Resolution 99-9
Special requirements for the visually impaired as regards the principle :
EDUCATION FOR ALL
- Whereas the principle of inclusion of disabled persons in the mainstream educational system, referred to as "Education for All", has obtained a guiding status and is endorsed in the Salamanca Declaration ;
- Whereas this principle may deteriorate the educational level for blind and partially sighted students, if appropriate measures, necessary skills and fundamental subjects are not included as mandatory ;
BE IT RESOLVED by the Sixth General Assembly of the European Blind Union in convention in Prague, Czech Republic, from 24 to 27 November 1999, that all member organisations shall focus on such important issues as :
(A) Blind pupils and students shall be ensured competent training in braille by teachers that have received qualified education and have obtained a detailed and satisfactory understanding about the best methodologies and pedagogic approaches ;
(B) All necessary textbooks shall be made available at the relevant point in time and in the most appropriate format, be it braille, large print, audio format or as electronic text ;
(C) Authorities and politicians in all member countries are charged with the responsibility of securing necessary financial resources for introducing digital technology including the next generation talking book and for the establishment of full digital libraries covering the need for textbooks, leisure reading and literature relevant for all visually impaired persons entering or already working at the labour market ;
(D) All other special activities necessary to compensate for the visual impairment shall be catered for such as daily living skills, physical education and mobility.
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Resolution 99-10
The expected effects of anti-discrimination legislation and regulations on the rights to compensatory measures
- Whereas a contemporary human rights approach to the question of equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in society is based upon anti-discrimination principles and legislation ;
- Whereas the principle of non-discrimination has been materialised in national legislation and/or practices in a number of countries as well as European Union rules and regulations, which is considered a desirable and satisfactory development to be further pursued ;
BE IT RESOLVED by the Sixth General Assembly of the European blind Union in convention in Prague, Czech Republic from 24 to 27 November 1999, that, as an additional measure to the above approach :
(A) The EBU and its member organisations wholeheartedly support that the national legislation in all European countries as well as the European Union regulations shall be based upon an approach by which blind and partially-sighted persons are entitled to compensatory measures such as assertive devices and services which will enable them to enjoy equal opportunities with respect to participation in the general areas in society such as education, employment, independent mobility, including transport and meaningful leisure activities ;
(B) In cases where severe visual impairment entails special expenses, these shall be compensated by a tax-free allowance to meet the expenses involved.
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Resolution 99-11
Resolution on accessible television
- Whereas in recent years great strides have been made in the knowledge of how to provide audible subtitles and audiodescription which can make television programmes much more accessible to visually impaired people ;
- Whereas some countries' legislatures have laid down targets for the amount of audiodescribed programming which broadcasting companies must carry ;
- Whereas it is right that broadcasting companies should be making maximum use of the increasing resources of technology to make their programmes accessible to the widest possible diversity of people ;
Whereas the efforts of some broadcasting companies to include audible subtitles and audiodescribed material in their schedules are very much to be welcomed ;
- Whereas the failure of manufacturers to incorporate facilities for receiving audiodescription into digital receivers limits the value of this new technology to visually impaired people and makes their access to television programmes less than it might be ; and
- Whereas this situation is now becoming critical with the rapid spread of digital broadcasting ;
BE IT RESOLVED by the Sixth General Assembly of the European Blind Union in convention in Prague, Czech Republic, from 24 to 27 November 1999 :
- That national legislatures and the institutions of the European Union shall lay down progressive targets for the inclusion of audible subtitles and audiodescribed programming in broadcast schedules ; and
- That, in alliance with European broadcasting organisations, all necessary steps shall be taken as a matter of urgency to persuade manufacturers to incorporate the capacity for receiving audiodescription into future generations of digital receivers, and to make such receivers in a manner which makes them easy to use by visually impaired people.
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Resolution 99-12
Resolution on consumer electronics
- Whereas the use of electronic devices such as devices used in the household, for communication and mobility are increasingly essential for operating in the modern world and accessing the information society ;
- Whereas the use of such devices is spreading at an increasingly rapid rate ; and
- Whereas such devices are frequently made in such a way that they are very difficult for visually impaired people to use ;
BE IT RESOLVED by the Sith General Assembly of the European Blind Union in convention in Prague, Czech Republic, from 24 to 27 November 1999, that
- We call upon the manufacturers of consumer electronic equipment to design their products in such a way as to promote easy use by visually impaired people.
BE IT LIKEWISE RESOLVED that the Board, in co-operation with the Liaising Commission and the Commission on Technical Services and Devices, consider to what effect blind and partially-sighted persons' special needs with respect to design, safety and accessibility may be known and enforced through representation in, or address to, specialised European standardisation bodies such as CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation).
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