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Our History
The Caribbean Council for the Blind [CCB], was established on September 24th, 1967
as a regional Not-for-Profit Organization comprising of Societies/Associations of and for
the Blind throughout the mainly English-speaking Caribbean.
However, CCB now includes Associations from two Francophone countries, Haiti and
Martinique. Initially, CCB operated out of Trinidad, but in 1980, the Secretariat or
Administrative Office was relocated to Antigua. This new location, geographically,
provided easier access to the territories of the Eastern Caribbean, Northern-Western
Caribbean, North America and Europe.
In 1998, the role of CCB was expanded with the establishment of a subsidiary, The
Foundation for Eye Care in the Caribbean, [Eye Care Caribbean], Incorporated. This
Agency was charged with the responsibility of pursuing income generation/cost
recovery ventures, which, in turn would provide additional resources for expansion and
sustainability of Council's programmes. Eventually, The Foundation was folded into the
Caribbean Council for the Blind, with the combined entity branded as CCB-Eye Care
Caribbean.
A Caribbean, fully compliant with the objectives of: Vision 2020 (The right to Sight),
Education for all children with blindness & visual impairments (EFA) and the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
Broad Objectives
Our principal objectives are to:
Help persons who are blind or visually impaired have their sight restored.
Advocate for universal access to inclusive education by children who are blind or
visually impaired.
Lobby for universal access to: counseling and adjustment to blindness services by
all persons who are blind and requiring such services.
Promotion of the rights of persons who are blind or visually impaired to: vocational
and tertiary level training; gainful employment; unemployment or pension benefits
and inclusive recreational activities.
The use of all available media systems to advance public awareness and material
support for these objectives.
How we Work
We believe that persons with blindness or visual impairments, are entitled to some basic
services and opportunities, wherever they live. Therefore, our entire advocacy seeks to
assure the following:
Eye health services of: Good quality, which is available, accessible, affordable, and
equitable;
Inclusive education services which are (at least) on par with education opportunities
available to children and adults without blindness or visual impairments;
The Global Initiative to Reduce avoidable blindness & visual impairment by 2020;
techniques.
Partnerships
V2020 initiatives:
Pursuant to our commitment to Vision 2020 (The Right To Sight) the CCB maintains
active partnerships with MOHs and more than 30 hospitals and other health facilities in
the public sector, across CARICOM.
Education Services:
In support of education services for children with blindness or visual impairments,
CCB engages with education authorities in: Antigua & Barbuda; Barbados, The
Bahamas, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines &
Trinidad & Tobago.
Our International Alliances & Associations:
CCB was established with direct financial and technical assistance from the Royal
Commonwealth Society For The Blind (Now Sight Savers International).
Over the years CCB has established relationships (at different levels with a number of
regional & International interests. Some of our networking involved: PAHO-WHO,
UNDP, UNIFEM, Unicef, Unesco, Christofel Blinden Mission; Helen Keller
International; Hilton Perkins International & Perkins School; The American Foundation
For The Blind; The American Council Of The Blind; The national Federation of The
Blind; The Canadian National Institute For The Blind; The Canadian Council Of The
Blind; The World Blind Union; ORBIS; CARICOM; The OECS; The Caribbean
Development Bank; CIDA; DEFID; Canada Fund; VSO; USAID; Several embassies
and high commissions; NGOS; National governments in 13 Caribbean states &
territories;UOG, UWI, Mico, & businesses interests across the Caribbean.