Canadian Assistive Technology Ltd.

02/04/2026

Happy White Cane Week!

This week, we’re celebrating independence, navigation, and the power of the white cane. The cane is your engine for independence, but what happens when the engine needs a tune-up?

Well, did you know that Canadian Assistive Technology is your one-stop shop for Sales AND Repairs.

You don't need to buy a brand new cane just because a cord snapped or a tip wore down. We offer full repair services to keep your trusted cane on the road (and off the shelf).

Don't let a broken cane slow you down. Drop by or contact us to get your gear back in top shape! Or if you do need a new one, we have got you covered as well! Find us at www.canasstech.com or drop into the office at #106-828 W 8th Ave in Vancouver!

Check out what we are bantering about on this week's AT Banter: In honor of White Cane Week, we’re chatting with Mellyssa Lyght from Ambutech! They are one of the biggest names in mobility, and we get the inside scoop on everything from their shock-absorbing "No-Jab" canes to how they build custom "Hi-Lite" canes in every color of the rainbow! Check it out at www.atbanter.com or whereever you listen to podcasts!

01/30/2026

‼️ There is a common misconception out there that we’d like to clear up: Braille isn’t a language.

It’s a tactile method of communication!

Just as the printed alphabet isn't a language itself (it’s just a way to write languages like English or French), Braille is a code that allows people to read and write through touch. While the essential structure remains the same, the code varies by language!

Now you know!

Image Description: On a background of braille dots, a yellow brushstroke reads: “Braille isn’t a language. It’s a tactile method of communication”.

01/04/2026

Happy World Braille Day!

Yes, we’re celebrating bumpy paper—and yes, it’s a touchy subject.

To help celebrate, we've recorded a special episode of our AT Banter Podcast where Rob and Steve are joined by Braille super-champions Shawn Marsolais, Jen Jesso, and Riane LaPaire to tackle a big question:

If Braille is literacy… why is access still so uneven in 2026?

This episode gets real and there’s advocacy, laughter, a few spicy takes, and at least one strong opinion about throwing “bumpy paper” at politicians!

Give it a listen, share it far and wide, and help us say it louder for the folks in the back:
BRAILLE. IS. LITERACY.

Listen Now:
https://atbanter.com/2026/01/04/at-banter-episode-449-a-bumpy-ride-world-braille-day-2026/

12/06/2025

This goes beyond bad timing. This is cruel.

12/05/2025

Cary Base lowers stress for everyone who helps care for a forgetful loved one, not to mention the loved one themselves.

12/02/2025

A great organization and a great cause!

It's Giving Tuesday and today your gift will be DOUBLED!

Thanks to Ventana Construction Vancouver, every donation today will be matched up to $10,000 to support Blind Beginnings’ Early Intervention Program — helping children who are blind or partially sighted build confidence, sensory skills, mobility, and independence in their earliest years (birth to age five).

All proceeds today go directly to Early Intervention. Your $50 becomes $100. Your $100 becomes $200. And every dollar helps a child take their very first steps toward independence.

Please consider making a Giving Tuesday gift today and doubling your impact for BC children and families.

Donate to the match here:
https://www.blindbeginnings.ca/donate

Learn more about Early Intervention and the impact you are having here:
https://www.blindbeginnings.ca/giving-tuesday-2025

Together, we can help BC children who are blind and low vision discover their limitless potential.

11/19/2025

If you have an interest in tactile graphics, you won't want to miss this week's episode of AT Banter!

Ready to get your hands on some art? In this episode of AT Banter, we’re joined by tactile graphics gurus Chancey Fleet and Marco Salsiccia, who are on a mission to prove that “drawing in the dark” is not only possible but downright fun! Discover how blind and low vision creators are hacking the world of SVG coding, conquering “image poverty,” and using everything from 3D printers to… silicone placemats? (Spoiler: Yes, you can make tactile art with your leftover kitchen supplies.) Don’t miss this episode where we explore the joys, laughs, and occasional creative chaos of making graphics accessible to all.
Listen now:
https://atbanter.com/2025/11/19/at-banter-episode-444-getting-a-feel-for-art-with-blindsvg/

11/15/2025

I wonder if this treatment gives you glitter eyes.

Scientists may soon restore vision using gold — and no surgery at all.

Researchers are developing a revolutionary therapy where gold nanoparticles injected into the eye could help people with severe retinal damage see again.
No cutting.
No implants.
Just light and nanotechnology working together.

In recent animal studies, the process was stunningly simple:
Gold nanoparticles were placed inside the retina.
Near-infrared light was then shined into the eye.
The particles heated by just a few degrees — enough to activate retinal cells that normally stay silent due to disease or degeneration.

Those tiny electrical signals didn’t stop in the eye.
They traveled across the optic nerve and reached the brain’s visual cortex — proof that the brain could “see” again, even when the retina was damaged.

This treatment is still in the preclinical stage, not yet ready for humans.
But if it succeeds, it could offer new hope for millions with conditions like macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa — diseases that currently lead to irreversible blindness.

Imagine sight restored not with surgery, but with light-triggered nanotherapy.

Fun Fact:
Gold nanoparticles are so small that over 5,000 of them could fit across the width of a single human hair — yet they can still interact with light in powerful ways.

A future where blindness becomes reversible is no longer science fiction.
It’s taking shape in the glow of a single beam of light.



Sources:
Nature Nanotechnology
Scientific Reports
Scientific American

11/14/2025

In case you missed it, here's the recording of our What's New in JAWS, Zoomtext and Fusion 2026 presentation.

Freedom Scientific has released the latest version of JAWS, Zoomtext and Fusion. Learn about the exciting new features including the integration of AI.

11/14/2025

Getting out of the rain would be perfect right about now! Get your tickets and support a great cause!

BC charity that offers children and youth that are blind or partially sighted and their families opportunities to develop skills, confidence and independence.

11/07/2025

LVI makes some of the best low vision solutions for students. Right now their Magnilink Mini is impossible to keep in stock!

The MagniLink TAB — a powerful, portable solution designed for low vision users who need flexibility and performance!

The TAB combines LVI’s assistive technology with a Microsoft Surface Pro, giving users access to OCR, text-to-speech, and dual cameras for both close-up and distance viewing. It’s ideal for students, professionals, and anyone who needs reliable magnification and reading support in a compact setup.

TABViewer software enhances the experience even further — whether you're using it with the MagniLink TAB or connecting a MagniLink Mini to a Windows computer.

To stay up to date on the latest TABViewer features, join our upcoming webinar on Monday, November 11 at 1PM EST!

ACVREP Credits are available for this webinar. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xqMo3IvnQWOWRSLRpPFucA

Learn more about the MagniLink TAB: lviamerica.com/catalog/products/magnilink-tab

Follow us on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/company/lviamerica/

11/07/2025

Date Correction for Webinar - What's New in JAWS, Zoomtext and Fusion 2026 - - https://mailchi.mp/canasstech/workshop-announcement-vispero-9302287