Known by its initials ANCI, it is the first national organization for the Cuban blind. The revolutionary triumph of 1959 in Cuba brought profound transformations in the economic, political and social order.

The blind population, occupying perhaps the last position on the scale of that society, would also undergo profound changes in its existence. Until that time, it had only been possible to organize themselves in small institutions that, basically in the capital, tried to nuclear small groups that with good or regular intentions tried to subsist and get ahead.

The change that began in 1959 would have to come in order to be able to aspire to an organization that would really bring them together in the whole country.

The National Association for the Blind (ANCI) adopted a structure that would allow it to reach all the blind, no matter where they were.

This explains the fact that, starting from the first hundreds of associates incorporated to the Organization during the first moments, at present more than 23,000 members can be counted on. These characteristics make the ANCI internationally considered as one of the most advanced associations of the blind.

The fundamental objective of this Cuban organization is to achieve the incorporation of the blind to social life, which is sought from the comprehensive rehabilitation of the individual. Hence, in the ANCI plans to all instances appear the incorporation to work and education, as well as the practice of various sports disciplines, access to culture and recreation.

The Cuban organization makes efforts that allow it to relate to and take experiences from other similar institutions in the international order. It is not surprising, therefore, that it is part of the concert of countries that make up the Latin American Blind Union (ULAC) and that it also appears as an active member of the World Blind Union (WBU).

It is worth mentioning that the ANCI maintains cordial relations with associations of the blind of other countries, such as those of Spain, Norway, Sweden and others of the American continent.

ANCI has contributed extraordinarily in the transformation and dissemination of the new image of the blind man in Cuba. In the past it was associated with begging, the so-called artist of the town who sang in the bus or simply sitting in an armchair in front of the radio.

The image of today is quite different: they can be found in the work of a workshop or a factory, in front of a typewriter or a computer, teaching a class or forming part of a musical group. It is also possible to recreate before a checkerboard, chess or dominoes, and likewise, at the end of a race on the athletic track or in full swimming competition.

It should be noted that in the various instances of the organizational structure of the ANCI, executive teams are mostly blind or low vision disabled, which has made possible the emergence of a large number of management boards throughout the country, And it is very significant to witness an assembly of affiliated ancestors, to observe how they can freely discuss, analyze and project the work plans that govern the life of their organization.

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