[Nfbmo] new book on blindness issues in Canada!

[fred olver]

Dan, Look in my post for the address of the website. There, you will find 
accessible copies of the book to order.

Fred

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <DanFlasar at aol.com>
To: <nfbmo at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 10:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] new book on blindness issues in Canada!


> Fred,
>       I'd be very interested in reading this  book.  I've always thought
> of Canada's social and governmental organization  as rationally 
> compassionate
> - particularly as evidenced in  it's successfully implemented universal
> health care system.  Finding  out that Canada has an even higher 
> unemployment
> among the bilnd than the US and  that it's blind social policy is based on 
> a
> charity model certainly seems  at odds with what I admire about the 
> Canadian
> system.
>     Of course, no system is going to get it right all  the time.  It's
> always good to have our assumptions shaken  about.   Thanks for the 
> forward.
> Dan
>
>
>
> In a message dated 2/8/2011 8:23:27 A.M. Central Standard Time,
> goodfolks at charter.net writes:
>
> NEWS  RELEASE
>
> Victoria author examines the status of blind people in Canada
>
> and calls for replacement of the current charity-based system
>
>
>
> Vancouver B.C. - (January 29, 2011) -The author of a book  just
> released says an 80 per cent unemployment rate among  blind
> Canadians is an unnecessary violation of human rights. In his
> book  The Politics of Blindness, Victoria resident Graeme
> McCreath, who is blind  himself, calls for a complete overhaul of
> services for blind Canadians  stating the Canadian National
> Institute for the Blind (CNIB) is an  unsuitable vehicle to serve
> the best interests of blind Canadians.
>
> McCreath, a physiotherapist and blind rights advocate, argues
> that  the majority of working aged blind Canadians must be given
> the opportunity  to participate in the workforce alongside their
> fellow citizens.  The  Politics of Blindness offers a whole
> different approach from the  traditional custodial view of
> blindness and calls for more workplace  training opportunities.
>
> "I wrote this book to help change what it means  to be a blind
> person in Canada," says Graeme McCreath. "For too long,  blind
> people have been subjected to inequality and  misrepresentation.
> This book tells the Canadian public the stark reality  about the
> status of blind people in this country."
>
> In his book,  McCreath recommends that the Canadian government
> dismantle blind charities  in favour of setting up skills-based
> training facilities, government  incentive programs to encourage
> businesses to hire blind workers and a new  universal federal
> living allowance based solely on the characteristics  of
> blindness. This would end the current system which penalizes
> people  who want to utilize their intelligence and creativity
> while engaging in  meaningful work.
>
> "I concentrated on identifying past and present  mistakes in the
> treatment of disadvantaged blind Canadians and I feel that  my
> constructive solutions offer a way to radically improve the lives
> of  blind citizens," says McCreath.
>
> The Politics of Blindness is an  evidence based account of the
> history, present day situation and future  possibilities of blind
> peoples' experience.
>
> For more information go  to,  www.thepoliticsofblindness.com
> <http://www.thepoliticsofblindness.com/>
>
> Media contact: Jenn Currie | Peak Communicators | 604.689.5559  |
> jcurrie at peakco.com
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