AFB Blog

It's been no secret that here at AFB, we're all pretty big fans of Christine Ha, the visually impaired contestant (and now, champion) of FOX's MasterChef, which concluded last night. As winner, Christine takes home some pretty sweet prizes—$250,000 and a cookbook deal—perfect for a person who describes herself as both a cook and a writer! Join us in congratulating Christine on this wild achievement, and if you haven't been keeping up with MasterChef or Christine's progress, here are two…

[Editor's Note: The following post is authored by Dr. Lauren Lieberman. Dr. Lieberman is a graduate of Oregon State in the Movement Studies in Disabilities Program, and is currently a Distinguished Service Professor at SUNY Brockport in the area of Adapted Physical Education. Dr. Lieberman is the founder of Camp Abilities, a developmental sports camp for children with visual impairments. She is also co-author of the upcoming AFB Press book Physical Education and Sports for People with Visual…

An Email Today'll Keep the Waiver Away! A while back, lobbyists representing the highly lucrative gaming technology industry filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeking a formal waiver from any requirement stemming from the landmark 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), ensuring key communications features, such as text chat and other forms of electronic messaging included with their gaming technologies, will be accessible. While the…

Neil Armstrong recently passed away, and the United States lost a great hero. I can't say that I saw his walk on the moon because I wasn't alive—but, I have seen the clips, and heard his immortal words. With Armstrong's passing, I started thinking about when we will see a person who is blind or visually impaired being launched into space. On these space missions, there are very specific roles for the personnel onboard. With all of the efforts and focuses on S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology,…

We at AFB have the unwavering belief in the capabilities of people with vision loss, and we hold the philosophy that blind and visually impaired people can and do live and work with dignity and success alongside their sighted peers. We believe that people with vision loss can contribute in so many ways to their communities, to their families, and to society as a whole. Because of these beliefs, we sometimes overlook or underemphasize that the onset of vision loss can be devastating to those…

A few weeks back, you might have seen features on ABC's Good Morning America, CNN, and other media outlets about the Miss Florida USA, contestant with a visual impairment called Stargardt's Disease. You may have heard that Connor Boss finished fourth overall in the competition, but won a few hearts and opened some eyes along the way. I saw her interview on Good Morning America and loved her upbeat attitude about life and her vision loss. Just from witnessing a few interviews that she…

[Editor's Note: the following post comes in response to the recent New York Times article, "With Changes in New York's Streets, More Hurdles for the City's Blind Pedestrians" and is authored by Dan Aronoff. Dan is a licensed social worker (LMSW) currently looking for work helping people with disabilities. He also happens to be New York's premier blind food critic. Check out his blog at blindtastetest.net, and follow him on Twitter at @blindblog.] Optimism is essential, in my opinion, for…

This past weekend, I had one of those opportunities I cherish: a chance to talk to parents of children who are blind or visually impaired. I love these opportunities, partly because I get to talk about all the things my parents got right in helping me achieve independence as a blind person. A lot of it they did on instinct and good judgment, following a few good words of advice from, believe it or not, the surgeon who removed my eyes as an infant. His parting advice was direct and profound.…

On July 26, the 22nd anniversary of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is considering whether to recommend that the Senate ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Now is the time for all advocates to urge each of your two Senators to support the CRPD when it comes before the Senate. While the Foreign Relations Committee is expected to report the CRPD out favorably, clearing it for Senate floor…