WBU E-BULLETINVOLUME 11, ISSUE 3July 2016

Contact us at:World Blind Union1929 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4G 3E8Telephone: 1-416-486-9698, Fax: 1-416-486-8107Email: info@wbu.ngo Website: http://www.wbu.ngo, http://www.worldblindunion.org/Twitter: @BlindUnion Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BlindUnion

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE E-BULLETIN 3PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 32016 JOINT WBU/ICEVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE 5UPDATES ON THE UN AND THE CRPD 7

UPDATES ON THE MARRAKESH TREATY 7UPDATE ON QUIET CARS 9DPO INVOLVEMENT IN SDG MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION

10WBU AT THE 9TH CONFERENCE OF STATES PARTIES TO THE CRPD

11WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT’S DISABILITY PERSPECTIVE BY: MEHMET EMIN DEMIRCI, WBU EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER, EUROPE (TURKEY) 13WHO LAUNCHES PRIORITY ASSISTIVE PRODUCTS LIST AT 69TH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY IN GENEVA 15

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REGIONAL UPDATE 15ULAC’S 8TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY HELD IN URUGUAY IN APRIL 2016

15NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD 16

ORIENTATION AID BLINDSQUARE AVAILABLE FOR ATTENDEES AT THE 2016 WBU/ICEVI JOINT ASSEMBLY 16BLINDNEWWORLD AIMS TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS TO INCLUSION

18E-LEARNING FOR ALL - FOUNDATION LAID & THE WAY FORWARD

19INTERNATIONAL AUTHORS FORUM AND ACCESSIBLE BOOKS CONSORTIUM LAUNCH SET OF GUIDELINES FOR ACCESSIBLE SELF-PUBLISHING 20THE BLIND TRIATHLETE: HOW I BECAME MOTIVATED IN FITNESS21NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE HONG KONG BLIND UNION 22RIDBC’S LAUNCH OF UEB ONLINE ACCESSIBLE – A BRAILLE ELEARNING PROGRAM 23MAHADEO SUKHAI: ACCOMMODATING ACCOMPLISHMENT 23APPLICATIONS FOR THE LOUIS BRAILLE TOUCH OF GENIUS PRIZE NOW AVAILABLE 25ASSISTED TRAVEL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED 26DENVER MUSEUM CREATES TACTILE MAPS FOR BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED THROUGH NATIONAL BRAILLE PRESS 26

RESOURCES 27LASER EYE SURGERY HUB- SITE FOR RESOURCES 27SWISS COMPANY T-REINHARDT OFFERS ONLINE BRAILLE TRANSLATOR 27INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIONAL STATLER CENTER CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM 28RIGHTSNOW! CONSORTIUM’S DISABILITY RIGHTS RESOURCES 28

2016/2017 IMPORTANT DATES/CONFERENCES/EVENTS 29THE REGIONS 33

AFRICA 34ASIA 34

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ASIA-PACIFIC 34EUROPE 34LATIN AMERICA 34NORTH AMERICA/THE CARIBBEAN 34

WBU OFFICERS 34REGIONAL PRESIDENTS 35WBU STAFF 35OUR SPONSORS 36

OUR PLATINUM SPONSORS 36OUR DIAMOND SPONSORS 36Our Gold Sponsors 36

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE E-BULLETINWe welcome articles from the regions and from members who wish to share their good news with the rest of the world. Our next deadline for content is September 21st, 2016. We accept submissions in English, French, and Spanish in electronic format. Please note that we retain the right to edit submissions for space limitations. Send your news to: caitlin.reid@wbu.ngo

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear members,

I would like to begin this message by expressing my deepest condolences to the friends and family of Frances Candiru. Frances was a good friend and an important ally for the blind and partially sighted persons in her home country, Uganda, as well as in Africa and worldwide. She taught at a secondary school in Kampala, Uganda, chaired the Uganda National Association of the Blind for a number of years until 2016, and most recently chaired the Human Rights Committee for the WBU. She also served as the WBU’s Second Vice President from 2008-2012, being the first woman from Africa to hold such an important role with the WBU. Frances was a strong

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advocate for braille, women’s rights, and for blind and partially sighted persons living in developing countries. May she rest in peace.

I also want to reflect on the tenth anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). We have made many achievements through the CRPD but there is, unfortunately, a lot of work still left to do. While writing this message, I am at the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD, listening to the states reports, and it is apparent that the work to improve the situation of persons with disabilities is progressing slowly. We must work to speed this process up so we can achieve more in the coming years.

On a more positive note, we have now reached 20 ratifications of the Marrakesh Treaty, with Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala and Canada ratifying since the last e-Bulletin. The treaty will enter into force on September 30th, 2016. We will now have much celebrate at the General Assembly in august. We should all be very proud of our hard work that has made this momentous achievement possible.

I also want to mention our upcoming General Assembly that will take place in August. We are excited that over 700 people will be attending the Joint Assembly with ICEVI, with hundreds of individuals and our members having registered for the event. Progress is quickly being made for the Assembly, with the Program now having been finalized, and I know that we will meet in Orlando and have many productive and thoughtful discussions that will help to set the focus of the next four years for our organization and our movement as a whole. I am looking forward to seeing many old friends and to meeting new people as well and learning from them.

On a final note, one of our biggest remaining challenges is finding new and sustainable financial resources to strengthen both our members’ capacities and to help the work of the office in Toronto. Frankly, we need more funding as there are lots of things that we want to achieve in the future but we are limited by currently available resources. We need to find new ways of obtaining resources so we can continue to do our work as well as expand into new areas. I am, however, hopeful that we will be able to secure new funding and resources over the next term, which will strengthen our work and support for our members.

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We are, however, rich in support in the way of people and volunteers. I want to thank everyone who contributed to the Union over the last four years. We are always looking for ways to strengthen our Union and everyone’s contributions are essential for this work. I want to also thank the staff of the WBU who work very hard, especially our CEO, Dr. Penny Hartin who seems to never stop working on behalf of WBU and the movement as a whole. She always prioritizes the needs of the organization and we are all very grateful for her hard work and sacrifices on behalf of the WBU.

Arnt HoltePresident WBU

2016 JOINT WBU/ICEVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE

By the time you read this E-bulletin, the WBU General Assembly will be just over a month away and we will be making final preparations for the participation of our members and those of ICEVI. We anticipate well over 700 persons will be present at the Assembly event, particularly during the joint program days with ICEVI. Online registration for the General Assembly is now closed. Those still wishing to attend may register onsite at the Rosen Centre Hotel beginning on August 18. Payment will be accepted by credit card only. Hotel reservations may be made by calling directly to the Rosen Centre Hotel in the United States 001-800-204-7234.

