 Berufsförderungsinstitut Steiermark (AT)
The Berufsförderungsinstitut Steiermark (Vocational Promotion Institute Styria) is amongst the leading training institutions in Austria. It was founded and is owned by the Austrian Federation of Trade Unions (Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund) and the Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer). Bfi Steiermark has been known in the field of education and training for almost 50 years and is classified as an association, whose activities are non-profit oriented.
The main activities of bfi Steiermark lie primarily in the planning and implementation of courses and learning events within the field of vocational training and adult education.
In addition to the main field of vocational training and adult education, bfi Steiermark has high competence in active labour market policy measures such as workforce providers, vocational placement organisations, socio-economic organisations, self-help projects in the employment policy, as well as in services in the consulting sector (EDP, training and education, quality management, company consulting in terms of personnel development).
Bfi Steiermark also takes over the role of a project leader and a project partner in numerous EU projects. Since bfi has started the EU activities it has participated in more than 45 projects. Following internal testing, a lot of measures, findings and publications developed in EU projects are integrated into the seminars offered at bfi Steiermark. That way, bfi Steiermark guarantees education and training on high international level.
http://www.bfi-stmk.at
 Berufsförderungswerk Düren (DE)
The Berufsförderungswerk Düren (Abbreviation: BFW) was founded in 1975. Düren is located approx. 35 km south-west to the city of Cologne. The main task of the BFW is the vocational training of people who are not longer able to continue in their profession because of their visual handicaps.
The BFW Düren offers an allround service for people with visual handicaps, their relatives and employers. All these services are separated in modules and can be combined corresponding to the demands of our clients. The following services are provided:
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All day living skills and mobility training
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consulting optical and electronic devices
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job assessment
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consulting for employers
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vocational training
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training on the job
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customized IT training on the job
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job placement
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disabillity management
Meanwhile the BFW Düren has two branches to decentralize it's services to the benefit of the clients. These two branches are localized in Hamburg and Mainz. The Berufsförderungswerk Düren offers training for approx. 200 blind and visually impaired people and has an administrative and training staff with about 114 employees.
http://www.bfw-dueren.de
 European Blind Union (FR)
The European Blind Union (EBU) is a non-governmental and non-profit-making organisation founded in 1984.
EBU is one of the six regional bodies of the World Blind Union (WBU).
EBU’s purpose, as set out in our Constitution, is :
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to work towards the advancement of the well-being of blind and partially sighted people with the goal of equality and full participation in society;
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to provide a European Forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience in the field of blindness and partial sight and;
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to promote the prevention of blindness and partial sight in Europe.
EBU currently has 45 member countries. The EBU network has a wealth of expertise in all areas relating to the consequences of sight loss. Our members provide services, training and advice as well as representing the rights of blind and partially sighted people. We undertake research, promote public awareness and empower blind and partially sighted people to take up their rights and lead active lives. The detailed work of EBU is carried out by a number of Standing Commissions and Expert Working Groups, each focused on a particular field of activity, reflecting our major interests and concerns. These include: liaison with the European Union; access to culture, information, technology, transport and the built environment, education and employment; rights; enlargement and Eastern/Central Europe; developing countries.
The specific interests of certain groups of blind and partially sighted people, such as young people, the elderly and women, are dealt with by the Equality and Diversity commission. There is also a Commission representing blind and partially sighted people with additional disabilities.
The Office of EBU is based in Paris. It is responsible for communication within EBU and for information to the general public. It produces a quarterly Newsletter in English, French, German and Spanish.
EBU is funded by member subscriptions, sponsorship and grants from the European Commission for coordination and project activity.
The decisions taken by the European Union have a significant impact on the daily lives of blind and partially sighted people. EBU works to make sure that the interests of blind and partially sighted people are taken into account in all EU decisions which affect them. To achieve this, we actively seek to influence EU policies. We have good links with Members of the European Parliament, European Commission officials and European Expert groups and the European Disability Forum, as well as with national government officials participating in the EU decision making process.
http://www.euroblind.org/
 National Council for the Blind (IE)
NCBI – Working for People with Sight Loss
NCBI is a not for profit charitable organisation which offers support and services nationwide to people experiencing difficulties with their eyesight.
About 18 per cent of people using NCBI’s services are completely blind, while 82 per cent have varying degrees of usable vision. We were established in 1931 to promote the full independence of people who are blind or vision impaired and now provide a range of services to over 10,000 people.
NCBI also provides a range of services to public and private organisations so that their services are accessible to people who are blind and vision impaired.
We have over 150 staff who deliver our services and are supported
by a team of dedicated volunteers throughout the country.
NCBI has an annual turnover of €12M and was named as one of the 50 best companies to work for in 2005.
http://www.ncbi.ie/
Screenreader.net CIC
Screenreader.net CIC is a not for profit company delivering free talking screenreader computer software to blind people anywhere in the world.
In the first ten months, we have acquired fourteen thousand registered users. We have a Royal Patron: HRH The Duke of York and The RT Hon David Blunkett MP has become our Champion. We are already making a significant difference to the literacy lives of many blind and visually impaired people.
"We are very proud to be parners in this excellent project which will deliver computer access widely in Europe."
http://www.screenreader.net
 Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union - UNSS
Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union (Únia nevidiacich a slabozrakých Slovenska) is a civil association, charitable and humanitarian organization, associating blind and partially sighted citizens, their supporters, friends and parents of blind and partially sighted children.
The general objective of the Union is to improve the quality of life of the blind and visually impaired people, to help them overcome the consequences of visual impairment, to prepare them for equal, integrated and fulfilling life, to give them a chance to take an active part on creating conditions for their full participation in the society.
Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union is a member of the World Blind Union (WBU) and the European Blind Union (EBU)
http://www.unss.sk
 Estonian Foundation for the Visually Impaired (EFVI)
is a non-profit organization established on the 8th of December 1997 by three private persons. EFVI is a fully project based nonprofit association.
The main areas of the activity of the Estonian Foundation for the Visually Impaired are:
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Organizing of supplementary training courses (computer training, typewriting training, courses of psychology etc) for the visually impaired adults;
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Promoting eLearning among the disabled people working together with Estonian e-University;
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Consulting the public institutions about the accessibility and usability of public websites and e-services.
EFVI has its own training center, as of March 2005, EFVI training center has a training license issued by the Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia allowing conducting of training courses for the adults, including the training courses for the visually impaired.
EFVI has expertise in training of the visually impaired adults and in testing of the accessibility and usability of e-learning courses and e-services provided by Estonian public institutions.
Since 2005 EFVI is a member and the National Contact Centre of EDeAN - European Design for All e-Accessibility Network and a member of ENVITER - The European Network for Visually Impaired Training, Education & Research.
http://www.enif.ee
 Associazione Nazionale Subvedenti
ANS is a no-profit organization of volunteers established in 1970 and based in Milan, north of Italy.
ANS is officially registered as Training center for vocational education and professional orientation of the visually disabled persons
In 2002 ANS has obtained a Quality System certification
ANS is Test Center for ECDL for Blind and Vision Impaired people since 2001 (Training courses and preparation of accessible study materials).
The main activities of ANS are
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integrated school education (development of education possibilities for blind and visually disabled people, seminars, conferences, development of study material for the blind, education of teachers and instructors for the work with the blind)
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information and counselling on assistive technologies: Auxiliaries center “Tommaso”. (Appointments on demand for consultancy and verification tests on optic and electronic devices - hardware and software)
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job mediation services
http://www.subvedenti.it
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