INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION OF
PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Newsline

APRIL 2004

Table of Contents

• Message from the President

• ICEVI EXCO Meeting

• First Annual Report of ICEVI Published

• ICEVI-WBU Joint Education Policy Statement approved by ICEVI

• ICEVI – IBSA Memorandum of Understanding Signed

• ICEVI invited to present at the LCIF SightFirst Symposium

• World Conference Update

• Post-World Conference Workshops

• Regional and Sub-regional Conferences

• Projects under the Drs. Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation Grant (LFG)

• Special Thanks to Mazars Worldwide Auditing Firm

• ICEVI/ON-NET Mathematics Project

• Uganda Research – Progressing well

• Nandini – the Nodal Officer for ICEVI – Hadley Globe All Program

• ICEVI’s Subscription Scheme for Organizations

• Africa Forum – An History Meeting

• Next Meeting of the Principal Officers

• Multiple Disabilities – Theme of the next issue of The Educator

Message from the President:

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

We are happy to bring you another issue of the ICEVI Newline that we hope will keep you up-to-date on recent developments within your professional organization. The ICEVI Newline was initially conceived as a communication vehicle to keep members of the ICEVI Executive Committee informed of progress between annual meetings. However, we quickly realized that this electronic publication might be of interest to many others who are involved with ICEVI. Our guess was correct. Today the ICEVI Newsline is distributed each April and October to more than 4,000 individuals and organizations in more than 150 countries. If you know of colleagues who would enjoy keeping up with ICEVI through Newsline please send their name and e-mail address to the Secretary General’s office sgicevi@vsnl.net

Let me use the opportunity of this issue to call to your attention a couple of items of particular importance. As you will know from previous issues of Newsline and The Educator, ICEVI and WBU have been working on a Joint Education Policy Statement. Work on that document is now completed thanks to hard work of many people; but in particular to Bill Brohier and M.N.G. Mani from ICEVI and Kicki Nordstrom and William Rowland from WBU.

Although work on the document is completed; the task has just begun. The purpose of this document was to give our members and friends a tool that they could use in calling to the attention of policy makers around the world to the educational needs of blind and low vision persons. A document such as this is only useful if it is put in the hands of decision makers who are in a position to affect change. Therefore, we are in the process of putting the text of this document into an attractive format with photos for your use. Each of us has a personal responsibility to advocate on behalf of individuals with visual impairment for equal access to education. The team that worked on this document has done their part and it is now up to each of us to be sure that the document is used effectively. Within the next month or so your ICEVI regional chairperson will have a supply of this document at their disposal. Please contact your regional chair for a copy of the document. If each one of us takes the responsibility for getting that document into the hands of three individuals who are in decision making positions related to education we can move forward the campaign of “Education for All” from slogan to reality.

I also want to call special attention in this issue of the ICEVI Newsline to the wonderful opportunity that each of us now has for “free distance education” through the collaborative effort that is underway between ICEVI and the Hadley School for the Blind. For all of us education must be an on-going process if we are to provide those we teach with the highest quality of education. The ICEVI-Hadley “Globe All” Program is available to all of you and to parents and individuals with whom you work. We hope you will take full advantage of this new program. Our Secretary, Mrs. Nandini Rawal bpaiceviad1@sancharnet.in is the ICEVI lead officer on this program and I know she would love to have her mailbox filled with questions related to this unique opportunity. Please take a few moments to contact Nandini or to go directly to the website of the Hadley School for the Blind www.hadley-school.org to look at the many offerings available to you. Remember, when you sign-up for a course to mention the “Globe All Program” and after successfully completing the course you will receive a special certificate. Let’s make every day a “new learning day”!

With my warm personal wishes I remain,

Sincerely,

Larry Campbell
President

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ICEVI EXCO Meeting:

The second meeting of the current executive committee of ICEVI met at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 6-7 February 2004. In addition to the review of regional activities, stock taking of the Lee Foundation supported projects, etc., the members of the EXCO worked in small groups to review the strategy paper on “Education For All Children with Visual Impairment” presented by the Principal Officers. The members of the executive committee opined that such hands on experience in developing position papers should feature in the future meetings of EXCO. The EFA strategy paper is currently modified on the basis of the suggestions made by the members of the EXCO and will be presented in the forthcoming issues of The Educator.

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First Annual Report of ICEVI Published:

ICEVI has published its first Annual Report for its constituency. The activities of ICEVI carried out in 2003 have been presented under three major headings, namely 1) advocacy, collaboration and information dissemination, 2) creating awareness, capacity building and best practices, and 3) organization development. The annual report is being sent to UN agencies, funding organizations and leading institutions involved in services for persons with disabilities throughout the world.

