WBU E-BULLETIN
VOLUME 11, ISSUE 2
April2016
Contact us at:
World Blind Union
1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4G 3E8
Telephone: 1-416-486-9698, Fax: 1-416-486-8107
Email:Website:
Twitter: @BlindUnion
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE E-BULLETIN
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
2016 JOINT WBU/ICEVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE
Registration Reminders
Other important reminders and deadlines
WBU AND WORLD BRAILLE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
UPDATES ON THE UN AND THE CRPD
Updates on the Marrakesh Treaty
Interview of WBU’s New Human Rights Policy Advisor, José Viera
OHCHR Thematic study on the rights of persons with disabilities under article 11 of the CRPD, on situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies & Report on the Realization of the Right to Work
Hybrid and Electric Cars: Quiet but no longer Silent
Report of the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Persons with Albinism
Studies on the situation of persons with disabilities in the Latin America and the Caribbean region from ECLAC
Disability Dialogues at the World Humanitarian Summit
Special Rapporteur Submits Report on the Right of Persons with Disabilities to Participate in Decision-Making
ABC’s Shortlist of Nominees for the 2016 International Excellence Award for Accessible Publishing
NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Discrimination, Women, Youth and Disability
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and Amazon Join Forces to Improve Accessible Reading Experiences for Blind and Low Vision Students
Perkins International Names New Executive Director
ICEVI Europe and the European Blind Union Release State of the Art Report on Exchange Programmes for Blind and Partially Sighted Students
It’s a Brand New Day at Hadley
Passing of Mr. Soli Abdoul Rahamane, Founder and First President of the National Union of the Blind in Niger
Zimbabwe National League of the Blind Wins National Census Court Case
Albinism in Africa: An Interview with Stéphane Ebongue Koube
Accessbile Online French Video content from Groupe Média TFO
Two Egyptian Research Studies on Persons with Disabilities
Tourism in Venice for the Blind and Partially Sighted
Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled Spearheads Cricket for the Blind in India
International Design for All Foundation Award Ceremony
Accessible Space Camp in the US
Blind Day to Raise Awareness in Israel
A Taste of Job Opportunity: Visually Impaired Barista in Hong Kong
New Makeup Website for the Blind and Partially Sighted
Long Distance Piano Lessons for the Blind and Partially Sighted
Blindfold Games – a company that makes Audio Games for Blind and Partially Sighted Persons
RESOURCES
Updated Member Information and Resources Page on WBU Website
IDA and IDDC Advocacy Resources for National Implementation of the Sustainable Developments Goals
UNESCO Institute for Statistics is Coordinating Different Initiatives to Produce Data for Education 2030
RNIB Guide for Employers
New European Blind Union Toolkit:“Implementing Standards for Low Vision Services in Europe”
2016/2017 IMPORTANT DATES/CONFERENCES/EVENTS
THE REGIONS
AFRICA
ASIA
ASIA-PACIFIC
EUROPE
LATIN AMERICA
NORTH AMERICA/THE CARIBBEAN
WBU OFFICERS
REGIONAL PRESIDENTS
WBU STAFF
OUR SPONSORS
Our Platinum Sponsors
Our Diamond Sponsors
Our Gold Sponsors
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 isJuly 4th,2015. Any content sent after July 4th will not be included in the e-Bulletin until the October edition. 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,
This message was written in Montevideo while our friends from ULAC had their General Assembly. It has been a great pleasure to be here, and I am very impressed with the work ULAC is doing.
Access to affordable technology for the visually impaired is a priority for WBU. There are so many persons who cannot afford to buy devices that would give them access to technology. One group made up of several members of WBU have financed a new technology which will reduce the price for braille displays. One 20 cell display will cost less than one iPhone. However, there will still be many persons who cannot afford to buy the device, but this is helping to move affordable accessible technology in the right direction. Here in Montevideo, I had the opportunity to look at the low-cost braille display and it seems to be very good. The development of the display will continue, but the first version will hopefully be on the market by September.