WBU members will be receiving a number of documents from us related to the General Assembly and all of these will also be available to you on the WBU website at: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/general-assembly/Pages/Forms.aspx Please do ensure that all of your members who are attending the Assembly events receive the documents. Braille and large print copies of the program book, the constitutional amendments, the quadrennial financial report and budgets will be made available at the Assembly venue. Most other documents will not be produced in hard copy at the Assembly as you will receive them electronically in advance. This has been the practice for the last two Assemblies and has worked well for

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our members and of course, is a practice that is much friendlier to the environment as we are saving many, many trees.

As you know, the General Assembly provides an opportunity to report on our work over the past four years, to share information and learn about issues that are important to blind and partially sighted persons worldwide, and to do the important business of the Union which must be conducted by the General Assembly. In designing the Assembly program, the committee has worked hard to provide interesting and useful program sessions on topics that will be of interest to our members while ensuring that there is adequate time to conduct the business that the Assembly is responsible for. You will have received the detailed program before you receive this e-bulletin so we hope you agree that the sessions being planned will be beneficial and interesting to you. And during the joint days with ICEVI, some excellent sessions have been planned to focus on the themes of the UN system and human rights, technological innovations and youth engagement.

You have also been receiving information from us related to the business sessions to be conducted at the Assembly. It is only at the General Assembly where we can elect the international officers for the next term, and approve constitutional amendments and the quadrennial budget for the next period including any changes to membership fees. You have received documents related to all of this work and we encourage you to study them carefully so that you will be fully prepared for the work of the Assembly.

You will notice that we have included a number of early evening workshops in the Program in order to provide more in-depth information about a number of topics that our members are interested in. We know that the program days are already long, but we really do encourage our members and participants to take advantage of these evening opportunities.

The General Assembly is also the time when we all have the opportunity to renew friendships from other organizations of and for the blind from around the world, to share our ideas and experience. As an organization, the WBU is truly blessed to have such competent and knowledgeable members from around the world. We hope that you will enjoy the opportunity to get to know each other, establish new

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networks and make new friends. The hotel venue where all events will be held and where almost everyone is staying is very conducive to that interaction.

Please do remember to consult our WBU website for new documents or updates. We look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in Orlando in August.

UPDATES ON THE UN AND THE CRPD

Updates on the Marrakesh Treaty

Since our last edition of the e-bulletin, four more countries have ratified the Marrakesh Treaty; Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala and Canada, bringing the total number of ratifications to 20reachign the amount needed to bring the treaty into force. The treaty officially enters into force three months after the 20th ratification, which will be on September 30th, 2016; three months after Canada became the 20th ratifying country.

A new brochure is also available from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on the Marrakesh Treaty and its main provisions and benefits. It is available in all 6 UN languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Mandarin and Arabic) in a word document and it can be found at the following link: http://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=4047&plang=EN

We have updates to report in regards to our Marrakesh Treaty Ratification and Implementation Campaign as well. We are happy to announce that the final version of our “Guide to the Marrakesh Access Treaty (MAT)” is nearly complete. Given that copyright law is national law, we wanted to address the potential for different interpretations of the treaty specifically when it comes to its implementation at the national level. WBU decided to develop an implementation guide that clearly explains the treaty’s provisions and intent, and that provides specific and concrete advice on how it can and should be interpreted and implemented so that national laws will adhere to the treaty’s main objective, which is to further the human rights of individuals with print disabilities by promoting their access to copyrighted printed materials.

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The “Guide to the MAT” was written by academic experts from both the human rights and intellectual property fields and it encompasses both perspectives to ensure that its implementation at the national level will appropriately balance these two perspectives. It will be an essential lobbying tool for our Marrakesh Treaty Campaign, including for our members, who can use the guide themselves as well as give it to their respective national government officials and other decision-makers. The audience for the Guide is primarily parliamentarians, policymakers, and other relevant government officials. We will have it published in multiple accessible formats and multiple languages. It will first be translated into Spanish and French, and then we will look to have it translated into further languages, depending on resources.

We are also finalizing a Pocket Guide version of the “Guide to the MAT”, whose primary audience is our members. We wanted to give our members a shortened, simpler version of the full implementation guide that explains the key provisions and terms that we think our members will most need to know about the Marrakesh Treaty and its implementation in order to effectively lobby their national governments. The Project Coordinator of our Marrakesh Treaty Campaign, Caitlin Reid, has drafted the Pocket Guide and she will be hosting introductory, one-hour long training sessions on the Marrakesh Treaty, the implementation guide, and the Pocket Guide at the General Assembly in August. She will host training sessions in English (with Arabic translation) and French and our Marrakesh Treaty Campaign leader for the ULAC region, Pablo Lecuona will host the training session in Spanish. You can find out the times and room numbers for these training sessions in the Program for the General Assembly, which is available on our site and at the following link: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/general-assembly/Pages/Forms.aspx

Following our General Assembly, we plan to have a public launch of the “Guide to the MAT” to garner attention from decision-makers in the copyright field, as well as key players from the human rights field. We want to use this high-level public event as well as a supporting communications strategy to establish our Guide and its advice for implementation as the preeminent interpretation of the Marrakesh Treaty worldwide. We will also celebrate the treaty coming into force,

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as our event will likely take place around when the treaty comes into force at the end of September. We will offer you more details on the event once it is finalized.

Following the public launch of the implementation guide, we will begin a full training program on the treaty and the implementation guide, starting with a “train-the-trainers” program, to train individuals from each region. These individual regional trainers can then offer the same training to others in their region. We also plan to develop online advocacy and training tools, such as toolkits, guides, case studies, webinars and training videos, to allow for all of our members to access training and informational materials that will help with their understanding of the treaty and support their national advocacy efforts in lobbying for its ratification and implementation. We hope that all of you will join us in our campaign and take up the lobbying efforts within your own country to ensure that the treaty is ratified and implemented consistently and effectively in every country.

