Fundación ONCE was founded and launched into society in September of 1988 as an instrument of
cooperation and solidarity from the Spanish blind towards other collectives of people with disabilities in order
to improve their living conditions. The principal objective of Fundación Once is to implement programmes of
work-related training and employment for the social inclusion of people with disabilities, and the promotion
of universal accessibility through the creation of universally accessible environments, products and services.
Fundación ONCE it is one of the main social entities in Spain that works in the field of the inclusion of persons
with disabilities and all Spanish public entities related to disability are represented in its Board of Trustees.
Any person with Spanish nationality affected by a physical, mental, or sensory disability, in accordance with
the current regulations and legal qualifications for disability, is a potential beneficiary of the Foundation.
Entities with Spanish nationality, with corporate legal status, that in accordance with their articles of
association, develop an activity which coincides with that carried out by Fundación Once, may also be
potential beneficiaries.
The Board of Trustees of the Fundación Once also includes CERMI (Comité Español de Representantes de las
Personas con Discapacidad – The Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disability), a platform
which unites the principal organizations for disabled people in Spain, many of them specific to one
autonomous community, bringing together more than 3,000 associations and entities, which represent the
3.8 million people with disabilities and their families that exist in Spain.
Fundación Once has also developed a strategy regarding University and Disability in order to promote actions
that encourage the participation of persons with disabilities in the
University.The “Unit of Programs with Universities and the Promotion of Young Talent” is in charge of carrying out the
Strategy on University and Disability of Fundación Once, with the objective of advancing in inclusive
education, and the inclusion of young persons with disabilities in the university environment.
In order to achieve this objective, programs and actions are developed for three main reasons: to facilitate
access to higher education, promote the academic development of young university students, and promote
employability and skills to facilitate professional careers in qualified jobs and social leadership.
