is deaf-blind, relies on the bus the passes by the Rotary Cheshire Home on Willowdale Ave. The route is in danger of being cut because of...  Read more

Advocate says province underfunding deafblind (Vancouver Courier -- Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, January 28, 2011)
The executive director of Deafblind Services of B.C. says being both deaf and blind in the province of B.C. isn't enough to receive assistance from the ...  Read more

Silent treatment (Vancouver Courier -- Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, January 28, 2011)
As the deafblind struggle to function in a world of sights and sounds, intervenors and advocates help bridge the communication gap ...  Read more

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