National Consumer Group of Blind Canadians Condemns the Movie Blindness

October 3, 2008

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians strongly condemns the
inaccurate and harmful depiction of what life is like after losing the
ability to see offered in the movie "Blindness". "Blindness", based on the
Jose Saramago novel of the same name, was released in theaters across North
America on Friday, October 3. The film tells the story of the chaos and
degradation that ensues when an epidemic of blindness begins sweeping an
unnamed city. The blind characters are portrayed as utterly helpless and
incompetent, incapable of dressing themselves, cleaning themselves, and
orienting themselves to their surroundings.

The AEBC asserts that negative and misguided conceptions about what it means
to be blind are largely responsible for the low employment rate,
under-education, and high incidence of poverty that so many blind Canadians
face in this country.

The fear of becoming blind is second only to the fear of developing cancer.
Many people imagine that becoming blind inevitably means a life of
dependency and the loss of self-worth. These are the same messages that
will be presented to viewers of the film. Contrary to these misconceptions,
blind, deaf-blind, and partially-sighted Canadians:

* go to school, work, volunteer, and participate in community activities
* live interdependently with friends, family, and other Canadians
* adjust to being blind and lead fulfilling lives

"This film is only going to perpetuate the misconceptions most people
already have about blindness. We want Canadians to know that the portrayal
of blindness in the movie is inaccurate and based on misunderstandings about
what it is like to be blind", says Marc Workman, AEBC's National Secretary.

What many film-goers will not be told is that, with proper training,
appropriate services, and freedom from prejudice and discrimination, blind
Canadians are capable of participating fully along side their fellow
citizens.

"What disturbs me is the distorted picture people are being given. Many
will walk away from the film thinking that blindness can be nothing other
than a tragedy. We're telling Canadians that this is false", says John Rae,
AEBC's First Vice President.

We're asking Canadians not to watch this film. We need help to send the
message that these misinformed, inaccurate, and harmful portrayals of
blindness are unacceptable. For those that do see the film, we want you to
understand that blind, deaf-blind, and partially-sighted Canadians lead
active lives and participate in their communities.

The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians is Canada's largest advocacy
organization made up of blind, deaf-blind, and partially-sighted Canadians
speaking on their own behalf. For more information, visit
www.blindcanadians.ca.

James Morton
1100 - 5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4