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Volume 16 number 2, May 2010
The volcano badly affected the programme of ICEVI-Europe. The Board of ICEVI-Europe was supposed to have a meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia on the 19th and 20th of April. Our board member Liliya Plastunova put in a lot of effort to prepare the meeting. The board members would have visited the 4th Children’s Festival for children with disabilities, but by Sunday 18th a decision had to be made to postpone the meeting, because it was not possible to reach St. Petersburg by plane. This was unfortunate since it is not easy to find a date which is convenient for all!
The Programme Committee of the European ICEVI-Conference in 2013 in Istanbul would have had its first meeting. Only Hale Aksuna Ergenc was able to reach St. Petersburg. Important items on the agenda were the continuation of the discussion about the items mentioned during the General Assembly in Dublin, Ireland and the ICEVI activities in the various regions. We are trying to find new dates.
In this newsletter you can read about a successful conference for East European countries that has taken place in Perm, Russia. The next Conference will take place is St. Petersburg on 13th – 15th October. Also the Third ECPVI Conference - European Conference on Psychology and Visual Impairment 2010 has taken place in Vilnius, Lithuania.
It is important to mention that preparations are underway for the Teacher Training Conference in May 2011 in Austria. The theme will be the Visual Profile, based on the ICF (International Classification of Functioning). Interest in the ICF of the WHO (World Health Organisation) is growing internationally. We are trying increasingly to use this for people who desire greater participation in society. ICF is an important instrument to enable all who are involved with education and rehabilitation, to use the same professional language. In our situation this relates to people with a visual impairment.
Furthermore I would like to bring two more important issues to your attention.
Now, since recent updates to our website, it can be read by everyone. By using Google everyone can read the information in their own language.
Hopefully the accessibility of the information has been improved for everyone.
A second important subject is the European Masters Programme. Perhaps you will remember that meetings have been being held for five years now, to develop a European Masters Degree for all people working in the field of education and rehabilitation of people with a visual impairment. European support is available; however the conditions appeared to be very strict. It seemed almost impossible to hold an international conference in order to develop the programme. Fortunately a new perspective has occurred. The University of Groningen, The Netherlands, which already has a masters programme for deaf blindness is also willing to develop a new programme with ICEVI. It is being worked on energetically and it looks that we will start the programme in September 2011. I will keep you informed.
For information I refer you to the website of ICEVI www.icevi.org
On behalf of the Board of ICEVI-Europe,
Hans Welling, Chairman
It is with deep regret that the Principal Officers of ICEVI, in consultation with our Executive Committee, today announce our decision to cancel our 13th World Conference and General Assembly scheduled for Jomtien, Thailand from August 9 through 13, 2010 due to the continuing civil unrest in Thailand.
As you can imagine, this was a very difficult decision to arrive at, and one that was only taken after a good deal of thought, discussion and consultation within our governing bodies. Over the past several weeks as the demonstrations in Bangkok have turned violent many countries have issued travel advisories to their citizens. A number of individuals and organizations have written to inform us of their plans to cancel their participation in the conference.
While we continued to hope that some resolution to the current impasse would be reached, we have reluctantly concluded that it is no longer practical and in the best interest of our membership or our hosts to delay our decision any longer.
We extend to the Host Committee, so ably chaired by Mr. Pecharat Techavachara, President of the Thai Blind Union both our deep regrets and our sincere thanks for their tireless efforts to organize what promised to be a very fine world conference.
This decision also carries with it implications for the future governance of ICEVI as there was to be a General Assembly immediately following the 13th World Conference at which elections were to be conducted. As soon as we can complete follow-up on the many details (including the return of registration fee and hotel deposit already paid by some participants) that are caused by the decision to cancel the conference and general assembly, the Principal Officers will turn their attention to the alternatives that are available to us.
Once again let me repeat our regrets in having to arrive at this decision and any inconvenience this has caused to any of you.
