What is ICEVI?
ICEVI is a global association of individuals and non-governmental organisations that promotes equal access to appropriate education for all children and youth with vision impairments. The organisation was founded in the Netherlands in 1952, and currently has more than 4000 individuals and organisations in 170 countries actively involved in ICEVI-related activities.
ICEVI works closely with UN member agencies, government and non-government organisations. This included international non-governmental development organisations (INGDOs), and such United Nations bodies as UNESCO, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
ICEVI's Values and Strategic Goals
The goals and activities of the Council are based upon the fundamental belief that all children and youth with vision impairments have basic human rights. These fundamental rights include the following:
- Inclusion in an environment free of barriers, social stigmas, and stereotypes, and the right to lead productive lives according to individual aspirations and capabilities.
- Full and equal access to educational services, including pre-school education and educational programs of local communities.
- Support from teachers and other professionals who have received training in vision impairment.
- Educational support and encouragement from parents and other family members.
- Provision of appropriate, individualised educational materials and methods.
- Inclusion in educational programs of a high standard and conforming to international 'best practices' in education.
Of particular concern to ICEVI members are the needs of children and youth in developing countries where blindness is most prevalent and where, on average, less than 10% of children with vision impairments have access to education. This situation must be addressed, as it perpetuates the cycle of illiteracy and poverty, and ensures that people who are blind or have low vision remain among the most marginalised groups in the world.
ICEVI's mission of promoting equal access to appropriate education for all visually impaired children and youth so that they may achieve their full potential is addressed through five strategic goals:
Goal 1: To ensure access and full participation in education for all vision impaired children and youth by 2015.
Goal 2: To promote and assist in building of local capacity to develop curricula, to provide training and to identify and provide equipment and materials to children and youth with vision impairments and their parents, teachers and others in their communities.
Goal 3: To collaborate with and make use of networks to ensure that substantially more vision impaired children and youth receive quality and comprehensive education.
Goal 4: To ensure that ICEVI initiatives are based on current evidence of best practice.
Goal 5: To provide information on ICEVI and its services through all possible and appropriate media to all target groups.