When ICEVI’s Executive Committee met to discuss the venue for the 11th World Conference in there was unanimous agreement. Everyone wanted to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our organization in the Netherlands where ICEVI was founded in 1952. We also wanted to undertake some special activities to mark this occasion, and the idea of a history of ICEVI was discussed and agreed upon.

When the subject turned to who would write such a history, the answer came just as easily as the decision on the venue. The person for the job was Ken Stuckey, whose encyclopedic knowledge of the history of education of blind and low vision persons is near legendary throughout the world.

We are happy that Ken agreed to undertake this task and hope that you will enjoy the fruits of this labor of love.

Anniversaries are an occasion to look backward and forward. This publication looks at our past from which we can draw many important lessons.

When we gather in the Netherlands at the 11th World Conference our discussions will focus on the future. How can ICEVI best contribute to the task of assuring equal access to education for blind and low vision persons wherever they live? That is the challenge we face as we embark on our sixth decade of service and enter a new century.