Focal Point
AFB's New President & CEO Connects With Leaders and Consumers During Spring and Summer Gatherings
The summer season brings opportunities for AFB to engage with the blindness community as consumer advocacy groups hold their annual conventions. AFB is excited to reconnect now that in-person events are back in full swing and AFB’s new President & CEO Eric Bridges is settled into his new role.
Prior to his summer travels, Bridges had a chance to address leaders from the field of blindness and low vision during his first appearance as President & CEO at the annual Helen Keller Achievement Awards and then at AFB’s Leadership Conference, held in Arlington April 19th through the 21st.
During his first public appearance in his new role, Bridges reaffirmed AFB’s work at the start of its second century leading the charge for greater inclusion in the digital age. His recent visits to the blindness consumer conferences and conventions elevated this charge as AFB reconnected with many of its long-time friends, strengthening relationships that have stood for generations.
AFB’s charge for greater digital inclusion was evident in the work of this year’s two recipients of the Helen Keller Achievement Awards. The awards recognized the Hon. Tony Coelho, father of the Americans with Disabilities Act, who has been working closely with AFB on closing the digital divide in the 21st century, and then with Charter Communications, which continues to innovate in the media landscape, leveraging technology in a way to make media more inclusive for people who are blind, have low vision, and for those who are deaf-blind.
Closing the digital divide continues to be a key message AFB underscored as Bridges addressed both membership bodies at the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and National Federation of the Blind (NFB) conventions during the July 4th week. He shared that AFB will be updating its strategic plan this fall, and clearly emphasized that digital inclusion will remain a priority for the organization.
“When the ADA was passed in 1990, we could not have even dreamed how much our world would change for better and for worse as society kick-started the digital revolution of the 21st century,” said Bridges as he reflected on his travels. “We look forward to working with consumers, blindness professionals, policymakers, and industry to assure that we have equal footing in this rapidly changing frontier.”
While at the ACB convention, which took place at the Schaumburg Convention Center just outside of Chicago, AFB welcomed over 100 guests at the return of its annual breakfast. While there, Bridges was also able to connect with the annual AFB scholarship recipients, who also attended the convention. While at the NFB convention in Houston, Bridges connected with many members of the AFB Blind Leaders Alumni Association, who organized a gathering at the NFB convention.
“It’s been wonderful to connect with so many individuals in person again, and to take head-on the challenge for AFB to regain its place as a leading research and advocacy institution committed to creating a world of no limits for people who are blind or have low vision,” added Bridges. "We look forward to leveraging these leading voices from the blindness community as we plot our path forward through the strategic planning process.”
Spotlight
Focus on the Future: 2023 AFB Scholarship Awardees Recognized for Upcoming School Year
In this issue of AFB Focus, we want to spotlight seven outstanding individuals who were awarded scholarships by AFB for the 2023-2024 school year. Each of the students who are blind or have low vision clearly demonstrate a world of no limits, and AFB looks forward to their continued work to change the perceptions of people with disabilities as they succeed in their academic and professional endeavors.
Starting off our awardees for this year is the R.I. Gillette, Gladys C. Anderson and Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship recipient Julia LaGrande of Grand Rapids, Michigan. LaGrande is an entering freshman at Harvard University pursuing a degree in Music and Philosophy. Having played the violin since the age of five, LaGrande has performed as a soloist with the Baroque on Beaver Festival Orchestra, the Kent Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Grand Rapids Classical Orchestra. She has been featured on NPR’s “From the Top,” and has joined the program as an advisor, where she elevates other musicians with disabilities. In addition to her accolades as a violinist, LaGrande is a four-time National Braille Champion.
The Paul and Ellen Ruckes Scholarship was presented to Mathew Ard of Huntington Beach, California. Ard is enrolled at San Jose State University, where he majors in mechanical engineering. In June of 2022, Ard participated in the Sustainability Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering (SURGE) program in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Stanford University. While at Stanford, he conducted research on developing technologies that can reduce the harmful effects of toxic emissions. He aspires to develop new technologies to combat global warming and the climate crisis. Prior to entering San Jose State, Ard was a competitive gymnast for over a decade.
Recipients of the Charles Dillman & Rudolph Dillman Scholarships are Kaitlyn Kellermeyer, Emily Nelson, and Kathryn Sevier.
Kellermeyer, who lives in Vienna, Virginia, attends George Mason University, where she is completing her master's in Social Work. She chose social work after realizing the power that comes through making human connections and being present for her peers while working in the federal government. For the past two years, she has moved into the nonprofit sector, where she leads programs empowering young under-served and underrepresented women.
