Organization
Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles(ONCE)
ONCE is Spain's national organisation for blind and seriously visually impaired people, founded in 1938 and self-funded through its iconic national lottery. It provides education, vocational training, rehabilitation, accessible technology, and employment services to nearly 70,000 registered members.
About
ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles) was established in 1938 by Royal Decree as a unique social model: a disability organisation that finances its own services through a national lottery (the Cupón ONCE). It has grown into a social group that also includes the employment group Ilunion and Fundación ONCE, together employing around 77,000 people.
What They Do
ONCE provides free Braille literacy, orientation and mobility training, rehabilitation, accessible digital tools, vocational training, and direct employment to members with serious visual impairment. Fundación ONCE extends this mission to people with other disabilities, funding accessible infrastructure, scholarships, and inclusion programmes across Spain.
Who They Serve
Blind and seriously visually impaired people throughout Spain are the core beneficiaries, with Fundación ONCE's programmes reaching people across the broader disability community.
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