English version

The Polish Association of the Blind is the oldest organization working for the blind and visually impaired. We associate almost 2.7 thousand people, with a severe or moderate degree of disability due to sight, in our District. We have 29 field units throughout the Greater Poland Province, thanks to which our charges have easier access and can deal with current affairs near their place of residence. In each regional organization there is a board selected from among the local community. They are leaders who work for their circle socially. We associate our members for the purpose of their social integration, rehabilitation, protection of professional interests, economic and social interests, and counteracting their discrimination. The Association represents its members before the supreme bodies of the Polish State, government administration and local government, and other institutions. The organization carries out its tasks through cooperation with other organizations associating the blind or acting on their behalf, workplaces, associations, foundations and natural persons. In the District’s office, we employ specialist staff (spatial orientation rehabilitator, environmental rehabilitator, typhlo-pedagogue) with extensive experience. Our activity allows for the liberation of the life of blind and partially sighted people, organizing mutual help and joint activities for weaker colleagues, creating conditions for basic, mental and social rehabilitation.

The goals we set for ourselves are: conducting and collaborating in the rehabilitation of basic, therapeutic, social and occupational needs of the blind people by organizing various forms of rehabilitation; providing counseling in the field of rehabilitation, employment, forms of education, entitlements, solving social and living problems; organizing and cooperating in organizing various forms of cultural and artistic activity of the blind, as well as sports, tourism and recreation; promoting employment of the blind, helping to organize the professional blind community, organizing various forms of vocational education and training; conducting training and in-service training for teachers, rehabilitation instructors and other people working with the blind.

In 2004. PZN O / Wlkp. obtained the status of a Public Benefit Organization. As far as possible, we organize for our members:

individual and group training in the field of basic rehabilitation;
cultural meetings with the participation of invited guests;
integration meetings;
walking-hiking;
outdoor trips;
picnics and festivities;
going to the cinema, theater, opera;
holiday meetings;
trainings for parents of blind children;
training for people newly admitted to the PZN;
assistance in completing the PIT tax return;
providing advice on the broadly understood issues of blind people;
training for blind diabetics;
meetings and trainings for the Section of Blind Masseurs;
training for young blind people.

When admitting a new member to the ranks of the PZN, one should follow the provisions of the statute of the Polish Association of the Blind.

Who can become a member of the Polish Association of the Blind ?

An ordinary member of the Polish Association of the Blind may be a natural person who is over 18 years of age and, due to the state of sight, has been recognized by the competent adjudication panel as severely or moderately disabled with the code O4-O, or has been recognized by another adjudicating body as completely incapable of work, or completely unable to work and live independently due to sight. Valid judgments regarding classification to the 1st or 2nd group of disabled persons due to the state of sight, issued on the basis of the regulations in force before September 1-st 1997, also entitle to membership in the Association.

A person under care may be a natural person: under the age of 18, who has been recognized by the competent adjudicating panel as disabled due to the state of eyesight, or a person who is over 18 years of age and cannot perform the duties of an ordinary member due to his or her health condition. Members under their care have all the rights, except for the active and passive voting rights. A foreigner may also be an ordinary member and under the care of the association, provided that he or she resides permanently or periodically in the territory of Poland and has a relevant decision. An extraordinary member may be a natural person acting on the basis of voluntary work for the Association. An honorary member may be a natural person who has contributed to the performance of the Association’s statutory tasks.

A candidate for a PZN member must have a documented damage to eyesight by an appropriate certificate. The certificate concerning the disease entity or the diopter power of the glasses does not constitute the basis for admission to the Association. There is no degree of disability in children under the age of 16. A child with a congenital or acquired eye defect that significantly limits its efficiency, i.e. a reduction in the acuity in the better eye to 5/25 or 0.2 according to the Snellen scale, after correcting the visual defect with corrective lenses, or limiting the visual field to 30°

is considered disabled.

PZN card the ID card of the Polish Association of the Blind is a document confirming that a PZN member belongs to the organization. The Polish Association of the Blind issues ID cards to: ordinary members and members under its care. The card of the student under the care of the student under 16 does not include the degree of disability, and the card of the child under 4 does not require a photo. The rights resulting from the possession of the PZN card The basic right resulting from the possession of the PZN card is the possibility of using all forms of help and support offered by the Association. In addition, the PZN ID card is a document confirming the right to use reduced fees on journeys by public transport in many cities in Poland. For example, in Poznań, blind people with a significant or moderate degree of disability who have a PZN card have also the right to free travel by public transport with a guide. It should be emphasized that in each city in Poland, the issue of honoring the PZN card may be different. The ID card is also honored when documenting the right to be exempt from broadcast receiving license fees and exemption from climate tax.