Self-Managed Activities – WBS Connections
Spaces for Dialogue and Leadership at the XI World Blindness Summit
During the days of the World Blind Union Assembly, September 4 and 5, we invite participants of the World Blindness Summit who are not directly involved with WBU’s political context to take part in moments of dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and civic engagement.
Through WBS Connections, self-managed activities, the audience will experience unique and transformative connections for their political and social participation.
These meetings will be dedicated to promoting in-depth debate on strategic issues for the lives of blind and low-vision people in Brazil and worldwide, many of which will have already been addressed in panels and roundtables throughout the scientific-technical congress of the summit. Each session will be conducted with the participation of leaders, specialists, representative organizations, and, most importantly, blind and low-vision people themselves as protagonists of these discussions—creating opportunities for the exchange of experiences, drafting public manifestos, and sharing knowledge.
The WBS Connections will be organized through roundtables, forums, and other spaces for dialogue and exchange of ideas, offering participatory, interactive, and inclusive experiences capable of gathering diverse perspectives, promoting collaboration, and generating concrete proposals.
Detailed schedule below:
CBDV Forum (September 4, 5) – Hellen Keller Auditorium
Panel 1
Date and Time: Sept. 4 – 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Activity: Parasports in Motion: Struggles, Achievements, and Challenges
Description: Parasport as a rights policy: memory, progress, and strategies for consolidating a place of excellence – Mizael Conrado, Secretary-General of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee;
Strategic management and innovation in clubs and federations: inspiring experiences and models – João Batista, President of the Brazilian Committee of Paralympic Clubs;
Strategic management and institutional sustainability: methodologies and stories that inspire society through sport – Professor Carlos Ferrari, Strategic Management Coordinator of CBDV.
Target Audience: Coaches, managers, athletes, and all interested in parasports.
Panel 2
Date and Time: Sept. 4 – 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Activity: Governance, Participation, and Transparent Management
Description: The Athletes’ Council as a space for strengthening participation and transparency in parasports: roles and challenges – Thiago da Silva, President of the CBDV Athletes’ Council;
Transparency as an institutional value: best practices and accessible accountability – Renata Pozzi, President of the CBDV Fiscal Council;
The participation of independent members in boards of directors: new perspectives for continuous governance improvement – Sumaia de Vasconcellos Miguel, Member of the CBDV Board of Directors.
Target Audience: Coaches, managers, athletes, and all interested in parasports.
Panel 3
Date and Time: Sept. 5 – 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Activity: From Grassroots to Podium: A Path of Inclusion, Achievements, Development, and Valuing Potential
Description: Inclusive sports initiation: the role of articulation with other public policies, CSOs, and the Paralympic Reference Center – João Casteleti, Manager of Education and Science at the Brazilian Paralympic Committee;
Grassroots professionals and their multiple competencies: technical, social, and pedagogical – Luis Felipe Castelli, National Teams Coordinator of CBDV;
Women in parasports: challenges for equity from grassroots training to competition – Ana Gomes, Assistant Coach of the Brazilian Paralympic Judo Youth Team.
Target Audience: Coaches, managers, athletes, and all interested in parasports.
Panel 4
Date and Time: Sept. 5 – 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Activity: In Search of Excellence: The Anatomy of Winning a Medal
Description: The consolidation of Goalball in Brazil: dissemination, development, achievements, and renewal of a growing movement – Alessandro Tosim, Coach of the Brazilian Women’s Goalball National Team;
Technology, science, and data in high performance: research, innovation, and performance in synergy – Alexandre Sérgio Silva, Coordinator of Physiology and Science of the CBDV Multidisciplinary Team;
Beyond the Tatami: how discipline, commitment, and networking drive Brazilian judo to excellence – Jaime Bragança, Coach of the Brazilian Paralympic Judo Team;
Goal for Brazil: how the country’s most beloved sport continues to produce the world’s best – Fábio Vasconcelos, Technical Coordinator of CBDV National Teams.
Target Audience: Coaches, managers, athletes, and all interested in parasports.
Thursday, Sept. 4 – Hellen Keller Auditorium
META
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Activity: Wearables and AI: Unlocking Human Potential
Guest: Fan Zhang, Principal Engineer, Accessibility Innovation at Meta
Description: Behind the scenes stories, tips and tricks about Ray Ban Meta glasses, and how wearables and AI have the potential to help the 1.3 billion people with disabilities.
Target Audience: All attendees.
São Paulo State Secretariat for People with Disabilities
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Activity: Actions and Interactions for Socio-Educational Inclusion
Guests: Paulo Cardoso, Cleyton Ferrarini, Patrícia Saltorato, Plínio Marins, Renata Tonelli, and Marta Camargo
Description: Inclusive education and the democratization of scientific knowledge require adaptations and accessible resources. The partnership between USP, UFSCar, UNIFESP, and Lar das Moças Cegas de Santos is an example of collaboration resulting in strategies and materials to support people with visual impairments. This presentation will showcase how cooperation among institutions can promote inclusion and inspire new partnerships for the development of Assistive Technology.
