November 15th, 2011 WBU e-Notice

Here is our two-page notice of current breaking news and events.

As we gather our news in the English language only, the websites with links to the full stories are shown only in English. Google can be used to translate web-pages into your own language. Although this is not a perfect solution, we apologize that we cannot provide links for the stories in all languages.

 The International Day for Persons with Disabilities is December 3rd and this year’s theme is “Together for a Better World for All: Including Persons with Disabilities in Development”. For more information on what groups can do on this day visit http://usicd.org/detail/event.cfm?event_id=117&id=92.

 The Blind Advantage – is a book that relates the story of an educator whose life changes once he becomes blind. “How going blind made me a stronger Principal and how including children with disabilities made our school better for everyone” by Bill Henderson. To listen to an interview with the author, follow this link: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2011/oct/12/inclusionary-education/

 Are you using the spice saffron in your family’s meals? It has been scientifically documented that saffron has slowed down the effects of age-related macular degeneration… http://www.macula.org/saffron-and-amd.

 Dr. Mark Patterson explores philosophical approaches to touch and blindness in his upcoming book ‘Seeing with the Hands’. Click the following link to read his article for the WBU http://geotheory.wordpress.com/blindness/

 Optic nerve damage may be reversed… http://www.contactlenses.co.uk/contactlensesnews/article56814/optic-nerve-damage-can-be-reversed.html?catid=4

 Early detection could prevent 90% of glaucoma-induced blindness… http://thedailynewsegypt.com/health/early-detection-help-avert-90-pct-of-glaucoma-induced-blindness-cases.html

 Foundation Fighting Blindness will invest in gene therapy trails to combat certain eye diseases: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/foundation-fighting-blindness-invests-825-million-in-six-gene-therapy-research-projects-poised-for-clinical-trials-2011-10-31

 The Spanish National Organization of the Blind (ONCE), through its Center of R&D on Assistive Technology for the Blind (CIDAT), is organizing TifloInnova 2011, a unique opportunity to know the latest market trends and industry's offer of software, hardware and other products for people with blindness and visual disabilities. TifloInnova 2011 will be held at the ONCE "Sports and Cultural Centre" in Madrid, Spain (Paseo de la Habana, 208), on November 18, 19 & 20, 2011. It will be open to professionals and general public (free admission for all visitors). For more information, visit their website at http://tifloinnova.once.es.

2012 Conference Notices:

February 13 to 17: International Mobility Conference - Palmerston North, New Zealand. For more information, visit their website at www.imc14.com.

February 27 to 29: The 5th Asian Blind Union (ABU) General Assembly will be held at the Hotel City Park, Delhi, India. Feb 27 - Women’s Forum; Feb 28 - ABU regional conference (focused on the UNCRPD); Feb 29, ABU General Assembly. For information and registration, visit http://www.abu2012.abunion.org/

March 11 to 16: ULAC 8th General Assembly, Mexico city. March 11 & 12 - the 5th Women’s Forum; March 12, 13 & 14 - the 7th Congress, Theme: Citizens Participation in Local Development = Total Inclusion; March 15 & 16 ULAC General Assembly. All events will be held at the Ramada Reforma Hotel in Mexico City. For more information, visit their website at http://www.ulacdigital.org/mexico2012.htm

May 15 to 18: 15th IKK -International Congress of War Blind - Pretoria, South Africa. For more information, visit their website at www.ikk2012.org.za.

September 17 to 20: IAPB 9th General Assembly, Hyderabad, India. For more information, visit their website at http://9ga.iapb.org/.

November 2012 – Bangkok, Thailand
 November 8 & 9: AFUB 7th General Assembly, to be held just before the WBU/ICEVI meetings
 November 10 & 11: WBU Diversity Forum
 November 12 to 16: WBU General Assembly
 November 15 to 18: International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) General Assembly.
The website for the WBU/ICEVI joint events will be launched in January 2012.