Larry Campbell, President, ICEVI
May 3, 2010
Again
we may conclude that the third European Conference on Psychology and
Visual Impairment has been a resounding success. This conference took
place on March 30 and 31, 2010 and was held in Vilnius, Lithuania. Following
the two previous conferences (Copenhagen, Denmark 2006 and Huizen, Netherlands
2008), there was again an enthusiastic group of 65 participants from 18 different
European countries. The local organization was in the hands of psychologist
Ingrida Gabrialaviciute who, together with colleagues from LASUC (Lituanian
Training Centre for the Blind and Partially sighted), succeeded in presenting
an interesting program. In the background she was supported from ICEVI, IBOS
and Royal Dutch Visio, by Peter Rodney and Peter Verstraten.
In two concurrent sessions, a total of 27 papers were presented. Many topics were discussed, including interaction and communication with MDVI clients, social inclusion, assessment and early intervention, syndromes in adults and the elderly, social participation of youth, neuropsychological issues, ICF, intervention programmes, cognitive skills of blind and partially sighted children and self-confidence in young students. Most presentations are now available on the website of the European network of psychologists: www.synsraad.dk/psychology/index.asp.
Outside the presentations, many contacts were established, maintained and strengthened. At least half of the participants attended one of the previous conferences and most of them even both. Through this the European network of psychologists and related professions in the field of visual impairment is increasingly a network of flesh and blood, in which colleagues will contact one another more easily in search for consultation or advice.
Also thanks to the pleasant atmosphere, very helpful Lithuanian colleagues and a nice dinner, this conference has strengthened our mutual commitment to our European colleagues and contributed to a joint improvement of the quality of our work for people with visual impairments.
Negotiations are still going on about which country will organize the next conference, but it is certain that the fourth European Conference on Psychology and Visual Impairment will be held in the spring of 2012.
Peter Verstraten, Licensed healthcare psychologist
Senior project manager / Science coordinator, Royal Dutch Visio
The Third International Conference “Visual Profile and International
Experience of Rehabilitation and Education of People with Visual Impairments”
was held in Perm State Pedagogical University (Perm, Russia) on March
12-14, 2010. The Conference was organised under the aegis of the International
Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI-Europe). The organising
committee is grateful to the Ministry of Education of Perm Krai and the Ministry
of Industry, Innovation and Science of Perm Krai for their support of the event.
Perm was the third city in East-European Region after Saratov (Russia, 2008) and Chisinau (Moldova, 2009) to host an international conference for the researchers and practitioners in the fields of special psychology, remedial and developmental psychology, corrective and special pedagogy covering the problems of education and rehabilitation of blind and visually impaired people.
The Conference was held in the framework of the ICEVI-Europe Project in East-European Region, which is aimed at improving the quality of life, education and rehabilitation services for children, students and adults with visual impairments. One of the ways to achieve this is the creation of a support network for education and rehabilitation of people with visual impairments in the East-European and Asian regions. The network brings academic research and educational and rehabilitation practices together.
The organisers of the Conference had two main objectives in mind. One was to provide opportunities for the exchange of information on theoretical and practical aspects of rehabilitation and education of people with visual impairments, another one was to introduce good practice in the implementation of innovative observation and diagnostic methodologies and rehabilitation procedures in the training of specialists dealing with visual impairments.
The first day of the Conference was devoted to the plenary session and section work. The participants at the Conference were welcomed by the Rector of Perm State Pedagogical University and the Chairman of the Organising Committee Andrei Kolesnikov, Chairman of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI-Europe) Hans Welling, the Chairman of Perm Krai Organization of the All Russia Blind Union Nikolai Bukhavtsev, the Ombudsman for Human Rights in Perm Krai Tatiana Margolina and Professor of Utrecht University and the University of Amsterdam Kees van der Wolf.
In the second part of the day the participants of the Conference took part in the work of two sections.
“Contemporary approaches to (re)habilitation of people with visual impairment” was coordinated by Olga Tverskaya, the Head of the PSPU Speech Therapy Chair
The speakers at the section included:
“Inclusive education and Special education: problems and perspective” was coordinated by Lyudmila Sharova, the Head of the PSPU Chair for Adaptive Physical Culture
The speakers at the section included:
The section presentations were discussed by the participants of both sections at the end of the day in a joint session.
