Being part of organisations like the European and World Blind Unions, gives NCBI influence on an international and European stage.

In this issue you will read an interview with Maryanne Diamond, President of the World Blind Union (WBU). The European Blind Union (EBU), of which NCBI is a member, is one of the six regional bodies of the WBU. Organisations like NCBI, operating in small countries throughout Europe, have the opportunity to influence policy at EU level through the EBU, and know that the interests of people who are blind or vision impaired are promoted on an even larger scale by the WBU, as in the case of international laws on copyright and postal regulations.

Positive Changes

Directives of the European Union inform Irish legislation and have led to a number of positive changes in matters which have an impact on the lives of people with disabilities such as the directive which enforces the rights of people with reduced mobility when travelling by air, guaranteeing assistance at airports to people who are blind or vision impaired. The introduction of Braille on medicine packaging is another element of change worked for by the EBU. A current theme of awareness raising at the EU parliament level relates to accessible websites and the use of clear print criteria on all packaging throughout member states.

Promotion of the proven abilities

The EBU is one of the strongest regions of the World Blind Union, which is a worldwide movement of people who are blind or have impaired vision, working towards the elimination of prejudice, the promotion of the proven abilities of people with sight loss and their full participation in society.

NCBI also works in consortia with other European countries, across several research strands in pursuit of harnessing the benefits of technology, and sharing best practice in the use of therapies, and training in new techniques in the delivery of rehabilitation services.

Being part of organisations like the European and World Blind Unions, gives NCBI influence on an international and European stage. NCBI also works with our Irish MEPs to brief them when the EBU is lobbying at European level to influence the shape of new directives in the interests of people who are blind or who are vision impaired.