CCB Access & Awareness NS Chapter

A final gathering of chapter members at the Lion’s Head this past Monday. Although we are sad to see the chapter dissolve, we are proud of everything the chapter accomplished over the years. Particularly under the leadership of Patricia Gates. We will have one more announcement in the next few weeks. Each of the chapter members will continue to fight for increased awareness and accessibility for people who are blind or partially sighted and hopefully many more will take up the cause. 

Planning to check out this year's Pride Parade? Here are some options to make your experience more accessible - Happy Pride!

ACCESSIBLE VIEWING PLATFORM

For those with mobility issues or difficulty standing for long periods, this platform will be located at the Halifax Central Library plaza. Space is limited.

LIVE AUDIO DESCRIPTION OF THE PARADE

A live commentator will offer an amplified audio description of the parade for the blind and visually impaired at the corner of Lower Water Street and Cornwallis. Please note, seating is not available in this area.

LOW SENSORY VIEWING AREA

For those who wish to avoid unexpected noises, crowds, and touching while they watch the parade, the Creative Lab on the 2nd floor of the Halifax Central Library, will be a quiet space where an onsite volunteer will help keep noise and distractions to a minimum.

Parade Accessibility Features supported by TD

Home The Halifax Pride Festival is a celebration which draws in more than 150,000 participants and is one of Canada's premier pride celebrations.

An award given to our national president Louise Gillis and CCB for improving quality of life of those living with vision loss locally, nationally, and at the international level. Congratulations!

Our National President Louise Gillis with retiring CEO of the World Blind Union Dr. Penny Hartlin.

Win an accessible tablet package! Deadline for Nova Scotia is October 9th. Check out the link below for details and eligibility!

March of Dimes Canada: Assistive Mobile Technology Initiative

The Halifax based “Access & Awareness NS” Chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind is pleased to invite you to its’ annual “White Cane & Dog Guide Walk and Reception” on Wednesay, June 6, 2018. The Walk will begin at 3:30 p.m. from the main entrance of the Public Gardens, corner of Spring Garden Road and South Park Street. Participants are asked to gather at that entrance at 3:15 p.m. The Walk will proceed down Spring Garden Road, along Barrington Street to City Hall. This walk is meant to demonstrate to the public the independence, inclusion and accessibility that our white canes and dog guides provide to those of us with vision loss in our daily lives. If you are unable to participate in the walk, please join us at Halifax Hall in City Hall for a reception at 4 p.m. where new friends and old can be found. Refreshments will be provided as well as music by renowned Halifax musician, Maria Alley who was such a big hit last year.



Tickets will be available for our $500 Spring Basket which will be drawn at the Reception.



For further information, please contact Pat Gates, Chair, CCB Access & Awareness NS Chapter at 902-422-7758 or at [email protected]

Achieving accessibility together – we would like your input

The Nova Scotia government has committed to creating an accessible province by 2030. It will take all of us working together to achieve this goal.

Our next step is to develop a strategy for how we will meet this goal. To do this, we are holding a series of public engagement sessions on what an accessible Nova Scotia looks like and the steps needed to get there.

Topics will include:

• Accessibility issues;

• How government should prioritize the development of standards;

• How communities can contribute to accessibility; and

• Any sector-specific considerations.



Here is the schedule:



Yarmouth

NSCC Burridge Campus

Tues., May 22 6-8:30 pm



Bridgewater

NSCC Lunenburg Campus

Wed., May 23 6-8:30 pm



Dartmouth

NSCC Ivany Campus

Thurs., May 24 6-8:30 pm



Kentville

NSCC Kingstec Campus

Mon., May 28 6-8:30 pm



Stellarton

NSCC Pictou Campus

Tues., May 29 6-8:30 pm



Sydney

NSCC Marconi Campus

Mon., June 4 6-8:30 pm



To register, please visit https://tinyurl.com/yby2wjfj

You can also indicate here any required accommodations.

Registration is encouraged, but not required.

All facilities are accessible, and CART and ASL-English interpretation services will be provided.

If you have any questions about these events, or cannot attend and wish to provide written feedback, please contact the Accessibility Directorate at [email protected]

For more information on the sessions or to review a summary of consultations already completed, please visit
https://novascotia.ca/accessibility/consultation/

Fill | An Accessible Nova Scotia Community Engagement Sessions Registration Form Nova Scotia’s Accessibility Act has a goal of an accessible province by 2030. The Accessibility Directorate is holding community engagement sessions to gather input on accessibility issues, and how we can work together to become an accessible Nova Scotia. Feedback from these sessions will help us ...

YOU’RE INVITED!
Women with disabilities and deaf women: changing public engagement
Join us to hear issues
of importance, learn ways
to support each other in discussions,
and to share ideas and experiences
with other women who have disabilities and are Deaf.
Panel & Facilitated Discussion
Saturday, May 12th, 2018
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Mount Saint Vincent University
166 Bedford Highway, Halifax, NS B3M 2J6
McCain Building 301 & 302
Seats are limited. Refreshments will be provided.
Please register at 902-456-9913 or through email at [email protected].

Looking for an opportunity to serve your community and build your resume?



People from all communities and walks of life are needed to serve on Nova Scotia’s agencies,

boards and commissions (ABCs), including regional Housing Authorities.



Applications are now being accepted for a wide variety of volunteer opportunities with more than 150 ABCs – ranging from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and Arts Nova Scotia to the Farm Loan Board and boards of various regulated professions.



All Nova Scotia residents are invited to apply. It’s easy with our online application.

Applying for Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs) | novascotia.ca Serving on one of Nova Scotia’s 155 agencies, boards and commissions (ABCs) can help you grow personally and professionally while making a real impact on your community.

Our CCB Access & Awareness NS Chapter is now selling tickets on a basket filled with $500 worth of goodies - all kinds of cool stuff from technology to gift cards to a bird feeder and bird seed and so much more! Monies raised will go to support our awareness initiatives as well as to our White Cane and Dog Guide Walk and reception to be held on June 6 (provided there is no blizzard!!). Tickets are $5 each or three for $10 and if you would like to buy either one or three (or as many as you'd like!), send a message or contact any of our Chapter members! Many thanks! Please also stay tuned for more info on our Walk and Reception on June 6 - all are welcome!!

GTT teleconference April 18th, all are welcome to join!

You are invited! Blind and low vision GTT participants meet monthly to learn about and share their experiences using assistive technologies in their daily lives at home, school, or at work.

Brian Bibeault and Albert Ruel will lead a discussion on the many and varied accessible household items used by people who are blind, partially sighted and deafblind.

Call in info:
April 18th 7-8:30pm AST
1-866-740-1260

Passcode is 5670311 #

Smart Phone users can tap on the below number to have the passcode dialed automatically following the toll free number:

1-866-740-1260,5670311 #