The Mobility and Transport Conference, held on 14 and 15 October 2002, in Paris, organised by the European Blind Union Commission on Mobility and Guide Dogs, and the Commission on the Partially-Sighted,
resolves that :
RESOLUTION 1
concerning mobility training for blind and partially sighted people, and the education of instructors in mobility :
1. Mobility training should be available to all blind and partially-sighted people in all age groups, and should include people with additional disabilities. Mobility training must be funded and regulated by national governments.
2. Information about where and how blind and partially-sighted people can obtain mobility training should be widely available in all reading formats.
3. Mobility instructors must be well trained including the use of various mobility systems and technical aids, and special needs provisions. The mobility instructors need not be guide dog instructors, but they should know about guide dogs.
4. The quality of training of mobility instructors should be appraised on a regular basis, involving users of the service.
5. Travel concessions should be standardised throughout Europe.
RESOLUTION 2
To enable blind and partially-sighted people to travel at all times, independently, safely and with confidence :
1. All relevant travel information should be available in accessible formats, such as Braille, large print, tape and disk.
2. All public transport vehicles should be designed to reflect the needs of blind and partially-sighted people.
3. All vehicles, and bus and rail stations should be adequately staffed at all times when in use.
4. All forms of public transport, including taxis, must accept guide dogs, without imposing extra charges.
5. Travel concessions should be standardised throughout Europe.
RESOLUTION 3
All public buildings should be so designed as to be fully accessible for people with physical or sensory disabilities, and guide dogs should be admitted free of charge.
RESOLUTION 4
To enable all blind and partially-sighted people to walk and travel safely and independently, we should work with local and national governments to achieve standardisation throughout Europe, which should include pavements, tactile paving, road crossings and traffic signals. There should also be standardisation in the design of public facilities such as toilets.
RESOLUTION 5
All drivers should have five-yearly medical checks, including eye tests, and both health checks and eye tests should be annually after age seventy. They should be instructed to cease driving if their eyesight falls below an acceptable standard. All drivers should understand the significance of the white cane and the guide dog harness, and also the deafblind symbol cane.
RESOLUTION 6
Each country should provide a guide dog training course, available free to any blind person who requires a guide dog as their mobility aid. This training should be of a high quality standard, approved by organisations of blind people. This high standard of training should be maintained throughout the life of the dog.
For further information please contact :
Mrs Jill Allen-King, MBE
Chairperson, EBU Commission on Mobility and Guide Dogs
E-mail :
peter@goodsound.demon.co.uk
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