New book on history of blindness
in Canada sure to open eyes

March 30, 2005

 

It wasn't easy for Euclid Herie to write objectively about the proposed sterilization of blind married couples in the 1930s. The first-time author who lost his vision to congenital cataracts when he was 16 was understandably angered at the suggestion presented to The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) that steps should be taken to ensure
blind couples could not bear children.

Nor was it easy to withhold bias to chronicle the struggle for information materials in alternative formats, the struggle for gainful employment with visually impaired workers moving from sheltered workshops to mainstream offices, and the struggle for changes in government policy.

But his goal in writing Journey to Independence: Blindness - The Canadian Story was not to criticize or judge, but clearly tell the history of blindness in Canada.

"I did not write this to be sensational," stressed Herie, past president of both the CNIB and the World Blind Union. "I was totally absorbed and fascinated by the people I researched; so I decided not to write this history, but rather let the men and women who shaped this history tell their own stories."

Through these tales, Herie charts blindness in Canada from before Confederation to present day. He explores the history of education for blind people from Canada's first schools for the blind to the unsung work of home
teachers in rural areas.

Herie also details the creation and successful work of the CNIB, which Herie describes as a "remarkable world-leading charitable organization." Founded in 1918, soon after Canada's blinded war veterans returned home, it gave the nation's citizens a place to turn for vision loss support.

During his 18 years as CNIB president, Herie became somewhat of an historian, frequently researching blindness history when writing articles or contributing to other books.

He discovered pieces of blindness history scattered here and there - pieces of a puzzle that needed joining. But completing this puzzle was an overwhelming task.

Herie barricaded himself in a small office in Toronto with the help of an ambitious PhD student. Surrounded by boxes of archives, the pair went through countless meeting minutes, interviews on cassette, annual reports and other
materials.

"It was at least 20 months before I started writing the first chapter," he said. "The issue became not what to include, but what to leave out." For example, 60,000 photos were whittled down to just over 40.

Herie's research thankfully pulled him out of his office and across the Atlantic Ocean to blindness organizations in England and France, as during the 1800s both countries still had a significant influence on Canadian society.

The end result is an enlightening tale that demonstrates how Canadian attitudes towards vision loss have changed since the country's birth.

"Blind people, like all people with disabilities, do not need sympathy - they need equal access to education, opportunity, employment, and empowerment," stated Barney Danson, the former federal Minister of Defence
under Pierre Trudeau who wrote the book's Foreword.

A long time CNIB client, Danson was partially blinded in his left eye in the Second World War, and now has age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in his other eye.

"You will realize, I hope, that although we've come a long way, we still have far to go," he added.

To purchase a copy of Journey to Independence: Blindness - The Canadian Story, please contact the CNIB at (416) 486-2500 ext. 7058 or at techaids.sales@cnib.ca.

 

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) is the nation's primary provider of vision loss support services to over 100,000 Canadians who are blind or visually impaired. Visit www.cnib.ca