The National Council of Private Agencies for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCPABVI), was founded in 1987 to provide a forum for Executive Directors/CEO’s of private agencies and organizations specializing in blindness.

Since its founding, the organization has been volunteer driven, meeting twice each year at different locations around the country to promote CEO interaction and education.

NCPABVI is the only organization within blindness with members that represent every aspect of services to people who are blind or visually impaired, including dog guide schools, adult rehabilitation agencies, private residential schools, early intervention and pre-school programs, career placement/employment and manufacturing, membership organizations, advocacy organizations, low vision clinics, and services to those with multiple disabilities.

Extensive strategic planning in 2004 helped NCPABVI members to decide that there was a need for their collective voice to be heard nationally. In 2005, NCPABVI hired its first Chief Executive Officer and opened a national office in St. Louis, Missouri.