EDbN LOGO : We can see three arms, each of the hands takes the wrist of the other, indicating the three arms that form the EDbN: Deafblind people, parents and professionals. EDbN  European Deafblind Network

EdbN European Campaign.

EdbN (European Deafblind Network) is working with Richard Howitt MEP, Chair of the Disability Intergroup in the European Parliament, on a campaign to get deafblindness recognised as a separate disability at the European level.

  1. In 2002 Richard Howitt MEP spoke at the Social Inclusion seminar organised by Sense International, Lega del Filo D'Oro and Casa Pia de Lisboa, promising to support the Charter for deafblind citizens of Europe. When EdbN met in London in March 2003 Sense UK agreed to take the lead on campaigning work.
    It was agreed that we would work towards recognition of deafblindness which could be used by people in the various Member States, to persuade their governments to give deafblind people the rights they need to play a full part in society.

  2. A reception and exhibition ( Some pictures of the reception) were held in the European Parliament in the first week of January, to launch Written Declaration 1/2004 on the needs of deafblind people. The reception was attended by over eighty people, including ten MEPs.
    A Written Declaration is 200 words long and it is a statement of what we believe should happen within the European Union. MEPs who support the declaration sign up to it. If more than half of all the MEPs sign up then the declaration is adopted by the European Parliament. For this to happen it was vital for deafblind people, their families and professionals working in this field to lobby the MEPs in their country to sign up. A copy of the Written Declaration is available (DA, DE, EL, EN, ES, FI, FR, IT, NL, PT, SV).

  3. 1st April, a historic day: The Written Declaration on the rights of deafblind people was formally adopted by the European Parliament. The declaration was adopted with 323 signatures, which was more than half of all the 626 MEPs. Have a look at:
    Lucy Drescher report: "Europe recognises deafblindness as a distinct disability"
    Lucy Drescher: English press release
    Ricard Lopez: Spanish press release

  4. November. The Written Declaration is now available for individual deafblind people, their families and professionals to make use of the Declaration in their countries, we must not waste this opportunity. Guidlelines for deafblind people, families and professionals in Europe on using Written Declaration 1/2204 are available to offer advice.

  5. 14th April. Spanish MEPs grant a hearing to the Spanish representatives of EDbN. It was agreed that EDbN would put in a request for a hearing of the European Parliament on deafblindness.

  6. November. EDbN's next step is to draw up a proposal to present to the European Parliament Committee on Petitions, with a copy to the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Culture and Education, to request a hearing of the European Parliament. A hearing of the European Parliament would be a great opportunity to present a picture of the lives of deafblind people in all the member states and could involve experts, parents and deafblind people from different countries, describing their experiences.
    A form (European report on deafblindness) has been produced to collect information on the situation of deafblind people in the countries across Europe. The information will be used to compile a report.

If you have any questions please contact Lucy Drescher at lucy.drescher@sense.org.uk.

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