EAST WIND
Official Newsletter of
the World Blind Union-Asia Pacific
No. 10
Contents of this issue:
From the Editor
DANIDA Project Update
Vietnam Blind Association Organizing the 4th National Singing Festival
Update from Pacific
World Braille Council
Visit to the
2011
Exchange Activities of
Ageing and Visual
Impairment: WBU Report
Coming Up
Contact Details
FROM THE EDITOR
This is not an excuse for another late issue of East Wind, but during the
period of my delay, there was of course this devastating earthquake, tsunami
and the meltdown of the
I live in
I have been saying this at various points, but instead of writing lengthy
articles, please allow me to take this opportunity, once again, to express our
sincere and deep appreciation to everyone around the world, who gave their
helping hand in spirits, messages, and even resources, to all those affected by
the series of disasters, especially to our blind or partially sighted persons. As
long as we live, we will never forget the kindness and friendship you showed us
from all around the corner.
Michiko Tabata:
Editor-in-Chief
Editorial Committee:
Ivan Ho Tuch Choy
Kevin Murfitt
Kim Mok
DANIDA PROJECT UPDATES
One year has
already passed since the Second Phase of the Capacity Building Project funded
by DANIDA started. Following is a brief update on what has been going on in
Mongolia (MNFB), Lao PDR (LAB) and WBUAP within the framework of the project.
Baseline Studies: MNFB and LAB conducted pilot baseline
studies on the situation and the needs of blind and partially sighted persons
in several areas where surveys have not covered. The two organizations trained
field workers and sent them off to collect information. The database of the
collected information will be utilized for future activity designing and
potential membership.
New Branches: MNFB and LAB have been working hard to set
up new chapters in provinces. MNFB plans to have 3 additional chapters during
the Second Phase, and with that they will fully cover all the provinces of the
country. LAB is planning to have 2 new chapters, one in a
Information Resource Centers: MNFB
and LAB has been establishing their Information Resource Centers equipped with
computer-related equipment and books and other resources. They will be the
foundation for information access to blind peoples of the two countries.
Training Programs: Various training sessions have been going on
in the two countries. The key persons have been receiving training in
communication skills. MNFB has been providing business management training,
whereas LAB organized a training on fundraising. In
2012, the two organizations will initiate training of O&M trainers.
LAB General Assembly: LAB held its
first General Assembly in the history of the organization, following their
third Womenfs Forum. The two events were attended by a number of blind and
partially sighted persons, who had the democratic election of their new team of
leadership. The event succeeded in attracting the media greatly.
MNFB Journalistsf Workshop: MNFB
organized a workshop for journalists in their country to change their
perspectives on the blindness. The workshop was facilitated by a journalist
from
Partner Workshop: Our friends in
WBUAP Website: Meanwhile, we finally have the ongoing WBUAP
website, thanks to the fund from DANIDA. It is at: http://wbuap.org/index/. It
has a number of valuable contents including hints and information resources for
funding, but above all, it has the function to receive latest postings by
e-mail. As soon as you read this, go right to the above URL and subscribe
today!
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VIETNAM BLIND ASSOCIATION ORGANIZING
THE 4TH NATIONAL SINGING FESTIVAL
Tran Thi Hong Hai
Vietnam
Blind Association organised the final round of the 4th national festival titled gSinging from the hearth from 4-9 November, 2011.
The final round attrached about 200 contestants from 33 local blind associations
at city and provincial level.
This festival was started from district and
commune levels (March, 2011) to provincial level (September 2011). Each blind
association in the province were to select two or three best turns to
participate in the final round. As a result, among 1000 turns
at local levels, 90 turns were selected in varied genres such as solo performance, a concert with
musical instruments, dances of an ethnic group or even a short comedy.
After two days competion in the final round at the Training and
Rehabilitation Center of the Blind, the Jury and organization
committee chose 16 best turns to be shown at the Opera House. These 16 turns
represented culturally specific characteristics from each region. In the
festival this year, many songs were composed and performed by blind members
themselves, including Vietnamese popular opera and folk songs.
The
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam awarded 30 golden medals and
40 silver medals. Vietnam Blind Association also gave 15 certificates to 15 excellent
associations. In addition, a cerfiticate for the youngest contestant was given to Bui Ngoc Thinh (11
years old, male) and the eldest contestant, Le The Nguyen (63 years old, male).
