worldaccessfortheblindorg

Visioneers, also known as World Access For The Blind, is a California-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that teaches blind people to navigate with greater confidence, independence, and self-direction. Founded around the work of blind and sighted professionals, the organization has spent more than 20 years providing instruction in the United States and internationally.

Its Visioneering approach combines FlashSonar, a form of echolocation using tongue clicks and other sounds, with training in the Perception Cane, a longer, lighter mobility cane. Visioneers teaches students to interpret echoes and cane feedback as information about their surroundings, developing what the organization calls SonarVision. Its programs serve blind people of different ages, as well as families, instructors, schools, and community members.

Services include individual, group, and community instruction, professional and school support, and speaking engagements for corporate, technology, educational, and service conferences. Visioneers also works with research partners and advocates for freedom of movement, access, and participation. Donations help expand its services and train and hire more instructors, including to address unmet demand in the United States.