Target Audience: People with visual impairments (main beneficiaries), professionals and managers of support institutions, researchers and educators working on accessible pedagogy and materials, healthcare professionals involved in rehabilitation, and anyone interested in inclusion, accessibility, and innovation.
Thursday, Sept. 4 – Louis Braille Auditorium
Dorina Foundation
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Activity: Literacy with LEGO® Braille Bricks: Playfulness and Inclusion
Guests: Maria Cristina Godoy Cruz Felippe, Maria Regina Marques Lopes Silva, Ika Fleury, Regina Fátima Caldeira de Oliveira, Gabriela Nascimento Ribeiro, and Paula & Regina Freire Fernandes de Barros
Description: This workshop presents LEGO® Braille Bricks as a resource that combines play and learning for children with and without visual impairments. It encourages reflection on inclusion, planning playful pedagogical activities, and practical experiences, highlighting the role of educators in building more inclusive school environments.
Target Audience: Educators, inclusive education professionals, and those interested in accessible pedagogical practices.
Dorina Foundation
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Activity: Early Intervention and Play as Tools for Development, Learning, and Social Interaction of Children with Visual Impairments
Guests: Daniele Sales Ramos Lopes (Physiotherapist) and Nanci Hara (Occupational Therapist, Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind)
Description: This workshop explores the importance of play and toys in the motor, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of children with visual impairments, including hands-on activities.
Target Audience: Health professionals, students in education and rehabilitation, and anyone interested in child development.
Dorina Foundation
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Activity: Music Therapy as a Tool in Visual Rehabilitation
Guest: Grazielly Schunemann – Psychologist and Music Therapist, Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind
Description: This workshop presents music therapy as a therapeutic tool that promotes emotional, sensory, and cognitive health for people with visual impairments, with benefits including sensory stimulation, self-expression, communication, cognitive development, stress reduction, social integration, and emotional well-being.
Target Audience: Health professionals, students, rehabilitation and inclusion specialists, and anyone interested in music therapy.
Thursday, Sept. 4 – Adilson Ventura Auditorium
Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology (CBO)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Activity: Actions of the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology for the Prevention of Visual Impairment and Visual Rehabilitation
Guests: Maria Frazão, Maria Haddad, Alex Haruo Higashi, Robert Mortimer, and Arthur de Almeida Medeiros
Description: This session presents actions for the prevention of visual impairment, including initiatives by the Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology, ophthalmological advances in addressing visual impairment, assistive technology resources, and visual rehabilitation within the Brazilian Unified Health System. It will provide a space to discuss strategies for care and inclusion.
Target Audience: Ophthalmologists and people with visual impairments.
Google
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Activity: How to Use Google’s Assistive Technologies in Daily Life
Guests: Bernardo Barlach, Accessibility Program Manager, External Engagement at Google, and Juliano Lopes, Accessibility Analyst
Description: This workshop demonstrates the use of Lookout, Gemini, and Gemini Live applications for screen sharing, image description, document reading and summarization, and Workspace searches. It will also feature Juliano Lopes, who will share his experience traveling through Europe using Google solutions to expand autonomy and inclusion.
Target Audience: Users of assistive technologies and professionals who support them.
Laramara
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Activity: Roundtable: Orientation and Mobility (O&M) in Today’s World
Guests: Orientation and Mobility professionals from Laramara and Instituto Benjamin Constant
Description: A meeting to explore different realities in the field of O&M and revisit key issues such as professional training, high demand for services, limited access to rehabilitation programs, lack of accessibility in public spaces, deafblindness, population aging, among others.
Target Audience: Orientation and Mobility professionals, specialized teachers, blind and low-vision individuals and their families, educators, and related professionals.
Thursday, Sept. 4 –José Álvares de Azevedo Room
Accessible RPG Workshop
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. / 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Activity: Accessible RPG Workshop
Guests: Jarbas Trindade and Bruno Mesquita, masters in RPG
Description: Developed by the group Acessibilidados, this workshop invites participants to explore imaginative worlds using adapted resources such as Braille dice, tactile pieces, and “theater of the mind.” The proposal promotes fun, storytelling, social interaction, and inclusion, ensuring full accessibility for blind and low-vision participants.
Target Audience: Blind and low-vision participants, RPG enthusiasts, educators, and professionals interested in accessible play.
Note: Limited spots available: secure your registration now and get ready to live this unique experience. Link
Thursday, Sept. 4 – Brazil – Spain Room
Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Activity: Spain–Brazil Exchange: Our Languages as Bridges for Inclusion
Description: The Spain Space will serve as a meeting point for Ibero-American participants of the XI World Blindness Summit, Sept. 1–5, São Paulo. Promoted by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ONCB, and ULAC, the space will host activities in Spanish and Portuguese, including interviews, roundtables, and the “Spain–Brazil: Our Languages as Bridges for Inclusion” meetings, celebrating Spain as a global reference in inclusion and accessibility.
