Regional News

August 2008

ICEVI Pacific Regional News - August 2008

Fiji EFA-VI Forum - The Southern Cross Hotel, Suva Fiji - Monday 6th – Wednesday 8th October 2008

The International Council for People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) in partnership with the World Blind Union (WBU) are currently making preparations for hosting the Fiji EFA-VI Forum in Suva Fiji, from 6th to 8th October 2008. Fiji is the first Pacific country selected by ICEVI and WBU for implementation of the “Education for all children with vision impairments” (EFA-VI) global campaign.

Click here to read more about the Fiji EFA-VI Forum

Unified English Braille: A Concept Paper for Pacific Island Nations

This paper briefly discusses Unified English Braille, focussing on its relevance for the education of blind children in Pacific Island countries. Recognising the fundamental role of braille for literacy acquisition and development, the pivotal role of braille in the successful implementation of the EFA-VI global campaign, and the historical factors that shape the environment for braille in Pacific Island countries, the paper offers recommendations to guide progress over the next few years to achieve the required increase in the availability of braille in the Pacific.

Click here to read the Unified English Braille paper

Report on Samoa

Coming soon

Report on the Fiji launch of the ICEVI and WBU global campaign, “Education for All Children with Visual Impairments” (EFA-VI)

The International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI), in partnership with the World Blind Union (WBU), launched its “Education for All Children with Visual Impairment” (EFA-VI) at the ICEVI 12th World Conference in July 2006. The campaign’s central purpose is to improve education access of children in developing countries. The ICEVI Pacific Region Committee, in partnership with WBU Asia-Pacific, recommended Fiji as the first Pacific Island country for the campaign’s implementation. This report presents an overview of the Fiji campaign launch in February 2008, the establishment of a Fiji national EFA-VI Task Force, and the commencement of preparations for an August 2008 Task Force meeting to develop a Fijian National EFA-VI Plan.

Click here to read the Fiji report

The ICEVI Pacific Regional Committee - 2007 update

The ICEVI Pacific Regional Committee has had a productive year in 2007. In addition to our 12 voluntary committee members, we now have 63 individual members and four organisational members in the Pacific Region. The two most recent members to the Pacific Committee were Mr David Rice and Dr Kevin Murfitt, who joined the Committee during 2007. David Rice accepted the position of Public Officer for ICEVI Pacific. One of his early activities was to initiate the incorporation of ICEVI Pacific through the NSW Office of Fair Trading. This process has now been completed, and our official name is now "ICEVI Pacific Incorporated" (Registration number INC 9888652). Kevin Murfitt is Chair of the World Blind Union Asia-Pacific Region, and his membership on the ICEVI Pacific Committee strengthens the partnership between ICEVI and WBU in implementing the "Education for All Children with Vision Impairments" (EFA) global campaign in the Region.

Committee members attended several regional workshops, conferences and seminars. Highlights included presentations on the ICEVI EFA-VI global campaign at the following international events: (a) the World Blind Union Asia Pacific Regional Assembly in Shen Zhen, China, March07; (b) the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) Annual General Meeting, Fiji, March07; (b) the ESCAP Pacific Expert Group Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework, Fiji, March07; and (d) the "Advancing inclusive education in the Pacific" workshop, Fiji, October07.

The ICEVI Pacific Committee, in partnership with WBU will implement the EFA-VI campaign in the Pacific Region over a number of years. The first country selected for implementation is Fiji, and the Committee is currently making preparations for a ICEVI EFA-VI Forum to be held in Fiji during 2008. This main aims of the Forum include the establishment of a Fiji National EFA-VI taskforce and the development of a national Fiji EFA-VI Plan. ICEVI Pacific committee member, Mr Setareki Macanawai has taken a leadership role in the preliminary preparations. These preparations include meetings with key stakeholders in Fiji during February, in which an overview of ICEVI and the EFA-VI campaign will be provided.

