SightCity Forum 2024

Knowledge exchange on visual impairment and blindness: The SightCity Forum 2024 in the context of the world’s largest trade fair for visually impaired and blind people

Overview of the SightCity Forum 2024

Since 2006, the SightCity Forum 2024 has been an integral part of the SightCity trade fair, which is considered the largest international event for assistive technology for blind and visually impaired people every year. The SightCity Forum complements the event with a wide range of topics in an interactive format, where professionals and those affected share their knowledge and experience in order to jointly overcome the challenges faced by people with sight loss and blindness and promote professional and social rehabilitation. As an integral point of exchange and information about scientific advances and professional and social rehabilitation, it forms a central point of contact. Organized by the Aachen Centre for Technology Transfer in Ophthalmology (ACTO e. V.) in cooperation with the Berufsförderungs- (BFW) and Berufsbildungswerke (BBW) as well as the Deutscher Blinden und Sehbehinderten Verband (DBSV) and PRO RETINA Deutschland.

The forum will take place parallel to the trade fair from May 15 to 17, 2024 at the Kongresshaus Kap Europa and will offer both live presentations and online streaming options via Zoom to enable worldwide access.

Contents and objectives of the forum

The SightCity Forum 2024 will focus on topics such as the socio-political foundations of deafblindness and hearing impairment, new treatment methods for genetic eye diseases and access to ophthalmologic rehabilitation. The presentations by renowned experts and speakers offer participants valuable insights into current research and developments. Moderated discussion rounds offer opportunities for direct feedback and exchange, which helps visitors to make the best use of the information.

Participation in the SightCity Forum is free of charge, both on site and digitally, in order to minimize barriers and promote inclusion. The forum is therefore not only a platform for specialist knowledge, but also an example of practicable accessibility and global cooperation. In addition, a sound transmission system ensures that there are no barriers for hearing-impaired people during all presentations.

The SightCity Forum is kindly supported financially by the Marga and Walter Boll Foundation and the Paul and Charlotte Kniese Foundation.