Focal Point
AFB Honors Trailblazers for Media Inclusion
The celebration recognized renowned filmmaker Shawn Levy for his recent Netflix series All the Light We Cannot See, actor and advocate Marilee Talkington for her achievements on stage and screen, and Lucasfilm’s Michael Kohn for his leadership in expanding audio description across one of Disney’s strongest brands.
Over 100 guests from the blindness field and entertainment industry celebrated the achievements of these outstanding individuals who continue to open doors for artists with disabilities and bring inclusive media to a global audience.
The evening concluded with a special screening of AFB’s documentary, Possibilities, with a surprise introduction from past Helen Keller awardee Stevie Wonder. AFB thanks all the sponsors and contributors who made this year’s event a roaring success.
AFB Spotlight
Campaign for Digital Inclusion Gains Ground with ADA Title II Final Rule from DOJ
Advocates have been awaiting the regulatory update for over 14 years, and AFB applauds the administration for its work to strengthen digital inclusion by aligning Title II of the ADA with current best practices for web and app accessibility.
“AFB was a leader within the cross-disability coalition advocating for this rule and submitting comments to the Department. We are thrilled our recommendations were noted throughout the final rule’s explanation,” said AFB's Chief Public Policy & Research Officer Stephanie Enyart. “The proposed rule contained exceptions that would have been devastating to the educational rights blind people have. The Department listened carefully and was convinced by the solidarity of hundreds of disability organizations banding together to file an influential public comment.”
AFB’s research on education during the pandemic, the Access and Engagement series, was also referenced in the Department’s rationale for the long-awaited regulatory refresh. More information on the rule is available on the AFB blog.
AFB Showcase
AFB Film Possibilities Screens at AV Film Fest
AFB is excited to share that the AFB award-winning documentary film, Possibilities, was featured in the 10th annual AV Film Fest, held April 28th in Napa Valley, California. The film screening took place at Longboard Vineyards with a special panel featuring AFB’s Eric Bridges, Melody Goodspeed, and the film’s director, Bill Sarine. After the screening, a special meet-and-greet was hosted by AFB for festival participants. AFB Co-Chair Diane Fazzi and Trustees Sharon Giovinazzo and Sarah Herrlinger joined Bridges and Goodspeed to help raise awareness and garner support for the film. Thanks to all those who traveled from the greater San Francisco region and beyond to participate in this special event.
AFB Cornerstone
Remembering Gil Johnson
In each issue of AFB’s Focus, we recognize a member of the AFB family who had a lasting impact on the field. Gil Johnson passed away on March 25, 2024. For over 12 years, Mr. Johnson was known as an innovator and leader in the employment and rehabilitation of people who are blind.
After joining AFB in 1992, he served as its Senior Advisor on Critical Issues and was Director of AFB’s National Employment Center.
“Gil exuded joy, curiosity, humor, and a zest for life, creating opportunities not only for blind people but for all people, as he encouraged and inspired everyone to pursue their dreams and best selves,” said AFB Chief Personnel and Operating Officer Sonya Shiflet, reflecting on her interactions with Mr. Johnson from when she joined AFB in 1993 to his retirement in 2008. “From notable contributions to the field of blindness, blind people, and those who serve them to the smiles his memory still inspires, Gil’s was a life that mattered.”
Mr. Johnson was a past recipient of the John H. McAulay Award from the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and had been recognized as one of California’s top 50 notable people.
What's on the Horizon
Editorial Changes Underway for JVIB
After nine years at the helm of AFB’s Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB), Dr. Sandra Lewis has expressed her desire to step down as the journal’s editor-in-chief, handing the wheel over to the journal’s long-time research editor, Dr. Robert Wall Emerson, who will take up the role in July 2024.
“The hallmark of Dr. Lewis’s tenure as editor-in-chief of the journal has been the warmth and dignity in her interactions with the journal’s editors, reviewers, and authors. Her steady leadership, including through moments of uncertainty, her ability to make difficult decisions, and her capacity as an editor has helped shape the literature of the field in countless, meaningful ways that will never be forgotten,” said AFB President & CEO Eric Bridges.
Dr. Wall Emerson has served as the journal’s research editor since 2012. As a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) and a teacher of students with visual impairments, he is closely tied to the field and has conducted blindness-related research for over 25 years.
AFB wishes Dr. Lewis the best in her retirement from the journal and congratulates Dr. Emerson on his new role.
Off the AFB Newsstand
Research Roundup for Spring 2024
On May 6, 2024, AFB’s Public Policy & Research Institute (PPRI) published the second phase of its series focusing on web and application accessibility issues.
“The findings in this second phase of our research on digital inclusion truly reveal how time-consuming inaccessible web and mobile applications are for people who rely on assistive technology to perform basic tasks,” said Stephanie Enyart, AFB Chief Public Policy and Research Officer. “This significant amount of additional time lost results in lost productivity and business, which would not have been the case if app developers simply followed the standards for accessibility that are readily available.”
The latest update to PPRI’s ongoing series on digital inclusion, first published in April 2023, documents personal stories as well as statistics to provide a better understanding of the frustrations experienced by users who are blind, deafblind, and low vision when encountering inaccessible content online, through mobile apps, or kiosks.
Among the key findings, researchers discovered users experience an average of 12 obstacles per week, which required an additional 2.4 hours of lost time trying to navigate the inaccessible platform. This was double the time needed to perform online tasks without barriers.
In addition to publishing the latest update to its series on barriers to digital inclusion, PPRI has recently updated AFB’s demographics and statistical data published on the AFB website. This data helps inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in the field. Visit the Statistical Snapshots from the American Foundation for the Blind page at www.afb.org/statistics to check out the latest data encompassing blindness and low vision.