The
4th national festival gSinging from the hearth contributes to enhance spiritual
life quality of the blind and raise
the image and awareness of an
optimistic, confident and talented blind to the community.
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UPDATE FROM PACIFIC
Kevin Murfitt
Pacific Education For All Vision Impaired (EFA-VI) Forum, 13-14 January 2011
In January 2011,
the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) Sydney, and Vision
Australia (VA) jointly hosted the Pacific EFA-VI Forum on 13-14 January 2011 in
Sydney NSW. The Forum participants included 24 representatives of Pacific
regional education and health ministries/ departments and organisations of
people with disabilities (DPOs). The main aim of the Forum was to share
perspectives and approaches to education of children with vision impairments in
the ten Pacific Island countries represented at the Forum and to establish
priorities for growth in current education provision. The Forum also provided
the opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships and collaboration in the
field of vision impairment, and to share information about approaches to the
detection of vision impairments in young children and the introduction of
Braille in
The countries
represented at the Forum (in alphabetical order) were
Development of
PEDF-VI: Pacific Education Development Framework - Vision Impairment, 2011-2015
The major outcome of the Forum was the collaborative development of key
priorities for education of children with vision impairments in the ten Pacific
Island countries represented at the Forum. The priorities are closely aligned
with the Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) for 2009-2015 (Pacific
Islands Forum Secretariat, 2009), and as a result, the document is titled
Pacific Education Development Framework -Vision Impairment, 2011-2015
(PEDF-VI). The priorities include consideration of the implications for
education of children with vision impairments of contemporary perspectives on
the rights of people with disabilities, in particular the Convention of the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in particular Articles 21 and 24 (United
Nations, 2006).
Pacific EFA-VI
Forum, 13-14 January 2011
In January 2011,
the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) and Vision Australia
(VA) jointly hosted the Pacific EFA-VI Forum on 13-14 January 2011 in Sydney
NSW. The Forum participants included 24 representatives of Pacific regional
education and health ministries/@departments and organisations
of people with disabilities (DPOs). The main aim of the Forum was to share
perspectives and approaches to education of children with vision impairments in
the ten Pacific Island countries represented at the Forum and to establish
priorities for growth in current education provision. The Forum also provided
the opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships and collaboration in the
field of vision impairment, and to share information about approaches to the
detection of vision impairments in young children and the introduction of
Braille in
The countries
represented at the Forum (in alphabetical order) were
Development of
PEDF-VI: Pacific Education Development Framework - Vision Impairment, 2011-2015
The major outcome
of the Forum was the collaborative development of key priorities for education
of children with vision impairments in the ten Pacific Island countries represented
at the Forum. The priorities are closely aligned with the Pacific Education
Development Framework (PEDF) for 2009-2015 (Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat,
2009), and as a result, the document is titled Pacific Education Development
Framework - Vision Impairment, 2011-2015 (PEDF-VI). The priorities include
consideration of the implications for education of children with vision
impairments of contemporary perspectives on the rights of people with
disabilities, especially the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, (United Nations, 2006); in particular Articles 21 and 24 that
have particular relevance to the rights of children and adults with vision
impairments:
The participants at
the ICEVI Pacific/WBU Pacific-Oceania EFAVI Workshop have established a network
so there can be ongoing communication and assistance to encourage all countries
to implement the framework for 2011-2015.
Leadership
Development & Governance Workshop of PNG-BU
As Chair of WBU Pacific-Oceania sub-region I
assisted Special member of WBU, Papua New Guinea Blind Union, to submit a
successful funding application, to the Pacific Disability Forum,
to enable PNG-BU to hold another leadership development and governance workshop
with a view to planning and holding a general assembly and national elections
in early 2012. This will assist PNG-BU can become eligible for full membership
of WBU.
I co-facilitated this workshop in Goroka PNG in October with Ipul Poasu, the Chair of PNGfs National DPO (disabled persons
organization), and Martin Kawage, Chair of PNG-BU. The workshop was held over
two days at Mt Sion Training and Resource Centre (formerly
Mt Sion School for the Blind). Participants worked very hard particularly on clarifying their
leadership roles in their own regions and more broadly, and on developing an
effective communication strategy. The most widely used and cost effective means
of communication is mobile phone so access to talks software for mobile phones
to enable texting is now a sought after technology. If anyone can assist in
this regard please contact me.