Caption: Fran Gentle donating a laptop for a student with low vision to the Director of the Fiji Society for the Blind and the Head Teacher of the Fiji School for the Blind. The laptop was donated by the Royal Society for the Blind SA, in partnership with ICEVI and WBU
Caption: Fran Gentle donating a laptop for a student with low vision to the Director of the Fiji Society for the Blind and the Head Teacher of the Fiji School for the Blind. The laptop was donated by the Royal Society for the Blind SA, in partnership with ICEVI and WBU

The ICEVI Pacific Committee is currently planning regional activities for 2008 and 2009. These tentative plans include the establishment of an educational scholarship program for children with vision impairments in Papua New Guinea; a regional Braille Summit to discuss braille provision and usage in the Pacific, and train-the-trainer programs in orientation and mobility, braille literacy, early childhood intervention for children with vision impairments and their families, Perkins brailler repairs.

The Pacific Committee continues to use the ICEVI Pacific electronic subscription list to disseminate information about regional and international activities and events that have relevance to the work of ICEVI and its members. Subscription to this list is free, and there are currently 66 subscribers. To subscribe, complete the subscription information on the following link: http://www.icevipacific.org.au/index1.php.

The Pacific Committee is very fortunate to have the support of a number of blindness organisations serving people with vision impairments within the Asia-Pacific region. These partnerships extend the boundaries of what can be achieved by the voluntary members of the ICEVI Pacific Committee to improve the quality of life of children and youth with vision impairments in our Region.

A summary of the 2007 activities of the ICEVI Pacific Committee is available on the website.

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30 January 2008

Regional assistance with provision of resources

The ICEVI Pacific Committee has received numerous requests for support during the year. The Committee has been fortunate to receive support from a number of organisations in meeting these these requests. As a result, the following resource assistance has been provided within the Pacific Region:

  • (a) Provision of laptop and voice output software to the University of Goroka PNG for use by blind students - donation sponsored by the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) NSW
  • (b) Provision of second-hand laptops to Fiji Society for the Blind for use by staff and students with low vision - donations by Royal Society for the Blind South Australia (RSB SA) and Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC)
  • (c) Donations of second-hand Perkins braillers and slates and styles to Callan special education resource centres in Papua New Guinea – donations by RSB SA
  • (d) Donations of second-hand long canes to Fiji Society for the Blind and Callan special education resource centres PNG – donations by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and Guide Dogs Victoria
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30 January 2008

ICEVI Entity Structure

ICEVI Pacific has become an incorporated body. Mr David Rice, the ICEVI Pacific Public Officer undertook the process of incorporation on behalf of the ICEVI Pacific Committee during late 2007. He received notification from the NSW Office of Fair Trading that incorporation has been granted to the Association with effect from 4th January 2008.

ICEVI Pacific's official name is "ICEVI Pacific Incorporated". Its registered number is INC 9888652.

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28-30 March 2007

Biwako meeting report

The Expert Group Meeting on Disability in the Pacific: Strengthening Implementation of the Biwako Millennium Framework, organized by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Disability Forum in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, reviewed the implementation of the BMF in the Pacific during the period 2003-2007, consolidated recommendations by experts on ways to strengthen its implementation and provided an input from the Pacific to the drafting process of the BMF+5.

The outcome of the High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Mid-point Review of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons to be held in Bangkok from 19 to 21 September 2007, should, in turn, be the regional framework to guide continued implementation of the BMF to 2012 and to ensure that countries in Asia and the Pacific are able to fulfill the Articles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, adopted by the General Assembly on 13 December 2006.
Click here to read the Biwako meeting report
Click here to read the background paper written by Frederick Miller, the Disability Coordination Officer of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

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21-23 March 2007

Shenzhen meeting report

The World Blind Union Asia Pacific Region Mid-term Assembly was held from 21 – 23 March 2007 in Shenzhen City, the Peoples Republic of China.
Click here to read the Shenzhen meeting report

