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As ICEVI grows, the Principal Officers
and the Regional Chairs are facing decisions on a range of issues such
as parents' participation in ICEVI programmes, representation of ICEVI
in international meetings, formation of ICEVI networks at the regional
and national levels, etc. The table below summarizes the position of ICEVI
on some of these issues as of May 2003. ICEVIs position papers will be
reviewed in subsequent meetings of the Principal Officers and Executive
Committee.
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S.No. |
Issue |
ICEVI's Stand |
| 1. |
Parents' Participation in ICEVI's programs |
Although ICEVI is not a Parents' Organization, we strongly believe
that parents have a vital role to play in increasing educational
opportunities for persons with visual impairment.
ICEVI as a professional organization works with parents in the areas
of capacity building, creating awareness, improving advocacy about
disability, etc.
ICEVI believes that the voice of parents and consumers should be
appropriately reflected within our publications. That belief is
translated
into action by columns in our magazine devoted to Parents and the
work of the World Blind Union. |
| 2. |
Formation of National Chapters |
ICEVI wishes to see the formation of more national chapters in
the
future and the Principal Officers are preparing guidelines for creating
such chapters which will be reviewed at the EXCO meeting in February
2004.
ICEVI believes that the formation of national chapters should be
an
evolutionary process. The stand of ICEVI is that the nations within
a
region should first form national networks which may in time lead
to the development of the national committees. Once a proven record
of
successful activities has been demonstrated by the national committees
legal status can be sought to formalise them into national chapters
based upon the guidelines that are being developed. |
| 3. |
ICEVI's stance in international meetings |
Although ICEVI's stance in international meetings is necessary
to maintain its visibility, it is appropriate for representatives
to attend only those meetings that:
* reflect the goals, mission, and mandate of ICEVI.
* extend an official invitation to ICEVI at least 3 months prior
to the date of the event.
* address the millennium goals which include a rights based, barrier-free
and inclusive society for persons with disabilities.
The Regional Chairs are encouraged to use their discretion in determining
which meetings are relevant for strengthening their region. When
such invitations are received centrally, the secretariat will explore
the possibility of the relevant regional chairperson or any member
of the regional committee representing ICEVI in such meetings. |
| 4. |
Formation of Specific Interest Groups |
The Regional Chairs may wish to form specific interest groups
to strengthen areas such as early childhood education, information
and communication
technology, education of children with low vision, services to children
with multiple disabilities, inclusive education, Braille literacy,
etc.
We ask that regions regularly share the work of any such committees
with the Secretariat. We feel that the work of such special interest
groups may be helpful to ICEVI as it considers and formulates future
ICEVI
policy documents and other publications. |
| 5. |
Collaboration with International Agencies |
ICEVI promotes collaboration with international agencies such
as the DbI, IAPB, IBSA, and WBU for facilitating better services
for persons with visual impairment throughout the world. The Regional
Chairs need to explore the possibilities of establishing collaboration
with the regional representatives of these organizations for influencing
policies and
exchange of information. |
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