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WORLD BRAILLE COUNCIL
Tetsuji Tanaka
The Second meeting of World Braille Council (WBC) was held under the Chairmanship of Mr. Kaul, between January
20 and 21, 2011 in
First, the leaders of the various groups formed
at the first meeting in
From Technical Sub-Committee: Although there are various Braille
codes for mathematics and science, it might be advisable for
specific language groups to have a common code. The possibility of a unified
punctuation code for similar languages should be explored.
Proposal for funding for
a research project on a common mathematics and science code: Due to resource constraints by economic downturn in
Braille/tactile representation of pictures: a document is being prepared by the
Braille Authority of North America. That work
focused primarily on Braille transcription aspects.
A list of Braille libraries across the world now covered 127 libraries in 69 countries. WBUfs
Secretariat may be requested to obtain information on the libraries from national affiliates and regional Unions. The existing directories of libraries and data-base formats might also be consulted. Links to
these additional libraries on the WBU website may be given, while posting the
data-base there.
Braille Authorities: the work of the 3rd edition of eThe World Braille Usagef, had been rather slow. It is now
likely to gain momentum with the help of some useful resource databases like
the work done in
Preparation
of resource material for Braille teaching and production: that comprehensive bibliography dating back to 1956 is prepared.
In the next session, the issues concerning Braille signage and standards
for public places, consumer and pharmaceutical products were considered.
At the first meeting, a small group was formed to look into the question of
Braille signage and labels for various consumer products. As a result, a
statement regarding Braille signage and labelling was prepared.
A sub-committee of ISO was
established under the Technical Committee 173 to
deliberate on Braille signage and standards for international acceptance. Mittal and Tanaka attended the meeting of the sub-committee
held in
There are some divergences of standards being proposed at
different levels for different purposes.
Some kind of unification of standards should be therefore
necessary to ensure uniformity and harmony. It was advisable
for WBU hereafter through the World Braille Council to
step in.
That draft
proposal considered by the sub-committee in
After the discussion, the members
recommended that WBU may constitute a small group with substantive
representation from WBC to examine the entire question of Braille signage
including the three-part proposal put forward by
In the next session, 6 representatives
from various WBU regions made reports on the status of Braille and the challenges faced concerning
Braille: ABU region, Arab speaking countries, EBU, Francophone
Union, ULAC and WBU/AP.
As regards the WBU/AP, the status of Braille of 14 languages in the
region varied considerably between the developed and
developing countries, with Japan and South Korea representing one extreme and
countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar the other. A major challenge faced
by some countries has been the urgency for developing a standard Braille code for their languages.
Following the regional reports, the President of WBU highlighted the measures initiated by WBU for Braille promotion. The initiatives of ICEVI and the supports of
NABP and RNIB were also outlined.
Furthermore, the three groups
met separately and discussed their tasks.
Group 1: Braille Codes including science and maths notations.
Group 2: Identifying
resource material on different facets of Braille teaching and production;
preparing a statement on research needs and priorities for teaching Braille;
considering issues pertaining to Braille/tactile representation of pictures and
drawings; Braille authorities; the proposed 3rd edition of the
eWorld Braille Usagef.
Regarding the question of developing a document on Braille graphics and
tactile representations, the group decided to await publication of the
ePromising Practicesf document on which the Braille Authority of North America
is currently working.
ICEVI has
currently established a committee to look into research in Braille. The working
group will try to establish contact with the ICEVI research committee to
incorporate their findings into our bibliography document and to determine how
we might work with them.
Group 3: Technology Award on
behalf of WBU/WBC and Braille21 Congress.
******
VISIT TO THE
Dato
Kulasegaran
I, together with Ivan, made a visit to the
The first action which I persuaded PBU to
take was to apply for re-classification of their membership. This, they did and
the WBU Officers approved their application in
During the visit, a meeting was held with
Capt. Oscar Taleon, Michael Barredo and Marita Capadocia who formed the "Core Team" to take the
necessary measures to re-invigorate PBU, and to draw up an Action Plan to be
based on the points agreed at the discussions. They informed me that all their
important documents were destroyed when their office was damaged by a typhoon
some years back.
