European Blind Union

Name

European Blind Union

Legal name

European Blind Union

Website

https://euroblind.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

European Blind Union is a Paris-based non-profit founded in 1984 that advocates for blind and partially sighted people across 42 European member countries through policy lobbying, awareness campaigns, and publications, funded by EU grants, membership dues, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Disability rights advocacy
• Accessibility policy
• Visual impairment
• EU policy lobbying
• Nonprofit membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. EU Funding and Grants: European Blind Union receives co-funding from the European Union and operates under EU programmes such as Rights, Equality and Citizenship programme 2014–2020. The organization also receives funding for specific projects like the PARVIS campaign.
2. Membership Dues: EBU operates with member country organizations. Membership fees likely contribute to organizational funding.
3. Donations and Sponsoring: The organization accepts donations and sponsoring to support activities ensuring people with sight loss have opportunity to fully participate in all aspects of life.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

European Blind Union is a non-profit advocacy organization that represents blind and partially sighted people across 42 European member countries. Its core offering is policy advocacy and awareness-raising — it campaigns for EU accessibility legislation (European Accessibility Act, AVAS for electric vehicles, Marrakesh Treaty, accessible voting, payment terminals, lifts), publishes position papers and guidelines, produces podcasts and multilingual awareness videos, and convenes member organizations to coordinate a unified European disability rights voice.