The second day of the Conference was devoted to a workshop on Visual Profile and a master-class on Adaptive Judo.
The Workshop “Visual Profile: the application and adaptation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF-WHO) in the rehabilitation and education of people with visual impairments” was organised by the specialists of Dutch Royal Visio and the University of Groningen Dr. Paul Looijestijn and Dr. Joost Heutink.
Dr. Looijestijn and Dr. Heutink introduced Visual Profile – an interdisciplinary model for rehabilitation towards the optimal participation of visually impaired and blind people, developed on the basis of the classifications of the World Health Organization (ICIDH, ICF and ICF-CY). As a method Visual Profile combines professional judgments based on assessment with self-evaluations of the client, a new working definition of low vision, instruments for assessment and observation. This method makes it possible to gain insight into the client’s visual problems from all perspectives: disease, disorder / body function and structure / activities / participation / environmental factors, which enables to draw up an interdisciplinary rehabilitation diagnosis.
A Master-class on Adaptive Judo was organised by the Professor Lyudmila Sharova, Head of the Chair of Adaptive Physical Education (PSPU), USSR Honoured Master of Sports, International IBSA Judo Judge, Assistant Professor Rasim Zakirov (PSPU) and Martin von den Benken, trainer of the Lower Saxony Judo Federation (Braunschweig, Germany).
The Organising Committee got positive feedback from the participants of the Conference. It was an important event both for Perm State Pedagogical University and for the specialists working in the sphere of rehabilitation and education of the visually impaired.
At the moment Perm State Pedagogical University is preparing the Collected Papers of the Conference for publication.
The Typhlo & Tactus (T&T) organisation exists to improve the quality and quantity of tactile books available to young blind and partially sighted children. Participants share their ideas, knowledge and expertise, and collaborate on production of simple story books with multi-sensory illustrations which are fully accessible by touch.
Typhlo and Tactus was set up in 1999 and, until now, the activities of the group have been supported by grants from the EU. This funding has, to a large extent, restricted the reach of the group to a limited number of European countries. The money has enabled the group to hold an annual European tactile book competition with winning entries mass-produced by hand at the Les Doigts Qui Rêvent[1] workshop in Dijon, France.
Since 2000, the EU has funded production of 7,689 tactile books, all of which have been sold within the EU at a heavily-subsidised price. In addition, the T&T group has led workshops, presented at conferences and exhibited at large exhibitions and book fairs. This activity has raised awareness of the importance of tactile books and stimulated interest in design and production. In 2009 the group produced a compendium of articles on tactile books and related topics. The Typhlo & Tactus Guide to Children’s Books with Tactile Illustrations can be ordered from the publisher, Philippe Claudet, Les Doigts Qui Rêvent (see contact details below); a shorter version is available on the T&T website (www.tactus.org).
The EU project has come to an end, and with it the funding for book production - at least for a while. But the Typhlo & Tactus organisation lives on and is planning a tactile book competition in 2011. This T&T competition will, for the first time, be open to creative people all over the world.
The T&T group is now seeking appropriate organisations worldwide willing to act as the national contact. This will involve promoting the competition, receiving all the entries from their country, carrying out a pre-selection involving blind children and adults, and sending the five best books to the T&T competition organisers. The most appropriate organisation to fulfil this role is likely to be a library for the blind or an organisation already involved in tactile book production, promotion or use. Each country will have just one T&T national contact organisation.
For more information on the activities of the Typhlo & Tactus group and the 2011 competition please contact Philippe Claudet (in French or English) at philippe.claudet@wanadoo.fr
1 Ldqr: Les Doigts Qui Rêvent (Dreaming Fingers). Charity since 1994
11bis rue de Novalles, BP 93, F-21240 Talant (Dijon), France
Tel.: 0033 3 80592288
Tactual Profile is an instrument for assessing tactual functioning of children with a severe visual impairment from birth to sixteen years of age.
