wbu e-bulletin volume 11, issue 1 - world blind web viewno more car accidents ... working group has...
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WBU E-BULLETINVOLUME 11, ISSUE 1January 2016
Contact us at:World Blind Union1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4G 3E8Telephone: 1-416-486-9698, Fax: 1-416-486-8107Email: [email protected] Website: www.wbu.ngo, www.worldblindunion.orgTwitter: @BlindUnion
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE E-BULLETIN..................................................3PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE.......................................................................4UPDATES ON THE UN AND THE CRPD..................................................5
UPDATE ON THE MARRAKESH TREATY..............................................5WHO REPORT ON AGEING AND HEALTH IN HONOUR OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF OLDER PERSONS.......................................6UN ENABLE OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2015 NEWSLETTERS...........6UPDATE ON INTERNATIONAL REGULATION FOR QUIET VEHICLES... .8
2016 GENERAL WBU/ICEVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE....................9PROGRAM OUTLINE..........................................................................9REGISTRATION................................................................................10REGISTRATION FEES.......................................................................10HOTEL VENUE.................................................................................11IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHEN PLANNING YOUR TRAVEL..........12DELEGATE SUPPORT.......................................................................13MEMBERSHIP FEES DEADLINE........................................................13
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DELEGATE CONFIRMATIONS...........................................................14CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS....................................................14NOMINATIONS FOR TABLE OFFICER................................................15WBU AWARDS.................................................................................16ADOPTION OF RESOLUTIONS..........................................................16REMEMBERING OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY.............17ASSEMBLY DOCUMENTS.................................................................18SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT DATES...................................................18
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD....................................................19USAID ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR FIELD MISSIONS TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS INCLUSIVE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES................19FIRST-EVER PAN-AFRICAN ALBINISM CONFERENCE CONVENED.....19CBM FUNDING FOR WBU HUMAN RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY POLICY ANALYST AND ADVISOR..................................................................20NEW SPONSORSHIP FUNDING FROM VANDA PHARMACEUTICALS. .20EYES ON THE PRIZE: THE HADLEY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND WANTS TO BACK YOUR BUSINESS...............................................................21TWO NEW UEB HADLEY COURSES AVAILABLE (PLUS UEB ASSESSMENT).................................................................................21NEW PODCAST HOSTED BY BLIND SCIENTIST DR. SHAWN MALONEY.......................................................................................................22BLIND ICE HOCKEY.........................................................................23LIGHTHOUSE STAFF VISITS PIXAR STUDIOS....................................23RNIB’S “MY VOICE” SURVEY...........................................................24BLIND FOUNDATION IN NEW ZEALAND 125TH ANNIVERSARY..........24THE ZERO PROJECT'S SELECTION OF EFA-VI CAMPAIGN AS AN INNOVATIVE PRACTICE...................................................................25SIGHTSAVERS CEO APPOINTED COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE..............................................................................25CAR DRIVING WORKSHOP IN SPAIN FOR BLIND PEOPLE.................26
RESOURCES.......................................................................................26WBU RESOURCE PAPER ON UNIVERSAL DESIGN POLICY................26UN WOMEN RESOURCE TOOL: DISABILITY RIGHTS, GENDER, AND DEVELOPMENT...............................................................................27TOPIC GUIDE ON DISABILITY INCLUSION – DFID FUNDED...............27
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AFB RELEASES 16 BRAILLE RESOURCES ON WORLD BRAILLE DAY.272016/2017 IMPORTANT DATES/CONFERENCES/EVENTS....................28THE REGIONS.....................................................................................32
AFRICA............................................................................................32ASIA................................................................................................32ASIA-PACIFIC...................................................................................32EUROPE..........................................................................................32LATIN AMERICA...............................................................................32NORTH AMERICA/THE CARIBBEAN..................................................32
WBU OFFICERS..................................................................................33REGIONAL PRESIDENTS.....................................................................33WBU STAFF........................................................................................33OUR PLATINUM SPONSORS................................................................34OUR DIAMOND SPONSORS................................................................34OUR GOLD SPONSORS.......................................................................34
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE E-BULLETIN
We welcome articles from the regions and from members who wish to share their good news with the rest of the world. Our next deadline for content is April 4, 2016. We accept submissions in English, French, and Spanish in electronic format. Please note that we retain the right to edit submissions for space limitations. Send your news to
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear members,
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In this E-Bulletin, we have focused on the upcoming General Assembly, which will take place in Orlando, Florida, USA in August of this year. The General Assembly is the most important event during the term, and I hope that everyone can take part in this significant meeting. There will be many interesting topics discussed as well as numerous presentations from qualified and engaging speakers from around the world. It is important to remember that you have to have paid your membership fees because if you are not financial, you cannot vote and participate as an active member. Many people think of the General Assembly as the end of the term. For me the General Assembly is the starting point of a new term with the most important of tasks: to effectively plan for the future.
Additionally, I want to mention that Maryanne Diamond will leave both her position as Chair of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) as well as her leadership position with WBU in July. She has been the Chair of IDA for two years and she has done a wonderful job bringing the movement forward. I want to take this opportunity to thank her for her work for both WBU and IDA as well as to congratulate her on her new job. I am sure that we will continue to hear from her, and that she will continue to be an important person in the disability movement over the coming years.