Update on Quiet CarsBy: Fredric Schroeder, First Vice President, World Blind Union

For the past eight years, the World Blind Union has been working with the United Nations to develop an international standard requiring an audible pedestrian alert sound for hybrid and electric vehicles. While the work has been slow, we have now made some real and dramatic progress that is worth celebrating. As a result of our efforts, in March 2016, the United Nations adopted a limited international regulation requiring hybrid and electric vehicles to be equipped with an alert sound device that is binding on 50 countries around the world. However, this is just the beginning as we want to ensure that quiet cars everywhere are equipped with an audible alert sound. Our work will now be focused on developing an international standard that will cover many more countries through what is called a Global Technical Regulation.

The WBU remains determined that not only will the regulation become mandatory in every country, but also that new audible alert devices will be designed to truly provide the warning blind people and other pedestrians need for safety. We continue to advocate for the overall sound level of the alert device to be loud enough to give blind and

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other pedestrian’s reasonable warning of the approach of a quiet vehicle. We are also working to ensure that international regulations prohibit manufacturers from including a pause function that would allow a driver to turn off the alert sound. Finally, we are working to require that the alert sound be active while quiet vehicles are on but stationary, such as when stopped at a traffic light.

The recently adopted UN regulation is a powerful example of the importance of the blind of the world joining together to ensure that our ability to travel safely and independently is protected, not just here and there but in every country in the world.

DPO Involvement in SDG Monitoring and ImplementationBy: José Viera, WBU Human Rights Policy Advisor

In September 2015, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). You can find the UNGA Resolution on the 2030 Agenda at the following link: http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E

Under the 2030 Agenda, countries can voluntarily choose to report on their efforts for implementing the SDGs. So far, 22 countries have chosen to do so. As part of this reporting procedure, countries were invited to have consultations with civil society organizations, including disabled persons organizations (DPOs). The International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) have produced a report that analyses the level of involvement of DPOs in this unique consultation process and the WBU contributed to the report. Unfortunately, the results of the report are disappointing as DPOs had a low level of participation in these consultations. DPOs were included in the SDGs consultation process in only 12 countries and in only 4 countries were the disability organizations united, pointing to a need for a more united approach within the disability community in order to advocate and engage with their governments more effectively. If you would like a copy of this report, please email Caitlin Reid at caitlin.reid@wbu.ngo and you will be emailed the report in a word document in English.This July, the UN will hold its first high-level political forum at the UN headquarters in New York on the SDGs and the consultation in the 22

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countries will be discussed. The WBU Human Rights Policy Advisor, José Viera will address the country delegations at the high-level forum on behalf of the disability stakeholder group. We look forward to ensuring that the voice of persons with disabilities is heard at this important and historic event and we will offer updates on our social media channels as well as in the next e-Bulletin on the outcomes of the high-level political forum. To learn more about the high-level political forum, follow this link: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf

WBU at the 9th Conference of States Parties to the CRPDBy: Caitlin Reid, WBU Communications Officer and Project Coordinator, Marrakesh Treaty Ratification and Implementation Campaign

The 9th Conference of States Parties to the CRPD was held in New York at the UN headquarters from June 14-16. WBU was in attendance, with representatives covering the main conference hall as well as attending many of the side events. WBU was in good company alongside the IDA and many of its members. WBU took advantage of this opportunity at COSP to inform members and other stakeholders of its new human rights program and its focus on linking the Sustainable Development Goals to the CRPD, headed by José Viera, WBU’s Human Rights Policy Advisor.

WBU President Arnt Holte made several presentations at the COSP, including at an interesting side event on how digital societies can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for persons with disabilities. IDA Chair and WBU Immediate Past President Maryanne Diamond spoke frequently throughout the conference and its side events, including in the main plenary hall in front of country delegations. Maryanne also called on all member states to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty at an evening reception hosted by the Australian delegation.

The Marrakesh Treaty was mentioned but only rarely in country presentations to the main plenary hall, including by Ghana who also mentioned their support for the Ghana Blind Union. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) also made a statement explaining the importance of the Marrakesh Treaty and the Accessible Books Consortium to the country delegations in the main hall, which hopefully helped raise the treaty’s profile among the States Parties.

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Elections were held for 9 of the 18 members of the Committee to the CRPD at this COSP and several people elected were blind or partially sighted, including Monthian Buntan, one of our members from Thailand. Unfortunately, no women were elected, leaving just one woman on the committee. IDA and IDDC released a joint press release following the elections and Maryanne Diamond was quoted in the press release:

“It is alarming that the new composition of the Committee counts but one woman, which begs the questions how we, women with disabilities, will be legitimately represented, and how the Committee can serve as a model for others? This signals a serious disconnect between the Convention's principles of non-discrimination and gender equality within the nominations and elections procedures, as well as an objectionable disengagement on the part of States to ensure and promote gender parity. It is the responsibility of us all- States, the disability movement, and the women’s movement- everyone, to be proactive in ensuring the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities across all agendas. We can only get there together, leaving no one behind.” You can read the press release in full by following this link: http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/resources/results-2016-crpd-committee-elections

World Humanitarian Summit’s Disability PerspectiveBy: Mehmet Emin Demirci, WBU Executive Committee Member, Europe (Turkey)

In 2015, the United Nations made the decision to convene the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) to reflect the grave situation of refugees and people affected by natural disasters. Istanbul was chosen as the venue as a tribute to the work being done there for the millions of asylum-seekers fleeing from the ongoing civil war in Syria (to learn more about this issue, follow this link to Mr. Demirci’s presentation on Syrian asylum-seekers with disabilities in Turkey:http://www.euroblind.org/media/general-assembly-2015/Emin-Demirci-Presentation2.docx ) . The WHS took place from May 23-24, 2016 and was attended by 55 state and government leaders, 350 private sector representatives and over 6,000 people from 173 countries.

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Since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2006, the global community has demonstrated increased attention and commitment to addressing the specific needs and interests of persons with disabilities in disaster and crisis situations. Just last year, in March 2015, the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction was held in Sendai, Japan and disability was included as a key priority in the Sendai Declaration and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (to read the full text of the Sendai Framework, follow this link: http://www.unisdr.org/we/coordinate/sendai-framework). Recent resolutions of the Security Council, General Assembly and Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN have further noted the critical importance of addressing specific challenges faced by persons with disabilities in crises and emergency situations.

Despite these advances, there remains a challenge to translate international commitments into action that is systematically inclusive of persons with disabilities at the operational level. Barriers still persist in terms of involving persons with disabilities and their organizations in decision-making processes and at all stages of humanitarian action.

