Unión Latinoamericana de Ciegos

What Unión Latinoamericana de Ciegos does

Unión Latinoamericana de Ciegos (ULAC) is a regional non-governmental organization founded on 15 November 1985 in Mar del Plata, Argentina, and domiciled in Montevideo, Uruguay (legal personality No. 383/986, granted 1986). It is the sole regional representative body dedicated exclusively to defending the rights of blind and low-vision people across Latin America, coordinating a federation of 19 affiliated national member organizations in countries spanning Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, and others. ULAC operates as a membership-based advocacy organization without a technology platform or commercial product; its digital presence is a WCAG-compliant accessible website (ulacdigital.org) and active social media channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn) used to disseminate publications, declarations, and event information. Its core offerings are an open digital library of technical publications (Rehabilitation Manual in Spanish 2023 and Portuguese 2026, Unified Mathematical Braille Code for Iberoamerica, Braille pedagogy criteria, climate change guides), nine specialized secretariats (Education, Rehabilitation, Human Rights, Technology, Gender, Youth, Senior Adults, Employment, Sports & Culture), and convening of quadrennial congresses and General Assemblies.

ULAC's business model is non-commercial. Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) annual membership dues paid by the 19 national member organizations per Article 41 of the Statute, (2) individual and institutional donations via its website (PayPal), and (3) project-based institutional funding from international allies — principally Fundación ONCE para América Latina (FOAL), plus Global Greengrants Fund and the World Blind Union (WBU). It holds Special Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC (2016) and Registered Civil Society status with the OAS (2015), which it leverages to deliver statements and parallel events at forums such as the OAS General Assembly, the UN CRPD Conference of States Parties, and CERLALC-UNESCO Marrakech Treaty initiatives. Governance is democratic: a Committee Executive elected every four years by the General Assembly, led for the 2024–2028 term by President Gladys Díaz Benites.

Name

Unión Latinoamericana de Ciegos

Legal name

Unión Latinoamericana de Ciegos

Website

https://ulacdigital.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Unión Latinoamericana de Ciegos (ULAC) is a regional non-governmental organization representing and defending the rights of blind and low-vision people across 19 Latin American countries, operating through member dues, donations, and project-based institutional funding, with consultative status at UN ECOSOC and the OAS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAGAJAJ

Open Accessibility & Inclusive OER (UDL, alt formats)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Open Educational Resources (OER) & Open Textbooks

SECONDARYEDAGALAH

Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Educational Media & Multimedia (Video, Audio, Interactive)

Keywords

• Disability rights advocacy
• Visual impairment services
• Non-profit advocacy organization
• Braille education resources
• Rehabilitation publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Montevideo

HQ country

Uruguay

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Member organizations pay annual dues as established by the ULAC Assembly, per Article 41 of the Statute. Organizations in arrears must sign a payment agreement before participation in Assembly meetings.
2. Donations and contributions: ULAC accepts donations from individuals and institutions through its website (PayPal). The organization promotes public support for its mission of inclusion and rights for people with visual disabilities.
3. Project-based institutional funding: ULAC receives project financing from international allies and donors including FOAL (Fundación ONCE para América Latina), Global Greengrants Fund, and the World Blind Union (WBU). Funding supports programs in education, employment, rehabilitation, technology, gender, youth, and environmental sustainability aligned with the CDPD and Agenda 2030.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ULAC is a regional non-governmental organization that represents and advocates for the rights of blind and low-vision people across 19 Latin American countries. It delivers its mission through advocacy at international forums (UN, OAS), capacity-building programs, accessible technical publications (rehabilitation manuals, Braille pedagogy guides, mathematical Braille codes), and a digital library of accessible resources for member organizations and the wider tiflological movement.

