AFB Blog

In light of the recent 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand's South Island on Monday, November 14th, and the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan's Honshu Island on Tuesday, November 22nd, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) extends its heartfelt sympathy to all those affected by the initial tremor and aftershocks. To help people with visual impairments, especially older people with vision loss, prepare for similar situations, AFB would like to share a few disaster-…

The American Foundation for the Blind was founded in 1921 to advocate for soldiers blinded or maimed during World War I. From our earliest days, we led the nation in demanding legislative change and inclusion for people with vision loss. AFB has served as a national clearinghouse for information about vision loss, created a forum for blindness service professionals, generated new directions for research and accessible technology, and represented the needs of people with vision loss in the…

It's almost Election Day. People with vision loss can have the greatest impact when everyone takes action, registers, and votes—whether voting early, absentee, or on Election Day, November 8th! First equip yourself by knowing your rights, and the potential impact of voters in the disability community (which outnumbers eligible African American voters and eligible Latino voters). Then, it's time to go vote! Make Sure You're Registered to Vote One easy place to get registered is at vote.org—…

Kirk Adams is president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. For most of us, work is a big part of how we define ourselves and measure our value. For many people with disabilities, it’s also the key to independence. That’s a point worth remembering in October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Finding employment remains a monumental challenge for people with disabilities. And no wonder: A May 2016 study (PDF) by the Perkins School for the Blind found that…

White Cane Day is October 15! Every year since it was first established in 1964, this day has been set aside to celebrate the white cane as a symbol of independence and mobility for people who are blind or visually impaired. In honor of White Cane Day, the American Foundation for the Blind is celebrating across its entire family of sites: The AFB Directory of Services can connect you to agencies around the country that offer orientation and mobility training—the use of systematic…

It's National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! Observed each October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a diverse workforce inclusive of everyone's skills and talents. This year’s theme is "#InclusionWorks." The American Foundation for the Blind is proud to participate in NDEAM every year. Here are some ideas for ways you can use AFB’s resources to celebrate and support a workforce that is fully inclusive of people…

The upcoming presidential debates have me thinking about what I might ask the candidates if I were a debate moderator. It isn’t often that disability issues get front-and-center attention during a nationally televised event like a presidential debate, let alone issues specific to people who are blind or visually impaired. But what if they did? Would I use my opportunity to ask the candidates about their position on the payment of subminimum wages to people with disabilities? Would I ask…

The growing organization and activism of the disability community is successfully getting the attention of candidates running for office. Today's disability policy speech by Hillary Clinton, as well as the media's interest in asking candidates questions about disability policy, represents a significant shift from how the issues we champion have been acknowledged in past presidential elections. In Illinois, a landmark Senate race is taking place between two candidates with physical…

Helen Keller reading braille at her home in Westport, Connecticut. October 1965. I am delighted that the fifth in our series of posts focusing on the Helen Keller Digitization Project is from Mara Mills New York University Associate Professor of Media, Culture and Communication. Mara’s post - on the continued importance of human transcribers - is fascinating and I encourage everyone to read it. Many thanks, Mara! On Helen Keller’s birthday this year, archivist Helen Selsdon wrote a piece…