Access For Sight Impaired Consumers

Government Agencies

Federal Government - Departments & Programs

This Canada Revenue Agency site provides Canadian tax information for people with disabilities.

Persons With Disabilities Online The Government of Canada's site for Canadians with disabilities.

Federal Government - Publications

Have you ever asked yourself..."where can I find an e-learning tool that will teach me effective fact-finding strategies so I can make the best use of what the Canada Site has to offer?" If you have, then we would like to introduce you to the Canada Site Tutorial.

The Canada Site is the Canadian Government's portal on the internet, accessible through Government of Canada website. We invite you to visit the Government of Canada website tutorial

For those individuals who are blind, sight-impaired or deafblind who wish to receive their personalized correspondence from the Canada Customs & Revenue Agency (CCRA) in an alternate format of their choice can now self-identify, and make a one-time request by calling 1-800-959-8281 (English) or 1-800-959-7383 (French) on weekdays from 8:15 am to 5:00 pm (local time).

The multiple formats available from CCRA include Braille, large print, E-text (computer diskette or compact disk), audio MP3, and audio-cassette. Individuals who self-identify will automatically receive all personalized correspondence, such as Notices of Assessment and statements of account, in the alternate format of their choice. A separate request must be made to obtain an alternate format version of non-personalized material, such as generic forms and publications.

The Canada Revenue Agency will make every effort to ensure that both the alternate and standard formats are mailed together. However, some material will require separate mailings. If standard and alternate format material cannot be mailed together, the alternate format version will be mailed within five (5) working days of the mailing of the standard version.

The Canada Revenue Agency recognizes the importance of the confidentiality of its correspondence with taxpayers. Making personalized correspondence available in both alternate and standard formats at the same time addresses privacy concerns raised with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and ensures that individuals who are blind, sight-impaired or deafblind can access their information directly without having to involve a third party.

For more information about alternate formats and Canada Revenue Agency publications, please visit Requests for Canada Revenue Agency's Alternate Format forms and Correspondence or call 1-800-959-2221.

Some of the findings highlighted in Advancing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities 2009, the Government of Canada's latest comprehensive report on disability in Canada, includes numerous interesting facts regarding Canadians with disabilities. For example, the overall disability rate in Canada rose from 12.4% in 2001 to 14.3% in 2006. Approximately one in seven Canadians now have a disability. There was an increase of reported disability in all age groups, particularly among adults over 65 (up about 3% to 43.2% in 2006). This increase is largely due to the ageing population and the increase in reported learning disabilities. The report also investigates other issues such as Disability Supports & Services, Education & Training, Employment & Income and more.

The Office for Disability Issues commissioned a national study of public awareness and attitudes towards disabilities in Canada . The purpose of this research is to gauge Canadians attitudes towards persons with disabilities and awareness of disability-related issues, and in particular identify how these compare between individuals with and without disabilities. The study was conducted in two parts:

a) a national public opinion survey of Canadians (quantitative); and

b) in-depth focus groups with selected groups of Canadians in four locations (qualitative).

Bridging the Gap: Government of Canada Programs and Services of Interest to Canadians With Disabilities is a directory which has been organized to include such topics as employment and entrepreneurship, housing, human rights, taxation and transportation to make the relevant information more accessible. While it has been designed to provide information for persons with disabilities, it is also a resource for librarians, for referral staff in various community, municipal, provincial or federal offices.

This report furthers knowledge regarding Supports and Services for Adults and Children with Disabilities in Canada: Needs and Gaps. By fostering a more comprehensive understanding of problems people face accessing disability supports, it will assist in the development of a longer-term strategy on disability investments. Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers have agreed to collaborate on this longer-term strategy and continue to work in partnership with the disability community.

An excerpt from the report entitled Disability Tax Fairness: Report of the Technical Advisory Committee on Tax Measures for Persons with Disabilities contains 24 recommendations for the reform for taxpayers. Disability tax measures fall into three major themes, focused on achieving a fairer and more responsive tax system. First, there is a package of proposed changes to clarify the legislative and interpretive intent of the disability tax credit and to improve its administration. The second group of proposals focuses primarily upon the itemizable costs of disability and, more specifically, upon various tax measures that enable persons with disabilities to pursue education, training or employment. The third group of recommendations is intended to improve tax measures that recognize the additional costs of caregiving.

Provincial Government (British Columbia) - Publications

British Columbia's Ministry of Housing & Social Development Policy Manual is fully indexed to assist you to find what you need, when you need it. This on-line resource will help you to find the information you are looking for quickly and easily.

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