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ICEVI-WBU Joint Education Policy Statement approved by ICEVI :

The long awaited ICEVI – WBU joint education policy statement has been approved by the executive committee of ICEVI. The comprehensive policy statement covers accessibility issues, teacher training, coordination, early childhood intervention programs, and additional needs of persons with visual impairment. The policy statement has also suggested strategies for joint action plans. The World Blind Union is likely to endorse the policy statement in its forthcoming meeting of the executive committee. The July 2004 issue of The Educator will carry a special feature on this joint policy statement. ICEVI, which is a global association of individuals and organizations promoting equal access to appropriate education for persons with visual impairment and World Blind Union, the consumer organization working towards the advocacy of persons with visual impairment and their fundamental rights, coming together and jointly issuing a policy statement on education is a positive move, which will go a long way in facilitating education for all children with visual impairment by 2015.

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ICEVI – IBSA Memorandum of Understanding Signed :

A memorandum of understanding between ICEVI and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) was signed on 7 February 2004 in Kuala Lumpur during the meeting of the executive committee of ICEVI. Enrique Perez, President, IBSA and Larry Campbell, President, ICEVI signed the MOU in the presence of the members of EXCO. IBSA and the ICEVI affirm through this Memorandum of Understanding their desire to collaborate on matters related to the promotion of sports and recreational activities for persons with visual impairment under the following mutually understood conditions.

1. The ICEVI will encourage its regional chairpersons to include in their project submissions proposals for the promotion of sports among visually impaired children which may be considered for co-funding by IBSA and ICEVI.

2. IBSA and ICEVI will work to create consumer, family, and professional awareness about sports for visually impaired persons by:

2.1 facilitating communication links between their regional and continental
representatives,
2.2 including columns in their respective publications regarding the programs of each others organization,
2.3 encouraging participation and the presentation of papers and workshops at each others regional and international conferences and
2.4 creating links to each others websites

3. ICEVI, during the 2002-2006 quadrennium will devote one issue of The Educator, its biannual magazine to the theme of sports and recreation and invite IBSA to nominate the thematic editor for that special issue.

4. Wherever IBSA and ICEVI organize national or regional sports related projects, the certificates for the participants will be jointly issued by IBSA and ICEVI.

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to contact the regional chairpersons of ICEVI for more collaborative activities between ICEVI with IBSA.

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ICEVI invited to present at the LCIF SightFirst Symposium :

ICEVI was deeply honored to have been invited to participate in the Lions International Sight Symposium held in Seoul, Republic of Korea on March 27th and 28th. The Sight Symposium was convened by the Lions Clubs International Foundation to review progress on their SightFirst program and to look at the future directions of what will hopefully be a Phase II campaign by Lions Clubs International. Larry Campbell, President and M.N.G. Mani, Secretary General were invited to offer the main address on the subject of “education and rehabilitation”. Their thirty minute presentation looked at the current situation of blind and low vision children in developing countries where access to education and rehabilitation is severely limited. For those interested a copy of their presentation entitled “Education for All: The Unrealized Dream” can be found on the ICEVI website www.icevi.org.

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World Conference Update:

The 12th World Conference of ICEVI will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 16 to 21 July 2006. A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed on February 7, 2004 by Larry Campbell, President, ICEVI, and Prof. Ismail Salleh, President, Malaysian Association for the Blind in the presence of the members of the executive committee of ICEVI, officers of the Malaysian Association for the Blind and senior officials from the Government of Malaysia. Both ICEVI and MAB have already initiated activities to make this conference a memorable one. The first announcement of the conference will be out soon and the information will be posted on the website too. A separate website for the conference is being created and on-line registration facility will also be available.

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Post-World Conference Workshops:

The Malaysian Host Committee of the 12th World Conference has asked ICEVI to develop post-conference workshops targeted at participants from developing countries. Plans are underway to organize workshops on three topics: 1. Multiply Disabled Visually Impaired Persons, 2. Low Vision and 3. Early Childhood Intervention. Further details on these post-conference workshops will be available on the conference website in the near future.

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Regional and Sub-regional Conferences:

A number of ICEVI regional and sub-regional conferences are planned for 2004 and 2005. The following is a listing of the dates, themes and contact information for these conferences.

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Projects under the Drs. Richard Charles and Esther Yewpick Lee Charitable Foundation Grant (LFG):

During 2003, the Africa, East Asia, Latin America and West Asia regions of ICEVI organized 79 capacity building programs which benefited nearly 4000 teachers and other personnel and more than 55000 children with visual impairment. The annual report of these projects for the year 2003 has already been submitted to the Foundation. ICEVI requested the regional chairs to come up with long-term strategies for each region. The year 2004 will be marked by collaboration of ICEVI regions with other like-minded organizations to exercise synergy in serving persons with visual impairment around the world. The Lee supported projects for 2004 are already underway in all four regions of ICEVI.