Product overview

Unión Latinoamericana de Ciegos (ULAC) is a non-governmental organization that represents and articulates organizations of blind and low-vision people in Latin America. ULAC does not offer a unified technology product but rather a portfolio of programs, publications, and services focused on rights advocacy and inclusion. Its main offerings include the Digital Library containing rehabilitation manuals (Manual de Rehabilitación), Braille teaching resources (Criterios pedagógicos, Código Matemático Unificado), and climate change guides. The organization also facilitates events, congresses, and regional assemblies, and coordinates with allied organizations like FOAL, ICEVI, and WBU for project implementation. The portfolio centers on advocacy resources, educational materials, and accessibility publications rather than a traditional product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Manual de Rehabilitación para Personas con Discapacidad Visual de América Latina (Spanish edition) Technical rehabilitation guide developed by ULAC and ICEVI Latinoamérica with FOAL support, covering approaches, methodologies and guidance for strengthening rehabilitation services and promoting autonomy and inclusion of people with visual disabilities in Latin America.
• Manual de Reabilitação para Pessoas com Deficiência Visual da América Latina (Portuguese edition) Portuguese version of the rehabilitation manual translated by Sarah Marques from ONCB, containing 459 pages of strategies, methodologies and tools for promoting autonomy and full participation of people with visual disabilities in Portuguese-speaking Latin America.
• Criterios pedagógicos para la enseñanza del Braille a personas adultas ciegas Methodological guidelines document to facilitate accessible and effective literacy processes for adults. Promotes an inclusive approach that strengthens autonomy, meaningful learning and the right to education throughout life.
• Código Matemático Unificado para Iberoamérica (2nd edition) Establishes common criteria for writing and teaching mathematics in Braille in the region. Updated second edition to strengthen accessibility and equitable learning of mathematics for blind people.
• Enseñanza del sistema Braille a personas con visión Basic guidelines for teachers, family members and volunteers to learn Braille for support and transcription purposes. Highlights the importance of the system, its codes and integration with new technologies.
• Guía sobre cómo elaborar materiales informativos sobre cambio climático Inclusive guide on disaster risk management developed by ULAC through the Green Grants project, presenting an inclusive perspective on climate change and environmental sustainability for people with visual disabilities.
• Conocimientos fundamentales para el ejercicio de la enseñanza del sistema Braille Publication by the Ibero-American Braille Council that brings together fundamental knowledge for teaching the Braille system.
• Compilación de Cuentos - Concurso Braille y Punto Anthology of stories published in 2026 by ULAC within the 'Braille y Punto' contest, gathering stories by and for people with visual disabilities.
• Biblioteca Digital y Recursos Open digital library offering manuals, publications, accessible materials and technical documents for knowledge, training and action in the field of visual disability in Latin America.
• Informe 'Nuestras Voces: Memoria, resistencia y futuro del movimiento tiflológico latinoamericano' Report produced through a regional active listening process during 2025-2026, documenting the realities, challenges and strategic directions of the tiflological movement across Latin America. Initiated by the Second Vice Presidency of ULAC within the framework of the Strategic Plan 2025-2028.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rehabilitation Manual published and disseminated in Spanish (2023) and Portuguese (2026), 459 pages, developed jointly with ICEVI Latinoamérica and FOAL — serving as the primary technical reference for rehabilitation professionals across the region.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

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 secondary.

• Fundación ONCE para América Latina (FOAL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFOAL (Fundación ONCE para la Solidaridad con las Personas Ciegas de América Latina) is ULAC's principal strategic ally and funder. Created in 1998 by ONCE (Spain), FOAL supports ULAC programs across education, professional training, labor insertion, youth leadership, institutional strengthening, and technology access. ULAC's President Gladys Díaz, Secretary General Elizabeth Campos, and other leaders frequently coordinate with FOAL's director Estefanía Mirpuri. FOAL co-funded the ÁGORA Labor Inclusion Program (20th anniversary in 2026) and supported the IX Congress and XI Assembly in Lima 2024. FOAL also supported the WBU-funded project to strengthen blind women's leadership in ULAC's 2024 Congress.
• ICEVI LatinoaméricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerICEVI Latinoamérica (International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment) is a regional non-profit that works to improve educational resources for people with visual disabilities. ICEVI and ULAC jointly developed the Manual de Rehabilitación para Personas con Discapacidad Visual en América Latina (published in Spanish 2023, Portuguese 2026), 459 pages. ICEVI also participates in the Braille Commission's Technical Committee on Pedagogy. Gladys Correa serves as President of ICEVI Latinoamérica.
• Unión Mundial de Ciegos (UMC / WBU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe World Blind Union is ULAC's global counterpart, representing blind and low-vision people at the international level. ULAC collaborated with WBU on a project to strengthen blind women's leadership at the 2024 ULAC Congress and Assembly, providing funding for travel, accommodation, and participation of female delegates from member countries. WBU co-supports ULAC's participation in UN forums.
• International Blind Sports Association (IBSA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerULAC signed a cooperation agreement with IBSA to promote sport as a right for people with visual disabilities, expanding organizations' knowledge of the sports agenda and supporting the identification of needs by country. Although some planned actions remained pending, the sustained dialogue established a foundation for future collaboration and left a legacy of a more strategic approach to sport within ULAC.
• Red Latinoamericana de Organizaciones de Personas con Discapacidad y sus Familias (RIADIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIADIS is a regional network of disability organizations present in approximately 19 countries, and is the regional member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA). ULAC's President Gladys Díaz participated in the 56th OAS General Assembly representing the Coalition for the Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, of which ULAC and RIADIS are both members. ULAC participates in joint advocacy initiatives with RIADIS at regional and international levels.
• Federación Internacional de Asociaciones de Bibliotecarios e Instituciones (IFLA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerULAC established a formal cooperation agreement with IFLA to strengthen regional collaboration, particularly oriented toward promoting the entry into force and implementation of the Marrakech Treaty, with impact on access to culture, education, and information for blind and low-vision people.
• Centro Regional para el Fomento del Libro en América Latina y el Caribe (CERLALC-UNESCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERLALC-UNESCO works on creating conditions for the development of reading societies in Latin America and the Caribbean. ULAC collaborates with CERLALC on promoting the Marrakech Treaty implementation, developing joint messages, awareness-raising, and coordination with actors in the publishing and cultural sectors. A 2019 joint communication (3 December 2019) on Braille and the Marrakech Treaty is cited as a reference document. ULAC also partnered with CERLALC to publish a practical guide on accessible materials production.
• Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerULAC has been a registered civil society organization with the OAS since June 2015. This enables ULAC to participate in OAS General Assemblies, deliver civil society statements, and engage in regional policy processes. ULAC President Gladys Díaz delivered a statement at the 56th OAS General Assembly (June 2026, Panama) on inclusive development.
• Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerULAC holds special consultative status with UN ECOSOC since 2016. ULAC has participated as a permanent observer at the CRPD Conference of States Parties since 2015, and in September 2013 participated in the UN High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development. ULAC organized a parallel event at COSP18 (June 2025) on artificial intelligence, information access, and autonomy, and a parallel event at COSP19 (June 2026) on care systems and leadership of people with visual disabilities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Fundação Dorina Nowill: Brazilian foundation dedicated to inclusion of people with visual disabilities; produces accessible books and runs rehabilitation and education programs. Operates within Brazil — one of ULAC's largest member countries — and shares the LATAM tiflological movement context and donor ecosystem.