Let me wish you all a happy and productive 2016 as I know we all need support. I want to especially wish all of the blind and partially sighted persons in areas where there are conflicts, wars, catastrophes, and disaster a better life in the future. We are always thinking of you, and we know that you have gone through tough times, rising to the occasion to meet many difficult situations.
Arnt HoltePresident WBU
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UPDATES ON THE UN AND THE CRPDUpdate on the Marrakesh Treaty
We are happy to announce that both Brazil and Australia ratified the Marrakesh Treaty in December, bringing the total number of country ratifications to 13. We have also been made aware of several countries that have completed in-country ratification and are awaiting the completion of documentation with WIPO. We are, therefore, hopeful that the 20 ratifications needed for the Marrakesh Treaty to come into force will be achieved within the first half of 2016.
We are also pleased to report that our grant application to the Open Society Institute Foundation was successful and we have received full funding for Phase Two of our Marrakesh Treaty Ratification and Implementation Campaign, which will focus on continuing to advocate for universal ratification as well as helping transition those countries that have ratified to the implementation phase. The FOSI grant includes funding for a part-time Project Coordinator for the campaign. The Project Coordinator is responsible for the development and delivery of training programs and communications tools, with the help of the Marrakesh Ratification Campaign Committee and the Strategic Advisory Group, in addition to providing coordination for the project elements. Our current Communications Coordinator, Caitlin Reid, will fulfill the role of Project Coordinator for the Marrakesh Treaty Ratification and Implementation Campaign and she will now be working full-time for WBU in both positions.
WHO Report on Ageing and Health in honour of International Day of Older Persons
In honour of the International Day of Older Persons, the WHO released a report titled, World Report on Ageing and Health on October 1, 2015. The WHO hopes the report will help encourage “comprehensive public health action on population ageing,” through its framework for actions, which aims to “foster Healthy
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Ageing built around the new concept of functional ability”. The report includes a small section on vision (and hearing) loss, starting on page 54.
The WHO asked for our support to help build momentum around this report and to work together “towards an age-friendly world which adds health to years”. The link to the report (currently available in English only) is: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/186463/1/9789240694811_eng.pdf?ua=1. It is also available on our website in the Resources > Useful links section. The link to our site is: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/resources/Pages/Useful-Links.aspx. The WHO has also prepared a toolkit with advice for NGOs, among others, on how to disseminate knowledge and plan engaging events on this subject. The toolkit (in English) is available at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/186463/1/9789240694811_eng.pdf?ua=1.
UN Enable October and November 2015 Newsletters
The UN CRPD monthly newsletters are out. The October edition features many interesting submissions, including an article from UN Women on the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women grantees for 2015, which include three projects related to women and girls with disabilities. To find out more, follow this link to the Fund’s website: http://www.endvawnow.org/en/.
The ILO also submitted an article on their new Business Charter on Disability that was signed by 11 major international companies. The Charter expresses a commitment to creating inclusive workplaces for persons with disabilities all over the world. Click on the following link to find out more: http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_418001/lang--en/index.htm. The ILO has an article in the November newsletter as well, on their new publication, titled “Decent work for persons with disabilities: promoting rights in the global
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development agenda.” The publication is currently available in English, French and Spanish and you can download it by following this link: http://labordoc.ilo.org/record/462523?ln=en
The November newsletter features an article on the Third Committee of the General Assembly’s adoption of a resolution on the CRPD that draws attention to its upcoming 10th anniversary, noting the opportunities it offers in creating new momentum towards the CRPD’s universal ratification. The resolution also urges States to support the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and for the inclusion of disaggregated data by disability-specific indicators to measure the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for persons with disabilities. You can read the full document in pdf by following this link: http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/gadocs/a_c.3_70_l.25.pdf
The Third Committee, which addresses issues relating to social development, humanitarian affairs and human rights, also adopted a resolution on persons with albinism, which encouraged Member States to continue to uphold the rights of persons with albinism. You can access a PDF copy of the resolution by clicking on the following link: http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/gadocs/a_c.3_70_l.14.rev.1.pdf
The World Bank submitted an article that covered a visit and presentation they received from ONCE, ONCE Foundation, and FSC-Inserta in November. ONCE presented on it extensive work supporting job creation and employment participation for persons with disabilities at a roundtable titled “Disability Inclusion Matters” for World Bank staff. To find out more about the World Bank’s disability initiatives, follow this link: http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/disability
To read the UN Enable newsletters in full and/or to subscribe to them, follow this link: http://www.un.org/disabilities/
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Update on International Regulation for Quiet VehiclesBy: Frederic Schroeder, First Vice-President, World Blind Union
In early September 2015, the UN Working Party on Noise (GRB) adopted the recommendation of the Quiet Road Transport Vehicle (QRTV) Informal Working Group. The draft regulation is being promoted under what is called the 58 Agreement, which covers (nearly) all of Europe as well as a number of other countries such as Japan and Australia. The next step is for the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) to receive and take action on the draft regulation. Unfortunately, thedraft regulation continues to allow a driver to choose to switch off the noise device and fails to require the alert sound to be active while the vehicle is stationary. The draft regulation also only requires the device to project a sound level of 50 and 56 DBA when the vehicle is traveling at speeds of 10 KPH and 20 KPH respectively. A study conducted by Louisiana Tech University found that the alert device at that sound level did not make a statistical difference in the time a pedestrian could hear the approach of a quiet car.
