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Following the ICEVI Europe quinquennium 1987 - 1992 in which many activities were realised under the inspiring leadership of Ms Elizabeth Chapman (UK), particularly in the field of enhancement and dissemination of professional expertise and as a result of significant changes in Central and Eastern Europe, new perspectives have opened up. The quinquennium 1992 - 1997 can be considered as a further expansion and consolidation of initiatives launched during the previous quinquennium.
The quinquennium under review started with two regional meetings during the 9th ICEVH World Conference in Bangkok. During these meetings ten action points for the quinquennium 1992 - 1997 were formulated, including: further expansion of contacts with Central and Eastern Europe, a European Conference, if possible in Central Europe, seminars on specific topics, a European Newsletter, and intensification of relations with the European Blind Union. Most of these points have been realised or are being worked on; nevertheless, continued or increased attention will remain necessary for a number of points.
There was general consent that the main priority should be further consolidation of contacts with Central and Eastern Europe and to make a substantial contribution in the field of education and training of the visually impaired, especially by supplying know how and skills. This report will show that with regard to this point much has been achieved, partly as a result of ICEVI's involvement.
During the past five years
the European ICEVI committee consisted of:
Francis Boe (France), Peter
Brass (Germany), Elizabeth Chapman (UK),
Herman Gresnigt (The Netherlands),
Kriztina Kovacs (Hungary), Rafael Mondera (Spain), Keld Stochholm (Denmark),
and Juliet Stone (UK).
The European Committee meetings were also attended by ICEVI Executive Committee members living in Europe: Johanna Enqvist (Sweden), Johan Gerestein (The Netherlands) and Coen de Jong (The Netherlands).
The Committee met five times: 1993 - Grave, The Netherlands; 1994 & 1995 - Budapest, Hungary; 1996 - Cyprus; and 1997 - Bordeaux, France. During the latter two meetings seminars were conducted on different aspects of the education of the visually impaired; members of the European Committee took care of the lectures.
The main highlight of the quinquennium under review undoubtedly was the European Conference on "Mutual Information and Inspiration", which was held in July 1995 in Budapest. There were over 300 full-time participants, 40 day participants and 50 accompanying persons from 34 European countries; about 150 participants were from Central and Eastern Europe. There were three conference days with six plenary sessions, nine parallel sessions, two solidarity meetings, 60 speakers from 25 countries and one day of professional visits. Simultaneous interpretation was provided in English, German, Hungarian, Russian and Spanish. This service could be provided, thanks to a grant of the European Union. The conference proceedings were published in March 1996.
The initiative to establish twinning contacts between schools and other organisations for visually impaired persons from different countries, in particular between Eastern and Western Europe, was launched during two Solidarity meetings. This resulted in a series of incidental as well as more structured contacts, sometimes with the secretariat of ICEVI-Europe as an intermediary.
The first issue of the European Newsletter was published at the European Conference. This Newsletter appears three times a year and by the end of this quinquennium there will have been 7 issues. The imprint totals over 600 and is still increasing.
Another important activity was the Workshop on the Training of Special teachers for the visually impaired, which was held in March 1997 in Budapest. There were some 50 participants from 24 European countries. The main objective of the workshop was to discuss the curriculum and the role and influence of teacher training universities and colleges in the development and improvement of the education of the visually impaired.
Great attention has been paid to the dissemination of know how and skills in the field of early intervention; this aspect of the education of visually impaired children is as yet unknown or insufficiently developed in many countries. It is of particular importance, because the realisation of early intervention is a prerequisite for integrated education. Integrated education has a high priority in many countries where new legislation concerning special education is being prepared. Substantial contributions, in particular in the field of staff training but also financial support, have been made to Poland, Russia and Romania.
The Budapest conference and the European Newsletter have raised ICEVI's profile in many countries; this is proven by the many invitations the European Chairperson received to attend national conferences, to speak on the occasion of anniversaries of schools, etc, and to visit schools and other institutes for the visually impaired to advise on the further development of facilities. During the quinquennium under review, I visited over 50 schools and other organisations throughout Europe.
Small scale courses, seminars and workshops, either on a national level with a few experts from abroad, or organised around another project, are an excellent platform for sharing expertise and know how; they are relatively easy and cheap to organise and can be very effective.
The relations with the European Blind Union (EBU) have been strengthened by attending mutual General Assemblies and Conferences. The EBU General Assemblies were held in October 1993 in Ustron, Poland and in November 1996 in Guardini Naxos, Italy.
As European Chairperson I experienced the quinquennium under review as particularly interesting and inspiring. Together with many other people a great deal has been achieved to improve the education and rehabilitation of the visually impaired.
I am greatly indebted to many people from all over Europe for their support, kindness and friendship. Together we have made the quinquennium under review constructive, fruitful and successful for ICEVI.
I would like to thank the Board and Management of Theofaan which, by its financial support, have enabled me to take up this position and to realise the activities described in this report, and more.