In response to existing challenges, the WHS provided an opportunity to further promote disability-inclusive humanitarian action, including strategies to support States’ obligations under the CRPD and to facilitate the implementation of other inclusive frameworks, such as the Sendai Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A forum was held by the UN on including the disabled in the humanitarian action on May 22, in the lead up to the WHS. Accredited NGOs dealing with disabilities were invited to speak and told the audience about their work.

The highlight of the WHS was the Charter on the Inclusion of the Disabled in Humanitarian Action. It was originally signed by Australia, Finland, and Thailand last year. During the special session on May 23, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon obtained more signatory states to the Charter; Germany, Guatemala, Luxemburg, Namibia and the United Kingdom declared that they would sign it and UNICEF and 18 international NGOs supported it. IDA organized a WHS side event on disability inclusion and the Charter, titled “Strengthening visibility,

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inclusion, and participation of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action.” Participants mainly focused their speeches on how to promote the Charter and how to implement it in individual countries as well as at the international level. To learn more about the Charter and to read it in full at the following link: http://humanitariandisabilitycharter.org

WHO Launches Priority Assistive Products List at 69th World Health Assembly in Geneva

On 24 May 2016 during the 69 World Health Assembly along with other distinguished delegates, H.E. Saira Afzal Tarar and H.E. Margarita Guevara, Health Ministers from Pakistan and Ecuador respectively, launched the WHO Priority Assistive Products List, which is the first step of WHO’s GATE initiative towards improving global access to assistive products for everyone, everywhere. The Priority Assistive Products List aspires to follow in the footsteps of the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, which creates awareness among the public, mobilizes resources and stimulates competition. The Priority Assistive Products List is similarly intended to be a catalyst in promoting access to assistive technology. IDA and WBU assisted the WHO in the creation of the list.

It is not a restrictive list but aims to provide each Member State with a model from which to develop a National priority assistive products list. Like the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, the Priority Assistive Products List will also provide guidance for procurement and reimbursement policies, including insurance coverage. The list features the most priority assistive products for persons with disabilities and is separated into categories by type of disability, with vision being one of the categories. For more information and to download the list, which is available in the six UN languages, click on the following link: http://www.who.int/phi/implementation/assistive_technology/global_survey-apl/en/

REGIONAL UPDATE

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ULAC’s 8th General Assembly Held in Uruguay in April 2016

ULAC is happy to report on the success of its 8th General Assembly, which was held in April 2016. The event, titled “Learn to Grow: Our Leading Role Makes the Difference,” brought together over 390 attendees from over 20 countries in Latin America, North America, and Europe. You can read the full conclusion report from the General assembly in Spanish at the following link: http://www.ulacdigital.org/downloads/Conclusiones_VIII_Congreso_Latinoamericano_de_Ciegos.pdf

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Orientation Aid BlindSquare Available for Attendees at the 2016 WBU/ICEVI Joint Assembly

MIPsoft is delighted to make BlindSquare, the popular orientation aid for blind and partially sighted people, available for free to all attendees of 2016 WBU/ICEVI Joint Assembly. BlindSquare has been translated into 25 languages and is used in more than 160 countries around the globe. Running on an iPhone with an iOS 6 or later, it automatically announces upcoming intersections as well as public points of interest such as shops, restaurants, or museums as you walk. The "Look Around" feature lets you point the phone in different directions to hear what is located there. You can also search for places in the vicinity, or simulate distant locations to explore from the comfort of your couch before traveling there. It can be used in conjunction with mainstream GPS apps, such as Google or Apple Maps that provide turn-by-turn instructions. When running in the background, BlindSquare will provide additional information helpful to blind and partially sighted travelers that mainstream apps lack. BlindSquare has much to offer to novice and expert users alike and is easy to learn.

If you would like to use BlindSquare Event, the free version of BlindSquare, during the 2016 WBU/ICEVI Joint Assembly, please visit the App Store and download BlindSquare Event or use this link: http://appstore.com/blindsqevent to install it on your iOS device. It will work from 5 August until 2 September in Orlando within a 60 km

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or 40-mile radius allowing you to use it when visiting the tourist attractions of the Orlando area.

If you are curious to learn more about how BlindSquare can help you both outdoors and indoors, we would like to welcome you to our General Assembly presentation “BlindSquare - Seamless Travel from A to Beyond” on August 23, Session 9, 4:30-6:00pm.

Here are five tips to help you get started quickly1. BlindSquare Event runs on iPhone 4S or later under iOS 6 or later

and requires an internet connection to retrieve location data. 2. When it is launched for the first time, it will ask you to grant

access to location services. Please allow access so that BlindSquare Event can determine your location via GPS.

3. If available for your language, we recommend using different voices for VoiceOver and BlindSquare Event so you have an easier time knowing if you are hearing a message from BlindSquare Event or VoiceOver. To change the BlindSquare Event voice, tap Other (the fifth button in the top row of buttons on the main screen of BlindSquare Event) and open the Settings screen. Tap the Select Voice and Language option. Now, select your language from the list. This will bring up a list of available voices for your language. Please note that additional voices are not available for all of the languages supported by BlindSquare Event. Tap the Back button in the top left corner of the screen until you are returned to the main screen. If you see a message from BlindSquare Event telling you that the settings will only take effect after the app has been launched again, delete BlindSquare Event from the App Switcher and launch it again.

4. Below the top row of buttons on the BlindSquare Event main screen, you will find the radius slider. You may use it to set the maximum distance for points of interest you want BlindSquare Event to announce automatically.

5. For more information about BlindSquare Event, you may listen to this 20-minute introduction https://audioboom.com/boos/2859065-introduction-to-blindsquare.mp3 or read the beginning of the BlindSquare user guide at http://blindsquare.com/userguide

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BlindNewWorld Aims to Break Down Barriers to Inclusion By: Marilyn Rea Beyer, Media and Public Relations Director, Perkins School for the Blind

In the United States alone, the blind population exceeds seven million. According to a recent study by Perkins School for the Blind, however, more than half of all sighted Americans haven’t seen someone who is blind in the last year (link to the study: http://www.perkins.org/stories/news/press-releases/study-more-than-half-of-all-americans-are-not-comfortable-around-a). Such a lack of interaction fosters misperceptions and perpetuates marginalization. This is why Perkins School for the Blind is sponsoring BlindNewWorld, a social change campaign aimed at breaking down the barriers to inclusion for those who are blind.

The results of Perkins’ study revealed four barriers to inclusion facing the blind population: discomfort, pity, fear, and stigma. To overcome these barriers, BlindNewWorld features video PSAs that can be viewed and shared on its website. The website also features stories from people who are blind that serve to demystify blindness.

