Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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What Commuting is Like for a Blind Torontonian (torontoist.com)
submitted by fastfinge
Marconius 2 points 6y ago
This is really interesting. Just got back from a two-week trip to Toronto a week ago, and the city was absolutely fantastic. I didn't try navigating it myself, as I was with my girlfriend the whole time in cited guide, but we are almost seriously considering potential he moving there at some point. My only issue is I have absolutely no idea how to do Cain travel in the snow… :-( I don't want a guide dog, and another option is potentially living in a condo that is directly above the TTC or connected to the path that snakes its way around downtown and getting a job on the path or just working remotely.
fastfinge [OP] 3 points 6y ago
Unless you live in the suburbs, it won't be much of an issue. The city salts and shovels the sidewalks; after a storm, they generally have the sidewalk ploughs out within 3 or 4 hours. I lived in Toronto for 26 years, so I can probably answer any questions you have about the city.
Marconius 1 points 6y ago
Do support people/cited guides need a card from the Canadian government designating them as such? We were taking the up train from the airport back to Toronto, and that was the only time when my girlfriend requested the support person discount that someone brought up that she needed a card or documentation. This is, of course, after being there for two weeks getting the support person discount practically everywhere we were going without need of proof. The tactile tours at the various museums were fantastic.
Are there good resources for orientation and mobility instructor's in Toronto? While navigating downtown, unfortunately I didn't notice a lot of crossing beacons at intersections, and of course I would absolutely love to figure out how to navigate the path by myself. Are there any transit discounts for the disabled? What were some of your favorite places to go and hang out around the city? We stayed on Queens Quay West right at the harborfront between Reese and Simcot, so we hung out mainly in the entertainment district for the whole trip since we were there for the entire world cup of hockey tournament.
Are there good resources for orientation and mobility instructor's in Toronto? While navigating downtown, unfortunately I didn't notice a lot of crossing beacons at intersections, and of course I would absolutely love to figure out how to navigate the path by myself. Are there any transit discounts for the disabled? What were some of your favorite places to go and hang out around the city? We stayed on Queens Quay West right at the harborfront between Reese and Simcot, so we hung out mainly in the entertainment district for the whole trip since we were there for the entire world cup of hockey tournament.
fastfinge [OP] 1 points 6y ago
> Do support people/cited guides need a card from the Canadian government designating them as such?
The way support discounts work in Ontario is a little backwards. You, as the blind person, need a card documenting your blindness. If you are bringing a support person with you in many places, the way it works is that you must pay full price. Once you show your card to prove your blindness, your support person will get to ride either completely free, or with a major discount. I say "most places" because the list of places where that's not true is vast. In order to have proof of blindness in Toronto, you will need a CNIB Card, a TTC bus pass (also provided by the CNIB), an Ontario photo card, and an Access 2 card (provided by the easter seals). The TTC only accepts the bus pass, most theatres and entertainment places only take the Access 2 card, anywhere that requires a drivers license as ID (bars, etc) will only take the Ontario photo card, and the public library and all public transit that isn't the TTC only take the CNIB card. Your support person doesn't need any documentation, other than you saying that they're your support person. Well, unless you're voting with a support person; then it gets complicated and stupid.
> Are there good resources for orientation and mobility instructor's in Toronto?
Last time I had O&M in Toronto a few years ago, I went through $1. At the time, they were the best. But I moved to Ottawa 2 years ago, so I can't speak to the quality of instruction now.
> I didn't notice a lot of crossing beacons at intersections
There aren't many. To travel around Toronto effectively, you need to be able to cross major intersections without audible lights. Did you get to experience the $1 scramble? I went to university right there; the words "Walk sign is on for all crossings. Walk sign is on for all crossings." are still etched directly into my brain.
> Are there any transit discounts for the disabled?
Yup. Once you have your CNIB card and bus pass, you get to ride most public transit for free. And the parts that aren't free are discounted either for you for your support person. Note that your support person never gets to ride the TTC for free.
> What were some of your favorite places to go and hang out around the city?
Well, I was a student, so never did much touring. Johnny Rockets had the best milkshakes in the city. Unfortunately, when I went back earlier this year, they were closed! No idea if they're just gone, or what. When I could afford it, $1 was where I did most of my drinking. Braille menus, good food, and better beer. I also used to enjoy Puck 'N Wings, on Yonge, just a short walk from Finch station. I used to watch movies at the Yonge-Dundas AMC, because it was walking distance from class, and the audio description always worked once I trained the staff by demanding it regularly. However, because it was downtown, the ticket prices were twice what they are in North York. If you're not as lazy as I was and move to Toronto, take the subway to Eglinton or somewhere and save money.
Other than maybe once or twice as a kid, I never bothered visiting harborfront at all.
The one difference you're going to notice is that Canada has nothing like the ADA. While the city is quite accessible for touring, a lack of an ADA type law really makes the job hunt difficult. Also, the price of houses in Toronto is $1. 1.2 million for a detached house, and the average price is now $710,410. That means rent isn't cheap, either.
The way support discounts work in Ontario is a little backwards. You, as the blind person, need a card documenting your blindness. If you are bringing a support person with you in many places, the way it works is that you must pay full price. Once you show your card to prove your blindness, your support person will get to ride either completely free, or with a major discount. I say "most places" because the list of places where that's not true is vast. In order to have proof of blindness in Toronto, you will need a CNIB Card, a TTC bus pass (also provided by the CNIB), an Ontario photo card, and an Access 2 card (provided by the easter seals). The TTC only accepts the bus pass, most theatres and entertainment places only take the Access 2 card, anywhere that requires a drivers license as ID (bars, etc) will only take the Ontario photo card, and the public library and all public transit that isn't the TTC only take the CNIB card. Your support person doesn't need any documentation, other than you saying that they're your support person. Well, unless you're voting with a support person; then it gets complicated and stupid.
> Are there good resources for orientation and mobility instructor's in Toronto?
Last time I had O&M in Toronto a few years ago, I went through $1. At the time, they were the best. But I moved to Ottawa 2 years ago, so I can't speak to the quality of instruction now.
> I didn't notice a lot of crossing beacons at intersections
There aren't many. To travel around Toronto effectively, you need to be able to cross major intersections without audible lights. Did you get to experience the $1 scramble? I went to university right there; the words "Walk sign is on for all crossings. Walk sign is on for all crossings." are still etched directly into my brain.
> Are there any transit discounts for the disabled?
Yup. Once you have your CNIB card and bus pass, you get to ride most public transit for free. And the parts that aren't free are discounted either for you for your support person. Note that your support person never gets to ride the TTC for free.
> What were some of your favorite places to go and hang out around the city?
Well, I was a student, so never did much touring. Johnny Rockets had the best milkshakes in the city. Unfortunately, when I went back earlier this year, they were closed! No idea if they're just gone, or what. When I could afford it, $1 was where I did most of my drinking. Braille menus, good food, and better beer. I also used to enjoy Puck 'N Wings, on Yonge, just a short walk from Finch station. I used to watch movies at the Yonge-Dundas AMC, because it was walking distance from class, and the audio description always worked once I trained the staff by demanding it regularly. However, because it was downtown, the ticket prices were twice what they are in North York. If you're not as lazy as I was and move to Toronto, take the subway to Eglinton or somewhere and save money.
Other than maybe once or twice as a kid, I never bothered visiting harborfront at all.
The one difference you're going to notice is that Canada has nothing like the ADA. While the city is quite accessible for touring, a lack of an ADA type law really makes the job hunt difficult. Also, the price of houses in Toronto is $1. 1.2 million for a detached house, and the average price is now $710,410. That means rent isn't cheap, either.
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