In a short time, we are expecting to have 20 countries that have ratified the Marrakesh Treaty. Currently, it stands at 16 countries, but the goal of reaching 20 ratifications is only the first step. We have to keep on working hard so a lot more countries will ratify. I would like to thank all the persons working with us on this as it has been and will continue to be very important work.
Some days ago I got the message that our former 2nd Vice-President, Ms. Frances Candiru has passed away. Frances was a very good friend, and she really made a difference for many fellow blind and partially sighted people. I will always remember her as a person who stepped forward to fight for and work on behalf of the women in our movement.
In closing dear friends, the WBU General Assembly is approaching, and I urge everyone to register for the Assembly which takes place in Orlando from the 18 -25th of August. The program is very interesting and I can assure you that you will get a lot of inspiration and motivation from it and that the discussions will help to move us forward. Please note that you have to pay all membership fees to be financial in order to fully participate and vote at the GA, but this will, in turn, bring you new ideas, new friends, and interesting discussion so you really should ensure to be financial. I hope to see you all there!
Arnt Holte
President WBU
2016 JOINT WBU/ICEVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE
The plans are moving along very quickly for the General Assembly to be held in Orlando in August of this year, in cooperation with ICEVI. The program is now complete, save for a few final confirmations. We believe that we have been able to incorporate a good variety of capacity development and information sharing sessions with presenters from around the world. We have also included a number of additional evening sessions outside of the General Assembly program that we believe will also be of interest to our members.
The final program will be completed by the end of April and we will post it on the website shortly after that. We will also be posting all documents related to the General Assembly on the WBU website at
Such documents will include constitutional amendments, quadrennial report, financial reports and so forth. We will also be sending these directly to all members via email prior to the Assembly.
Registration Reminders
Registration deadline is May 31st
The website that has been set up by our local hosts to handle registrations, accommodations and other local logistics for the General Assembly website is available at:
On that website, you will be able to find out what you need to know about the program, the venue, how to register, how to book accommodation, transfers from the hotel and other local information.
Registrations must be booked online through the General Assembly website. When you have registered, you are also able to book your accommodations directly on the website. Visa invitation letters will only be issued by the local hosts once they have received payment for your registration fees. Payment may be paid either via credit card or wire transfer. We have been asked by the local host to remind those making wire transfers to ensure that you are including all of the numbers specified for wire transfers – otherwise, they will not go through.
For those who have been approved for sponsorship by the WBU, your registration and accommodations will be booked by the WBU office.
Registration closes on May 31, 2015.
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.
Other important reminders and deadlines
- Visa invitation letters are to be requested from the local hosts when you complete your registration. These will only be issued once registration fees have been received.
- Everyone is responsible for obtaining their own medical insurance coverage for travel to the United States.
- Only members who have paid their membership fees for the full quadrennium, including 2016 prior to the General Assembly will be eligible to sit at the delegate tables and to vote at the General Assembly.
- Any Constitutional amendment proposals must be received by the WBU office by April 18th in order for them to be considered by the General Assembly. Those constitutional amendments being proposed by the WBU Executive will be sent out to the membership well in advance of the Assembly for your review.
- For those who intend to run for Table Officer Positions, if you would like your candidacy information to be circulated to the membership, this must be received by the WBU office by May 18th.
- Please note that nominations can be accepted up to the cut-off time indicated for each position, as indicated in the GA Program and announced at the Assembly. Nomination forms are available on the WBU website, from the WBU office or from the WBU Secretariat office at the GA itself.
- Requests have been sent to all National and International members requesting confirmation of your voting delegates to the General Assembly. These must be submitted to the WBU office by June 18th. We need the full list of delegates for all members regardless of whether or not the delegates are attending the Assembly.
- Proxy forms are available for delegates not attending the Assembly (for another delegate from the same country to carry or another international member, in the case of our International members). These proxies have been sent out to the membership and will also be available on the WBU website in May or from the WBU office. All proxies must be received before the commencement of the General Assembly, or before August 19th)
- Nomination forms for the WBU Honorary Life Membership and Louis Braille Medal awards have been forwarded to members. They are also available on the website or from the WBU office. The deadline for submission of Awards nominations is June 18th,
- The Resolutions Committee will shortly begin its work to formulate resolutions for consideration by the Assembly. They will welcome any input from our members with respect to recommendations you have for resolutions. It makes the work of the Resolutions Committee much easier if you can submit your proposed resolutions in advance of the Assembly so that the committee can begin its work. For your convenience, resolutions approved at previous Assemblies are available on the WBU website in the General Assembly section.