All are welcome to take a positive step to get involved in BlindNewWorld and help change the world’s view of blindness. To submit your own photo, just visit the http://www.BlindNewWorld.org website, click the “share” tab at the top and follow the instructions. Then, upload your special photo to your social media pages.

Join the thousands of people in the online community already engaged in creating a BlindNewWorld!

E-Learning for All - Foundation Laid & the Way ForwardBy: Chong Chan-Yau, President, Hong Kong Blind Union

E-learning support services for students with disabilities were not available in Hong Kong before 2011 although the development of technology was already sophisticated. In view of this, Hong Kong Blind Union kicked off an innovative pilot scheme - “Accessible E-Learning Support Project” in 2011 to provide comprehensive e-learning support to print disabled students including those who are partially sighted, physically disabled and dyslexic in order to bridge the learning gap

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between students with and without disabilities. This project provided a wide range of support services and garnered funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charity Trust, which resulted in the “Jockey Club E-Learning For All (ELFA) Project” in 2013, allowing services to be continuously provided to students in need.

As of 2016, ELFA has already served over 200 individual students and nearly 40 schools with 2,000 students. Over 3,000 titles with 200,000 print pages of learning materials, including textbooks, notes, reference materials and public examination past papers with marking scheme having been converted into accessible electronic formats for the learning use of students. ELFA also assists participating schools with the production of their learning materials, with suggestions to make their intranets accessible, and by promoting the development of a standard e-book format in order to cultivate a more inclusive e-learning environment. We also engage in consumer advocacy. We successfully lobbied the Hong Kong Government to adopt accessibility guidelines for e-book publishers.

We also have a series of low-cost or free assistive software and mobile applications have been upgraded or developed under ELFA. NVDA (Hong Kong Version), a screen reader with sophisticated Cantonese speech engine, is one of the core assistive software developed by us to cater to the needs of Hong Kong students to read both English and Chinese e-books in their daily learning.

Due to its success, we are planning a new stage of ELFA in the coming three years, which will establish an online resource hub to lessons learned with regard to e-learning support for print disabled students in a systematic documentation for easy reference for our service users. In the meantime, research projects will be conducted to help us better understand the needs of the print disabled students and to develop effective e-learning modules for students in need. A symposium, the signature program of ELFA, will be held after the research project and will be open for interested parties from nearby regions, including Mainland China, Taiwan, and Macau.

The Hong Kong Blind Union is excited about the new development of ELFA. However, we are facing a lot of challenges at the same time. For example, as technology develops, it is all the more important to

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keep accessibility as an integral part of the development. Visually impaired persons lose out when as graphics or animation become dominant in new e-learning materials. Meanwhile, technology develops too fast while assistive aids for visually impaired persons take too long to catch up with the pace. Hong Kong Blind Union cannot act alone. We need to collaborate with other member organizations in the World Blind Union to champion for an inclusive e-learning environment. New technology will not automatically be a positive for us. We need to work hard to ensure that it is a tool for us. We believe our work with technology never ends as technology improves every day.

International Authors Forum and Accessible Books Consortium Launch Set of Guidelines for Accessible Self-Publishing

The International Authors Forum (IAF), a global body representing the interests of authors in their copyright at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Accessible Book Consortium’s (ABC)recently launched a set of guidelines for self-publishing authors about how to make their eBooks as accessible as possible. The guidelines are very straightforward, only 20 pages in length and clearly explain how to apply the principles of accessibility from the creation of the document at the word processing stage to the transition onto the most common self-publishing platforms such as Amazon and Apple. It is useful not just for self-publishers but for anyone creating a document, such as a teacher creating materials for classroom use, etc. The guidelines are available at:http://internationalauthors.org/wp-content/uploads/Accessible-eBook-Guidelines-for-Self-Publishing-Authors.pdf

The Blind Triathlete: How I became motivated in fitnessBy: Diane Bergeron, Executive Director, Strategic Relations and Engagement, Canadian National Institute for the Blind

I’m not a professional athlete, coach, or nutritionist. I'm a 51-year-old woman who is totally blind who enjoys challenging myself. One of the most challenging things that I've ever done is to begin the process of getting fit. Fitness is so very important for everyone, but particularly for those of us who have sight loss. Exercise helps us not only with our physical and mental health, it improves balance, reduces stress, and

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helps to build self-esteem and confidence. Many people think that fitness is all about hard exercise. I believe that fitness encompasses more than just hard exercise, it also includes good nutrition, personal joy, and happiness.

I've always been an active person in my community, but not always active in physical fitness. At the age of 47, I decided that it was time to challenge myself, get off my chair and get fit! Fitness is truly something that you can start at any age and it's not dependent on sight. It is, however, entirely dependent on having a positive attitude to take you through that scary first step of determining what it is you need to and want to do, and then getting started. Once you do, you can be on your way to bigger and better things to reach your personal goal.

I like to set three goals: one that is challenging but definitely requires preparation and effort; one that is so high that I truly don’t know if it's possible for me to reach; and one that is acceptable to me if everything goes wrong and I am just not able to keep up with my plan. Using this method of goal setting gives me something to work towards and stretches my imagination, but also leaves my self-esteem intact if I don’t quite get there!

The goal doesn’t have to be big. It can be walking a couple of times a week and working towards walking faster or further than the previous time. It can be joining a fitness class or taking up yoga. It can include getting out for a tandem bike ride with a friend, or going outside and playing with Lucy, my guide dog. Whatever works best for you, the key is just to start moving. Once you do, you’ll find you have more energy and feel that you want to keep going.

One of the things that limit us in our activities is the idea that we just can’t do it. Maybe it's because we can’t see or maybe we feel that we're too old and out of shape. I'm here to tell you that with the right attitude, this does not have to be the case. When I started becoming fit at the age of 47, I did it as a challenge to complete a triathlon. Now at the age of 51, I've completed many triathlons of varying distances and I'm now in training for a full Ironman Triathlon (4km swim, 180km cycle, and 42km run). Four years ago I didn’t know if I could even keep myself to a schedule of walking each day, but I stuck

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to my plan and my goals and I have never been so fit and healthy in my life.

You don’t have to be planning and training for an Ironman. All it takes is the decision to start, commitment to keep going, and the desire to try different activities until you find what's right for you and what will bring you the most happiness. I know it's difficult to start, but the benefits are too good to pass up.

