Anthony Tibbs, national president of the Alliance for the Equality of Blind Canadians | Photo: Louise Morgan
“Blind or partially blind students require special technology and adapted reading material,” says Irene Lambert, former Montreal chapter president of Alliance for the Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC). “These costly items help make the learning experience far more accessible.”
With the challenges of the visually impaired in mind, the organization is helping fund the AEBC Montreal Chapter Bursary at Concordia. Each year for the next eight years, $1,000 bursaries will be given to blind, deaf-blind or partially sighted undergraduate students.
To date the AEBC has raised a total of $5,400, with an additional $2,000 from the Concordia community. Anyone can contribute at concordia.ca/givenow.
“Concordia has a reputation for providing equal opportunities to individuals with disabilities,” says Lambert on why the AEBC chose the university. “It’s also a way for us to provide support locally.”
Founded in 1992, AEBC is an advocacy organization with 12 chapters Canada-wide. Lambert explains that the organization seeks to increase inclusion among visually impaired Canadians.
AEBC’s national president and former Montreal chapter president Anthony Tibbs was on hand as the agreement was signed at Concordia in December 2014. The first recipient of the award was chosen in March of this year.