Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired Lower Saxony

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Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired Lower Saxony
(BVN)
legal form non-profit registered association
founding October 17, 1947
Seat Hanover
motto Seeing further together
main emphasis Self-help for the blind and visually impaired
Chair Helga Neumann
Website blindenverband.org

The Blind and Visually Impaired Association of Lower Saxony eV (BVN) is the self-help association for blind , visually impaired and people at risk of blindness or visual impairment in Lower Saxony with more than 3000 members and approx. 350 full-time and voluntary employees . The seat is in Hanover . It is one of 20 regional associations of the German Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBSV) and also carries out its tasks within the framework of its seven regional associations in Lower Saxony, ten advisory and business offices and 43 district and district groups. Visually impaired and blind children, adolescents, adults and senior citizens are organized in the BVN as well as people with multiple disabilities or deafblindness .

tasks

One of the central tasks is to advise visually impaired and blind people on social issues, on education, work, rehabilitation and suitable aids. In addition, the association represents blind, visually impaired, multi-handicapped, deaf-blind people and people at risk of blindness / visual impairment in Lower Saxony and the city of Bremerhaven on a political and social level. By publishing information media and materials of all kinds, the BVN provides information about eye diseases, the avoidance of blindness and all questions relating to the blind and visually impaired.

history

Blind people in what is now Lower Saxony began to organize themselves in self-help groups in the big cities as early as the beginning of the 20th century. In 1908, blind people founded the Hanover blind association, in 1913 those affected in Braunschweig organized themselves into a self-help association, in 1918 in Oldenburg and 1923 in Osnabrück . Soon after, self-help associations were founded in smaller towns and rural regions.

The unification of the local blind associations to the state association took place on October 17, 1947 in Osnabrück. The eight blind associations in Lower Saxony then merged to form the “Lower Saxony Blind Association”. One of the most important tasks was initially the integration of the many blind refugees . Housing, education, work and compensation for disadvantages through blind allowance were the basic demands at that time. In the course of the 1990s, self-help for the blind opened up to the increasing number of visually impaired people, also due to demographic change. The first offers for people with age-related macular degeneration and other retinal diseases were made. In 1997 the Association for the Blind became the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired of Lower Saxony eV With “Blickpunkt Augen”, BVN has had a nationwide advisory service since 2013 that specifically addresses people with eye diseases and visual impairments.

Advice and support for blind and visually impaired people was, is and will remain a very central task of the association. In order to ensure this for the future throughout Lower Saxony, the advice centers of the regional associations had to be equally well equipped in terms of personnel and material. The course was set in 2002 when the previously independent associations signed a merger agreement. This ensures uniform financial and personal support for the individual advice centers.

A key area of ​​responsibility in the history of the BVN has been the representation of local, regional and the entire state of Lower Saxony. This includes cooperation with other disabled and social associations, trade unions, churches, associations and the municipalities. Political and general social issues such as inclusive education, uniform, barrier-free environmental design, the opening of the labor market for blind and visually impaired people, the provision of aids and appropriate compensation for disadvantages are negotiated at the state level.

In 2005 the association was forced to start an extensive campaign. The Lower Saxony state government under Prime Minister Christian Wulff and the then Lower Saxony Minister of Social Affairs Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) had abolished the state blindness allowance of 400 euros per month "overnight" for all recipients. The regional association coordinated actions across Lower Saxony and a central demonstration in Hanover with the motto "Hands off the blind money!", Which drew attention to the emergency situation and disadvantage for blind people in Lower Saxony. The demonstration with 10,000 blind participants from Lower Saxony and the whole of Germany is unique in this size and resulted in reports in the Tagesschau and the heute news. In addition, a nationwide referendum was initiated with the aim of having the state allowance for the blind negotiated again in the state parliament. Within a few months, the 3500 member association and its alliance partners (social associations SoVD, VdK, AWO, but also SPD, Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen and Linke) were able to collect several hundred thousand signatures. After the change in the Ministry of Social Affairs (Mechthild Ross-Luttmann for Ursula von der Leyen), the same government reintroduced the state allowance for the blind in 2007. BVN received the 2006 Politics Award for its successful campaign, which was carried out with a small workforce.

Since the beginning of the 2000s, public patient forums have been held in all regional associations, in which ophthalmologists and representatives of the association give lectures on eye diseases and medical developments in ophthalmology. The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Lower Saxony has thus also developed into a patient organization.

