European Deafblind Network (EDbN)

Introduction: 
EDbN is a nonprofit entity whose scope is DEAFBLINDNESS, a disability resulting from the combined loss of vision and hearing sense.

The welfare and equal opportunities for people with this disability and their families are the reasons of the existance of EDbN. At last, EDbN represents the interests of its deafblind members. The member institutions, our main partners, led by the Spanish Federation of Deafblind (FESOCE) carry out actions targeting direct attention and care intervention.

EDbN also works with other groups that can take benefits from intervention methods (mediation, communication, etc.) usual of deafblindness.

Deafblindness is described as a unique and isolating sensory disability resulting from the combination of both hearing and vision loss or impairment which significantly affects communication, socialization mobility and daily life.

People with deafblindness are forming a very diverse group due to the varying degrees of their vision and hearing impairments further to possible additional disabilities. This leads to a wide range of communication methods including speech, oral/aural communication, various forms of sign language including tactile, Deafblind fingerspelling, alternative and augmentative communication and print/Braille.

Aims
Improve the situation of deafblind people in Europe with the objective of achieving their equal rights and full participation in society; act as a European forum for exchange of knowledge and experience in the area of deafblindness.
Internship Tasks:
● Help to identify organizations that have the same areas as EDbN, and build relationships and manage contacts with them. Create a lasting bridge between organizations and EDbN
● Act as a bridge with universities, areas of psychology, psychiatry, speech therapy, otorhinolaryngology, occupational therapy, social work
● Look for manufacturers of physical and/or sensory goods

Requirements:
● Bachelor’s degree (completed/ongoing)
● The profile of the students would be in the line of public relations, journalism, policy officer, psychologist, speech therapist
● Another profile would be that of commercial management in products of physical and/ or sensory accessibility
● Should be serious and work together during internship
● Be able to do English-Chinese translation
2006-06-01 | Salou, Spain – European family conference
2006 | Groningen, Netherlands – Annual Seminar and Meeting
2002 | Poland – Parents conference
2001 | Portugal – Annual seminar and meeting
2000 | Osimo, Italy – Annual seminar and meeting
1999 | Poitiers, France – Annual Seminar and Meeting
1997-11-08 | Dublin, Ireland – Annual seminar and meeting
1996-10-05 | Hannover, Germany – Annual seminar and meeting
Relations with Non-Governmental Organizations:
Member of: 
B-XD2223 – Deafblind International (DbI); 
F-XF4532 – European Disability Forum (EDF). 

Links with: 
D-XD4984 – European Union of the Deaf (EUD); 
D-XD7556 – World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB). 

Links indicated by: 
D-XM3660 – European Deafblind Union (EDBU).

Members
Full; Associate; Honorary. Organizations in 17 countries:
 
Member Countries & Regions
Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, UK,
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden