The main reason at first behind the creation of the ONCE was to provide decent jobs to individuals with blindness or severe visual impairment. Later on, once this goal was completely achieved, its current fundamental philosophy —apart from maintaining the employment levels reached steady — focuses on providing specialised services to their over 70,000 members.

"A comprehensive range of social activities in which ONCE invests over € 140 million each year"

Personal autonomy, education, employment, access to culture and sports, leisure and holiday packages, care of the elderly, research and adaptation of new technologies, blindness prevention, etc. A comprehensive range of social activities in which ONCE invests over € 140 million each year.

In order to carry out this activity, the Organisation employs over 1,500 specialised professionals, including educators, teachers and trainers, psychologists, rehabilitation experts, Tiphlology (technology for the blind) instructors, social and cultural entertainers, social workers, sports coaches, etc. All these activities are successfully developed thanks to a network of centres nationwide: 5 Educational Resource Centres, 17 Regional Departments, 16 Directorates,1 University School of Physiotherapy, 1 Guide Dog School, etc.