WBU presented its concerns to the WP.29 meeting in December and a summary of our major issues was sent as well. Action on the draft regulation will not be taken until WP.29's meeting in March 2016 so the coming months will be very important for us to seek meetings with our countries' WP.29 representatives and press for our concerns to be reflected in the final regulation.
2016 GENERAL WBU/ICEVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE
The General Assembly registration website is now available at: www.wbu-icevi2016.org On that website, you will be able to find out what you need to know about the program, the venue, how to register and other local information. For WBU specific information such as delegate support, Officer nominations, Awards nominations, and WBU Assembly documents, you will find these
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on the WBU website at: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/general-assembly/Pages/default.aspx
Please read this information carefully as it will provide you with important and useful information regarding the General Assembly.
Program Outline
The full Assembly event will take place from Thursday, August 18 to Thursday, August 25th, 2016.
Thursday , August 18 – WBU Executive meeting and other WBU Pre-Assembly committee meetings
Friday , August 19 – Monday August 22 – WBU General Assembly
Monday , August 22 – ICEVI Paper presentations (ICEVI will also join the opening plenary with WBU for a plenary on education for all
Tuesday , August 23 – Wednesday August 24 – Joint WBU/ICEVI concurrent sessions
Wednesday Afternoon – Joint closing and Awards ceremonies
Wednesday 5 – 6:30pm – WBU Executive Committee Wednesday 7:30pm – Gala Dinner Thursday August 25 – ICEVI General Assembly
Registration
Registration is now open at: www.wbu-icevi2016.org
All participants must use the online registration process. Once registration has been completed online, you will also book your accommodation online. Only those who register for the Assembly may book accommodations at the conference hotel at the special conference rate of $110 USD plus taxes per room per night.
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Payment may be made either via credit card or through wire transfer and all necessary information is contained within the online registration process. For those who wish to register as a group, group registration is also available.
For those who are being supported by the WBU, we will do the registration on your behalf and will inform you when this has been done. This is only being done for those whose sponsorship has been approved by the WBU and who have been informed of this approval.
Registration closes on May 31, 2016.
Registration Fees
All events listed below include gala tickets.
For WBU General Assembly only (this includes joint WBU/ICEVI concurrent days):
WBU Delegate $350 WBU Observer $300 WBU Accompanying Person $300 WBU Guide $250 WBU Interpreter $250
For ICEVI Events and Assembly only: ICEVI Delegate $300 ICEVI Observer $250 ICEVI Accompanying Person $250 ICEVI Guide $200 ICEVI Interpreter $200
For WBU General Assembly and ICEVI Events and Assembly: Delegate $600 Observer $500 Accompanying Person $500 Guide $400 Interpreter $400
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Hotel Venue
The entire Assembly event will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando Florida. Rosen Centre Hotel9840 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819Website: www.RosenCentre.com
The special room rate is $110 plus taxes per night per room. Please note that Breakfast is not included in the room rate.
The Rosen Centre Hotel is a lovely hotel with some 1300 rooms. It is well laid out and easily accessible to blind and partially sighted persons. The hotel has hosted several National Federation of the Blind conventions in recent years and participants have found it to be easy to navigate and the staff are well trained and friendly. The hotel has many choices for food service and other amenities. Please note that apart from the Gala dinner, no meals are provided as part of the registration and they are not included in your room rates. So you will need to plan to purchase your meals. A number of reasonable cost options will be available in the hotel and there are also plenty of less expensive food service options very close to the hotel. All hotel rooms also have refrigerators so guests can purchase items and keep them cool.
As all events will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel and we are being given excellent rates for this class of hotel, no other hotel options are being provided on the registration website. For those who choose to make their own accommodations arrangements, please be aware that the local hosts will not be able to provide any type of support at other hotels.
Important Information When Planning Your Travel
Visitors from most countries will require a visa to visit the United States. Upon registering for the Assembly events, if requested, you will be issued a standard invitation letter which you can use
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for obtaining your travel visa. In most cases this will be sufficient. Please remember to start the visa process early, however, in order to ensure that you have adequate time to deal with any issues that might arise. The last date to request a visa invitation letter from our host is May 31, 2016. For those delegates that are being sponsored by the WBU, you will be issued an additional visa letter from the WBU office that details your sponsorship arrangements.
Medical Insurance Coverage – You must ensure that you purchase medical insurance coverage before travelling to the United States. This is often purchased with your airline ticket, but if not it can normally be purchased separately. This is extremely important as medical expenses can be very high in the United States and neither our local host nor WBU nor ICEVI can take any responsibility for supporting medical costs. Medical insurance is generally not that expensive. The cost of medical services, if needed, can be very, very expensive.
Delegate Support
The WBU puts aside some funds each year in order to support delegates from developing countries to attend. The guidelines and application forms for the delegate support program were sent to members in August and the deadline for submission was November 30th. Only those members whose fees are fully paid are eligible for any assistance. In addition, priority is given to assisting those from the lowest income countries. As of now, we have received a great number of applications and we are not sure that the funds we have available will even support those eligible applications that we have. For those who have not yet submitted application forms but intend to do so, you can find the application form on the website: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/general-assembly/Pages/Forms.aspx . Your application will be added to a waiting list and will only be considered if funds became available later on.
