Deafblind People Steering Group

This Group will assist the national organizations in their endeavours to improve the situation of the deaf-blind in their countries and will take initiatives and support measures for the independence and social integration of the deafblind.








Membership list 2007-2011

Coordinator : Sergei Sirotkin (Russia)
Board representative : Wolfgang Angermann
Italy : Angela Pimpinella
Norway : Geir Gensen
UK : Graham Hicks


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Terms of reference 2003-2007

1. This working group acts under the EBU Commission on Blind and Partially Sighted People with Additional Impairments in full recognition that deafblindness is a unique disability.

Consistently with the EBU constitution, EBU policies as laid down by the general assembly, and the instructions of the Board, the primary duties for the Working Group to carry out are :

    1.1 To promote the interests and support the aspirations of deafblind people in Europe and elsewhere.

    1.2 To encourage and assist in the formation of organisations of deafblind people in European countries where they do not already exist.

    1.3 To cooperate with and render assistance to the European Deafblind Union.

    1.4 To promote a culture of equality and diversity by making sure the needs and aspirations of particular groups of deafblind people are addressed adequately and mainstreamed across all other commissions and working groups.

2. As soon as possible after the beginning of the work period, the Board will provide the Coordinator of the Working Group with a copy of the Board's Strategic Plan and of the EBU Equality Policy Paper "Towards a Culture of Equality".

3. Having considered the ways in which it can assist in achieving the objectives set in the Board's Strategic Plan and the EBU Equality Policy Paper "Towards a Culture of Equality", the Working Group will immediately prepare, in consultation with the Commission on Blind and Partially Sighted People with Additional Impairments, its plan of action for the work period. Such plan of action must be consistent with the Board's Strategic Plan, and must be submitted to the Board for approval. The Working Group may, during the work period, refer further matters to the Board for consideration, advice and, if appropriate, action.

4. In its plan of action, the Working Group may propose the setting up of ad hoc subgroups to facilitate its work by carrying out specified tasks. Such proposal may not be acted upon until approved by the Board.

5. The Board may, during the work period, refer further matters to the Working Group for consideration, advice, and, if appropriate, action.

6. In no circumstances does the Working Group or any of its members have authority to make any commitment on behalf of EBU without the prior approval of the Board.

7. In carrying out its work, the Working Group will comply strictly with the rules set out in the Status and Guidelines for EBU Commissions and Working Groups (revised January 2004).


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Plan of Action 2003-2007

1. Basic objectives and tasks for WG :

 2. Immediate tasks and events

Themes for discussion :

Making arrangements for the next 6th EBU Deafblind Conference (to be held in 2007 in Croatia).

Participation in the 8th Helen Keller World Conference and the 2nd WFDB General Assembly in Tampere (Finland), in June 2005.


3. Forms of work and events

3.1 Two annual meetings of the Working Group - one separate meeting and one joint meeting with "parent" commission.

3.2 The active use of E-mail for discussions about issues mentioned in this Plan of Action.

3.3 To update WG homepage on EBU website, creation of the information section concerning needs and problems of deafblind people in the form of most frequent asked questions and their answers.

3.4 Possible creation at least of two task forces (with participation of experts who are not members of the "parent" Commission but are deafblind enthusiasts or professionals having knowledge and practical experience in the certain areas) :

· on problems of deafblind women (responsible - WG deputy coordinator Angela Pimpinella, Italy)

· on creation of the Recommendations for EBU member countries regarding issues and forms of work with deafblind people within national blind organizations.

3.5 To extend contacts of WG with other EBU Commissions, European (international and national) organizations and centers directly dealing with issues of deafblindness and to appoint WG members responsible for this kind of work.


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Plan of Action 1999-2003

1.To hold one to two Commission meetings before the 1st General Assembly of the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB).

2.To liaise with other international organizations of deafblind people at European and world level : European Deafblind Union (EDBU), European Deafblind Network (EDBN), Deafblind International (DBI). It is to be noted that the Commission will continue its work after the creation of WFDB and EDBU.

3.To discuss the following issues :

    3.1. Continuation of the Commission's work after the creation of WFDB and EDBU, bearing in mind the need to differentiate between the tasks and functions of the Commission and those of the other international deafblind organizations.

    3.2. Holding of the 5th European Deafblind Conference, preferably in conjunction with the Founding General Assembly of EDBU.

    3.3. Unification of symbolism and canes for the deafblind (work initiated by the previous Commission).

    3.4. Identification of the main forms and types of national organizations of/for the deafblind in Europe. Based on this, the Commission will issue recommendations for the setting up of deafblind organizations in countries where there are no activities for the deafblind.

    3.5. Gathering of information on deafblind people's needs and the services provided to them in EBU member countries, in order to assess the actual situation of the deafblind in Europe.

4.To continue liaising with organizations and service providers working with deafblind people in European countries, including in those countries where there are no national organizations of/for the deafblind, in order to identify potential and/or actual deafblind leaders, some of whom could become members of the Commission.

5.To take stock of, and to analyse all the issues discussed by the Commission since its setting up, in order to set clear priorities and to select issues that need further discussion either by the Commission or by the other international deafblind organizations.

6.To cooperate with the EBU Women, Youth and Elderly Commissions with a view to working out specific activity concepts for deafblind women, youth and elderly.

Contact person with the Women's Commission - Angela Pimpinella
Contact person with the Youth Commission - Aneta Swiercz
Contact person with the Elderly Blind Commission - Serguei Sirotkine


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