Dear AccessWorld Readers,
As I'm sure you have all noticed, the days are now growing noticeably shorter. Students have returned to school, and it's now a logical time to begin thinking about work and careers. October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, so next month AccessWorld will take a closer look at employment resources for people with vision loss as well as revisit tried-and-true job search strategies. Of course, we will also look at technology to support and enhance your career and work life.
As I said in last month's Editor's Page, we will be developing additional AccessWorld content in the areas of Employment, Technologies on the Horizon, and Technology Case Studies at major technology companies. We will begin this process in October with an article by Deborah Kendrick that details an employment initiative at BOSMA Enterprises. Employment is an area of significant emphasis at AFB, and AccessWorld will now begin supporting this work at a higher level.
Our mission at AFB, and at AccessWorld, is to expand possibilities for people with vision loss. That is why I and the entire AccessWorld staff investigate, try out, and report on the many aspects of technology we cover. Technology is the "game changer." It is the single most significant tool people with visual impairments have to obtain and maintain independence in every area of our lives, from education, to work, to transportation, to personal finances, to maintaining our homes, to supporting our families, and to reaching our highest level of accomplishment.
AccessWorld publishes technology information for you to use to the best of your ability and in your best interest. We expect and encourage our readers to be information seekers and problem solvers. If there is one thread that runs through every issue of AccessWorld, it is that we are working through these technology challenges together. Don't think for one minute that AccessWorld authors never become frustrated, overwhelmed, and even disappointed by technology. Believe me, it happens to all of us. After cooling off and trying again, though, the "I got it!" moment happens and the challenge becomes worth the effort. It happens for us, and it will happen for you. I encourage you and challenge you to stay with it.
Every article in AccessWorld may not pique your interest or provide the most relevant information for your specific circumstances, so send me your suggestions or questions. You may know of information or resources that we do not. Sharing what you know in a Letter to the Editor may provide another reader with information they need. That is how it works. By sharing information, tools, and tips with one another, we strengthen and empower our entire community, and that is the ultimate goal of AccessWorld.
The AccessWorld team hopes you will read each article in this and every issue to gain as much access information as possible. Please remember to like and share on social media the articles you find most helpful and informative, or send links via email to a specific friend, relative, student, or colleague. As technology is always advancing, we encourage you to stay diligent and proactive in seeking out new access strategies that better meet your situation. Tune in next month as we continue this journey!
Sincerely,
Lee Huffman
AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief
American Foundation for the Blind