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Membership Fees Deadline
Members are reminded that the deadline for the payment of membership fees in 2016 is March 31, 2016, in order that these can be fully settled prior to the General Assembly. Please remember that membership fees are to be paid in US dollars (USD); not in Canadian dollars (CAD). There is approximately a 40% differential in the exchange rate between the USD and the CAD, so if you pay your fees in Canadian dollars, you will have an outstanding balance of 40% and will be considered not financial. Only members that are fully financial for the full quadrennial will be eligible to have voting delegates at the General Assembly.
Delegate Confirmations
All members must confirm the names of their official delegates to the WBU office by June 17, 2016. Reminders will be sent from the office to remind you to do this. All confirmed delegate names will be entered into the delegate roster which is used for the confirmation of eligible voters at the Assembly. National member delegates unable to attend the Assembly in person are allowed to give their proxy to another delegate from their national delegation (International members are allowed to give their proxies to another International member). The WBU office will make Proxy forms available to members and on the WBU website. The names of both the giver of the proxy and the holder of the proxy must be on the official delegate roster. Proxies may be sent via email or fax to the WBU office ahead of the Assembly or handed in prior to the start of the Assembly.
Constitutional Amendments
One of the tasks performed at the General Assembly is the acceptance of any amendments to the WBU constitution, which is the governing document of the WBU. A copy of the current constitution can be found on the website at:
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http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/about-wbu/Pages/Constitution.aspx .
The process for amending the WBU Constitution is set out in Article X, Section 1. The deadline for submitting any amendments for consideration to the Assembly is four months prior to the Assembly, which is April 18, 2016. All constitutional amendment proposals should be forwarded to the WBU Office. All members will receive information about any constitutional amendments being proposed at least six weeks prior to the Assembly.
Nominations for Table Officer
Elections for the following positions will take place at the WBU General Assembly to be held in Orlando Florida, United States of America, from August 19 – 22, 2016: President, 1st-Vice President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary-General, and Treasurer. Article IV, Section 6, of the WBU Constitution sets out the eligibility requirements for nomination.Nomination forms can be found on the WBU website at: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/general-assembly/Pages/Forms.aspx
If the candidate wishes to have materials circulated to delegates in advance of the General Assembly, then their nomination must be submitted to the Chair of the Nominations Committee, Mr. J. L. Kaul, at least three months prior to the General Assembly and thus no later than Thursday, May 19th, 2016. Nominations may also be submitted after this date, including at the General Assembly, but nominations received after 19 May will not be circulated to the membership prior to the Assembly. The deadlines for submission of nominations for each of the officer positions will be announced at the commencement of the general Assembly.
Candidates who are unsuccessful in a particular election are permitted to run for a subsequent position and will be required to
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submit a new nomination form for that position to the Chair of the Nominations Committee. Note: Position descriptions for each of the Officer positions are available from the WBU office at: info@wbu .ngo or from the Nominations Committee Chair.
WBU Awards
The WBU has two awards that are traditionally presented at the General Assembly: Honorary Life Memberships and the Louis Braille Medallion.
Honorary Life Members are those persons deemed to have rendered long and outstanding international service through the WBU to people who are blind and partially sighted or in the prevention of blindness. On the recommendation of the national member from the country where he/she resides and with the approval of the officers, persons may be elected by the General Assembly as honorary life members of the Union.
The Louis Braille medal is the most prestigious award accorded by the WBU with a maximum of 2 Medals awarded at any one General Assembly. It is not incumbent on the WBU to award the Louis Braille Medal each and every quadrennium but only when an outstanding candidate is presented. This award is granted to individuals who have made a substantial and outstanding contribution to people who are blind or partially sighted through international service or to the WBU over a long period of time.
Nomination forms are available from the WBU website at: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/general-assembly/Pages/Forms.aspx Nominations for both WBU awards must be received by Friday, June 17, 2016.
Adoption of Resolutions
The General Assembly provides an opportunity for Assembly participants to propose resolutions on issues of importance to
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blind and partially sighted persons. To see the resolutions that have been passed at previous assemblies, please visit this page on our website which is contained in the “About Us” section: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/about-wbu/Pages/WBU-Resolutions.aspx
The Resolutions Committee will convene in early 2016 and welcomes proposals for resolutions from members. While it is possible to submit resolutions at the very beginning of the Assembly, we always recommend that resolutions be submitted in advance, if possible, to give the Resolutions committee ample time to review the submissions, to consolidate those that are similar and to begin the preparation of their resolutions report that will be submitted at the Assembly. We do request that you do not repeat resolutions that have already been approved at prior Assemblies; as mentioned above, you will find all previously approved resolutions at the link provided.
Remembering Our Members Who Have Passed Away
We make time in the Assembly Agenda to mention and remember our members who have passed away during the quadrennial. While we in the office hear about many of these passings, we are not informed of all that should be acknowledged. We would, therefore, appreciate your assistance in letting us know of any members who have passed away during the term and played a significant role at the national, regional or international level. It is helpful to have their name, country, name of organization(s) with which they were involved and a few sentences about the person and his or her contributions. Those can be sent directly to: [email protected].
Assembly Documents
You can expect to receive from the WBU office a number of documents that will help to prepare you for participation in the General Assembly. It is our normal practice to provide these
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documents in English, French and Spanish, and we will also post them on the WBU website on the General Assembly page (link: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/Pages/default.aspx). We hope that you will take the time to review them in advance so that you can more effectively participate in the Assembly events.
