Sensnet is a two-year project in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme. Composed by 7 partners from Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, France, United Kingdom and The Netherlands.

The largest cause of sensory impairments is the ageing process with over 60s. Rising life expectancy and increasing numbers of older people in the population in Europe means a growing number of individuals are affected by visual and hearing impairments. A key challenge related to the quality of life of older people with impairments is the training and skills of the professionals working in care services addressed for this specific target group.

The organizations participating in Sensnet belong to any of the European networks Enviter and Hipen and have collected information about the concrete learning needs of the professionals working with ageing people with sensory impairments.

On September 29th the Sensnet project group presented the intellectual outcomes so far, to Enviter in Düren, Germany. Sensnet has made a methodological guide which describes how the modules are assembled. In addition to the methodological guide to online courses, there is also a how-to guide for writing a guide for the modules.

In the project, Sensnet is building a platform on the internet, where the modules will come. During the presentation of Sensnet in Düren they’ve showed a part of the platform. Hopefully, in the future, the modules originate from Sensnet will be on the EASI platform, The European Academy for Sensory Impairments.

From the 25th – 29th June 2017 Vision2017, the 12th International Conference by the International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation (ISLRR) was to be held in The Hague – The Netherlands. The congress theme: Low vision rehabilitation, a global right. Enviter member Bláithín Gallagher was attending the conference on behalf of Enviter.

Ruben Koman (Royal Dutch Visio) interviewing Bláithín Gallagher at Vision2017 (YouTube):

Bláithín: “Vision2017 was a fantastic conference attended by about 1000 people, researchers and practitioners in the field of vision science and rehabilitation from all over the world. Many had never heard of Enviter and were very interested in what we do.” The presentation of Enviter member Bláithín Gallagher at the InZicht symposium (a Dutch program to stimulate scientific research on health care, labor, education and rehabilitation for people with a visual impairment) gave her a wonderful opportunity to share information about Enviter to a packed audience. Bláithín: “There wasn’t even standing room left!” Coffee breaks and lunch times each day gave ample opportunities for networking. The prominent display of the Enviter banner in the exhibition area, together with the insert in participant packs placed knowledge about Enviter into the forefronts of the minds of all conference participants. For details about the symposium please go to the website of Vision2017.

Twenty member organisations from 16 countries gathered for the General Meeting and Conference of Enviter in September 2016. Enviter launched the European Academy on Sensory Impairments (EASI) in Plovidv, Bulgaria.

• Phsychophysical aspects of low vision-training
• The French program of labour for visual impaired people
• A project on the combination of visual and physical impairments of adults and the elderly

Turkish guests gave a presentation about a project for visual impaired children. These children will be educated to become My Dream Companions.

Enviter members discussed about e.g. CVI International, Educare (an exchange programme) and I-Express (innovative assistive technology for multi disabled and visual impaired (MDVI)). The European Union is funding these projects.

EASI was launched at the meeting. The networks Enviter, Hipen and Francophone work together within the European Network for Sensory Impaired Solutions (EUNESIS), the ‘network of networks’. EUNESIS created EASI, with online e-learnings like:

• International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (6 languages)
• Shared Space (EN)
• Visual Functioning Level A (EN)
• Anatomy of the visual system (EN)
• Neuropsychological Assessment
• Visual Functioning Level B (EN)

The 15th International Mobility Conference (IMC15) welcomes the submission of abstracts related to the developments in orientation and mobility research and clinical intervention in the form of oral and poster sessions at the Conference that will be held from July 6-9, 2015 in Montréal, Canada.

Don’t miss the opportunity to submit an abstract of your latest scientific research or intervention project.

The abstract deadline is December 1, 2014.

When?
20th – 21st November 2014 (Thursday – Friday)

Where?
Bratislava – Slovakia – Mercure Bratislava Centrum hotel

Mercure Hotels

Who?

• Are you working with people with visual impairment?
• Are you a researcher conducting research in the area of visual impairment?
• Are you a teacher who wishes to get a deeper insight into the psychology of visual impairment?
• Are you a professional working on interesting topics that you think might be interesting to share with others?

The ECPVI conference is designed for researchers, psychologists, health, social care and education professionals that have an interest in visual impairment.

How?
To be able to participate on the conference it is necessary to fill in the registration form by 31st of August 2014. You are free to submit also your abstract; you can find all relevant information concerning registration under the following link:

http://www.unss.sk/ecpvi/

Good-to-know details:

• Registration fee: 80 Eur (includes: conference materials, coffee break, 2x lunch and 1x dinner)
• Registration & abstracts submission deadline: 31th August 2014

For further information consult the conference web: http://www.unss.sk/ecpvi/

For any questions contact the conference team, please e-mail us.