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Special Thanks to Mazars Worldwide Auditing Firm :

M/s Mazars Worldwide, a reputed auditing firm in Hong Kong has come forward to audit the accounts of ICEVI free of cost. It has also expressed its willingness to audit the accounts of the Lee projects being implemented in Africa, East Asia, Latin America, and West Asia. The regional chairpersons have already contacted the local Mazars associate auditors and enlisted their support and cooperation for auditing the accounts locally. ICEVI says a big “Thank You” to the Mazars Worldwide and particularly to Mr. Ken Morrison, who spearheads this assistance from Hong Kong.

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ICEVI/ON-NET Mathematics Project :

ICEVI in collaboration with the Overbrook-Nippon Network on Educational Technology (ON-NET) has developed a sample mathematical package for the benefit of teachers of visually impaired children to teach secondary level mathematics. The ON-NET will be conducting a Masters Training Program for 14 trainees from Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos in Bangkok from 22 April to 7 May 2004 using the mathematical package. The package will be used by the teachers after the training is over and feedback obtained probably by November 2004 so that the package will be finalized for worldwide use from 2005.

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Uganda Research – Progressing well:

In 2003, ICEVI initiated a research study to investigate the critical factors that should be in place for the successful inclusion of children with visual impairment in local primary schools in Uganda. A research team headed by Steve McCall, Vice-President of ICEVI has already collected the first part of the data and presented its preliminary observations at the meeting of the executive committee of ICEVI. The second phase data collection is underway and likely to be completed before the end of December 2004. The January 2005 issue of The Educator will present a summary of findings of this important research study which will have an impact on educational services for persons with disabilities in countries in Africa region and other parts of the world as well.

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Nandini – the Nodal Officer for ICEVI – Hadley Globe All Program :

In order to strengthen the ICEVI-Hadley Globe All (Growth and Learning Opportunities in Blindness Education) Distance Education Program through networking with the Regional Chairpersons of ICEVI, Nandini Rawal, Secretary of ICEVI has been nominated to be the nodal officer for ICEVI. Nandini is in discussion with regional chairpersons about the strategies to be adopted for popularizing this program in each region. Individuals and organizations can contact Nandini at e-mail contact bpaiceviad1@sancharnet.in for further information about this program.

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ICEVI’s Subscription Scheme for Organizations :

The executive committee of ICEVI has approved the scheme to invite organizations to become subscribing members of ICEVI as per the following classification.

An annual budget of

Less than 1 million US dollars          : US $ 250 per annum
1 to 5 million US dollars                  : US $ 500 per annum
More than 5 to 10 million US dollars : US $ 750 per annum
More than 10 million US dollars        : US $ 1000 per annum

Separate letters are being sent by the President inviting leading international organizations to become subscribing members of ICEVI. Organizations wishing to become “subscribing members” may contact Grace Chan, Treasurer Grace ce@hksb.org.hk or the Secretary General sgicevi@vsnl.net

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Africa Forum – An History Meeting:

The 3rd Africa Forum, to be held at the Eskom Convention Centre, Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa, from 23 to 27 May 2004, is a historic event in Africa, which will bring all leading institutes for persons with visual impairment in Africa, funding organizations supporting programs in this region and professionals together. The theme of the Forum is “Engagement in Citizenship – Creating Space and Opportunity in Civil Society.” This is the most appropriate forum to highlight the importance of education for all children with visual impairment in the region. ICEVI will be represented in this forum by a strong contingent headed by the President, Regional Chairperson - Africa Region, Secretary General, and members of the Africa regional committee. Besides making a general presentation on ICEVI, the members of ICEVI team will also be leading workshops such as teacher preparation, teaching mathematics, low vision education, etc. The Africa regional committee meeting will also be held at the same venue on 28-29 May 2004.

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Next Meeting of the Principal Officers:

The Principal Officers of ICEVI will be meeting for the third time during the present quadrennium in Costa Rica from 25 to 27 October 2004. The Latin America region will also be conducting its sub-regional conference at this time which will also be addressed by the Principal Officers.

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Multiple Disabilities – Theme of the next issue of The Educator:

Since the world conference, ICEVI’s biannual magazine “The Educator” is focusing on specific themes. Literacy, Early Childhood Education, Inclusion, and Teacher Preparation were the topics of the last four thematic issues. The July 2004 will focus on Multiple Disabilities and the last date for receiving articles for the issue is May 15, 2004. Those who are desirous of sending articles may send a soft copy of the article to the Editor Steve McCall s.mccall@bham.ac.uk with a copy to ICEVI Secretariat sgicevi@vsnl.net

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This electronic Newsline of ICEVI comes to your mailbox in April and October every year. Please provide us the e-mail addresses of individuals and organizations that may be interested in receiving the Newsline and The Educator.

For further details, contact:

Dr. M.N.G. Mani
Secretary General
International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment
IHRDC Campus, Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya Post
Coimbatore – 641 020
INDIA
Phone : 91-422 -2697530
Fax : 91-422 -2692353
e-mail : sgicevi@vsnl.net
Visit us at www.icevi.org