On the 24th of August EDbN was able to explain its 2012-2014 working plan at the recent 8th Deafblind European Conference meeting at Lille, France, where it was finally approved. Its proposal for the rest of 2013 and the first half of the following year consist of four major points: Finding out a definition of the Charter of Services for the members, to increase the number of supporters, to begin with the arrangements for the next EDbN summit in Barcelona and to contribute to DbI conferences and other events as well as to take an active roll in the publishing of DbI Review.
EDbN explained how will they concentrate its external strategy on working at European government level, influencing the European Parliament, the European Commission and EDF and looking to ensure all deafblind people needs are taken into account when time comes to legislate and dictate the future continental policies.
EDbN has shown to be an ideal platform from where to influence all European institutions into thinking about deafblind individuals’ necessities. Two new Board members were introduced during the Assembly: Eda Kedves from Hungary and Peter Fasung from Slovakia. To keep on the good work EDbN requires all its affiliates to contribute in specific areas such as: Information and communication technologies, accessibility to transport, high support needs, to built an ideal working environment, work together with the UN Convention Rights of People with Disabilities, life long learning and employment, independent living and employment and to grant access to goods and services. The final EDbN´s program point involved Deafblind Europa Review magazine. It is of major importance to write at least an editorial per year and to try to involve every country member into writing an article or more per number.