Kirk Adams

On behalf of everyone at AFB, I wish you health and happiness this year. You’ve helped us start 2022 with an outpouring of support and a successful Matching Gift Challenge. Now, the work begins anew in our second century of breaking down barriers so we can create a world with no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired. You can follow our progress on Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn and catch up on a healthy dose of our commentary on our blog. We’ll have lots of interesting…

Throughout the American Foundation for the Blind's 100-year history, we have confronted challenges and overcome obstacles in the name of a singular, overarching goal: to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or have low vision. It has been an honor to present the Centennial Conversation series, underscoring the theme of inclusivity that we strive to make an everyday reality. We can’t tell you how much your engagement, thoughtful questions, and positive feedback have meant to…

Hi there, As a man who is completely blind, I have personally benefited from the progress that AFB has made possible. I have also experienced a world of limits. When I was five years old, my retinas detached and I lost my eyesight. I was sent to a state residential school where I learned how to read and write braille, travel with a white cane, and type on a typewriter. I was taught to love myself, my body, and what it could do. Everything was possible: hiking, horseback riding, and even…

Every January 4, we celebrate the birthday of Louis Braille, who developed his famous braille code when he was only a teenager. As an avid braille reader myself, I am proud of the American Foundation for the Blind's enduring commitment to fostering braille literacy throughout the 100 years of our existence. In the early days of our organization, AFB worked hard to standardize the English braille code, knowing that would make it cheaper and easier to produce. Our first CEO, Dr. Robert Irwin,…

I was 29 years old when the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. I was working in finance – only later in my career would I enter the non-profit sector – so at that time, I was largely unaware of its passing. As a young child, I’d attended the Oregon School for the Blind, but from third grade on I attended public schools and had to muscle my way through. It was very sink or swim. This was even before the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which made available…

Dear Friends: I wanted to take a moment to thank you. After making the decision earlier this week to cancel our events, we received an outpouring of positive messages and support from so many of you. Your kindness and understanding at this time mean more than we can express. Our community has always been strong and incredibly generous, but this week, we were reminded of just how strong our bonds are. From those of you who donated your registration fees and gala tickets back to us, to our…

As a means of consuming literature, learning, and communicating, braille has remained the biggest game changer in the history of inventions for people who are blind. It is only fitting then, that we celebrate the United Nations' recent resolution designating January 4 of every year as World Braille Day. As a braille user myself, I can say firsthand that those tiny tactile dots represent so much more than the sum of their parts—they are a gateway to independence for people who are blind or…

Image left to right, M. R. Barnett, American Foundation for the Blind, Executive Director, Helen Keller and Eric T. Boulter, American Foundation for the Overseas Blind, Field Director. Celebrating Helen's 75th birthday with cake, 1955. Kirk Adams here, President of the American Foundation for the Blind. I am humbled and honored to be the leader of the organization that Helen Keller championed for 44 years from 1924 until her death in 1968. Like Helen, I too am blind, and I too am keenly…

Kirk Adams is president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. This week we announced a partnership with the American Printing House for the Blind to carry on the award-winning web programs AFB has created, so that the American Foundation for the Blind can focus its full attention on creating a more inclusive and accessible society for millions of Americans with vision loss. Last year, we set out to create a new strategic plan for AFB’s future. We recognized a need to refocus our…