As was the case at the last two General Assemblies, we provide only a few of the documents in alternative formats at the Assembly event itself. These are documents that you would need to reference during the Assembly and include the program, financial statements, constitutional amendments, and the quadrennial budget. It has been our experience that these are the primary documents required at the Assembly and since all other reports are sent out in advance and are available in electronic formats that can be adapted into accessible formats at the local level, this presents a significant cost and time saving for us. We can of course also provide you with electronic copies of other documents that you might need at the Assembly itself.
Summary of Important Dates
January 12, 2016 – Online Registration opens March 31, 2016 – Deadline for receipt of 2016 membership
fees April 18, 2016 – Deadline for submission of Constitutional
Amendments May 19, 2016 – Deadline for submission of Table Officer
nomination forms for prior circulation to members May 31, 2016 – Registration closes May 31, 2016 – Deadline for Visa requests June 17, 2016 – Confirmation of delegates by each member June 17, 2016 – Deadline for submission of Awards
nomination forms for Honorary Life Membership and Louis Braille Medallion
We do hope that this information is helpful to you and encourage you to retain it as a reference.
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
USAID Announces Funding for Field Missions to Implement Programs Inclusive of Persons with Disabilities
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has made approximately $6,000,000 USD in funding available to its field missions to implement programs inclusive of persons with disabilities. Interested and qualified organizations must apply for this funding directly through their local missions. All USAID missions are eligible under this funding program and interested organizations should contact their local mission prior to submitting applications to verify their participation. Concept papers must be submitted by USAID missions only. Applications sent directly to USAID/Washington by applicant organizations will not be considered. The deadline for missions to submit concept papers to USAID is March 31, 2016. Mission contact information can be found at: https://www.usaid.gov/mission-directory
First-ever Pan-African Albinism Conference Convened
The first-ever Pan-African Albinism Conference took place in Dar es Salaam Tanzania, from 19 to 22 November 2015. The conference featured broad training sessions conducted by OHCHR Geneva on how to engage the UN system as well as a subsequent session by the UN’s senior human rights adviser of Tanzania’s UN country team, who provided concrete examples of successful engagement between the UNCT in Tanzania and local civil society groups. A consultative session between the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism also took place. Attendees at the Conference worked to establish a Pan-African Albinism Alliance with a committee of regional representatives from all key sub-regions of Africa. To find
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out more about the conference, follow this link: http://www.underthesamesun.com/conference
CBM Funding for WBU Human Rights and Advocacy Policy Analyst and Advisor
WBU’s funding application to CBM for a Human Rights and Advocacy Policy Analyst and Advisor has been successfully accepted. This will be the fifth year that CBM has funded a position for WBU and this year the position has been upgraded. The Human Rights and Advocacy Policy analyst will be analyzing and interpreting international instruments of importance to WBU and blind and partially sighted persons, and then disseminating this knowledge to WBU’s members as an expert advisor. We will announce the new hire in our April E-Bulletin.
New Sponsorship Funding from Vanda Pharmaceuticals
The WBU is happy to announce that we have received new sponsorship funding from Vanda Pharmaceuticals. This funding will enable us to enhance our communications efforts, including through the creation of a new health information page on our website, which we hope will serve as a vital resource for our members and online visitors. To learn more about Vanda Pharmaceuticals, visit their website at: http://www.vandapharmaceuticals.com/
Eyes on the Prize: The Hadley School for the Blind Wants to Back Your Business
Hadley is announcing its inaugural 2016 New Venture Business Competition. In the spirit of the American television show, Shark Tank, Hadley is inviting new, current or recent The Hadley School for the Blind’s Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship (FCE) students to submit their plans for a start up for a chance to win one of three cash awards for up to $10,000
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each. Entrants must have enrolled in at least one FCE module for consideration of their business plan. However, it’s not too late to become an FCE student and participate in the competition. Contestants need only to complete one FCE module for student status eligibility and an FCE module can be completed in a matter of hours. Participation and submission rules can be found at hadley.edu/nvc. To enroll in the FCE, please visit Hadley.edu/FCE. Contestant registration ends at 11:59 pm CST on Feb. 15, 2016. Winners will be recognized and receive their awards at the 2016 Business Leadership and Superior Training (BLAST) Conference in Chicago, May 17-20, 2016.
Two New UEB Hadley Courses Available (plus UEB Assessment)
The Hadley School for the Blind (www.hadley.edu) is pleased to announce two new braille courses:
1. UEB Braille Literacy 3: Uncontracted Braille available February 29, 2016 Increase your ability to read and write braille by learning uncontracted braille in which every word is written out letter for letter (often called grade 1 braille). The course covers the braille alphabet, numbers, punctuation, and some special signs. Directions for using the braillewriter as well as the slate and stylus are included. Prerequisite: “Braille Literacy 1: Tactile Readiness” and “Braille Literacy 2: Learning the Braille Alphabet,” or the ability to read all letters of the braille alphabet by touch.Course ID: EBR-923, Media: DTB with UEB workbook, Lessons: 9This tuition-free course is designed for Hadley students who are blind only—not for sighted family members in our Family program or for sighted blindness professionals in our HSPS program.
