We are an international not-for-profit membership organization focused on deafblindness. We are connecting individuals who are deafblind, their families, friends, professionals, researchers, developers, service-organizations, libraries, universities, national and international agencies and any other relevant partner in the field. We have a constitution and are managed by a volunteer Board from around the globe.
We are passionate about bringing together and connecting: To make a real difference in the lives of people with deafblindness around the world.
To be THE point of connection in deafblindness worldwide.
- To connect persons who are deafblind, their families, friends, professionals (such as educators, administrators, researchers, medical specialists)
- To raise awareness and promote official recognition of deafblindness as a distinct disability
- To support the further development of services to ensure quality of life with and for person who are deafblind across the lifespan
- Developing a robust, diverse and inclusive international membership
- Promoting the international and national recognition of deafblindness as a distinct disability
- Influencing the development of quality services with and for persons who are deafblind and their families
- Raising the awareness of DbI as THE point of connection in deafblindness, collaborating with existing international partners to advocate with and for persons who are deafblind
- Promoting, establishing and supporting regionally and thematically specialized networks
- Supporting the growing information needs of the membership and the international community of persons with deafblindness, their families, friends, professionals, organizations, national and international partners as well as the wider public
- Promoting a system of inclusive regional and world conferences to connect, share competence, learn from and with each other and advocate
- Inspiring, initiating, leading and participating in campaigns supporting our vision, purpose, strategy and objectives
Strategy
DbI’s Strategy for the period covering 2019 to 2023 was developed during the 17th DbI World Conference in Australia.
It is all about connecting:
- Realizing proactive internal and external communication
- Collaborating with relevant international organizations
- Stimulating research and mutual learning
- Enhancing our culture of diversity and inclusion
Have a look at the vision, the strategy and the corresponding goals 2019/2020.
Objectives
- To encourage the development of professional networks and opportunities for association and learning with and to the benefit of persons who are deafblind and their families.
- To enable interaction between persons who are deafblind and their families, friends, professionals and organizations in the field and the broader community.
- To promote and improve education and opportunities for personal and professional development with and for persons who are deafblind.
- To encourage support and services with and for persons who are deafblind that lead to participation, self-determination and enhanced quality of life.
- To disseminate information to promote and improve the quality of services with and for people who are deafblind, by encouraging research, staff development and training, and policies that lead to effective, evidence-based practice.
DbI Constitution
DbI`s constitution was agreed upon unanimously by the final meeting of the outgoing Executive Committee of DbI on Friday 18 July 1997 in Madrid, Spain, at the time of the 4th European Conference on Deafblindness. It was further amended by the DbI Council at a meeting in Athens, Greece, on the 21st of September 2002. These amendments were approved by the General Assembly held at the World Conference in Canada on Wednesday 6th August 2003.
Further amendments were then agreed by the DbI Council at a meeting in the Netherlands on the 28th of February 2004, in Kuala Lumpur on the 18th of July 2006 and in Perth on the 25th of September 2007. These amendments were approved by the General Assembly held at the World Conference in Perth on Wednesday 26 September 2007. Further amendments were then agreed by the DbI Council at a meeting in Senigallia on Tuesday 22nd September 2009. These amendments were approved by the General Assembly held at the European Conference in Senigallia on Thursday the 24th of September 2009
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