The Professional Blind in Spain

The professional blind (people who use their blindness as a source of income) occupy a special place in Spain. The case shows how social conditions and self-organisation can allow disadvantaged groups to escape from a welfare dependency which is sometimes seen as inevitable. In most western countries, the blind beggars of the middle ages have become today's welfare clients. In Spain, the blind control their own national lottery and thereby have a standard of living higher than many non-blind groups. This outcome reflected a long historical process. During the nineteenth century, the inability of State or Church to provide welfare encouraged the blind to develop their own organizations. These organisations were strengthened during the Franco period. The focus on the lottery stemmed from particular features of the lottery system in Spain.