Nelson is from Fishers, Indiana. She is an entering freshman at Indiana University pursuing a degree in International Law and Institutions, with a minor in Individualized Language (Danish) and Nordic Studies. Her interest in public policy and law came after participating in the competitive civics group “We the People.” She has also been an active member in her school’s film club and conducted archaeological research on Native American artifacts for the Hamilton County Historical Society.
Sevier is also from Fishers, Indiana and is currently working toward an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Educational Studies from Harvard University. Her own experience as a student with a disability has empowered her to become an active voice for her peers at Harvard, and it has also inspired her to work toward scholarly pursuits that will improve the quality of education for students with disabilities.
Receiving the stand-alone Charles Dillman Scholarship this year is Matthew Cho of New York City. Cho will be an entering freshman pursuing a degree in Psychology with a minor in Music at Marymount Manhattan College. Recognizing the power music played in his own life, Cho chose his dual major after teaching music to pre-school children, where he witnessed how it can be a powerful tool for improving mental health. Cho is an active leader with his local church as well as in student government, and enjoys playing blind soccer.
Finally, the Rudolph Dillman Scholarship was awarded to Bailey Thomas of Glen St Mary, Florida. Thomas will attend Florida State University in the fall and intends to major in Social Work. Thomas is passionate about the power animals can bring to empowering others, and she hopes to one day become an animal-assisted therapist. She is a graduate of the Florida School for the Blind, where she was a founding member of the school's Leadership Council and has been an active member of the faith and community-based group Young Life.
Each of this year’s scholarship recipients were recognized during an evening celebration held June 30th at the national convention of the American Council of the Blind (ACB). AFB partnered with ACB to provide assistance with managing the scholarship selection process and hosting the awardees during their annual convention. AFB thanks the Council for their logistical support and congratulates each of this year’s awardees.
On the Horizon
AFB Blind Leaders Development Program Celebrates Success of Third Cohort and Conducts Strategic Review to Further Strengthen the Program
This past May, AFB celebrated the completion of the third cohort of the AFB Blind Leaders Development Program. The virtual graduation ceremony recognized the 21 fellows and their respective mentors, who worked closely with them over the prior 10 months as they walked together through the renowned Leadership Challenge.
The completion of the cohort of fellows and their mentors reached a milestone for the program, which has now grown its network to 101 participants. The fellows consist of mid-career professionals who are blind or have low vision and have at least two to three years of experience in their respective careers. The purpose of the program is to break through the glass ceiling that has historically prevented people who are blind or have low vision from obtaining upward mobility in the labor force.
“This nationwide network of empowered blind leaders that the program has fostered offers us an opportunity to unlock an untapped potential that exists throughout our community,” said AFB President and CEO Eric Bridges. “Each one of our graduates offers enormous potential to not only change the perception that we can lead, but it’s also designed to open doors for others to follow in their footsteps on the pathway to success.”
Recognizing the value this program has toward significantly growing its network of blind leaders, AFB is currently conducting a strategic planning process to develop and grow the future iterations of the program. We look forward to sharing our updates with you as we move into this exciting next step in 2024. In the meantime, AFB continues to identify potential candidates for its next class of fellows and mentors. If you or someone you know may make a good candidate, email BlindLeaders@afb.org to be added to the Blind Leaders mailing list.
AFB Cornerstone
In Remembrance of Bernard Newcomb
AFB’s success over the past century would not be possible without the support of the many quiet individuals who, faced with their own experiences of barriers to opportunity, turn their success into an opportunity for others with vision loss to thrive. Bernie Newcomb exemplified this spirit of philanthropy and determination to make the world more inclusive for people who are blind or have low vision.
Newcomb, who passed away on January 29, 2023, was a trailblazer in the early days of the tech boom in the 1990s. With his business partner William Porter, he launched the first online consumer stock trading company E*Trade during the infancy days of the Internet.
Born with congenital cataracts, Newcomb grew up legally blind and attended the Oregon School for the Blind. Graduating top in his class, he went on to study business at Oregon State University, where he excelled and finished third in the university’s School of Business.
Despite his academic achievements, Newcomb faced great challenges after graduation when trying to land his first job, due to the misconceptions placed on people who are blind. Eventually, he was hired by General Electric as a database manager and quickly shined as a software developer. In 1982, Newcomb and Porter started the software trading company Tradeplus in Palo Alto, California. A decade later, when companies like America Online and Compuserve were bridging the divide between home computers and the Internet, Newcomb and Porter saw an opportunity to bring online trading to consumers and used Tradeplus as a platform to launch E*Trade. The company saw rapid growth and significantly changed the way people could both access and manage their assets.