At the request of early intervention workers the items of the first three age
levels have been gathered in a mini kit of Tactual Profile. The Early Intervention
kit contains the Theoretical Work Guide and the materials necessary for the
ages of 0 – 6 years.
Price € 700 (excl. VAT and transport costs)
Most of the 430 items of all age levels have been revised for the convenience
of the users. The instructions of administration and scoring have been expanded
and the new lay-out (material, instruction and item on one page) makes assessment
easier. The Theoretical Work Guide is now available for those who already have
Tactual Profile.
Price € 130 (excl. VAT and transport costs)
The complete Tactual Profile kit, age 0 – 16 year old, with the new Theoretical Work Guide is also available. Price € 1.910 (excl. VAT and transport costs)
To order the new items please send an e-mail to tactualprofile@visio.org
Visit the website www.tactualprofile.org for more information about Tactual Profile.
The Turkish Federation of the Blind is planning to organise the International Conference on Vocational and Technical Training and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Partially-sighted in Ankara, Turkey. The partner organisations for this conference are the Gazi University, Ankara, Manpower Servece Administration, Prime Minister’s Office For Disabilities and the European Blind Union – Commission on Rehabilitation, Vocational Training and Employment.
Date of the conference is the 3rd till the 5th of June 2010, not on the 27-29 May as it was first announced in the print pre-announcement leaflet which was posted a few weeks ago. The change of the date occurred due to some organisational difficulties.
Date of arrival is the 2nd of June and the departure is the 6th of June.
The working languages of the conference are English and Turkish.
The abstracts for the papers which do not exceede 200 words should be sent by e-mail to the Conference Secretariat at the Federation no later than 31st of March.
Those who send abstracts will be notified whether their papers are accepted, whether the papers will be delivered either as free presentations or poster presentations upon the evaluation of the Scientific Board no later than the 15th of April.
The programme will be finalised by the number and the content of papers received
In addition to plenary presentations, panel discussions and workshops are in planning. The final programme will be circulated in the first week of April.
Participation at the conference is free of charge. However, the participants are expected to cover their travel and accommodation expenses.
The Conference will take place at the conference hall of the Angora Hotel in Ankara where rooms were allocated for the accommodation of the conference participants. www.angorahotel.com
Charges at this nicely-decorated four-star hotel for this event are as follows:
Single room: 80 Euros
One person at double-room: 60 Euros.
Prices include VAT and cover room and full boarding.
A tour in and around Ankara is planned for the participants who are interested in sightseeing. The Roman Bath from 2nd Century A.D., Ataturk’s Mosoleum, Museum for the Anatolian Civilisations, Ethnography Museum, old city walls are among the well-known sightseeing attractions in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey.
There will be no extra charge for sightseeing.
All bookings should be made through the Conference Secretariat at the Federation below:
Contact information:
Türkiye Korler Federasyonu
GMK Bulvarı 32/6
06540 Demirtepe
Ankara (Turkey)
Phone: +90 312 2318243-44-45, or +90544 499 6838
Fax: +90 312 23182 46
E-mail: tkfederasyon@hotmail.com
Sincerely
Emin Demirci
President, Turkish Federation of the Blind
July 14 - 16, 2010, Vienna Technical University, Austria
Pre-Conference, July 12 - 13, 2010
Registration to ICCHP 2010 is open! Early registration is open until May 1, 2010.
Consider to nominate outstanding persons/organisations/projects, ... www.icchp.org/node/236
ICCHP proudly announces to have fixed one of
Vienna's most scenic places for this years´
Gala event: The Kursalon Wien (built 1865-67) will provide the
splendid framework for our traditional Dinner and
the "ICCHP Award"-ceremony.
Check out this breathtaking location and event: www.icchp.org/node/253
Be prepared for this years´ Post Conference Activity, following up the most scenic and successful "Mountain Attack 2008"...
After attacking the heights and peaks of the Dachstein formation, we now enter the underground:
"The Third Man Tour - Netherworld Attack!"