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6th February 2007

Report on ICEVI Pacific Regional Forum

University of Western Australia, 5-6 January 2007

By Frances Gentle, Regional Chairperson – ICEVI Pacific

Pacific Forum

In response to the ICEVI and WBU global initiative, ICEVI's Pacific Regional Committee hosted a two-day Pacific Forum on 5th and 6th January 2007, at Currie Hall, University of Western Australia. Its purpose was to develop a Regional EFA-VI Strategic Plan for the 2006-10 period and ensure that ICEVI Pacific and WBU are cognisant of the realities in the region, and supportive of the EFA-VI campaign. Forum delegates were given an overview of the global campaign, including its guiding principles, role of the Global Task force, and information on establishing National Task Forces in the Region. Practical information was also provided on mechanisms for nation-based planning.

The Forum was attended by 31 people from Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and other regions of the world. Delegates included the following: (a) ICEVI Principle Officers, (b) World Blind Union (WBU) First Vice-President, and WBU President of the Asia-Pacific Region, (c) President of the Australian parent organisation, and Executive Director of the New Zealand organisation of parents of children with vision impairments, (d) managers and administrators of government and non-government organisations working in the fields of education, disability, and vision impairment; (e) representatives from Ministries of Education; (f) specialist vision support teachers; and (g) academics from Australian tertiary institutions providing pre-service and post-service courses in vision impairment.

Pacific Regional EFA-VI Strategic Plan for the 2006-2010

One of the Forum's major outcomes was the creation of the Strategic Plan for the 2006-10 ICEVI Quadrennium. The Plan supports the work of the Pacific Committee and educational leaders in the Region's constituent countries in realising ICEVI's beliefs and values, and in delivering context-specific policies and programs at the regional and local levels.

It was agreed by Forum delegates that the Strategic Plan will remain a "working document" throughout the Quadrennium. It is anticipated that it will evolve as the ICEVI Global Task Force implements the EFA-VI campaign in a series of phases in the years leading to 2015.

A PDF version of the Pacific Regional EFA-VI Strategic Plan for the 2006-2010 can be downloaded from the website. Or you can view the Regional Plan on the ICEVI website.

Next ICEVI Pacific Forum

At the conclusion of the January'07 Pacific Forum, it was agreed by Forum delegates that a "two-track" approach should be taken to furthering the EFA-VI Pacific Regional Plan. Track One would address the long term goals of ICEVI and WBU in implementing the EFA-VI Campaign. Track Two would provide short term outcomes, such as training workshops and establishment of parent organisations. The Fijian delegates have offered to explore the feasibility of hosting the second ICEVI Pacific Forum in Fiji, possibly in August 2007.

In appreciation

Members of the ICEVI Pacific Regional Committee wish to express our appreciation to the following organisations for their assistance in ensuring the successful running of the Forum, and the attendance of Pacific Island leaders at the Forum and SPEVI Biennial Conference in Fremantle that immediately followed.

  • AusAid
  • Guide Dogs Association NSW/ACT
  • Northern Territory Education Resource Centre Vision Impairment
  • PRIDE
  • Renwick Centre, Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
  • Association of the Blind WA
  • Royal Society for the Blind SA
  • South Australia School for Vision Impaired
  • SPEVI Queensland (South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment)
  • SPEVI NSW
  • St Edmund's School for Students with Vision Impairments and Other Special Needs NSW
  • UNICEF Fiji
  • Vision Education Service, Department of Education WA

In one of the presentations at the SPEVI Biennial Conference in Fremantle WA that followed the Forum, a comparison was drawn between the ripples on a pond from a stone or pebble, and the flow of "ripples" within a family when its members learn their child has a vision impairment. It is hoped that through working together collaboratively, government and non-government organisations, in partnership with parents and communities, will ensure that "education for all children with vision impairments" becomes a reality in our Region. The act of "opening the school door" to a child with vision impairment, like "ripples on a pond" will have life-long positive flow-on effects to families, communities, and societies.

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