Newcomb would never forget his early struggles toward finding success. As such, when he left E*Trade in the 1990s, Newcomb would go on to establish the Bernard A. Newcomb Foundation, turning his attention to philanthropic pursuits. His philanthropy included significantly supporting causes that impacted people who were blind and visually impaired.
“As someone who lived with vision loss, and experienced first-hand the challenges with securing a job, Bernie felt strongly when he became successful that he would support organizations that were helping blind people on a national level,” said Carl Augusto, who worked closely with Newcomb when Augusto served as AFB’s President & CEO.
Newcomb played a major role in establishing AFB’s National Employment Center in San Francisco, which focused on employment issues impacting people who are blind and visually impaired. He would also go on to support organizations like the Hadley School, which provides distance learning for people who are blind, and he was a major benefactor to his alma mater Oregon State University.
In 2006, Newcomb was awarded the Helen Keller Achievement Award, for his outstanding contributions to improving the quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired. He served as a great ally of AFB through the years, and his legacy serves as a reminder of the power that can come through quiet and humble leaders who channel their success toward helping others in their community.
Off the AFB News Stand
AFB’s AccessWorld Broadens Focus and Reach
With the launch of our Spring issue in May of 2023, AFB's AccessWorld publication has been updated with new content, a new look, and a new structure.
Historically, AccessWorld has focused primarily on assistive technology users with blindness or low vision, their friends and family, teachers of the visually impaired, and rehabilitation professionals. With the increasing importance of digital accessibility and the unprecedented buy-in from mainstream companies and organizations, we recognized we could be a source of valuable information on digital inclusion by shifting our focus. Our new vision is to be a practical source of knowledge regarding the intersection of disability and technology and include technology professionals in our community to help them build their accessibility skills and create a digitally inclusive future.
As part of this effort, we have expanded AccessWorld with a host of new article categories and altered others.
- Product Reviews: Analyses focused on the accessibility of a given product or service, detailing the standout accessibility features as well as what access pitfalls may be present to inform readers of the accessibility of a given product while also spotlighting important practical accessibility takeaways for designers and developers.
- Employment Journeys: Conversations with people with disabilities, spotlighting their experiences and advice for employers and other people who are blind or low vision seeking employment.
- Ask an Expert: Interviews with experts in the field of accessibility, from access professionals to app or web developers.
- Best Practice Guides: Detailed technical insights for digital designers and developers, focusing on process, techniques, and examples for practical application.
- Inclusive Tech Research: Exploration of the use of technology or trends in accessibility and pieces exploring a given piece of novel technology that might be valuable in the work of digital inclusion.
- Conference Coverage: Reports on developments in the field of accessibility as well as new developments in mainstream technology that might be applicable to improving accessibility.
- Access in Gaming: Articles that address the unique aspects of video game accessibility, as well as reviews of games that include access features.
AccessWorld is also sporting a new visual presentation (including a cool new logo) as well as minor changes to page structure. Going forward, AccessWorld will be published quarterly, on a seasonal basis. The next issue to be released will be our Summer issue, which will be published in August 2023 with Fall and Winter issues released in November and February, respectively. Don’t forget to sign up for our email alerts for the launch of new issues, if you haven’t already subscribed!
Visit www.afb.org/AW for more details on the upcoming summer issue of AccessWorld along with the new schedule and other exciting content that will be released.
AFB’s PPRI Releases Report on Digital Inclusion
In April, AFB’s Public Policy & Research Institute (PPRI) released a new report, Barriers to Digital Inclusion. The study, led by Dr. Arielle Silverman and Dr. Sarahelizabeth Baguhn, investigated digital access barriers for people who are blind, have low vision, or are deafblind. The report reveals the consequences of web and mobile app accessibility issues and provides an in-depth look into the prevalence of barriers across industries. For example, 67% of respondents reported that they cannot complete tasks online if the website is inaccessible.
The study has been a valuable source of evidence for AFB's advocacy on digital inclusion issues. The public policy team has leveraged this and seven other research reports to inform federal decisions, including the Department of Justice's recent announcement of proposed regulations on web and mobile app accessibility for state and local governments. This research is an excellent source of information for any readers who wish to comment on the proposed rules. Subsequent research on this topic will continue this fall, and PPRI will continue to actively advocate for accessible websites, communications, media, autonomous vehicles, and AI.
To read the Barriers to Digital Inclusion report and executive summary, visit www.afb.org/barriers-digital-inclusion-survey.