More information: www.icchp.org/node/254
Please motivate and support outstanding candidates: www.icchp.org/youngresearchers
A unique event for young visually impaired people to learn about new tools and methods to better cope with math and science. www.icchp.org/call/summeruniversity
ICCHP is now on Facebook! Become a fan of ICCHP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linz-Austria/ICCHP-Intl-Conference-on-Computers-Helping-People-with-Special-Needs/356624815757 for the latest news about ICCHP.
You can also "RSVP" on the ICCHP Conference event page: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=387048409536&index=1 on Facebook, so everyone can know you are coming.
Come and get involved! www.icchp.org
Featuring the Orientation & Mobility Division Conference within a Conference
July 21-25, 2010 Little Rock, Arkansas
The exciting international conference draws worldwide participation from experts in the field of visual impairment and blindness. You are invited to share your knowledge and experience with colleagues and come prepared to network!
The AER International Conference 2010 will be held July 21-25 in Little Rock at The Peabody Little Rock and the Statehouse Convention Center.
Presentations on topics related to the 13 interest-specific AER Divisions or other topics relevant to the field of visual impairment and blindness in addition to
The AER International Conference 2010 will also feature the pre-conference McFarland Seminar, the post-conference Obstacle Avoidance Workshops and the AER Exhibit Hall as well as many social events and opportunities to visit wonderful downtown Little Rock!
Please take some time to visit the pages on this website and register for the conference! www.aerbvi.org/2010conference/index.htm
We look forward to seeing you in Little Rock in July!
Sandy Ruconich,
Program Committee Chair
Read more on AER website about:
Dear colleagues,
It gives us a great pleasure to invite you to participate in the forthcoming Conference "Special rehabilitation and Education Today" which is organized by the Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, University of Belgrade. The Conference will be held from September 24-27 at Zlatibor, Serbia.
The Conference will provide a platform for exchange of relevant experience in the following topics:
We sincerely hope that you will join us in the Conference and contribute to the progress of developing new ideas in the field of special education and rehabilitation. Important imformation regarding article submission (the topics and format of presentations etc.) could be found at www.fasper.bg.ac.rs. Information on registration and accommodation could be found at www.pmplus.rs
Looking forward to welcoming you at Zlatibor,
Yours respectfully,
Ph.D. Jasmina Kovačević, dean
President of the Program Committe
The international department of Royal Dutch Visio is organising the training successful communication between professional and client. In this one-week-training the interaction and communication between professional and clients will be central: how to understand the intentions and expectations of each other? For example: What to do when the client doesn’t appreciate your efforts and good intentions as a professional. Or if the client says that you don’t understand his situation? How to support your clients in coping with their disability? How to handle opposite values between client and yourself?
These are some of the topics that will be treated during this training. You will learn skills on how to communicate in an effective way with your clients, so that communication and relation with your clients will be (more) successful. Besides theoretical aspects, your own practice and learning by doing will be emphasized. You will go home with a plan how to transfer this knowledge to your colleagues.
This training will take place from October 11 till October 15, 2010. The training is meant for primary care professionals from organisations working with visually impaired people in Europe who meet the following requirements:
A limited number of approximately 15 participants can attend. The training will be in English, no translation possibility. If financial means of the organisation are restricted, selected professionals, can be invited by Royal Dutch Visio international.
For additional information please contact petrawijen@visio.org
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the 5th ICEVI Balkan Conference, which will take place in Zagreb, Croatia on October 20 - 24, 2010, organized by all the major participants in education and rehabilitation of the blind and low vision people in Croatia Education –rehabilitation Faculty (University of Zagreb), Day care center Mali dom-Zagreb, School for the Blind Vinko Bek, Croatian Association for the Blind, Tiphlological Museum and Center for Guide Dogs -“Silver”.
The conference theme is “New Competencies for Future Challenges in Europe” regarding Visually impaired population as well as population who have have additional disabilities (MDVI) and the topics will be:
The aim of the conference is to stimulate a critical discussion about different approaches and different experiences in education, rehabilitation and implementing various programs in different countries regarding the education and rehabilitation of the VI and MDVI population from their birth to their adult age and employment possibilities. As same as we discussed at the past we would like to note the importance of collaboration among the teachers, academics, specialists and the therapists who work with this population and also discuss the future competencies and challenges.
