World Access for the Blind supports the idea that blindness is not as disabling as is commonly believed. Barriers to functioning associated with blindness arise more from poor interaction between blind people and society than from intrinsic deficiency. We characterize blindness as a condition of life style with specific challenges requiring a strong capacity to adapt. Blindness should not deny access to all the experiences and opportunities of the WORLD. In this spirit we proceed with two convictions:

NO LIMITS: While everyone faces limits, we assert that limits should not be imposed or presumed upon anyone. We all, blind or not, should enjoy the freedom and strength of character to seek and discover our own limits and strengths.

NO DIFFERENCE: Blind people possess the same needs as everyone else - to be free from undue restriction, to be capable and competent, to know a sense of camaraderie and belonging to the world, and to respect themselves and draw the respect of others. They hold the same ambitions and dreams as others, and are nourished by the same hope and assurance that they can achieve these aspirations. Blind people can achieve the same quality of life as sighted people when they gain the same freedom to access the world as sighted people.

We do not settle for the minimum requirements for functioning, but instead reach for the limits beyond our limits. Our goal for our students is that they understand that they have the ability to direct their own lives rich with quality, promise, and as much excitement and intrigue as they could wish for. They need not rely on the good graces of others, but can make it on their own good graces, and share these graces in a worthy manner with others.