Date: 11th of February 2025
Presenters: Tímea HÓKOVÁ (Social Services Coordinator and UNSS Vice President) and Michaela SERAFÍN, Membership Activities Coordinator
Subject: Overview of the Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union (UNSS)
Listen to a recording of the presentation.
Introduction:
The Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union (UNSS), based in Slovakia, provides comprehensive services to individuals with visual impairments. This report summarizes their presentation, which highlighted the organisation's mission, structure, activities, good practices, and challenges.
Mission and Overview:
UNSS promotes the rights and equal treatment of blind and partially sighted individuals in Slovakia. They inform the public about the capabilities of visually impaired people, advocate for their rights (participating in legislative processes), and offer a range of services encompassing social support, rehabilitation, and community engagement. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, UNSS is the sole organisation in Slovakia providing such comprehensive services. They have approximately 3,000 members, work annually with around 2,000 clients, operate eight regional centres, and have 47 local organisations. UNSS collaborates with various Slovakian and international partners, including the EBU, World Blind Union, ICEVI, and the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.
Organisational Structure:
UNSS operates with a dual structure:
- Social Services: Eight regional centres offer social intervention and rehabilitation.
- Membership Activities: 47 local grassroot organisations provide diverse activities for members.
The organisation's structure also includes:
- General Assembly: Elected every four years, responsible for overall governance.
- Board: Manages the organisation and makes key decisions.
- Executive Branch: Comprises the regional centres providing direct services.
- Supervisory Part: Oversees the development of each part of the organisation.
A key strength of UNSS is the integration of membership and social services, allowing individuals to access both community activities and professional support in one place. Overlapping themes like accessibility and advocacy are central to all aspects of UNSS's work.
Clients and Members:
- Clients: Individuals receiving social intervention or rehabilitation, who may or may not be members. Services include counselling (employment, education, home adjustments) and social rehabilitation (mobility, daily living skills, technology use, Braille).
- Members: Individuals who join community activities locally, fostering peer connections and support.
Good Practices and Projects:
UNSS highlighted several successful initiatives:
6 young people in the street wearing white pencil day t-shirts and carrying banners.
- White Pencil Day: A major fundraising and awareness campaign promoting the lives and abilities of visually impaired people. It involves public awareness activities and engagement with prominent figures.
- White Cane Day: A national campaign in collaboration with the police, educating drivers about the importance of yielding to pedestrians with white canes. Statistics are collected on driver compliance, and positive reinforcement is used.
- Healthy Eyes at Kindergarten: A preventive program where social workers visit kindergartens to screen preschool children's vision using specialised equipment. Referrals and counselling are provided as needed.
- Accessible Art and Culture: Workshops and training for museum and gallery staff to improve accessibility for visually impaired visitors. Publications in Braille and large print are created, and a list of accessible cultural institutions is maintained.
- YALTA (acronym): A youth project connecting young people with and without visual impairments to develop leadership competencies and promote community involvement.
- Education to Inclusion: A project educating local authorities on key issues for visually impaired people, including environmental barriers, digital accessibility, and communication.
- Internal Grant Program: Supports local cell organisations in implementing small-scale projects.
- Individual Donation Program: Assists clients in purchasing assistive technology.
- Quality System for Social Services: Ensures high-quality social rehabilitation and counselling through regional centres.
Challenges and Future Plans:
UNSS faces several ongoing challenges:
- Understanding Member Needs: A current initiative involves a questionnaire to assess member needs and inform organisational changes.
- Systematic Education: Continuing education for local authorities and other institutions on accessibility.
- Collaboration with Companies: Developing partnerships with companies interested in accessibility solutions (e.g., hotels).
- Strategic Development: Addressing broader strategic issues related to growth and improvement.
- Developing UNSS's Companies: Further developing the potential of companies specialised in assistive technology distribution and accessibility consultancy.
Q&A Summary:
The Q&A session addressed several points:
- Employment Support: UNSS provides counselling on CV writing and contacting employers but does not offer job coaching. They can consult on workplace adaptations.
- Job Opportunities: Job opportunities for visually impaired individuals in Slovakia are diverse, including roles in companies, institutions, and UNSS itself. Technology plays a significant role in expanding career options.
- Employer Outreach: While UNSS is well-known in Slovakia, employer contact often originates with the visually impaired person seeking assistance.
- Accessibility of Information: While UNSS undertakes activities in this area, they do not currently have a specific project focused on it.
Conclusion:
The presentation provided a comprehensive overview of UNSS's vital work in supporting blind and partially sighted individuals in Slovakia. Their integrated approach, diverse programs, and commitment to addressing challenges position them as a key player in promoting inclusion and accessibility.
The Slovak Blind and Partially-Sighted Union has made available EDI toolkits for BPS leaders and lecturers (in English) and
YALTA toolkits for young leaders and youth workers (in English).