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 and Rubella 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 and Rubella Association (CDBRA). 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.

Pat Peterson
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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Deafblind adults taste independence; A different world (Waterloo Record -- Waterloo, Ontario Canada, January 31, 2009)
Being asked the question, any question is remarkable for Lynn Todd who transferred to the new DeafBlind Ontario residence in Kitchener last March, ...  Read more

Air Canada ordered to pay B.C. man $10,000 (Vancouver Sun, January 26, 2009)
OTTAWA -- An Air Canada reservations clerk, hearing that Morten was deaf-blind, said he could not travel alone and would need someone to accompany him. ...  Read more

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