2. UEB Contracted Braille available on March 31, 2016 The braille code used for most written material is contracted braille. Being able to read and write in contracted Unified English Braille (UEB) will enable you to assist your family member or
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client who is blind. Prerequisite: Completion of Hadley’s "Introduction to Braille" within six months prior to enrollment in "Contracted Braille" and with a grade of B or higher or adequate competency as determined by Hadley’s "Uncontracted Braille Assessment." Course ID: CBR-213, CBR-223, MEDIA: OL OR P, LESSONS: 25. This course is designed for sighted students in either our Family or HSPS (blindness professionals) programs.
An Uncontracted Braille Assessment is also available on. March 31, 2016. If you have learned uncontracted braille in another setting, or if it has been over six months since you completed Hadley’s “Introduction to Braille” or "Introduction to Braille, UEB Edition" course you can take this short assessment to measure your ability to read and emboss letters, numbers and a variety of punctuation marks in uncontracted braille. The results determine which braille course is appropriate for you. Assessment ID: UBA-010, Media: LP, OL, Lessons: 1. This assessment is designed for sighted students in either our Family or our HSPS (blindness professionals) programs. Prospective and current students should call Toll Free: 800-323-4238 to ensure course availability as enrollment dates are subject to change.
New Podcast Hosted by Blind Scientist Dr. Shawn Maloney
There is a new podcast titled “As I See It,” for blind and partially sighted persons, which was launched in November and hosted by Dr. Shawn Maloney, a former vision scientist who is also legally blind. In each episode of the show, Dr. Maloney discusses topics related to vision loss with invited guests; topics include scientific research, clinical trials, accessible sports, adaptive aids, and much more. The podcast is accessible at its website (link: http://www.asiseeitpodcast.com/about/) as well as via iTunes, Google Play, and other channels. For a concise overview of how to listen to the podcast, please follow this link:http://www.asiseeitpodcast.com/listen/
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Blind Ice Hockey
The International Blind Ice Hockey Federation (IBIHF) is the newly formed governing body for the sport of Blind Hockey, which is currently played in Canada and the USA. The IBIHF will lead the development of the sport, maintain member relations with countries that have Blind Ice Hockey programs, and will focus on bringing the sport to other nations around the world. The long-term goal of the IBIHF is to create a truly global sport with both World Championship competition and ultimately inclusion in the Winter Paralympic Games by 2026. For more information about the sport of Blind Ice Hockey and opportunities to participate please contact Matt Morrow, [email protected].
Lighthouse Staff visits Pixar Studios
Pixar Animation Studios hosted blind and partially sighted individuals, including Lighthouse employees, in October for a test screening of their film Inside Out. Each person was given a set of headphones and a specially-loaded iPad using brand new technology that Pixar developed. The Lighthouse staff were impressed. Follow this link to read the full story: http://lighthouse-sf.org/blog/disney%E2%80%A2pixar-is-making-movies-better-for-blind-people/
RNIB’s “My Voice” Survey
RNIB has recently released the results of their “My Voice” project, the largest survey of blind and partially sighted people in the UK that RNIB have ever conducted. The survey gives insight into how the recession has impacted employment, how welfare reform has changed the benefits people are receiving, and how cutbacks have impacted on care services in the UK. The survey covered a wide range of topics including technology, transport, early reach and domestic life. You can access the survey by following this link: http://www.rnib.org.uk/knowledge-and-research-hub-research-reports-general-research/my-voice?
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utm_medium=email&utm_source=my-voice-20151203&utm_campaign=Read%20the%20full%20report%2C%20summary%2C%20and%20explore%20the%20interactive%20tool.
Blind Foundation in New Zealand 125th Anniversary
The Blind Foundation in New Zealand celebrated 125 years of life-changing service for blind and low vision Kiwis with an event that brought together clients and staff. One client, Bevan Gardiner, performed and had everyone singing along. Event Coordinator Wendy Mellberg Haecker said she was pleased the celebrations went off without a hitch. To read more about the celebration and the Blind Foundation, follow this link to their website: http://blindfoundation.org.nz/about/news-and-information/blind-foundation-enewsletter/125th-dunedin?utm_source=eNewsletter21&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=corporate%20eNewsletter
The Zero Project's selection of EFA-VI Campaign as an Innovative Practice
The EFA-VI Global Campaign, being implemented by ICEVI in partnership with the WBU, has been selected by the Zero Project as an innovative practice on inclusive education.The Zero Project identifies and shares models that improve the daily lives and legal rights of all persons with disabilities. Larry Campbell, ICEVI President Emeritus, will make a brief presentation at the Zero Project Conference in February (see Events section for more details on this conference). Key UN players, Corporate Houses and International mainstream organisations will be present at the conference and the EFA-VI campaign will likely receive the attention it deserves, which will help garner global support for its expansion in the next Quadrennium.
