History

The Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA) is established by an act of Parliament (No. 9 of 1972). “To provide education and vocational training, employment, and also assist generally with the provision of social and other services for blind and visually impaired people. Eye health and prevention of blindness are also major priorities of the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association. The Association has grown from being focused solely on running a sheltered workshop for the blind into a dynamic organization offering diversified services directed towards the special needs of persons who are afflicted with blindness, low vision or other forms of visual impairments in Saint Lucia.

SLBWA subscribes to and is guided by the mission of the Caribbean Council for the Blind which is preventing blindness and visual impairment while restoring sight and creating opportunities for persons whose sight cannot be restored.

We envisage a society which is inclusive and accessible of all citizens regardless of visual status and different abilities.

We believe that everyone gets affected by the impact of blindness from the individual, the family, the community and the society as a whole. Our goal at the SLBWA is to: 1. Prevent blindness and 2. Promote the best quality of life for all Saint Lucians regardless of visual status. We focus on the areas of Eye Health, Education and Rehabilitation and Counseling among other things.