They have, on 28 February 2011, formulated
the PBU Re-organisation Plan of Action. It will lead
to the re-registering of the organisation, the
holding of the National Assembly of Regional Leaders, the ratification of a new
Constitution, and the installation of new PBU Board by the third quarter of
2011.
PBU then held a strategic planning workshop
between October 14 and 16, where I again visited. WBUAP provided USD1,000 of financial assistance to realize this session.
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2011
Zhu Gang / Peng Lei
2011 Asia Pacific Regional Blind Medical
Massage Instructors' International Training Program, which was initiated by
WBUAP Regional Massage Commission, hosted by China Blind Massage Administration
Center and Hunan Yeahcome Health Care Co., Ltd. It successfully completed
all contents and achieved the prospective target last May, after 60 days of bilingual study and
training. There were
altogether 15 trainees coming from 8 different countries or territories in the Asia Pacific Region. They
are from
The training
program involved both theoretical knowledge and clinical technique and courses
included basic theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Soft Tissue Release,
Meridians and Acupoints, Massage Therapy of Astriction, Obesity, Diarrhea, Vertigo, Headache, hypertension, Insomnia, Stomachache, Massage Therapy of
Frozen Shoulder & Cervical Spondylosis,
Gynecological Diseases Massage, Tuina manipulation of
children, Palpation Diagnostics, Clinic Technique Exchange etc.
The program had
profound meaning to improve blind massage enterprises, strengthen academic
exchange and promote blind massage development beyond regions. No pains, no
gains! Through diligent work, all trainees achieved 2 Certificates.
I. Certificate for Senior Massage
Therapist, issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the Peoplefs Republic of
All trainees are
blind massage therapists from Asia Pacific countries/territories. In
two-month study, they grasped the basic theory and clinical skills of medical
massage in many fields, especially traditional Chinese
massage. Meanwhile, all trainees established a cooperative relationship of discussion
in blind massage through exchanging massage experience and ideas with each
other. In their training in
This type of
international training program is an initial attempt in the education of blind
medical massage, and we will make great efforts to achieve co-prosperity. This training
program is elevating medical massage academic level and massage skills in the Asia Pacific region, and promoting the development of blind massage
career too!
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EXCHANGE ACTIVITIES OF
Michiko Tabata
Japan Federation of the Blind recently made two visits to the organization
of our friends during the recent months.
1. The Sports Council of JFB visited
2. JFB delegates visited Korea Blind Union late November, as part of the
arrangement for biannual exchange between the neighboring countries. In 2010,
our friends from
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AGEING AND VISUAL IMPAIRMENT WBU REPORT
WBBU Elderly Working Group
This report puts
forward the case for member organisations to consider
strategically how they plan to meet the needs of the growing number of elderly
persons with newly acquired sight loss.
World population is
growing and at the same time the balance is shifting to a higher percentage of
older people. Population growth is exponential: in 1800 the global population
was 1 billion, by 1930 2 billion, 1974 4 billion, 1982 5 billion, 1999 6
billion, 2011 7 billion and projected to rise to 9 billion by 2045! 95% of
future population growth will be in the less developed world. Looking back, high birth rates were
matched by high death rates. Improved sanitation, health care and food supply
all lead to higher life expectancy.
Birth rates decline as women are educated and child mortality declines. This
leads to a situation where there are fewer children and more
older people. Where the elderly outnumber the young we must ask the
question, gWho will support the old?h
There is strong
global evidence that despite significant strides in terms of prevention of
blindness we are likely to experience a significant growth in the number of
older people experiencing sight loss. The WBU Elderly Blind Working Group has
worked to try and evidence the impact on a regional basis and to produce a
report that will help influence the development of services, particularly in
those countries that do not have a strong infrastructure of health and social
care support.
Available data, particularly from WHO, is
confusing and more recently has been showing some reduction in global
blindness. APB agrees that without more detail it is more difficult to
interpret. They suggest that, gIt is possible that we are now seeing a downward
trend in numbers as a positive indication of some success after 10 years of
VISION 2020.h WHO gives two explanations of the downward trend – socio-economic
causes and governments implementing eye health programmes,
there may be a third, that is more data and evidence
of lower prevalence rates in
However, the
working group believes, and this report provides evidence, that we will still
face a global growth in age related sight loss and this needs
to be fully acknowledged in service planning. Useful data exists in developed
regions which have good census data, prevalence and pathology data and in most
cases a system of recording legal blindness. This is not the case elsewhere and
whilst it is still possible to establish good approximations, the report
concentrates particularly on Europe,
So why should we
take this seriously? Why is it so important? Serious sight loss is in the top
10 causes of disability, a disability which in older people can lead to a
decrease in the quality of life, has an adverse impact on activities of daily
living, causes falls and injuries and leads to social exclusion and depression.