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Sightsavers CEO Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire
International development charity Sightsavers' CEO Dr. Caroline Harper has been appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year 2016 Honours List issued by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The honour is in recognition of Dr. Harper’s services to visually impaired people, leading Sightsavers for more than ten years. Over that time Sightsavers has grown significantly in both income and impact, last year examining over 12.8 million people and performing over 271,000 life changing operations. Dr. Harper, Sightsavers’ CEO commenting on her CBE appointment said: “I see this very much as an honour for Sightsavers: its staff, partners and donors who make the work of the organisation possible. So many people have been prevented from going blind, or have had their sight restored, as a result of these efforts". For more information, follow this link: http://www.sightsavers.org/sightsavers-ceo-honoured/
Car Driving Workshop in Spain for Blind People
No More Car Accidents, sponsored by SEAT, the Spanish car brand, and RACE (Spanish Royal Car Club), have organized the first one-day car driving course for blind people with the participation of ONCE in Madrid. It´s the first time globally that something like this has been done. The goal was to let sixty blind people achieve a dream; to drive their own car in a race track at high speed in total safety on the RACE Jarama Race Track. The concept, development and teachers were provided by No More Car Accidents. The students drove the new SEAT Leon with no incidents or crashes. The Press was invited to witness the event and they got the opportunity to share “blind” driving experiences as journalists got the chance to drive the car with covered eyes. The day was a terrific success and the pupils, press and teachers finished the event very excited and grateful for the experience. Alvaro Acevedo, owner of “No More Car Accidents” is trying to repeat the event, again in Spain, as there are many more blind
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people interested in participating. Mr. Acevedo also wants to export it to other countries that could be interested in this kind of experience. For further information email: [email protected]
RESOURCESWBU Resource Paper on Universal Design Policy
The WBU Access to the Environment and Transport Working Group has finalized the WBU Resource Paper on Universal Design Policy, which was adopted by the Officers last year. This resource paper offers guidelines and recommendations for a built environment that is barrier free and inclusive for persons who are blind and partially sighted. It has been added to the website (currently only in English) and can be found at this link: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/resources/Pages/Policy-Papers.aspx.
UN Women Resource Tool: Disability Rights, Gender, and Development
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the CRPD and the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)’s general recommendation 18 on disabled women, UN Women has produced a resource tool for action, titled “Disability Rights, Gender, and Development”. You can find this resource by following this link: http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/Publication/UNWCW%20MANUAL.pdf
Topic Guide on Disability Inclusion – DFID Funded
The Governance and Social Development Resource Centre (GSDRC) has released a topic guide that summarizes some of the
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most rigorous available evidence on the key debates and challenges of disability inclusion in development and humanitarian response. You can download the guide by following this link: http://www.gsdrc.org/topic-guides/disability-inclusion/. The GSDRC has also produced a reading pack and short video on Disability and Development available at the following link: http://www.gsdrc.org/topic-guides/disability-inclusion/
AFB Releases 16 Braille Resources on World Braille Day
The American Foundation for the Blind has released 16 Braille resources in honour of World Braille Day. You can find the resources on their website by following this link: http://www.afb.org/blog/afb-blog/16-braille-resources-in-honor-of-world-braille-day-2016/12
2016/2017 IMPORTANT DATES/CONFERENCES/EVENTS
February 10-12, 2016 - Zero Project Conference on Inclusive Education and/or Information and Communication TechnologiesThe Zero Project Conference 2016, convened by the Essl Foundation, the World Future Council and the European Foundation Centre at the UN Vienna, Austria, will:
highlight up to 100 Innovative Policies and Innovative Practices concerning Inclusive Education and/or ICTs from around the world;
organize close to 30 plenary sessions and workshops, plus an exhibition area; and
gather 500 innovators, decision-makers as well as opinion leaders from more than 70 countries.
To find out more, follow this link to their conference page: http://zeroproject.org/conference-2016/
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March 3-5, 2016 and March 2-4, 2017 - AFB Leadership Conferences
Please mark your calendars now for the 2016 and 2017 American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conferences, which will both be held at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Alexandria, VA: March 3-5, 2016, and March 2-4, 2017. For more information, please visit www.afb.org/afblc. If you are interested in sponsorship, advertising, or exhibiting opportunities, please contact Amanda Kolling at: [email protected].
April 11-13, 2016 – International Web for All Conference
The 2016 International Web for All Conference (W4A’16) will be held in Montreal, Canada, co-located with the World Wide Web Conference. The 2016 theme is “Education for All on the Web.” There will be keynote speakers and the conference has participation sponsorship opportunities for students. Please follow this link to find out more: http://www.w4a.info
April 12, 2016 – London Book Fair & Presentation of the Accessible Books Consortium’s International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing
The Accessible Books Consortium (ABC) will present their award for International Excellence for Accessible Publishing at the London book fair on Tuesday, April 12, 2016. This award recognizes outstanding leadership and achievements in advancing the accessibility of commercial e-books or other digital publications for persons who are print disabled. To learn more about this award and event, follow this link to the ABC website: http://www.accessiblebooksconsortium.org/news/en/2015/news_0010.html You can follow the Accessible Books Consortium on Twitter @ABCbooks4all
April 24-29, 2016 - ULAC 9th General Assembly
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The ULAC General Assembly will take place in Montevideo, Uruguay at the Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza Hotel. ULAC invites individuals and institutions from across the Latin American region to visit their website, www.ulacdigital.org/montevideo2016 to find more information regarding the city, the venue, fees, and other important information. Additionally, ULAC will soon send details on EXPOULAC.
