Canadian Tire Makes Long-Term Donation of Smartphones

Wednesday, October 14 2020 | 14 h 25 min | News, Press Release

The CNIB Foundation has announced a new ongoing commitment from Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC) to support Canadians with sight loss through its Phone It Forward program.

The Phone It Forward program takes modern, gently used smartphones, refurbishes them, outfits them with accessible apps, and puts them directly into the hands of Canadians who are living with sight loss. Recipients are also provided with training on how to use their refurbished phones with confidence.

“From being able to recognize the faces of loved ones, to accessing emergency assistance from sighted volunteers, to being able to travel safely and independently using accessible navigation apps, modern smartphones can be truly life-changing for people with sight loss,” said John M. Rafferty, President and CEO of the CNIB Foundation.

CTC, which has supported a wide variety of CNIB Foundation programs and initiatives since the early 2000s, has pledged to provide an ongoing donation of corporate smartphones. 

Despite how life-changing smartphones can be for people with sight loss, 46% of Canadians who are blind don’t own a smartphone – at least not one that’s advanced enough to help them in their daily lives. The Phone It Forward program helps get an all-in-one communications and accessibility solution into the hands of Canadians with sight loss, helping to reduce barriers and drive independence.

Click HERE for the full press release.