The Missouri Council of the Blind (MCB) is Missouri's premier advocacy organization for blind and visually impaired residents. Since our founding in 1956, we have championed equal rights, expanded opportunities, and built a statewide community where blind Missourians lead, connect, and thrive.
The Missouri Council of the Blind promotes the general well-being of legally blind people in Missouri, working to ensure blind Missourians have equal access to education, employment, technology, and community participation. We fulfill our mission through seven core assistance programs, statewide education and advocacy, and a network of peer mentorship spanning 15+ local and special-interest affiliates.
To give every blind Missourian an opportunity to contribute socially and economically to society — with the same expectations for success as all other Missourians.
MCB's work is built on three interconnected pillars that together form a complete support system for blind Missourians.
MCB's seven assistance programs provide direct financial support to legally blind Missourians — from adaptive technology grants and educational scholarships to summer camp, white cane access, and emergency special services. Whether a blind child needs adapted educational materials or a blind adult needs help purchasing a screen reader, MCB has a program to help.
Explore All ProgramsBlind Missourians are directly affected by legislation and public policy every day. MCB works with local, state, and national government officials to protect the legal rights of the blind community, advocate for accessible infrastructure, and advance policies that promote independence and inclusion. Each spring, MCB members participate in Legislative Days in Jefferson City to bring their lived experience directly to Missouri lawmakers.
Transportation AdvocacyWith 7 local affiliates and several special-interest affiliates across Missouri, MCB brings members together for mutual support, shared learning, and lifelong connection. Our affiliates serve communities from St. Louis and Kansas City to Springfield, Joplin, Cape Girardeau, and rural Missouri. No blind Missourian should navigate vision loss alone.
Find a Local AffiliateMCB was officially founded in 1956 at a spring convention in Missouri — but the roots of organized blind advocacy in Missouri run much deeper. Prior to the formal founding, a loosely organized network of local clubs existed across the state, including the Allied Workers of the Blind in Kansas City, the Joplin Service Club, the Springfield Service Club, and the United Workers for the Blind in St. Louis.
At the 1956 founding convention, the organization was originally named the Missouri Federation of the Blind (MFB), adopting a new constitution and electing its first president, Laura Welle. Over the following decades, the organization grew in membership, affiliates, and programs — adding summer camp in 1973, the Health Benefits program in 1979, and eventually evolving into the Missouri Council of the Blind.
Look Media International has maintained and hosted the moblind.org domain on behalf of MCB since 2004. The current website rebuild reflects both MCB's 70th anniversary milestone and its commitment to serving blind Missourians with a fully accessible, modern online presence.
2026 marks the 70th anniversary of MCB's official founding. Today, MCB continues to serve thousands of blind and visually impaired Missourians through a growing network of affiliates, an expanding suite of programs, and an increasingly diverse membership community that includes both lifelong advocates and newly diagnosed individuals finding their footing with vision loss.
Allied Workers of the Blind (Kansas City), Joplin Service Club, Springfield Service Club, and United Workers for the Blind (St. Louis) lay the groundwork.
Spring convention establishes the organization. Laura Welle elected first president. Constitution adopted.
Annual accessible summer camp begins — a cornerstone program still running today.
MCB expands financial assistance programs to include health benefits support for members.
Look Media International begins hosting moblind.org, bringing MCB's resources online for blind Missourians statewide.
ACB honors MCB with First Place for Most Accessible Website, Most Functional Website, and Best PR Content at the 51st National Convention in Louisville.
New fully accessible moblind.org launches. MCB celebrates 70 years at the Annual Convention, October 2026, Bridgeton, MO.
In 2012, the American Council of the Blind honored MCB's moblind.org website with four national awards at ACB's 51st National Conference and Convention in Louisville, Kentucky:
These awards reflect MCB's long-standing commitment to accessibility and digital inclusion — values that guide the current website rebuild.
The Missouri Council of the Blind is a proud state affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) , the nation's leading membership organization for blind and visually impaired Americans. Through this national affiliation, MCB members have access to ACB programs, conventions, and advocacy resources while contributing to a unified national voice for the rights of blind Americans.
In 2025, the ACB national convention was held in Dallas, where MCB members Wilma Chestnut-House, Robyn Wallen, and Tarika Walton received ACB Lifetime Membership Awards — recognition of their decades of service to Missouri's blind community.
In 2026, the ACB national convention returns to St. Louis — the same year as MCB's 70th Annual State Convention — making it an extraordinary milestone year for Missouri's blind community.
MCB is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that respects and values diversity. The organization prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law — applying this policy to all members, staff, volunteers, and program participants.
Read Our Full Non-Discrimination PolicyMeet the elected leaders who guide MCB's mission and strategy.
Meet the Board7 local chapters across Missouri — find the one nearest you.
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