New Executive Director at the Hong Kong Blind Union

My Brian Wong has been named as the new Executive Director of the Hong Kong Blind Union. Mr. Wong has a background in social work and law, with previous experience working for various NGOs, the Hong Kong government and the UN. The Hong Kong Blind Union is happy to have Mr. Wong join their team and bring new insight to help achieve the mission and vision of the Union.

RIDBC’s launch of UEB Online Accessible – a Braille eLearning Program

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) is pleased to announce the launch of its accessible eLearning program in Unified English Braille (UEB). The program offers equity of access to online training in UEB for people who are blind, have low vision or other print disabilities. The content is identical to RIDBC’s “UEB Online for sighted learners”, and is based on the UEB Australian Training Manual by Howse, Riessen & Holloway (2014).  

To access the program online, all that is needed is a standard computer and keyboard, a screen reader (e.g. NVDA or JAWS), and a web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Firefox). An optional extra is a refreshable braille display. Completion of the 30 lessons and exercises is self-paced, with instant written and audio feedback for learners as they progress through each lesson.

The target audience for UEB Online Accessible includes teachers of braille who are blind or have low vision and who use voice output software or refreshable braille displays to access online information. The program is also well suited to teachers, allied professionals, and

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parents/carers who wish to introduce UEB, in conjunction with assistive technology and computing, to children or adults who are blind or have low vision. Program registration and course completion are free, with low-cost certificates available from RIDBC for those who require verification of program completion. To register and commence learning UEB, please visit http://accessible.uebonline.org/register.

Mahadeo Sukhai: Accommodating Accomplishment (Excerpt from Article in People First: The Canadian Human Rights Commission 2015 Annual Report to Parliament, available at: http://www.chrcreport.ca/sites/chrc-annual-report/files/chrc-annual-report-2015.pdf) Mahadeo Sukhai confidently greets a stranger in the lobby of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in downtown Toronto (Canada) and accompanies her to the elevator. He presses the up button and ushers his guest off at the seventh floor, where he works as a cancer researcher in the Cancer Genomics Program at the University Health Network in Toronto. You would never know the 37-year-old is blind. Sukhai is so adept at what he does; you cannot imagine the mountains he has had to climb. He was the very first graduate student at the University of Toronto to ask for accommodation in the workplace. Today, he leads a team of researchers working on new cancer diagnostic tests, based on genome science and personalized medicine.

“Most youth with vision loss wouldn’t consider a career in my field,” he acknowledges. “Either they’ve been discouraged from it, or they themselves consider it impossible. How can you be a scientist if you can’t see? That’s what Sukhai himself had heard from many people throughout his life. He was lucky enough, though, to meet other, including his Ph.D. supervisor, who offered their support, and allowed his abilities to flourish. “As one of my colleagues once said, you don’t need to be able to see to think,” he says.

Sukhai, who was born in Guyana, with congenital cataracts, first became interested in science when he was four years old after coming across a painting by Chesley Bonestell of what the artist imagined the sky would look like when viewed from Saturn’s frosty moon Titan. “It was simple but vivid and I could get the sense of it,” remembers Sukhai. When he was 10, his parents immigrated to Canada to give

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him and his three older siblings a better future. At 15, Sukhai enrolled at the University of Toronto in the genetics program. By 28, he had finished a Ph.D. in medical biophysics and went on to complete two post-doctoral fellowships. Along the way, he accepted the fact that he had to become his own advocate to obtain the accommodations he needed in the lab. Accommodating a scientist with vision loss was definitely not something the university had any experience with.

“There are always those who, if you don’t fit the mold, won’t lift a finger to help you,” says Sukhai, who required specialized software on computers to help him see images that others could view under a microscope. He also needed an assistant to carry out some of the precise measurements of liquids in the experiments he conducted. “Earlier in my career, my accommodations were tremendous and expensive,” he says. “But now that I am no longer a bench scientist, I need different kinds of accommodation, computational stuff, the right kind of computer screen.” Rather than filing formal complaints, Sukhai negotiated with the university. Usually, his approach worked. Although to this day, in his role with the University Health Network, he doesn’t have a proper workspace – instead, he sits right up next to a large screen in his small office.

Sukhai is resilient and tenacious; there was never a doubt in his mind he would succeed. But he knows how difficult it can be, and has spent much of his career reaching out to others with disabilities, lobbying to make their way in the workplace easier. He has served on the boards of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the National Educational Association of Disabled Students, and the governing council of the University of Toronto. “Self-advocacy, education, and volunteerism go hand in hand for me,” he says. “I cannot separate those three threads.” The reality is that fully inclusive workplaces and accessible services are not yet in place for many Canadians with disabilities. Data collected by the Canadian Human Rights Commission shows that half of all discrimination complaints filed in Canada relate to disability in the workplace.

Applications for the Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize

Applications for the Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize, an award given to individuals or a group of individuals who contribute in the field of

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tactile literacy for blind people, are now available for 2017. The deadline is set for January 9, 2017, and applicants will have the opportunity to win up to $20,000.

They are looking for projects that focus on tactile literacy for the blind and visually impaired and promote braille literacy or access to information. They accept applications from individuals, groups, companies, and anything in between. For more information on the award, past winners, requirements and to download the application forms, visit their website: http://www.touchofgeniusprize.org.

Assisted travel for the blind and visually impaired

Visionary Travel offers assisted travel for blind and visually impaired people. Their simple concept matches sighted and vision impaired travelers in small groups. The sighted traveler acts as a guide, commentator, and support for the vision impaired traveler, and as such receives a generous discount on their tour cost. You will travel as a small group, with a dedicated tour manager. Tours are designed to include multi-sensory experiences that stimulate all travelers. Please take a look at their upcoming holidays if this is of interest to you. More information can be found at their website: http://www.visionarytravel.co

Denver Museum Creates Tactile Maps for Blind and Visually Impaired through National Braille Press

The National Braille Press (NBP) announced that it has created tactile maps for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for its blind and visually impaired visitors. The tactile map uses raised points, lines and textures to represent objects, identify room and denote accessible areas. The map will enhance the museum experience for the blind and visually impaired as they visit the engaging exhibits to immerse themselves in the natural world.

“The Museum is continuously working to become more accessible for those of all abilities and backgrounds,” said Amanda Bennett, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. “Especially considering that the prevalence of visual impairment is rising at an increasing rate, we felt that creating tactile

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Museum maps for our guests with visual impairments was necessary and began searching for the right resource to help us ensure this need was met. We were happy to find a partner in National Braille Press to help us provide this amenity.”

