- Source: World Council for the Welfare of the Blind
The World Council for the Welfare of the Blind WCWB was an organization of agencies for the blind (visually impaired) established in 1949. It combined with the International Federation of the Blind in 1984 to create the World Blind Union.
History
Initially headquartered in Oxford, England, the WCWB worked to coordinate efforts among various agencies and organizations dedicated to assisting people with blindness across the globe. Over the decades, the WCWB has been significant in uniting voices for the visually impaired, promoting accessible technologies, and influencing disability policies internationally.
In 1984, the WCWB merged with the International Federation of the Blind IFB, forming the World Blind Union WBU during a founding assembly held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This new organization expanded the WCWB's mission, aiming to provide a unified platform for blind and partially sighted individuals to advocate for their rights on a global scale. Since its inception, the WBU has grown to represent millions of individuals across nearly 190 countries, promoting accessibility, inclusion, and equality for those with visual impairments worldwide.
References
Marc Maurer: World Blind Union Fifth General Assembly, The Braille Monitor, March, 2001 Edition.