Role of Fondation Caecitas in the funding ecosystem
Fondation Caecitas is a non‑profit foundation based in Québec City that has been active since 1997 in supporting blind and visually impaired people. Its primary role is to raise and strategically allocate funds to projects that improve the well‑being, autonomy and social integration of people living with visual impairments. The foundation clearly positions itself as a partner to other organizations, stating that it supports several projects offered by external groups working in this field.
Main funding priorities and types of support
The foundation focuses on both preventive and integrative dimensions of visual disability. Its priorities include preparing visually impaired youth for the labour market, supporting adapted vocational training, and facilitating access to and retention in employment. It also emphasizes psychosocial support for adults who experience a sudden or progressive loss of vision, recognizing the major impact on self‑esteem, orientation and financial security.
Fondation Caecitas uses the funds it raises to:
- Support adapted housing through the administration of two residences offering 34 apartments designed for people with visual limitations, in collaboration with partners such as Action Habitation.
- Contribute to the adaptation of professional training programs to the specific needs of visual impairment, notably in sectors like telephony, massage therapy and food service, in coordination with training institutions and public employment programs.
- Support research on the social integration of visually impaired people, in partnership with the Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec and Université Laval.
- Provide backing to visually impaired athletes and to social, cultural and sports activities that foster inclusion and peer networks.
- Maintain community infrastructure such as the Centre communautaire Caecitas Lions (CCCL), created with local Lions Clubs to host adapted activities and provide access to specialized equipment.
Supported audiences and overall impact
The foundation’s actions target a wide range of beneficiaries: children, adolescents and adults who are blind or have low vision in the Québec region. Through housing, activity centres, leisure and sports initiatives, and skills development programs, it aims to reduce isolation, prevent marginalization and improve quality of life. By partnering with organizations like the Carrefour québécois des personnes aveugles (CQPA) and other community groups, it amplifies the impact of its funding and helps maintain a rich ecosystem of services adapted to visual impairment.
Governance, partnerships and transparency
Fondation Caecitas is governed by a board of directors that includes a president and chief executive officer, a treasurer and a secretary, combining lived experience of visual disability with professional expertise (for example in optometry and accounting). Public information on its website presents its mission, priority needs and examples of completed projects, and invites donations through recognized platforms. Long‑standing partnerships with Lions Clubs, rehabilitation institutes, community organizations and media such as AMI‑télé demonstrate its embedded role in the regional support network for visually impaired people.