May 4-6, 2016 - WBUAP 13th Regional Massage Seminar
The Philippine Blind Union Inc. and the National Council on Disability Affairs – the Philippines are hosting the WBU-AP 13th Regional Massage Seminar to be held in Manila, the Philippines on May 4-6, 2016. The theme of the seminar is "Maximizing Skills, Technologies and Opportunities for Economic Empowerment." The seminar aims to push for the inclusion of massage in the regional economic framework. The deadline for registration is March 31, 2016. All participants are welcome to arrive on May 3. For more details on the seminar, registration and payment procedures, please visit the website at: www.wbuap13thrms.org
May 17-20, 2016 - Business Leadership and Superior Training (BLAST) Conference
The 2016 BLAST Conference will take place in Chicago at the Chicago Loews Airport Hotel. For more information, email Terry Smith at [email protected]. Additional information can also be found at the following link: http://blindmerchants.org/save-the-date/
July 13-15, 2016 - 15th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (Preconference July 11-12)
The 15th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs will be held at the University of Linz, Austria. A broad range of topics including eAccessiblity, Assistive Technology (AT), educational / vocational inclusion, mobility
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support, service provision, ageing and disability rights are openly discussed at ICCHP in an inclusive and agreeable framework. You are invited to organize targeted Special Thematic Sessions (STS) leading to well-structured chapters in the proceedings as a recognised key reference for your specific domain of research and application. There is a call for papers and contributions for the conference and the deadline for submission is February 1, 2016. See the ICCHP website (link following) for more information: http://www.icchp.org
July 20-24, 2016 – Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)’s International Conference
AER’s International Conference will be held in Jacksonville, Florida this year at the Hyatt Regency from July 20-24. The call for presentations is currently open. You can find out more by following this link: http://aerbvi.org/?page_id=56
August 11-12, 2016 – International Conference on Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabilities
The 2016 International Conference on Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabilities will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is holding its 2016 World Library Information Congress, (WLIC) http://2016.ifla.org/ in Columbus, Ohio from August 12-18. In conjunction with this prestigious international event, the IFLA Section on Libraries Serving Persons with Print disabilities (LPD) is sponsoring a pre-Congress satellite conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The theme for the conference is “Tailoring the Reading Experience to Meet Individual Needs” and will feature an international array of speakers. For more information, follow this link: www.lpd2016.org
August 18-25, 2016 – WBU/ICEVI Joint Assembly
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WBU/ICEVI Joint assembly will take place in Orlando, Florida, USA this year, hosted by the National Federation of the Blind. You can find out more by reading our General Assembly Update section, or by visiting our General Assembly website page at: http://www.worldblindunion.org/Spanish/Asamblea-General/Pages/default.aspx
October 27-30, 2016 – IAPB’s 10th General Assembly
IAPB’s 10th General Assembly will be held in Durban, South Africa and online registration is now live. Early bird prices are available until Friday 13 May and the link to the ticket prices page is: http://10ga.iapb.org/register-for-iapb10ga/10ga-ticket-prices/. To register, follow this link: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=139266&reference=10GAwebsite
THE REGIONS Our regions are the bridge between the international level of work and the local level. Policies and treaties constructed at global levels are then carried out by our members in their own countries. Most of the regions have their own websites where they post updates of their work, member activities, and upcoming events in their area.AFRICAhttp://www.afub-uafa.org
ASIA http://www.abunion.org
ASIA-PACIFIC http://wbuap.org/index/
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EUROPE http://www.euroblind.org
LATIN AMERICA http://ulacdigital.org
NORTH AMERICA/THE CARIBBEAN Regional Office: CNIB - http://www.cnib.ca/
WBU OFFICERS Mr. Arnt Holte, [email protected]. Fredric Schroeder, 1st Vice [email protected]. Enrique Pérez, 2nd Vice President [email protected]. A. K. Mittal, [email protected] Ms. Maryanne Diamond, Immediate Past [email protected]
REGIONAL PRESIDENTSAFRICA (AFUB)
Mr. Yaw Ofori-Debra [email protected] (ABU)
Mr. Santosh Kumar Rungta [email protected] PACIFIC (WBU-AP)
Ms. Michiko Tabata [email protected] (EBU)
Mr. Wolfgang Angermann [email protected] LATIN AMERICA (ULAC)
Mr. Volmir Raimondi [email protected] AMERICA/CARIBBEAN (WBU-NA/C)
Mr. Charles Mossop [email protected]
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WBU STAFF Dr. Penny Hartin, Chief Executive [email protected]. Ianina Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant [email protected] Ms. Maggie Leung, General Assembly Administrative [email protected]. Caitlin Reid, Communications Coordinator & Project Coordinator – Marrakesh Ratification and Implementation Campaign [email protected]
The World Blind Union is registered in Canada as a charitable organization in order to raise funds for our work. Donations from individuals or groups are always appreciated and can be made via the “Donate Now” button on our website: www.wbu.ngo.
OUR SPONSORS
Members listed below provide funds beyond their membership fees to support the work of the World Blind Union. We are grateful to these members and organizations for their valued contributions.Our Platinum Sponsors CBM International http://www.cbm.org/ Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) www.cnib.ca Open Society Institute Foundation (FOSI)
https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/ Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (ONCE)
www.once.es Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted (NABP)
https://www.blindeforbundet.no Royal National Institute of Blind Persons (RNIB) www.rnib.org SightSavers International http://www.sightsavers.org Vanda Pharmaceuticals http://www.vandapharmaceuticals.com/
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Vision Australia http://www.visionaustralia.org/ Our Diamond Sponsors Swiss Federation of the Blind and Sight Impaired (SFB)Our Gold Sponsors National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Danish Association of the Blind (DAB) German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (DBSV)
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