Topics and subtopics
Learning, activity and participation.
The conference will highlight individuals of all ages that have to learn to lead a new life due to visual impairment or blindness, and put focus on the meaning of orientation and mobility skills for successful learning, where psychological, perceptual, existential and social aspects will be emphasized. A special focus will also be on children, youths, their families and schools in the process of participation; thereby focusing on the learning individual, the surroundings or the individual’s lifeworld, as well as on the content to be learned. Also, professional development and education will be a part of this topic.
- Learning within O&M for various ages
- Psychological and social aspects in learning
- Inclusion in school and/or society
- Special schools versus inclusive schools
- Identity and disability
- Supporting participation in various areas
- Play, learning and social interaction
- Cerebral visual impairment
- Global challenges for education and professional development within the field of O&M
The relation between the human being and the environment
Orientation and mobility will be highlighted in their relational aspects, focusing on both the human being and the environment. This interconnection will involve physical, as well as social aspects of the environment. Topics to be included will be the public transport system, architecture, inclusive design as well as societal attitudes and participation in various areas of life. Disability research and intersectionality will also be relevant for this topic.
- Inclusive design
- Space, place and disability
- Stigma and attitudes in society
- Echolocation
- Accessibility, traffic and public spaces
- Public transportation and autonomous vehicles
- Accessibility of visual information
- New digital technologies in the field of O&M
- Recreation and sport activities
VISION 2020
VISION 2020: “The Right to Sight” is the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness, which is a joint programme of the World Health Organization [WHO] and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness [IAPB]. The general themes of the IMC17 are in agreement with the VISION 2020 “A world in which nobody is needlessly visually impaired, where those with unavoidable vision loss can achieve their full potential” (WHO). The aim is to enlighten everyday problems due to visual impairment and blindness and to uncover new and potential solutions for living a healthy life.
- Where are we today? Where are we heading?
- Vision 2020 in my country; according to the three core strategies:
- Disease control
- Human resource development
- Infrastructure and appropriate technology development
- Everyday life, housing and quality of life
- Socio economic aspects of blindness and visual impairment
- Assessment of rehabilitation services and systems
- Adjacent subtopic (related to VISION 2020)
Theory and development of orientation and mobility
Learning and education are involved in both O&M rehabilitation practice and theory. We want to expand this knowledge further and will invite scholars and practitioners to contribute to an enhanced theoretical knowledge in the field of O&M relevant for various ages and groups. There is also a need for developed evidence-based methods that can meet the needs and life-situations for children, youths, adults and elderly people with visual impairment and blindness all over the world. Education initiatives to intertwine theory and practice can also be focused within this topic.
- The relation between theory and practice within O&M
- Development of evidence-based practices
- Rehabilitation models around the globe
- Challenging theoretical bases within O&M
- Interdisciplinarity within O&M research and practice
- Application of learning theories
- Intersectionality