Update on the PRO4VIP project

EBU is a full partner in PRO4VIP (Innovative PROcurement for Visual Impaired People), a research project funded under the EC program HORIZON 2020. It focuses on the collection and prioritizing of the unmet needs of partially sighted persons for assistive technology and those of clinicians for early diagnosis and clinical treatment of low vision.

It aims to define demand-driven public procurement policies to develop new, innovative solutions for these unmet needs.

Representing more than 30 million blind and partially sighted people in geographical Europe, EBU was responsible for collecting the needs of persons with low vision for assistive technologies. With the great support and collaboration of EBU member organisations, and the strong participation of partially sighted individuals, a significant contribution to the project was made.

In April and May 2016, EBU member organizations in The Netherlands, Cyprus and Slovenia hosted a Focus group meeting. A one-day gathering in which participants with different degrees of low vision, brainstormed, discussed and fine-tuned their specific needs in three priority areas: Mobility and orientation, Reading and writing, and personal care. These three areas were determined by the result of the questionnaire circulated earlier this year among EBU´s 44 member organizations and to which 263 partially sighted persons from at least 12 countries responded.

A fourth, general area was optional if the group would express and agree on a need that would be difficult to fit in the first three areas.

Grocery shopping, traveling, and household activities were also hot items.

All three focus groups were composed of women and men of different ages representing different forms and degrees of sight loss. Each focus group meeting was led by 2 moderators - one from the hosting organization and one from EBU - both with first-hand experience and expertise re low vision, which made the discussions easy. Something to keep in mind for similar future meetings!

All participants were very involved, active, responsive, which is good for positive group dynamics and lively discussions in which valuable contributions were made. The results can be found in the full and summary reports now available here.

It was a motivating and inspiring experience for all involved. Participants highly valued the possibility to discuss and share their needs and experience in relation to low vision, exchanging information and tips. They expressed their strong wish to have the opportunity to meet more often in the national organization to discuss low vision issues.

The EBU low vision network hereby encourages all EBU members to facilitate this if not already in place.

More information and updates on the PRO4VIP project can be found on the EBU website.

Birgitta Blokland

EBU LV network project coordinator