- As with other Assemblies, we like to remember those members who have played a significant role within the WBU or at the regional or national level and who have passed away during the quadrennial. Please send information about such persons whom should be recognized to the WBU office by June 30th so that we have time to compile this for presentation at the Assembly.
We hope that this information is helpful to you and you can expect to hear more from us in the coming months as we finalize documents and plans for the upcoming Assembly.
WBU AND WORLD BRAILLE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
WBU wants to remind our members and friends of the scholarships we offer, many of which have applications due at the end of May. WBU and the world Braille Foundation offer the following scholarships:
The Hermione Grant Calhoun Scholarship: is available to blind women in developing countries attending college or university in their own country with blind women from least developed countries and low middle income countries (as defined in the WBU Composite membership classification list) will be given priority. This scholarship may be available for up to five years maximum but it is not guaranteed for more than one year. Recipients must be at least 16 years of age and need their WBU National member to submit a letter of support. This application may be submitted anytime throughout the year, however, the committee will review those received up to May 31st in order to determine the 2016 recipients.You can find out all the information on this scholarship, including the application form and guidelines by following this link to the WBU Scholarships page: .
Pedro Zurita Youth Fund:is available to blind and partially sighted men and women aged 15 to 30 that are obtaining education, training and/or employment. Applicants from developing countries will be given priority and all applicants must provide a letter of support from their country’s national WBU member. Funding may be available for courses of study for more than one year, but funding is not guaranteed for the full period of study. The application is due anytime throughout the year, however, the committee will review those received up to May 31st in order to determine the 2016 recipients.
to the WBU office in Toronto. You can find more information, including the guidelines and application form on the WBU’s “Scholarship page” on the website.
Arne Husveg Development Fund: the purpose of the fund is to support capacity building and leadership development projects in developing countries. Organizations of the Blind and partially sighted in the least developed countries and low-middle income countries may apply for project funding to support specific capacity building initiatives within their organization. Only projects that are intended to strengthen the capacity of an organization of the blind and partially sighted will be considered and the projects that ensure gender equality will be given preference. This application can be submitted at any time throughout the year, however, the committee will review those received up to May 31st in order to determine the 2016 recipients. You can find more information on this fund, including types of acceptable projects, funding amounts, application form and guidelines by following this link to the WBU Scholarships page: .
Barbara Marjeram Braille Scholarship: is for blind or partially sighted girls and woman between the ages of 14 – 30 years from a developing country, who are enrolled in a recognized educational program in their own country. Applications are also accepted from students enrolled in a recognized distance learning program. Applicants are expected to possess Braille reading and writing skills or be willing to pursue a course to learn Braille either on location or through an approved distance learning program. Award recipients may also be eligible for an additional one-time grant for a self-employment project upon completion of their educational program and based on a further application. You can find out more information on this scholarship, including the application form and guidelines by following this link to the WBU Scholarships page: .
Gerald Dirks Scholarship for the Advancement of Braille Literacy: this scholarship is available to blind and partially sighted women and men between the ages of 18 – 35 from the African Union and applicants should possess Braille reading and writing skills. Preference will be given to candidates who have thepre-requisite education or training to qualify either as a teacher of blind pupils; or train as a teaching assistant working alongside a qualified teacher in the classroom; or be involved in a creative braille literacy project. The maximum award is $1000 and the application must be supported by a recognized organization of or for the blind from within the country where the applicant resides or from a WBU country representative. Applications are due by June 30th. For more information, visit the World Braille Foundation website:
UPDATES ON THE UN AND THE CRPD
Updates on the Marrakesh Treaty
There have been three more ratifications since we last reported; Peru, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Israel. This brings the total number of ratifications to 16, only 4 away from the 20 needed for the Treaty to enter into force. There are still several countries that have completed in-country ratification and are awaiting the completion of documentation with WIPO.