Product overview

The European Blind Union (EBU) is an advocacy organization, not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of advocacy campaigns, awareness-raising projects, publications, podcasts, and policy resources focused on accessibility and rights for blind and partially sighted people in Europe. Key products include the EBU Access Cast podcast (35 episodes 2018-2021), the PARVIS awareness-raising project with multilingual videos, the AVA accessible voting project, various advocacy campaigns (Silent Cars, Payment Terminals, Lifts, MEDIA Film Funding, Marrakesh Treaty), the EBU Focus quarterly newsletter, and position papers on accessibility policy. The organization collaborates with the European Central Bank on euro currency accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EBU Access Cast Podcast Monthly podcast covering assistive technology, mainstream tech news, screen readers, and accessibility features for blind and partially sighted people across Europe. Produced 2018-2021 with 35 episodes.
• PARVIS Project Project (Promoting Awareness on the Rights of Visually Disabled People) producing accessible audiovisual communication materials on rights derived from the CRPD, harmonized at European level and available in multiple languages.
• AVA Project (Accessible Voting Awareness-Raising) Project gathering good practices and developing recommendations for policy makers and election officials on increasing accessibility of elections for blind and partially sighted citizens, including the AVA Brochure and AVA Report.
• Accessible Payment Terminals Campaign Advocacy campaign for barrier-free access to payment terminals for disabled and elderly consumers in Europe; resulted in inclusion of payment terminals in the European Accessibility Act in 2017.
• Silent Cars Campaign Campaign addressing safety concerns for blind and partially sighted pedestrians regarding quiet electric and hybrid vehicles; successfully advocated for mandatory AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System) installation in electric vehicles under EU Regulation 540/2014.
• Accessibility of Lifts Campaign Campaign ensuring lift accessibility for persons with visual impairment through standardization and legislation advocacy, addressing usability of control devices, contrast requirements for buttons, and sensor/touch screen accessibility.
• Creative Europe/MEDIA Film Accessibility Campaign Campaign advocating that EU MEDIA funding for the film industry require audio description and audio subtitling, promoting equal access to culture for visually impaired people.
• Marrakesh Treaty Campaign Campaign for full ratification and implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for blind, visually impaired, and print-disabled persons.
• EBU Focus Newsletter Quarterly newsletter published in multiple languages covering topics such as audio description, employment, Braille, accessible elections, COVID-19 impacts, and accessibility legislation.
• Position Papers and Publications Policy position papers, recommendations, and reports covering accessible payment terminals, film industry funding, European Elections, Braille literacy, and other accessibility matters.
• Guidelines on Accessibility Generic European guidelines on audio description, accessibility standards for lifts (EN 81-70), and other technical accessibility specifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully campaigned for mandatory AVAS installation in electric vehicles under EU Regulation 540/2014
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2018EBU receives EU funding under Rights, Equality and Citizenship programme 2014-2020. The Commission also consults EBU on accessibility legislation including European Accessibility Act, AVMS Directive, and Creative Europe programme.
• European Central BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990EBU has collaborated with the European Central Bank since the euro design phase in the 1990s to ensure accessibility features on euro coins and banknotes. The ECB regularly consults EBU, including during development of the Europa series. ECB representatives visited EBU offices in 2023 to discuss future currency updates.
• World Blind UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEBU works with the World Blind Union representing the world's blind and partially sighted population. WBU experts attended UNECE working group meetings on AVAS regulations. Joint lobbying efforts for stronger AVAS requirements.
• ANEC (European consumer voice in standardisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEBU collaborates with ANEC on lift accessibility standards. ANEC appealed EN 81-70:2018 standard, with EBU and EDF closely involved in subsequent technical revisions.
• European Disability ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDF represents the interests of all persons with disabilities in Europe. EBU works with EDF on shared advocacy goals including accessibility legislation and UNCRPD implementation.
• AGE Platform EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on age-related accessibility issues affecting older visually impaired persons.
• EFAD (European Film Agency Directors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEBU works with EFAD representing 35 national film agencies to promote audio description requirements in MEDIA funding. EFAD supports EBU's call for strengthening accessibility of works.
• UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEBU participates in UNECE task force on quiet road transport vehicles, contributing expertise on AVAS requirements for electric vehicles. UNECE regulation on AVAS was adopted in March 2016.
• National Member OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor42 national blindness organizations across Europe serve as EBU members and distribute campaigns, best practices, and advocacy materials in their respective countries.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AGE Platform Europe: European network of organizations for older people, with significant overlap on age-related visual impairment and accessibility. Operates a similar Brussels-based advocacy model targeting EU legislation and is a confirmed EBU partner.
• ANEC (European Association for the Co-ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation): Brussels-based European consumer voice in standardization with a strong accessibility portfolio. Directly comparable as a partner-level peer operating on accessibility technical standards (e.g., EN 81-70 lifts) and lobbying EU institutions — and a confirmed EBU partner.
• European Federation of Hard of Hearing People: Brussels-based European NGO representing hard-of-hearing people across Europe. Comparable as a pan-European sensory disability advocacy organization that engages EU institutions on accessibility standards and rights-based legislation.
• World Blind Union: Global advocacy organization for blind and partially sighted persons, with EBU as its European regional affiliate. Directly comparable mission, structure, and policy work on UN CRPD, Marrakesh Treaty, and AVAS, and a confirmed EBU partner.
• Mental Health Europe: Brussels-based European NGO advocating for mental health rights and inclusion at EU and Council of Europe level. Comparable as a pan-European disability/adjustment-focused advocacy organization with EU institutional access and a membership-driven model.
• Inclusion Europe: European association of persons with intellectual disabilities and their families, advocating for rights and accessibility at EU level. Directly comparable as a Brussels-based pan-European disability advocacy NGO operating under a similar membership and EU policy engagement model.
• European Disability Forum: Brussels-based umbrella organization representing 100 million Europeans with disabilities, covering all disability types. Directly comparable as a pan-European disability advocacy organization that lobbies EU institutions on accessibility legislation, and an active EBU partner.

Broad incumbents

• European Patients' Forum: Brussels-based umbrella organization representing chronic disease patient groups across Europe. Comparable as a larger pan-European health/disability advocacy coalition engaging EU institutions on accessibility and rights, with overlapping policy interests in healthcare access.
• International Disability Alliance: Global umbrella of disability and development organizations, with EBU's global counterpart (World Blind Union) as a member. Comparable as a higher-level advocacy alliance operating at the UN and EU interface on disability rights.

Emerging players

• European Council of the Blind: European organization focused specifically on blind and partially sighted advocacy at EU level. Closely comparable mission and constituency to EBU; operates in an overlapping niche within European blindness advocacy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/euroblind
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@europeanblindunion8354
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/euroblind

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about European Blind Union