Whilst there is
this clear moral case for action, there is also a clear economic case. Work
carried out in the
Vision 2020 and the
organisations associated with the programme
are working to prevent avoidable blindness. This report concludes that we now
need an action plan to reduce the impact or burden of sight loss, particularly
on older people, achieved through the delivery of improved support.
The WBU Working
Group on Elderly Blind calls all organisations in
member countries to help raise awareness of this challenge. The Working Group
for its contribution, plans to prepare materials to
assist in awareness raising and to aid service development through the
promotion of models of good practice that can assist countries to plan for the
future. Together we
believe that we can all contribute to making the world a better
place for older blind and partially sighted people.
******
COMING UPc..
THE 11TH
WBUAP Regional Seminar on Massage for the Blind
The 11th
WBUAP Seminar on Massage will be held at Hotel Istana, No. 73, Jalan Raja Chulan.
In order to
ensure that the seminar will be professionally handled, the National Council
for the blind,
As
The Theme of
this yearfs event is gTherapeutic Massage for Better Health and the topics for
the plenary include:
· Country Experience : Recognition and Regulatory for BVI Massage
· BVI Massage Techniques for specific medical conditions (muscular skeletal conditions, neurological conditions & internal organ)
· Rebranding BVI Massage towards Entrepreneurship
· Way forward : International Collaboration for Advancement
As usual,
there will be two sessions of workshops where there will be an exchange of
ideas on Hands-on massage techniques. Though we are only just a couple of weeks
to the event, we welcome anyone whom still have yet to sign up for the seminar.
As requested by the Massage Commission, we are keeping the registration to as
low as possible, as such, we are maintaining the price of registration at
USD250.
For those who
would like more information about the seminar, you can go online at: http://wbuap2012.com/ or even request for the
forms in PDF or Word files from moseschoo@ncbm.org.my
While the
registration fees only covers all official receptions and meals during the
seminar, hotel accommodations can also be made through this same web site.
Though Hotel Istana is a 5* hotel, Bonvo Travel has managed to bring the cost of staying at
this hotel down to only USD107 for singles and USD114 for twin sharing. This
price is inclusive of breakfast.
With all this
information, we, at the NCBM look forward to receiving and welcoming more people
to
THE 8TH
WBU GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The 8th WBU General Assembly will be held in
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We Are Waiting for Your Contributions!!
Send in your writingscreports, essays, poems, commentary, just about
anything, that you might want to share with your friends and colleagues in the
Region.
Your Donations Is Always Welcome!!
Help us make a difference of what it means to be blind. Your donations will
help our international blindness movement in particular from our friends in
less economically privileged circumstances.
Your generous contribution is very much appreciated. Please note that,
following the election of our new Treasurer, we have our new USD account in
Please direct your payment to:
National Australia Bank
Bank Address:
BSB: 083-004
Account Number: WBUAPUSD01
Swift Code: NATAAU3303M
Name: World Blind Union –
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CONTACT DETAILS
President, WBUAP
Datof Sabalatnam Kulasegaran
E-mail: ncftb@po.jaring.my
National
Council for the Blind,
94B Jalan Tun Sambanthan
50470
Editorial:
Michiko Tabata
E-mail: tabacchi@par.odn.ne.jp
National Committee of Welfare for the Blind in
E-mail: ncwbj@mbm.nifty.com
2-18-2 Nishi-Waseda,
Shinjuku,
Secretary General:
Ivan Ho Tuck Choy
E-mail: ncftb@po.jaring.my
National
Council for the Blind,
94B Jalan Tun Sambanthan
50470
Michiko Tabata
Pacific-Oceania Sub-Region
Kevin Murfitt
E-mail: Kevin.murfitt@visionaustralia.org
Datof Sabalatnam Kulasegaran