NBP creates over 100,000 tactile graphics each year including graphics in textbooks, children’s picture books and for organizations wishing to make their information more accessible to the blind and visually impaired. To learn more NBP, follow this link to their site: http://www.nbp.org/

RESOURCES

Laser Eye Surgery Hub- Site for Resources

Laser Eye Surgery Hub offers a compiled a listing of resources based on specific needs and situations. From help adapting to life with low or no vision to financial assistance for the vision-impaired, these resources can provide assistance and helpful insights for easier daily living and a higher quality of life. To visit their website, follow this link:http://www.lasereyesurgeryhub.co.uk/resources-blind-vision-impaired/

Swiss company T-Reinhardt Offers Online Braille Translator

The Swiss company T-Reinhardt has shared two online braille resources. One is a Braille Translator, which works similar to google translate but for Braille. It supports translation for English, Czech, French, Spanish, and German. To find out more about the Braille Translator, follow this link: http://www.brailletranslator.org/ T-Reinhardt has also shared their online 3D Braille signage service, which allows you to create Braille signs and then sends them to a 3D printing service, Sculpteo, to make and deliver your signs to you and delivery is available worldwide. The link to the Braille signage service is: http://braille.cards/

International Scholarship Opportunity for National Statler Center Customer Service Training Program The National Statler Center in Buffalo, New York offers a program for blind, visually impaired and physically disabled adults who train and

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become employed in the many fields of customer service, one of the first of its kind. To celebrate their 50th graduating class, this year they are offering a full tuition scholarship and lodging to a blind or visually impaired adult who has completed a high school or secondary program and will return to their native country post training to seek employment. The value of this scholarship exceeds $25,000 USD.

In order to apply for this scholarship, they will require a completed application form two letters of support from the staff of an affiliated agency that has worked with this client and proof of secondary or high school completion. Please note that all applicants will be required to provide travel and expense monies for themselves or as sponsored by a supportive agency. In addition, applicants must be able to travel to the United States to receive training for up to ten weeks.

The application for the fall session is due August 1, 2016. For more information on the program, scholarship and to receive the application form, please email Elizabeth Hassett Schmidt at eschmidt@statlercenter.org

RightsNow! Consortium’s Disability Rights Resources

The RightsNow! consortium is excited to announce the launch of a new collection of disability rights toolkits and other resources for your use. The knowledge waiting for you at their new website will help you to advocate for the implementation the CRPD and other disability legislation in your country.

The new Global Disability Rights Now! website can be used by organizations and individuals from around the world but it is specially designed for RightsNow! partners in Armenia, Kenya, Mexico, and Vietnam. Please visit the new website at http://GlobalDisabilityRightsNow.org.

2016/2017 IMPORTANT DATES/CONFERENCES/EVENTS

July 13-15, 2016 - 15th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (Preconference July 11-12)

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The 15th International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs will be held at the University of Linz, Austria. A broad range of topics including e-Accessibility, Assistive Technology (AT), educational / vocational inclusion, mobility support, service provision, aging and disability rights are openly discussed at ICCHP in an inclusive and agreeable framework. You are invited to organize targeted Special Thematic Sessions (STS) leading to well-structured chapters in the proceedings as a recognized key reference for your specific domain of research and application. There is a call for papers and contributions for the conference and the deadline for submission is February 1, 2016. See the ICCHP website (link following) for more information: http://www.icchp.org

July 20-24, 2016 – Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)’s International Conference

AER’s International Conference will be held in Jacksonville, Florida this year at the Hyatt Regency from July 20-24. The call for presentations is currently open. You can find out more by following this link: https://aerbvi.org/professional-development/conferences/international2016/ (Broken link)

August 11-12, 2016 – International Conference on Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabilities

The 2016 International Conference on Libraries Serving Persons with Print Disabilities will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is holding its 2016 World Library Information Congress, (WLIC) http://2016.ifla.org/ in Columbus, Ohio from August 12-18. In conjunction with this prestigious international event, the IFLA Section on Libraries Serving Persons with Print disabilities (LPD) is sponsoring a pre-Congress satellite conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The theme of the conference is “Tailoring the Reading Experience to Meet Individual Needs” and will feature an international array of speakers. For more information, follow this link: http://www.lpd2016.org

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August 18-25, 2016 – WBU/ICEVI Joint Assembly

WBU/ICEVI Joint assembly will take place in Orlando, Florida, USA this year, hosted by the National Federation of the Blind. You can find out more by reading our General Assembly Update section, or by visiting our General Assembly website page at: http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/general-assembly/Pages/default.aspx

October 3-5, 2016 – Human Rights Council Social Forum

The Human Rights Council’s Social Forum is an annual 3-day meeting. It is a unique space for open and interactive dialogue between civil society actors, representatives of Member-States and intergovernmental organizations. This year’s forum is dedicated to the promotion and full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities in the context of the 10th anniversary of the CRPD. A preliminary program of work is being developed in consultation with IDA and will be circulated soon. You can find out more about the Social forum by following this link: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Poverty/SForum/Pages/SForum2016.aspx

October 24-25, 2016 – “Libraries for an Inclusive Society,” International Conference

The Lithuanian Library for the Blind has organized an international conference, “Libraries for an Inclusive Society from October 24-25. It will be held in Vilnius, Lithuania and will encourage a dialogue about realizing the full potential of disabled people to participate in social, cultural and economic life by developing inclusive library services both on the national level and across borders. It will be held in Lithuanian and English. For more information, visit the conference website at: http://labiblioteka.lt/konferencija/en_GB/

October 27-30, 2016 – IAPB’s 10th General Assembly

IAPB’s 10th General Assembly will be held in Durban, South Africa, and online registration is now live. Early bird prices are available until Friday 13 May and the link to the ticket prices page is:

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http://10ga.iapb.org/register-for-iapb10ga/10ga-ticket-prices/. To register, follow this link: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=139266&reference=10GAwebsite

April 5-7, 2017 – Tactile Reading International Conference

The international conference on Tactile Reading will take place in Stockholm April 5–7 2017, bringing together people working with children and youth with visual impairments and blindness, from all over the world. There is a call for abstracts from practitioners and academics to give presentations on the following topics: development of tactile understanding, tactile reading and the brain, braille and literacy, tactile graphics, and universal design and tactile reading. The time for a presentation is either 20 or 40 minutes and all presentations should be in English. Send your contribution to: tactilereading2017@mtm.se If you prefer to present a poster at the conference, please submit your proposal and contact us. For more information and details, follow this link: http://www.tactilereading.org

November 10-11, 2016 – ONCE Foundation’s 3rd International Congress on Universities and Disability

ONCE Foundation is set to host the 3rd International Congress on Universities and Disability under the theme “An inclusive university for an inclusive society”. The congress will take place in Madrid, Spain, on November 10th and 11th.

