Announcing the 2019 AFB Leadership Conference
February 28–March 1, Crystal Gateway Marriott
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is pleased to present the 2019 AFB Leadership Conference, which will cover the most pressing and relevant topics in the field of blindness and offer many opportunities to learn from the best and brightest minds in our field, make new connections, and reunite with old friends.
Held annually, AFBLC attracts established and emerging leaders in the blindness field. Conference attendees include technology experts, corporate representatives, university professors, and researchers. They come from diverse organizations and institutions spanning the public and private sectors.
The conference will have five primary areas of focus, including leadership, aging and visual impairment, education, technology, and employment. We are pleased that the National Rehabilitation and Training Center on blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University will hold its State-of-the-Science conference during AFBLC, presenting research findings on important aspects of employment and visual impairment. An exciting program is being finalized and will be released soon, so please check the AFBLC page for updates. The 2018 AFBLC attracted approximately 400 attendees from 40 states and four countries.
Attendees will receive a special group rate of $195/night at the Crystal Gateway Marriott. Reserve online through our dedicated reservations page. If you prefer to speak with a reservations specialist, please call 888-236-2427 and reference our conference to get the group rate.
If you are interested in sponsorship, advertising, or exhibiting opportunities, please contact Amanda Kolling directly.
The Lighthouse of San Francisco to Begin Accepting Applications for the Holman Prize
The Lighthouse of San Francisco's annual $25,000 prize for ambitious blind people, the Holman Prize, is accepting applications starting January 15.
The Holman Prize provides financial backing for three blind individuals pursuing a project of their own design over the course of a year. These proposals may involve travel, community organizing, athletics, creating art, and more. Since the Lighthouse launched the prize in 2017, they have funded six winners with diverse projects that span from African beekeeping and blind world travel resources, to physical feats like kayaking and extreme triathlons.
The process begins with a challenge: blind applicants must submit a first-round pitch, in the form of a 90-second YouTube video. It's not as daunting as it might sound. More information about the application process can be found on the Holman Prize website.
Please note that submissions for the 2019 Holman Prize close February 28th, 2019 at 12 pm Pacific. The Lighthouse encourages any and all eligible blind adults worldwide to apply, even if they have applied previously.
The American Foundation for the Blind Now Accepting Applications for its 2019 Scholarship Program
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) administers 4 post-secondary education scholarships for up to 8 deserving students who are legally blind. The available scholarships for 2019 are detailed below.
The Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship: Four scholarships of $2,500
Requirements:
- Full-time Undergraduate or Graduate student
- Studying rehabilitation or education of persons who are blind and/or visually impaired
The Paul and Ellen Ruckes Scholarship: Two scholarships of $2,000
Requirements:
- Full time Undergraduate or Graduate student
- Studying engineering or computer, physical, or life sciences
The R.L. Gillette, Gladys C. Anderson, and Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $3,500
Requirements:
- Female undergraduate student
- Studying music
The Delta Gamma Foundation Florence Margaret Harvey Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $1,000
Requirements:
- Undergraduate or graduate student
- Studying rehabilitation or education of persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Visit the AFB scholarships website for further information and to complete an application.
Please direct all scholarship questions to:
Aaron Preece, Scholarship Coordinator, 304-710-3034, apreece@afb.net
Registration Now Open for the 2019 M-Enabling Summit
The M-Enabling Summit, the conference and showcase promoting accessible technology and environments for seniors and users of all abilities, will be held on June 17-19, 2019 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, in Washington, DC. It is the annual meeting place for all who create and contribute to accessible ICT products, services and consumer technologies.
With its 2019 theme of "Accessibility: Transforming Users' Experience," the 2019 M-Enabling Summit will provide a platform for empowering technologies and focus on next-generation innovations and breakthroughs for users of all abilities.
New accessible technologies are rapidly transforming the way users interact with digital interfaces. These technological advances are becoming an essential differentiator in gaining a competitive advantage. The M-Enabling program is designed to give participants the tools, knowledge, and networking opportunities to implement into their everyday lives in this rapidly expanding market of assistive and accessible technologies.
Bringing together professionals, corporations, service organizations, and thought leaders, the M-Enabling Summit is an all-inclusive conference and showcase featuring innovative technology, mobile applications, connected devices, and services for more than one-billion users worldwide.
Registration
The M-Enabling Summit offers a discounted early bird registration rate through April 27th. Register today here.
Bosma Enterprises Earns 2018 Employment Growth Award from National Industries for the Blind
Award Honors Success in Sustaining and Increasing Employment For People Who Are Blind
Bosma Enterprises was honored by National Industries for the Blind (NIB), the nation's largest employment resource for people who are blind, with the 2018 Employment Growth Award. The award recognizes Bosma's efforts to increase employment retention, growth and upward mobility for people who are blind.
"We are proud to provide employment opportunities for Hoosiers who are blind," said Lou Moneymaker, president & CEO of Bosma Enterprises. "There is a 62 percent unemployment rate for people who are blind or visually impaired in Indiana. We know that employment is the foundation of independence making our mission critical to the success of the people we serve. The jobs we create not only bring a paycheck but also hope."
"Bosma Enterprises is doing an outstanding job of creating U.S.-based career opportunities for people who are blind," said NIB President and CEO Kevin Lynch. "This is a great example of the unlimited capabilities of people with vision loss working in Indianapolis and across the country."
Ted Kennedy Jr. Publishes OpEd in the New York Times regarding Benefits of Hiring Individuals with Disabilities
Ted Kennedy Jr., a civil rights advocate for those with disabilities and a Connecticut state senator, was recently published in the New York Times. His OpEd extolled the benefits of hiring those with disabilities as well as the steps certain companies are taking to include more employees with disabilities. Read the full article here.