Awards

Referendum for the reintroduction of blind money - 2006 policy award from Quadriga Media Berlin in the Public Affairs category.

public relation

In order to be able to provide its members and the public with information on medical questions, on help in dealing with disease or patient-related problems and on all eye-related issues and their consequences and social effects, the association provides barrier-free information about its publications.

media

  • the association magazine "together" (quarterly)
  • Circular from the regional associations (monthly)
  • BVN radio (monthly)
  • Association site and social media
  • Sending brochures and information material on eye diseases, aids, rehabilitation, self-help

organization

Chair of the BVN
1947-1949 Dr. Luebbing (Oldenburg)
1949-1976 Wilhelm Marhauer (Hanover)
1976-1977 Paul Müller (acting)
1979-1989 Dr. Ernst Schweckendiek (Hanover)
1989-1999 Heinrich Behne (Verden)
since 1999 Helga Neumann (Lueneburg)

The BVN is divided into seven regional associations, each with an office and at least one advice center. The office with the management of the BVN is located in Hannover-Kirchrode. The management is appointed by the board. The board is elected every four years by the Association Day. It consists of the chairman, one deputy and seven assessors.

The managing director of BVN has been Hans-Werner Lange since 1985, who is also Vice President of the German Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBSV).

Regional clubs

One of the core activities of the association is providing advice and support for those affected and their families on site. In order to be able to implement these tasks in the area of ​​Lower Saxony, each regional association has its own business and advice center. The social workers working there, some of whom are themselves blind or visually impaired, also offer regular external consultation appointments.

Each regional association, in turn, is divided into district or district groups that organize regular meetings and thus enable those affected to meet personally and to exchange ideas. There are the following regional associations:

  • Regional association East Frisia
  • Regional association Oldenburg
  • Regional association Elbe-Weser
  • Regional association north-east Lower Saxony
  • Regional association south-east Lower Saxony
  • Regional Association Hanover
  • Regional association Osnabrück, Emsland-Bentheim

Specialist groups

  • Working group integration
  • Environment and Transport Working Group
  • Working group of guide dog owners
  • Massage group

In addition to the specialist groups, there are representatives for topics specific to the blind and visually impaired:

  • Representative for sports for the blind
  • Representative for new sports for the blind and visually impaired
  • Aid and audio description officer
  • Rehabilitation officer
  • Women's Representative
  • Coordinator for child and youth work
  • Cultural representative
  • Senior Representative
  • Tourism officer

Societies

The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Lower Saxony e. V. is a partner in the following companies:

ProSenis GmbH

Subsidiary and non-profit company with twelve senior citizens' and care facilities in Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, three facilities for blind, visually impaired and multiply disabled people in Hanover, several outpatient services, day care facilities and a car service for people with disabilities in Seelze near Hanover.

ILIS

Integrative information and control systems. The company creates visual and tactile information such as tactile plans, signage, handrail labels, floor indicators and electronic systems for the barrier-free design of public spaces and combines them in a "universal design". A wholly owned subsidiary of BVN.

DHV

The German Distribution of Aids offers blind and visually impaired people of all age groups products and services that are intended to make everyday life easier and enable those affected to lead a largely independent life. BVN is the main shareholder (54%) of DHV.

DTW

The German Deaf-Blind Association in Hanover includes an education center for deaf-blind and hearing-impaired children and young people (with early intervention, special kindergarten and school with boarding school) as well as rehabilitation, a workshop for deaf-blind people, dormitories for adults in Hanover and in Fischbeck / Hess. Oldendorf. The DTW's shareholders are the Lower Saxony Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (66.66%) and the German Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBSV) (33.33%).

HW

The Hannoversche Werkstätten gGmbH (HW) is the sponsor of institutions for professional and social participation in the Hanover region. Your job is to create opportunities for people with disabilities to develop personally and professionally. The HW employ around 1000 people with a wide variety of disabilities. Around 220 employees are involved in looking after and assisting the workshop employees. The main shareholder is BVN (66.4%).

Lewida - life like at home

Lewida operates six elderly care facilities and residential complexes for the elderly in Saxony-Anhalt, which are specially equipped to meet the needs and requirements of blind and visually impaired seniors. In addition, Lewida operates two outpatient care services and the Aura-Pension "Brockenblick". The shareholders of Lewida are each 50% of the BVN and the Blind and Visually Impaired Association of Saxony-Anhalt (BSVSA).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ www.blindenverband.org Statutes of the Blind and Visually Impaired Association of Lower Saxony e. V.
  2. ↑ a b www.politikaward.de Review 2006 - Public Affairs
  3. ↑ www.blindenverband.org Participations and partners

Coordinates: 52 ° 21 '53.6 "  N , 9 ° 49' 8.3"  E