York Region News, January 13, 2006."The candidates sat at a long table and the room was silent. Two large screens hung on either side of the stage, one to display the candidates' comments and the other magnifying the interpreter who translated the debate into American Sign Language..."

Read the entire article about the second of four historical, all accessible, all candidates meetings in Ontario by clicking here.
 
CHKC, as a provider of services to the Deaf-Blind Community, provided Intervenors at the first meeting. Please click here for the Press Release.

North York Mirror, July 24, 2005  - "Born deaf and preparing for blindness brought on by the disease Usher syndrome, Ryan McNary is learning how to be self-sufficient with help from the Canadian Helen Keller Centre. The CHKC is the only centre of its kind in Canada..."

Toronto Sun: Sunday, March 27, 2005  - "For the first time in his life, Elio Riggillo sees light at the end of the tunnel. The 33-year-old man has Usher Syndrome, or acquired deafblindness, but he isn't allowing this devastating dual sensory disability to dampen his determination to fight for his basic human rights and the rights of all people with deafblindness in Ontario who have historically been marginalized because they have no voice..."
 

The Ride for Awareness:  - "GBC Student raises almost $3,000 with his 2004 independent project: Ride for Awareness" - Sabrina Melchiori

Globe and Mail: April 2, 2004  - "She lives out of sight of the city in the relative quiet of Oshawa, but like thousands of others, Megan McHugh makes her way to Toronto for work and play. It's an hour by car on a good day, though Ms. McHugh, 39, hasn't driven in about 20 years. Maybe she's not missing much; braving the chaos of the 401 hardly feels like a privilege to those who have it. But that's often the way with privileges - the more you have, the easier they are to overlook." - Anthony Reinhart
 

Town Crier: March 19, 2004  - "Sara couldn’t cook. Or do laundry. However, she knew how to use computers and other high-tech gadgets, but household chores eluded her. That’s because the 23-year-old is deaf-blind, and like the other 2,700 people in the same boat in this province, kitchen chores like cooking can be lethal." - Paul Hutchings
  

Toronto Star: February 28, 2004  - "Barbara Davis has faced some formidable challenges in life. Most have come with the territory, so to speak, as she wrestled with being both deaf and blind. But her latest endeavour is of her own choosing, a journey undertaken to fight for the precious services she and hundreds of Ontarians like her need to stay connected to the world at large." - Helen Henderson

Toronto Star: Thursday, February 26, 2004  - "With all Sara Quinton’s talk about Excel Spreadsheets, Duxbury Computer Programs and other high-tech gadgets, it’s surprising to hear that this high-spirited young lady’s next goal in life is to go home and convince her family to let her do the laundry"
 

DECEMBER, 2001 - The Willowdale Report: Hon. Jim Peterson, M.P. - Community Notes
In Canada there are approximately 3,000 people who are deaf-blind, 600 of whom live in Ontario, and 150 in Toronto. These individuals have limited access to services or training opportunities. While specialized services for the deaf or blind exist, it is difficult for most people with the dual disability to access them.
 

FALL, 2001  -  Newsletter of the Toronto Eaton Centre Offices
The fountain located on Level 1 of the Eaton Centre, with its 50 foot high jet spray, has always been a crowd favourite and a place where all are welcome to part with their spare change and make a wish.
 

North York Mirror: Sunday, August 26, 2001  -  "The Canadian Helen Keller Centre (CHKC) wished for more funds during a presentation near the fountain in the Toronto Eaton Centre Aug. 22, and their wish was granted when they received almost $7,500 from Cadillac Fairview, which owns the downtown shopping centre." - Thana Dharmarajah
 

Toronto Star: Thursday, December 7, 2000  - "Imagine being able to see only vague shadows, to hear nothing at all. It's beyond imagination because even simulated lack of vision and hearing is different when you know it will end." - Ellie Tesher
 

DECEMBER, 2000 - "Not enough facilities like Rotary Cheshire exist across the province to help those living with Deaf-Blindness... by raising awareness of Deaf-Blindness, governments, private individuals and businesses will be more willing to come forward with the funding and resources necessary to build more facilities like Rotary Cheshire, to train more intervenors, and to communicate the kinds of services available to families with deaf-blind loved ones." David Young, MPP.
 

JUNE, 1999  -  "Before reading any further, stop for a moment and think of all you have done today or plan on doing later. Now imagine being Deaf-Blind and not being able to access the services that are vital in order to do everyday activities..."
 

The Canadian Jewish News : February 4, 1999  -  "The voice of Harold Smith, 79, a Jewish deaf and blind man, is like a call of the wild. Smith tries so hard to answer questions in his own voice, although he knows it is impossible for the ordinary person to understand him. But he keeps trying, which is one reason he has survived..."
 

Toronto Star: October 10, 1997  -  "Sign Language Ruling Hailed as Key Victory..."