Blindness is no respecter of persons. It strikes without regard to race, religion, sex or nationality. In the United States, more than 25 million people age 18 and older are blind or have severe visual impairments that cause them to make adjustments in their careers and everyday living situations. The mission of World Services for the Blind (WSB) is to empower people who are blind or visually impaired in the United States and around the world to achieve sustainable independence.

WSB was founded by Roy Kumpe in 1947 to serve blind or visually impaired people who needed to learn independent living skills or job training skills tailored to the special requirements of their individual visual impairments. The goal of WSB then, and today, is to empower blind or visually impaired people to achieve sustainable independence through life skills, career training and community access. Since its birth, WSB has served more than 16,000 people from all 50 states and 59 countries.

Through the years, WSB has gradually expanded its services is now recognized as the most comprehensive rehabilitation center in the world, offering:

• Comprehensive Blindness skills training

• Personal adjustment to blindness services with a Licensed Master Social Worker

• Multiple vocational courses, career tracks and stackable certificate options

• An assistive technology learning center

• Job placement assistance

• A college preparatory program

• Year round transitional age services

• Remote learning through a robust Learning Management System

• Facilitated learning curriculum partnerships throughout the United States

• Serve as consultants to projects located throughout the world to duplicate service across the globe
  

  WSB is financed through gifts from both groups and individuals, by the tuition paid by state rehabilitation agencies that purchase training services from WSB for their clients, and through grants.

Students participating in residential programs at  WSB will live in dorms on  the WSB campus. The campus is located on a full city block between 28th and 29th streets on Fair Park Boulevard in a residential area near the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The campus is comprised of six two-story buildings surrounding a tree-shaded courtyard. On-campus housing is available for 51 people in our women’s and men’s dormitories and in two independent-living apartments. Students on our campus are provided 3 meals a day and are provided with a room and a shared bathroom. Cleaning supplies are provided and students will be taught how to keep rooms clean. Students have access to laundry facilities on campus. WSB staff will teach and aid individuals doing their laundry or cleaning rooms. Students who stay on campus will  learn strong time management skills and gain skills that will help them lead independent lives. All students take a financial literacy course and learn to exhibit good financial health. Students will also take part in workforce development (see the last section of each program for more details.) Students will be expected to dress professionally for classes. Students will also learn accountability and be expected to take responsibility for their actions in and out of the classroom.

Whether you are a person who is blind or visually impaired, a professional worker in the blindness field, a Lions Club member or someone interested in blindness, we cordially invite you to visit our center and meet our professional and capable staff. We think you will find that WSB is committed to serving people who are blind or visually impaired from all around the world, and that you will agree with Helen Keller that, “Alone, we can do so little. Together, we can do so much.”

World Services for the Blind provides equal employment and educational opportunities to all employees, applicants and potential clients without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment and client enrollment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.


World Services for the Blind expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee or client harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of World Services for the Blind’s employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.