Unión Latinoamericana de Ciegos
Information on the purpose of your organization
Our vision is to be the autonomous and sustainable technical and political organization in Latin America that represents the interests of blind and low vision people and their organizations and the one that speaks on their behalf at national, regional and international levels.
Our mission is to bring together the organizations of and for the blind and low vision persons in Latin America, and be a warranty and advocate of their rights. To have an influence on new policies by means of development of programmes, projects and initiatives. To make the best use of technology and to give advice and to strengthen its member organizations in order to improve the quality of life of blind and low vision people.
Our objectives are:
a) To work for the unification of the blindness movement in the countries of its region, and to promote the establishment and development of national organizations of and for the blind in them.
b) To promote actions for the prevention of blindness in coordination with other organizations.
c) To ensure the equalization of opportunities and full participation of blind persons in Latin America so that they achieve their comprehensive development.
d) To strengthen self-confidence and self-esteem of blind persons to encourage the development of their personality and their self-fulfillment, so that they can become full community members.
e) To promote the adoption and respect of norms that abolish discrimination in Latin American countries to contribute to the equalization of opportunities and the social inclusion of blind persons.
f) To protect and advocate for the respect of the human rights of blind persons.
g) To encourage scientific and technological research to improve the social, cultural and economic level of blind persons and to promote the exchange among national and international organizations.
Information on your programmes and activities in areas relevant to the subject of the Summit and in which country or counties they are carried out.
Strengthening of the visually disabled movement: We organize training workshops on human rights, resource managing, strategic planning, among other issues, addressed to persons with visual disability that are part of social organizations. (Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Uruguay and Venezuela)
Community Based Rehabilitation: We provide training to rehabilitation centres and units on the basis of ULAC Technical Handbook of Rehabilitation Services (2010 version) in order to update rehabilitation models and programmes for persons with visual impairment in Latin America. (Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panamá, Perú, Nicaragua and Venezuela).
Youth and women empowerment: We promote the participation and training of young people and women with visual disability by means of ICTs and through face to face training on participation, autonomy, decision making, etc. (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Perú, República Dominicana, Uruguay and Venezuela).
Mathematics teaching: Counselling service and mathematics teaching training addressed to teachers who work with blind students. www.ulacdigital.org/matematica (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay).
EFA-VI Campaign (Education for All Children with Visual Impairment): We participate in the implementation of this campaign in eight Latin American countries in alliance with ICEVI (International Council for the Education of Persons with Visual Impairment), FOAL (Foundation of the Spanish National Organization for the Blind - ONCE for Latin America), Perkins International and CBM (Christoffel Blindenmission). Teachers, technicians and family members of children with visual impairment are trained to work in rehabilitation, low vision, adapted information technology, etc. (Bolivia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Dominican Republic).
Information on activities at the national or international levels
Right to Read Campaign (R2R): It involves informing governments and copyright owners about the Marrakesh Treaty in order to make progress in its ratification by Latin American countries. We work also with national organizations of the blind to facilitate the implementation of the Treaty in our region.
Higher Inclusive Virtual Education - Latin America (ESVIAL): We have provided advice in the fields of web accessibility and accessible design of inclusive virtual courses to be developed by ten European and Latin American universities in order to provide virtual training opportunities to high level blind students. www.esvial.net.
We participated in the XLV General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) held on 15 and 16 June 2015 in Washington, USA as a civil society organization registered in OAS.
Organization have an annual report? (YES/NO) (should contain financial statements and a list of financial sources and contributions, including governmental contributions)?
YES -
ANNUALREPORTLATINAMERICANUNIONOFTHEBLIND.pdf
List of members of the governing body of your organization, and their countries of nationality
Executive Committee
1. Table Officers
Volmir Raimondi (Brazil), President.
Julio Canizález (El Salvador), First Vice President.
Gloria Gutiérrez (Nicaragua), Second Vice President.
Fernando Galarraga (Argentina), General Secretary.
Crystal Vargas (Mexico), Treasurer.
Guillermo Moreno (Panama), Past President.
2. Chairs of Specific Areas
Lucía Pestana (Venezuela), Education and Culture
José Baquet (Cuba), Rehabilitation.
José Viera (Argentina), Professional Training and Employment
Pablo Lecuona (Argentina), Technology and Access to Information
Rosário Galarza (Perú), Equity and Gender.
Ana Mérida (Guatemala), Youth.
Oscar Vega (Peru), Elderly People.
Moisés Bauer (Brazil), Human Rights and Legal Affairs.
Víctor Vargas (Peru), Prevention of Blindness.
Mizael Conrado (Brazil), Recreation and Sport.
3. International Member
María Jesús Varela Mendez (Spain)
Copy of the constitution and/or by-laws of the organization (WORD or PDF only), or a weblink to it
CONSTITUTIONULAC2008.pdf