The main goal of the conference is to explore and share knowledge nd experience in working with Vi and MDVI population, and what curriculums, frameworks and educational approaches there are across Balkan Countries.
Through keynote lectures, parallel sessions, workshops, paper and poster presentations, we hope to address basic questions about the blind and MDVI’s education in Balkan Region of Europe.
We will be very happy to receive your proposals by April 30th, 2010. You will get the application and abstract form from the website www.icevibalkanconferencezagreb2010.org
If you need to ask any questions regarding to the conference, please do not hesitate to contact me via e-mail: marijana@malakuca.org
Detailed information about the program and the other details will take place in the next announcement soon.
Sincerely,
Marijana Konkoli Zdešić
ICEVI Contact Person for Croatia
On 22, 23 and October 24, 2010 in Valladolid (Spain), take place the First European Congress on Visual Disabilities. Web Site: http://www.eurovisionrehab.com
The program will include many world- recognized speakers. Amongst them will be Drs Frank Eperjesi, Duane R. Geruschat, Aries Arditi, Krister Inde, Michael Crossland, and Ian Bailey. In the “speakers” section of the website you can consult the complete list of all speakers as well as their lecture titles and outlines. These include: “Low Vision Orientation and Mobility: The State of the Art" by Duane Geruschat; "Restoration of reading ability by training of eccentric fixation and by the use of an SLO in patients with severe AMD" by Sven Erik G Nilsson, Christina Frennesson and Ulla L Nilsson; “Fitting Peripheral Prisms for patients with Hemianopsia” by Eli Peli; and "Is the measure of macular pigment optical density useful in optometric practice?" by Frank Eperjesi.
Themes of the meeting will include: accessibility to the environment and communication; workplace adaptations for people with visual impairment; education and rehabilitation for children at school; gerontology and visual impairment; disease causing visual impairment; the social and demographic impact of visual impairment and many more.
To consult the complete preliminary program see the section “Scientific Program” on the website.
Registration for the European Congress on Visual Disabilities is now open.
Also is open the registration for the First European Congress on Visual Disabilities, to be held from 22 to 24 October 2010.
To formalize your registration, you must enter the "Registration" from the Congress website. If you need us to send you the newsletter or for any other questions you can contact the Technical Secretariat of the Congress by calling + 34 902 500 493. Remember that until June 30 price is reduced.
We are waiting for your proposals!
In the “First call” section of the website you can find the list of topics for the oral papers or posters. We remind you that on April 30th 2010 is the abstract submission deadline! For any questions about abstract submission consult the same section of the website, where you can also download the instructions in pdf form.
For all your accommodation needs in Valladolid (Spain) during the congress, check the "Accommodation” section of the website where there is a complete selection of hotels and residences to cater for all budgets, needs and tastes.
For more information consult the website of the congress: http://www.eurovisionrehab.com
For any other doubt, please contact with the Technical Secretariat of the Congress through the info.eurovision@evento.es Email.
The next TT-Conference will take place from 18 – 22 May 2011 in Graz, Austria.
Preparations are made in cooperation with the Odilien Institut and takes place at Schloss St Martin.
Schools and rehabilitation centres for visually impaired and blind people need a common, conceptual framework by the various disciplines working there.
Based on the classifications of the WHO (ICIDH, ICF and ICF-CY) in the last 20 years an interdisciplinary model for the education and rehabilitation to an optimal participation of visually impaired and blind people has been developed under the umbrella term Visual Profile: a method that combines professional judgments based on assessment with self-evaluations of the client, a new working definition of low vision, instruments for assessment and observation.
This method Visual Profile makes it possible to gain insight into the client’s visual problems from all perspectives: disease, disorder / body function and structure / activities / participation / environmental factors, which enables to draw up an interdisciplinary rehabilitation diagnosis.
One of the results is that people with cerebral visual impairments as well as people with ocular visual impairments have access to rehabilitation.
Exchange of experience and knowledge is another important subject.
You will be provided with a nice programme.