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I
Film Mr. Magoo to be released Fall 1997 by Walt Disney
Whereas Walt Disney Productions is the leading producer of family films around the world,
and,
whereas the topics of Walt Disney films are as much instructional as they are entertaining,
and
whereas the release of their new film - Mr Magoo, which depicts a low vision person as socially inadequate in daily living skills due to his low vision, which is neither humorous nor accurate and further promotes the negative stereotypes often held by society toward people with visual impairment,
let is therefore be resolved that
ICEVI write a letter to Walt Disney Productions insisting they correct the negative effects of this film on the image of people with visual impairments by supporting an international public education program that more accurately reflects the rights and dignity of all people who are blind or visually impaired everywhere.
II
It is requested that ICEVI hold a conference with the focus on infant, preschool and multi-impaired children who are blind or visually-impaired.
It is agreed by all that the most critical period for development is from birth to age five with birth to age three the most vulnerable period.
Whereas there has not been a week-long international conference on this subject since 1988,
whereas more and more countries are trying to serve these children and their parents,
whereas to develop programs a supply of information is needed,
whereas few countries have a large amount of written materials for parents and/or teachers,
whereas the number of children with additional impairments is increasing,
whereas there is a shortage of teachers and/or qualified personnel in all countries.
whereas many new programs and technologies are being developed.
Therefore, a forum for the sharing and exchange of information is needed.
As the International Forum for education and with the recognition that we must start "at the beginning" it is requested that an early childhood conference be held during the next two or three years before the 11th ICEVI Conference.
III
This Conference recognizes the importance of providing equal access for blind women and girls to education and rehabilitation services, and calls on the Executive Committee to ensure that this be considered during the next Quinquennium. We call on the Executive Committee to use its influence to promote the principle that women and girls are given an equal place on the committee itself and in all its sub-committees.
IV
This Conference recognizes that the majority of blind people in many developing countries do not have access to any education or rehabilitation services. We call on the Executive Committee to make its highest priority the task of changing this unacceptable situation.
V
This Conference affirms the importance of establishing effective partnership in the provision of education services to visually-impaired people. We support the principle that each partner should be considered to have equal importance, whilst recognizing that partners will have different roles. We recognize the importance of defining clear roles for each partner. We call on members of ICEVI to pay more attention to improving the processes of building partnerships between all involved in supporting visually-impaired children.
VI
Whereas a large group of parents participating in this conference have affirmed that they as parents are equal partners in the education and training of their children affected by visual impairment, by virtue of being the most constant and deeply committed experts by experience in this process, we therefore affirm the wonderful theme of partnership of this 10th World Conference of ICEVI and resolve the following:
That the Executive Committee as part of the forthcoming review of ICEVI's constitution, give consideration to the representation of parents of visually-impaired children within the decision-making bodies of ICEVI and on regional committees.
That a parent of a visually-impaired child should be a member of the Scientific Program Committee for the World Conference in the Netherlands in 2002, that the attendance of visually impaired children at ICEVI conferences should be encouraged, and that country delegations should where possible include a parent of a visually impaired child.
That the Executive Committee give consideration to fostering the formation of a world network of parent organizations for cooperation and information exchange with administrative and financial support and with a regular column in ICEVI's journal.
VII
In view of:
The socio-economic situation of Latin America and the imperative need of increasing at short- and medium-term medical assistance, education and rehabilitation for blind and visually-impaired persons, we propose:
That ICEVI should promote
strategies for additional training to update the skills of all professionals
involved with visually-impaired people in order to respond particularly
to the needs of the multi-handicapped.
VIII
Recommendation that the Conference recognize the valuable contribution of more senior and more experienced colleagues, and applaud them in their sharing of that experience with younger colleagues.
IX
Whereas
The immediate and most needed requirement at this point in time is to work towards increasing the reach of services for persons with visual impairment, ICEVI should encourage Regions to make plans of action in developing countries.
ICEVI should change its role from coordination and liaison to active promotion of services for the visually-impaired. It must set targets for an extension of service provision of at least an additional 100,000 children all over the world before it meets for its 50th birthday in the Netherlands.
ICEVI must promote and facilitate the exchange of ideas, expertise and experience in community-based rehabilitation. This approach has resulted in increased service provision for the visually-impaired all over the developing world.
X
Be it resolved that a column or regular series within The Educator be dedicated to sharing information and resources on early childhood issues across regions.
Be it resolved that ICEVI regions sponsor a range of regional workshops between quinquennial conferences to keep information and resources current.
That the ICEVI website be used for dissemination of information.
XI
Resolutions - braille
Whereas ICEVI is an organization supporting the rights of equal access for children who are blind or visually-impaired world wide.
and
whereas braille is the major literacy tool for people who are blind and is at the very least, comparable to print as the literacy tool for people with sight
let it therefore be resolved that,
at all ICEVI meetings, such as Executive Committee meetings, and the quinquennial conference, appropriate materials in braille be available at the same time as those in print.
XII
1) That ICEVI must be lauded for its efforts in global networking, but in an attempt to be more user-friendly, be mandated as a matter of extreme urgency to update its regional data base, nationally per country, to ensure each and every affiliate is kept regularly updated about world developments.
2) That ICEVI work to strengthen the partnership between parents and professionals to develop its advocacy work with the aim of removing barriers to services for individuals with visual impairment with or without additional disabilities including deafblindness.
XIII
That the planning committee for the 11th World Conference in 2002 give consideration to the following:
That there should be a varied mix of topics/speakers from developing countries.
There should be an opportunity to suggest suitable topics to the planning committee for ICEVI Conferences.
That ICEVI conferences include wherever possible focus sessions and on-site visits, with free sessions giving opportunities for networking among participants.
That Africa has the relevant infra-structure to be seriously viewed as a venue for the 20th World Conference.
That the Executive Committee be invited to consider methods of increasing the involvement of younger professionals in ICEVI affairs.
That the international community, via the UN, be urged to request member states not to tax imported literacy and related aids/equipment for its disabled citizens.
That every ICEVI decision-making entity, including the planning committee should be comprised of at least one visually-impaired person.
That ICEVI should pay more attention to visually-impaired persons' needs, such as braille, recording, spoken announcements near meeting rooms, buses, etc., reading services, information, and orientation at the beginning of every conference or large meeting.
That the Executive Committee, as part of the forthcoming review of ICEVI's constitution consider the proposal that a certain proportion of the delegates per region be either blind or visually-impaired.
XIV
This conference endorses the principle of full inclusion for VI pupils and students as a goal to be aimed at where possible, but recognises the need to take account of individual needs and choices in its implementation.
XV
"Conference agrees to the dissolution of ICEVI 1994"
XVI
"Conference endorses the general thrust of the policy paper entitled "ICEVI Policy paper 1997 - 2002", which proposes the development of ICEVI as a membership organisation focused at regional level, with enhanced administrative support, special interest and language networks, etc., and authorises the Executive Committee to undertake the detailed working out and implementation of its principles."
XVII
All present at the conference wish to record their appreciation of the work of Victor Siaulys and his Host Committee and those who gave their time and efforts to make the conference so successful. In particular we acknowledge with thanks the contribution of the numerous volunteers, without whom this even could not have taken place.