The aim is to bring together universities from Spain and all over the world that have an interest in inclusive education, providing a forum for academics, researchers, practitioners and university students to discuss the issues currently top of the university agenda, disability, and human rights. ONCE Foundation encourages anyone interested in signing up and submitting presentations and poster presentations in either Spanish or English, the two official languages for the congress.

For more information on the 3rd International Congress on Universities and Disability visit http://ciud.fundaciononce.es/en. For any other queries contact the organizers at the following email address:

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ciud@fundaciononce.es. We look forward to seeing you in Madrid in November.

November 10-12 2016 – 6th European Conference on Psychology and Visual Impairment

The European Network for Psychologists and related professions working in the field of Visual Impairment (ENPV) of ICEVI-Europe, have the pleasure of announcing that the 6th European Conference on Psychology and Visual Impairment (6TH ECPVI) will be held on November 10-12, 2016 in Budapest, Hungary at the ELTE Barczi Gusztav Faculty of Special Needs Education. The theme of the conference is Psychological Survival Skills in a Sighted World. Researchers, psychologists, health, social care and education professionals are encouraged to attend the conference in order to exchange knowledge, information and best practices regarding people with visual impairments in the psychological context. For further information regarding the program, registration procedures, forms, and important deadlines, you can to visit the conference website at http://6ecpvi.elte.hu/. 

December 8-10, 2016 – Addressing and Preventing Discrimination and Violence against Women and Girls with Disabilities Conference

Vilole Images Productions in collaboration with Voice of my Own and the Secretariat of Addressing and Preventing Discrimination and Violence against Women and Girls with Disabilities Conference is announcing their first Conference, which will take place from 8-10 December 2016 at the Oriental Swan Hotel in Livingstone, Zambia. The theme of the conference is “Escalating the fight against gender-based violence and discrimination among women and girls with disabilities and redefining the future!” To learn more about the conference, how to register and the call for abstracts, please visit their website at http://www.viloleimages.com or email admin@viloleimages.com

November 16-18, 2017 - 3rd Lions World Song Festival for the Blind

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All Blind and partially sighted singers are invited to take part in the 3rd Lions World Song Festival for the Blind, which will take place next year, from 16 – 18 November 2017 in Krakow, Poland. The aim is to create a unique opportunity for blind and partially sighted artists to show their talents and improve they careers. For more details, check our website http://lionsfestival.org/en/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2ndLionsWorldSongFestivalForTheBlind/ The deadline for registration is 31 May 2017. If you have any questions, please write at festival2015@lionsfestival.org.

THE REGIONS

Our regions are the bridge between the international level of work and the local level. Policies and treaties constructed at global levels are then carried out by our members in their own countries. Most of the regions have their own websites where they post updates on their work, member activities, and upcoming events in their area.

AFRICAhttp://www.afub-uafa.org

ASIA Website is currently unavailable

ASIA-PACIFIC http://wbuap.org/index/

EUROPE http://www.euroblind.org

LATIN AMERICA http://ulacdigital.org

NORTH AMERICA/THE CARIBBEAN Regional Office: CNIB - http://www.cnib.ca/

WBU OFFICERS

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Mr. Arnt Holte, Presidentarnt.holte@blindeforbundet.noDr. Fredric Schroeder, 1st Vice Presidentfschroeder@sks.comMr. Enrique Pérez, 2nd Vice President EPB@once.esMr. A. K. Mittal, Treasurermittal24ak@gmail.com Ms. Maryanne Diamond, Immediate Past Presidentmaryanne.diamond@ndis.gov.au

REGIONAL PRESIDENTS

AFRICA (AFUB)Mr. Yaw Ofori-Debra zyawdebra2015@gmail.com

ASIA (ABU)Mr. Santosh Kumar Rungta nfbsec.g@gmail.com

ASIA PACIFIC (WBU-AP)Ms. Michiko Tabata tabacchi@par.odn.ne.jp

EUROPE (EBU)Mr. Wolfgang Angermann ebupresident@euroblind.org

LATIN AMERICA (ULAC)Mr. Volmir Raimondi presidencia@ulacdigital.org

NORTH AMERICA/CARIBBEAN (WBU-NA/C)Mr. Charles Mossop charles.mossop@cnib.ca

WBU STAFF

Dr. Penny Hartin, Chief Executive Officerpenny.hartin@wbu.ngoMs. Ianina Rodriguez, Administrative Assistant Ianina.rodriguez@wbu.ngo Ms. Maggie Leung, General Assembly Administrative AssistantMaggie.leung@wbu.ngoMr. José Viera, Human Rights Policy AdvisorViera.josem@gmail.com Ms. Caitlin Reid, Communications Officer & Project Coordinator, Marrakesh Ratification and Implementation Campaign Caitlin.reid@wbu.ngo Ms. Myroslava Stadnyk, Communications Assistant

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Myroslava.stadnyk@wbu.ngo

The World Blind Union is registered in Canada as a charitable organization in order to raise funds for our work. Donations from individuals or groups are always appreciated and can be made via the “Donate Now” button on our website: http://www.wbu.ngo.

OUR SPONSORS

Members listed below provide funds beyond their membership fees to support the work of the World Blind Union. We are grateful to these members and organizations for their valued contributions.Our Platinum Sponsors CBM International http://www.cbm.org/ Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) http://www.cnib.ca Open Society Institute Foundation (FOSI)

https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/ Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (ONCE)

http://www.once.es/new/ Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted (NABP)

https://www.blindeforbundet.no Royal National Institute of Blind Persons (RNIB)

http://www.rnib.org.uk/ SightSavers International http://www.sightsavers.org Vanda Pharmaceuticals http://www.vandapharmaceuticals.com/ Vision Australia http://www.visionaustralia.org/ Our Diamond Sponsors Swiss Federation of the Blind and Sight Impaired (SFB)Our Gold Sponsors National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Danish Association of the Blind (DAB) German Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (DBSV)

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