International Resources: Regional Organizations

The links in this section are for websites of organizations and educational institutions that serve specific nations or regions of the world. They are often the agencies most familiar with the needs and conditions of a local area, as well as the resources available to individuals, families, organizers, and educators working with people who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind. The lists are as comprehensive as we can make them. Please let us know if we’ve missed an organization that serves people with blindness, visual impairments, or multiple disabilities: scout@perkins.org

Below are the topics you'll find in this section. Click on a title to jump to a specific topic.

Regional Organizations: Africa 

African Union of the Blind
A non-governmental umbrella organization of agencies and associations that serve people in Africa who are blind or visually impaired.

Community Based Rehabilitation Africa Network (CAN)
Facilitates the sharing of information about community-based services for persons with disabilities and their families in African countries.

Institutional Development Program (IDP)
Aims to foster self-confidence of individuals who are blind, and improve the quality of services in agencies that work with people who are blind or visually impaired.

The League of Friends of the Blind (South Africa)
Provides a wide range of services to individuals with blindness and visual impairment in Cape Town, South Africa.

South Africa National Council for the Blind (SANCB)
Strives to meet the needs of all blind and partially sighted people in South Africa.

Tanzania Society for the Blind
This website outlines the services and advocacy of the TSB, and shares articles on current medical research.

Regional Organizations: Asia and the Pacific 

BLENNZ Online
Blind and Low Vision Education Network of New Zealand is known by its shorter name BLENNZ.  They are a national network of educational services for children and young people who are blind, deafblind or have low vision in New Zealand.

Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organization (BERDO)
Empowers people with disabilities in Bangladesh through income generation, leadership development, education, training and treatment facilities.

Blind People’s Association – India
Promotes comprehensive rehabilitation of persons with all categories of disabilities through education, training, employment.  Includes links to numerous online publications.

China Association of the Blind - Parents Committee
This site is rich with information for parents and practitioners, and includes a chinese-language forum.

Eyeway.org (India)
Information for individuals with visual impairments, parents and guardians, medical professionals, rehabilitation experts, and service providers.

Sense International (India)
Sense International (India) helps local organizations develop sustainable services for people with deafblindness. This site offers an online resource library with practical information.

Shanghai School for the Blind
The institution website lists a range of student and family resources, including issues of the school's student newspaper, plus information about the school's programs and mission.

St. Nicholas Home, Malaysia
SNH provides education, training, and employment for blind, deafblind,and visually impaired individuals, inclduing those with additional disabilities.  Many resources for disabled adults can be found here.

Vision Australia
Vision Australia was born from a partnership of the Royal Blind Society (RBS), the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind (RVIB), Vision Australia Foundation and the National Information Library Services. Vision Australia is now the leading provider of blindness and low vision services in Australia.

Voice and Vision India
Conducts training programs, develops and disseminates information and materials on the education of children who have visual impairment with additional disabilities, including deafblindness.

Regional Organizations: Europe and Eurasia 

Associação dos Cegos e Amblíopes de Portugal (ACAPO)
A consumer group by and for people with visual impairments, dedicated to full inclusion and human rights.

European Blind Union (EBU)
With 45 member countries, EBU is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that protects and promotes the interests of blind and partially-sighted people in Europe.

MAJAK (Lighthouse) of Slovakia
MAJAK is a residental community for deaf-blind adults.  View residents art projects, watch videos, and download materials.  Educators may gain some fresh project ideas here as well.

ONCE (La Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles)
ONCE focuses on the improvement of the quality of life of people with blindness or severe visual impairment in Spain, and works closely with Latin American associations on training and employment issues; in Spanish, English, French.

Polish Association of the Blind
Polish speakers will find audio information on this site, such as health information, news, and lectures.  Check back frequently for print resources available for purchase.

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
Information, support and advice to people with blindness and visual impairment, their families, and teachers; including many imaginative and practical solutions to everyday challenges.

The School for Visually Impaired Children in Sofia
This elementary education program in Bulgaria prepares children for inclusive education in the upper grades. Also of interest on the school's website is information about "Special Friends," a Comenius Project which advocates inclusion of children with disabilities.

Regional Organizations: Latin America and the Caribbean 

Biblioteca Argentina Para Ciegos (BAC)
A non-profit non-governmental organization that provides access to information and culture to users in Argentina and Latin America; in Spanish.

Fundación Braille del Uruguay (FBU)
Information and tools for social integration, including general information on a range of topics related to blindness; in Spanish.

Instituto Nacional para Ciegos (Colombia)
Information for people in Colombia who are blind, including resources for education and rehabilitation and general information about blindness and low vision; in Spanish.

ONCE (La Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles)
A Spanish organization that also works closely with Latin American associations for the blind on training and employment issues; in Spanish, English, French   

Perkins International: Latin America
Use this site as your portal to Central and South American resources, with additional information from Mexico.

SOCIEVEN
SOCIEVEN operates on behalf of deafblind individuals in Venezuela and collaborates with national and international allies, including Perkins School for the Blind.  Their "Dar a Conocer" section presents short Spanish-language videos explaining deafblindness.

Sordoceguera y Discapacidad - (Deafblind and Disabilities)
This clearinghouse from Colombia distributes information for parents and educatiors, and provides community through online learning, job postings, personal stories, and links to other organizations throughout Latin America.

Unión Latinoamericana de Ciegos (ULAC)
Works for the prevention of blindness and improvement of conditions for people who are blind in Latin America; in Spanish.

Regional Organizations: The Middle East and North Africa 

Jewish Institute for the Blind (JIB)
The Jewish Institute for the Blind serves children in Israel who are blind or visually impaired.  Their programs include health and education services, a community center, on-campus community, and Beit Ha’Talmid for students learning in general education environme

Regional Organizations: North America 

American Council of the Blind (ACB)
A consumer group that “strives to improve the well-being of all blind and visually impaired people” through organized action, improvement of education and services, and encouraging individuals to develop their abilities.

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
Information on all aspects of blindness including adjustment, teaching tips, child development, statistics, research, and more. It also includes special sections for families and older adults.

Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
This site, available in English or French, offers information about eye health, living with vision loss, research, and services in Canada.

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
A consumer group that works “to improve blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence". 

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