C.Mar 3

I'm pissed off and disappointed.

I just received a #telemarketing phone call on behalf of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, #soliciting #donations.

It sounded pretty human-ish -- I believe it was using actual recorded sentences of a human being - but they were edited/glued-together in a slightly unnatural way. I believe it was an #IVR system.

So in the middle of one of its speeches, I interrupted with "You're actually a #recorded announcement, aren't you?"

And it replied with some meaningless interjection followed by "No, I'm a real live #agent". And it wasn't. It definitely wasn't. I tested it further and it immediately failed, giving nonsensical replies and then suddenly switching to a "thank you for completing..." (which I hadn't) announcement and disconnecting.

Legitimate #charities shouldn't be employing telemarketing #robots which lie and claim to be #humans. Full stop.

#Shame on the CNIB.

#CNIB #CanadianNationalInstituteForTheBlind

YourFavoriteAtheist🇨🇦Aug 20, 2025
For those of you who don't know about the Accessibility discount, it's a program that #Rogers has for us in #Canada. You get a $20 discount and a couple of other features. I think other Canadian wireless providers may offer it too. In my case, I asked #Aira to take a picture of my #CNIB card and emailed it to the address on the website. you can go to https://www.rogers.com/disability/offers for more info. And if I have just saved you 20 bucks with this knowledge? Your most certainly welcome. Have a nice day.
Show threadBob JonkmanMar 27, 2025

@ELLIOTTCABLE

Here are my notes from that info session on accessibility:

https://bobjonkman.ca/2018/05/29/notes-from-the-revision-adp-information-session/

#CNIB #ReVisionADP #ODSP

Notes from the ReVision ADP Information Session | Bob Jonkman

CodieneCFeb 23, 2025
Just saw a commercial for the #CNIB looking for more dogs for their program because there is currently a 4 year wait for guide dogs. Made me think back to a set of pups that had been rescued in Sask. All 9 pups weren't old enough to be separated from mom but there was no choice. They were raised & eventually adopted out.
I realize that not all dogs are appropriate as guide dogs but would it not be a source for those that are?
AlsoPaisleyCat 🇨🇦Dec 12, 2024

Bruce Horak, the virtuoso legally blind actor, is leading a new Historical Canada Canadian Heritage Minute about the establishment of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).

These short heritage dramatizations have been an institution since the 1980s and a couple of new ones continue to be added to the collection each year.

Horak best known onscreen for his main cast role as the Aenar Chief Engineer Hemmer in season one of Star Trek - Strange New Worlds. In addition to acting, Horak is a visual artist whose work shows his perspective from his limited ~10% vision in one eye.

CBC feature with short interview with Horak.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/edwin-baker-cnib-heritage-minute-calgary-canada-1.7407047

Here’s the Edwin A. Baker Heritage Minute with described video.

https://youtu.be/_SV-U2cL5fk?si=paNyF6_vqAA7kOS_

@zora
#StarTrek #StarTrekStrangeNewWorlds #SNW #StarTrekSNW #Aenar #Representation #Blind #LowVision #Canada #HeritageMinute #CNIB #Disability #BruceHorak #HistoricaCanada #Calgary

Calgary actor stars in new Heritage Minute about CNIB co-founder Edwin Baker | CBC News

Local actor Bruce Horak plays Edwin Baker, who co-founded the Canadian National Institute for the Blind after he was blinded as a soldier in World War I.

CBC
YourFavoriteAtheist🇨🇦Nov 26, 2024
Yesterday, I bought a bus pass for the month of December. I've been out and about a lot lately, and we can get senior/disability bus tickets for $27.75. I've gone through probably two books of 10 tickets each this month. So I decided to give the pass a try for December and January. I called to book paratransit rides this morning and told the guy who schedules the rides that I would be using a pass for the next couple of months. I didn't know this until he told me, but I can apply for a reduced pass since I'm on social assistance. I didn't know my city even did that. Got to love when people suggest things to save you money right? I asked him how much money I would save with the reduced fair program. He was like, off the top of my head I'm not sure. But everybody loves saving money. You should enroll. So that's exactly what I'm going to do. I was spoiled when I lived in Toronto because one of the few things that the #CNIB actually did right was fun passes for us blind folks. I'm not one of those entitled blindies who thinks they should get everything for free. They don't offer that here and that's fine. But I'm always down for saving money or getting things reduced.
Chris SmartNov 19, 2024

My Dad just got a phone call from #CNIB that went as follows:

CNIB: Hello Sir. did you complete the survey we sent out?
Him: No... What survey is that?
CNIB: "Oh, we sent it out late last week.
Him: "Well, you do know that Canada Post has been on strike since then..."
*long pause*
"CNIB: "Oh. Yeah, I forgot about that..."
I hope we were the first person they called today. LOL #Here'sYourSign

Doug MiramsOct 15, 2024
"It’s #WhiteCaneAwarenessDay👨🏽‍🦯 The white cane is a symbol of independence for Canadians with sight loss, allowing them to navigate and explore their surroundings confidently. Discover how the white cane empowers people: https://ow.ly/rBuI50TLBlL #CNIB #WhiteCane | CNIB
My White Cane, My Journey  | CNIB

Changing what it is to be blind today.

CNIB
CanayjunOct 8, 2024
From Pixels to Braille: CIRA is helping to create a safer and inclusive internet for youth with sight loss #Accessibility #CNIB #sightloss #blind
https://www.cira.ca/en/resources/news/net-good/from-pixels-to-braille-cira-is-helping-to-create-a-safer-and-inclusive-internet-for-youth-with-sight-loss/
PhoenixSerenityMay 21, 2024

#GovernmentOfCanada is developing new #accessibility regulations as part of the #AccessibleCanadaAct, with the goal of making #workplaces #BarrierFree for #PeopleWithDisabilities by 2040. In partnership with the #Canadian National Institute for the #Blind #CNIB & with funding from #AccessibilityStandards #Canada, we spoke to #employers about the barriers, needs, and enablers when it comes to hiring, supporting & retaining #PwDs.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/new-bher-report-dives-into-employer-perspectives-on-hiring-persons-with-disabilities-in-support-of-creating-a-barrier-free-canada-by-2040-892196896.html

#CDNpoli #DisabledCanadians #Employment

New BHER report dives into Employer Perspectives on Hiring Persons with Disabilities, in support of creating a barrier-free Canada by 2040

/CNW/ - Persons with disabilities (PwDs) are an under-utilized talent pool in Canada, despite significant strides in post-secondary achievements and work...