Target Audience: Spanish and Portuguese speakers, as well as those interested in the recognition of these languages in the global political landscape.
Ágora
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Activity: You on the Team: Key Tools and Success Stories from the Ágora Brasil Program
Guest: Octavio Carreño, Coordinator of the Ágora Brasil Program
Description: Presentation of the main employability support resources for blind and low-vision people offered by the program, and launch of the candidate support guide produced by ONCB’s Secretariat of Training, Professional Qualification, and Employment in partnership with the Ágora Brasil Program.
Target Audience: Blind and low-vision people, companies, recruiters, and professionals interested in employability issues.
Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Activity: Spain–Brazil Exchange: Our Languages as Bridges for Inclusion
Description: Continuation of activities in Spanish and Portuguese, celebrating cultural and linguistic bridges between Spain and Brazil, with a focus on inclusion and accessibility.
Target Audience: Spanish and Portuguese speakers, and other interested participants.
Thursday, Sept. 4 – Laramara Room
Roundtable: Inclusive Education – Approaches, Reflections, and Challenges
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Guests: Laramara Pedagogy Group
Description: A dialogue on the current moment of inclusive education, public policies, teacher training, necessary adaptations and resources, challenges, and successful experiences.
Target Audience: Specialized teachers in visual impairment, education professionals, students with visual impairments and their families, and related professionals.
Other Activities (Throughout the Day)
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. / 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Quick Massage sessions (Laramara & Serenidade do Toque partnership)
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Circle dance activity
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Exhibition of paintings and clay works by young, adult, and elderly students
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Playtime with specific and adapted toys (Ludicity Center)
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Exhibition of adapted materials from the Braille Musicography workshop
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Exhibition of resources from the low-cost assistive technology center
Friday, Sept. 5 – Hellen Keller Auditorium
Activity: Business Roundtable
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Description: A moment dedicated to bringing together exhibitors, public managers, users, regional political leaders, and researchers. This session aims to explore possibilities for strategic alliances that can contribute to the improvement of habilitation and rehabilitation processes, as well as public policies committed to inclusion.
Target Audience: All participants interested in strategic alliances, public policies, and inclusion initiatives.
Friday, Sept. 5 – Louis Braille Auditorium
Dorina Foundation
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Activity: Takkyu Volley as a Tool for Visual Rehabilitation
Guests: Jorge Sidnei de Andrade and Raquel Delgado Ramos – Orientation and Mobility Professors, Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind
Description: Highlights the potential of Takkyu Volley as a tool for social inclusion, visual rehabilitation, and well-being, combining elements of table tennis and volleyball in an adapted practice.
Target Audience: Physical education professionals, adaptive sports and visual rehabilitation specialists, and inclusive sports enthusiasts.
National Secretariat for People with Disabilities, Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Activity: Guide Dogs in Brazil: Access and Inclusion Policy
Guests: Antônio Ferreira, Thiago Araújo, João Pedro, Lucas Cavalcante, Rogério Kerber, Marinês Kerber and Flora Milder
Description: This activity will present Brazilian public policies regarding the training, education, and guaranteed access of guide dogs, focusing on promoting autonomy and mobility for people who are blind or have low vision. It will explain how the national program works, clarify rights and procedures to obtain a guide dog, and discuss current challenges and future perspectives for expanding this policy in the country.
Target Audience: Participants of the World Blindness Summit (ONCB), guide dog users, blind and low-vision individuals interested in the topic, families, training professionals, representatives of disability rights organizations, and animal rights advocates.
Friday, Sept. 5 – Adilson Ventura Auditorium
Grupo Mulheres do Brasil
Activity: Chess Queens: Workshop for Visually Impaired Players
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Guests: Women Chess Players of Brazil, conducted by Gercília Catarina Bastregui de Medeiros and Elessandra Polirário
Description: This workshop presents adapted chess as an inclusive practice that encourages participation of people with and without visual impairments, emphasizing female empowerment. It also stimulates cognitive skills such as logical reasoning, memory, concentration, patience, and strategic planning, while promoting civic formation and conscious decision-making.
Target Audience: Mainly people with visual impairments (blind or low vision), but also open to people with disabilities in general, of any age, gender, ethnicity, or social condition, and to people without disabilities, reinforcing inclusion and social interaction.
Activity: Angel Talentos Diversos
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Guest: Angela Rezé, photographer and owner of Angel Talentos Diversos agency
Description: The workshop promotes a free photo session and talent management for people with or without disabilities, of all identities and backgrounds. The initiative celebrates diversity, values various talents, challenges standards, and reaffirms that every body, story, and identity has potential and a place in the creative field.
Target Audience: People with or without disabilities, of all gender identities and expressions, to celebrate diversity and give visibility to diverse talents, reinforcing that every body, story, and identity has value and potential.