Penny LeClair

In 1952, Penny began life fighting for survival as an identical twin born three months premature in Windsor, Ontario.Since then, Penny has fought to survive and participate in Canadian life.

Penny attended regular kindergarten in her community after convincing her parents and the teacher that she could join the class and do what other students did.She Attended the Jericho Hill School for the Blind in Vancouver, where she graduated grade ten, Killarney Senior secondary School in Vancouver for grades 11 and 12 and graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) with a diploma in Business Administration in 1984.She was the first deaf-blind person to attend BCIT.Due to significant hearing loss after graduating, Pennyfound it difficult to secure paid employment, but her volunteer work utilizes this education.

Penny has served on national, provincial and district committees and advisory boards of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) with an interest in improving client services.

Penny served as a motivational speaker of the Ottawa United Way/centraide speaker’s bureau, where she often spoke to the members of the campaign cabinet during training sessions and motivational sessions.In 1998, she received the Ottawa United Way/Centraide Community builder award.

The Mayor of Ottawa appointed Penny to the accessibility advisory committee of the city of Ottawa in 2001 as one of 13 members.During her two years of service, she chaired the accessible pedestrian signals subcommittee and led the way for developing the alternative format policy of the city of Ottawa.

From 2000 to 2003, Penny attended Algonquin College in Ottawa, where she was enrolled in the Massage Therapy Program.She was the first student who is deaf-blind to attend this college.

In September, 2003, Penny was honoured with the Peggy Allan Memorial Award, presented annually to an Ottawa citizen who has done outstanding work to improve accessibility for other Ottawa citizens who are disabled.She was also the recipient of the 2004 NFB:AE/CCD Award.

Penny has been active with the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA) committee, and has made various presentations in support of a strong ODA that will bring down barriers for disabled Ontarians.

Penny is a current member of the Canadian Society of the Deaf-blind (CNSDB), serves on the Guide Dog Users of Canada (GDUC) Board of Directors where she is the chair person of the GDUC Wellness Fund for guide dogs, a member of the board of directors of Advocates for Sight Impaired consumers (ASIC), and a member of the British Columbia Association of the Deaf-blind.