The Austrian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted will celebrate its 70th anniversary this year. Founded in the midst of the after-war reconstruction period, on March 9th 1946, the federation focused mainly on self-help and capacity building activities. Over the years BSVÖ has constantly broadened its offers, providing a variety of services, activities, forums and projects in the fields of education, employment, social and legal services but also sports and culture.
Today, BSVÖ is the largest self-help organization for visually impaired people in Austria, effectively supporting and representing its seven regional associations' concerns and needs throughout the country and thereby promoting the interests of more than 318,000 blind and partially sighted people in Austria.
Together with its department for accessibility consulting, aiming to enhance the usability of the built environment, its department for international cooperation, responsible for various European projects, its acoustic library and its on-site vocational training center, BSVÖ is working towards a truly inclusive society.
After 70 eventful years with ups and downs, BSVÖ has become a well-known and valued partner at the local and national political level and will continue to make political and social inclusion, the establishment of new fields of employment, safe and independent mobility, access to information and a fair subsidies system its main priorities.