AFB Staff

It was Thanksgiving 1941, and Helen Keller gave a lecture in Knoxville, Tennessee. She used the occasion to speak about the importance of education and employment for people who are blind. She took the opportunity to deliver a Thanksgiving message, remarking that despite “so much sorrow in the world, there still is so much to be thankful for—brave hearts and minds which understand that only through freedom can mankind truly live.” Just ten days later, Pearl Harbor was attacked and the United…

The American Foundation for the Blind was founded in 1921 to advocate for soldiers blinded during World War I. The organization was formed with the support of M.C. Migel, a philanthropist who wanted to help the large number of veterans who lost their sight in the war. Under his leadership, AFB began its mission to: provide a national clearinghouse for information about vision loss create a forum for blindness service professionals generate new directions for research represent the needs of…

Over a two-day period falling roughly halfway through National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the American Foundation for the Blind held its second employment summit at AT&T’s Dallas headquarters. Fifty-five influencers from various blindness organizations and companies interested in disability inclusion in the workplace participated in the invitation-only summit. Nine major companies were represented, including: AIG Life and Retirement Apple AT&T Bank of America Deloitte…

AFB Director of Knowledge Advancement Programs Megan Aragon was recently a guest on the Reid My Mind podcast. She discusses her own journey with blindness, the advent of the Blind Leaders Development Program, and other assorted topics. The episode is titled “The Making of Blind Leaders.” The Reid My Mind podcast collects stories and profiles of compelling people impacted by all degrees of blindness and disability. Additionally, Producer and Host Thomas Reid explores his own experiences in his…

AFB is on BuzzFeed! In light of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we wanted to spread awareness of some truly great leaders who are blind or visually impaired, that audiences might not be so familiar with. Helen Keller, rightfully, is perhaps the best-known example setter of an individual who left her mark on the world as a leader in political and social change (including and especially her work with the American Foundation for the Blind). But there are countless other…

On September 24, and in light of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, George Abbott, AFB’s Chief Knowledge Advancement Officer, hosted a webinar sponsored by Getting Hired, a recruitment solution dedicated to helping inclusive employers hire professional individuals and veterans with disabilities. The webinar was titled “Hiring & Retaining Talent with Visual Impairments.” George’s presentation included advice and best practices on hiring and retaining people with…

During a recent broadcast of a nationally syndicated radio show, the hosts and listeners of the program took aim at a babysitter who called in and said she was unable to obtain work due to her blindness. Like many in the field of blindness and low vision, we were appalled and disheartened to hear of the public's misconception regarding the abilities of a person with a visual impairment to perform babysitting duties. Despite having the same hopes, dreams, and talents as everyone else, people…

The ability for all Americans to participate in the voting process is vital to ensuring our collective voices across the U.S. are heard. If candidates don't offer accessible websites or platforms for people with disabilities to participate, they nix our right to engage in decisions that impact us. Remember that there are many different types of disabilities and many different types of assistive technologies to help these users. Here are some basic guidelines that will help ensure your campaign…

On June 15, 1917, the US Congress passed the Espionage Act, and that same day anarchists Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman were arrested and sent to prison. The following year, Goldman wrote to Helen Keller from prison. Her penciled letter begins as if she were writing to Helen Keller from her home: “Beloved Comrade I am terribly sorry I did not get the chance to see you again. I wanted so much to know you more intimately and have you know me.” Emma thanks Helen for her support during her…