October 31st, 2011 WBU e-Notice

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

 Thailand is experiencing the worst floods to hit in 50 years. The Thailand Association of the Blind (TAB) is pitching in to help the people using the temporary hostel set up to house the residents who had to flee their homes. Blind masseurs and musicians gave comfort to the hundreds of displaced people, while TAB members and volunteers contributed five truck loads of necessities to the shelter

 Visually impaired or blind? Know someone who is? Now there is a free online Entrepreneur Program for the blind and their loved ones, at the Hadley School for the Blind: http://www.hadley.edu/fce.asp

 Creating prosthetics for the blind starts with trails on monkeys: http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-prosthetic-eyes-blind-20111010,0,5647631.story

 A team in Australia creates new drug to combat/prevent cataract growth. Cataracts are a major cause of blindness and currently the only way to cure blindness from cataracts is through surgery. Read more: http://www.thehindu.com/health/rx/article2537049.ece

 DPI (Disabled Peoples’ International) recently held their world assembly and posted a declaration about the implementation of the UN CRPD (Charter of Rights for Persons with Disabilities) on their website: http://www.dpi.org/lang-en/documents/index?page=18

 Sightsavers hopes to eliminate blinding trachoma in 14 endemic countries by 2020: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/simon-bush/trachoma-is-the-end-in-sight_b_1010395.html

 Sometimes the rights of the disabled are just lip-service and not implemented in society. The disabled people of Ghana cheered 5 years ago when The Persons with Disability Act gave them rights and access to society and free education. But over the years, they have not seen any of this legislation acted upon. Read more at: http://allafrica.com/stories/201110070592.html

 AFB (American Foundation for the Blind) has recently published: Art Beyond Sight: A Resource Guide to Art, Creativity and Visual Impairment, a stunning 504 page book offering a wealth of essential art-related information. To order follow this link: http://www.afb.org/store/find.asp?type=search_find&mscssid=HNB6R4QM6XQP8PWPPP3VGGQ4KMPQ3GUC&search_source=%2Fstore%2Fdefault.asp&search_type=2&find_spec=art+beyond+sight&Go=Go


2012 Conference notices:

February 13 to 17: The International Mobility Conference is taking place in Palmerston North, New Zealand: 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. Mark down the following dates: Women’s Forum, Feb 27th; ABU regional conference (focused on the UNCRPD), Feb 28th; ABU General Assembly, Feb 29th. 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 is the General Assembly. All events will be held at the Ramada Reforma Hotel in Mexico City. More information at: http://www.ulacdigital.org/mexico2012.htm

May 15 to 18: IKK International Congress of War Blind, in Pretoria South Africa: www.ikk2012.org.za

September 17 to 20: IAPB 9th General Assembly, in Hyderabad, India. For details go to: 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 soon be launched!

Remember, members who have brief notices and news to share can send them to: Marianne.mcquillan@wbuoffice.org. We would love to hear from you and spread your success stories to others.