Direct peers

• African Union of the Blind (AFUB): Continental advocacy body representing blind and low-vision people across African Union member states, comparable to ULAC in continental scope, federated structure, and multilateral engagement. Both are WBU regional members pursuing rights-based advocacy in their respective continents.
• World Blind Union (WBU): Global umbrella organization representing approximately 253 million blind and partially sighted people worldwide. ULAC is WBU's Latin American regional member; both organizations share the same member-driven advocacy structure, pursue CRPD-aligned advocacy at the UN, and co-fund programming such as blind women's leadership at the 2024 Congress.
• Fundación ONCE para América Latina (FOAL): Latin American foundation created by ONCE Spain in 1998 to support blind and low-vision people in the region. ULAC's principal strategic ally and co-implementer of the ÁGORA Labor Inclusion Program and the 459-page rehabilitation manuals, with substantially overlapping programmatic mandate and donor network.
• European Blind Union (EBU): Regional advocacy umbrella for blind and low-vision people across 46 European countries, structurally analogous to ULAC's role in Latin America. Both operate as membership-based federations of national blind organizations pursuing UN CRPD-aligned advocacy and accessibility policy reform.

Broad incumbents

• ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles): Spanish national organization of the blind and parent of FOAL (ULAC's principal ally). ONCE operates a comprehensive service-delivery, employment, and advocacy model for blind people in Spain that ULAC's ÁGORA program and broader regional architecture mirror at a Latin American scale.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB): Largest US-based membership advocacy organization for blind Americans, with approximately 50,000 members. Comparable to ULAC in member-driven advocacy model and CRPD-aligned policy focus, with deeper program scale, longer institutional history (1940), and a substantially larger operating budget.
• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): UK's leading sight loss charity, providing advocacy, accessible publications, and direct services for blind and partially sighted people. Offers a developed-economy equivalent of ULAC's regional advocacy mission, with comparable programmatic breadth across employment, education, and accessibility policy.
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): US national nonprofit established in 1921 focused on expanding possibilities for people with vision loss through research, advocacy, and publications. Comparable to ULAC as a regional/national advocacy and knowledge body, though more established, US-focused, and broader in programmatic scope.

Emerging players

• ICEVI (International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment): Global organization focused on education of people with visual impairment; jointly produced the Rehabilitation Manual with ULAC and FOAL. Comparable in mission and overlapping in regional leadership but narrower in programmatic scope, focused specifically on education rather than the full advocacy portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0mKqutuxiL2EJeky7e0thA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ULACDigital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ulacdigital
• Instagraminstagram.com/ulac.digital
• Xx.com/UlacDigital

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Unión Latinoamericana de Ciegos