Dallas, August 24, 2017—The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) today welcomed Megan Dodd as the new director of AFB’s Center on Vision Loss, a cornerstone of AFB’s national agenda on aging and vision loss.
Dodd most recently served as Community Outreach Specialist for the East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind, where she handled numerous duties in marketing, sales, software and application design, and program development.
“Megan is a proven leader in our field and we are thrilled to welcome her as a member of our team,” said Kirk Adams, president and CEO of AFB. “In addition to her impressive track record in the blindness field, Megan has the creativity and drive to advance the Center’s commitment to improving the lives of people with vision loss, in the Dallas area and beyond.”
“Ensuring that Americans with vision loss can live a full, independent life is a personal passion of mine, and I look forward to collaborating with AFB to make that a reality," Dodd said.
Dodd earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from University of Texas at Tyler and is currently pursuing Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Human Resource Development. She is a graduate of National Industries for the Blind’s (NIB’s) Business Management Training Program (2015), and recipient of the NIB Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award (2014).
There are nearly 25 million Americans who experience blindness or vision loss. According to the 2015 National Health Interview Survey, for the population ages 65 and older, 6.9 million people (14.9%) have trouble seeing, and this group of overlooked older Americans is likely to grow. This is due to projected demographics showing more Americans working longer, living longer, and experiencing vision loss at ever-growing rates especially among the large “Baby Boomer” generation of persons born between 1946 and 1964.
The Center on Vision Loss is a national demonstration center dedicated to helping people with vision loss live independently. It offers life-changing information and resources that can help people who are experiencing vision loss for the first time read, use electronic devices like computers and telephones, identify medications, and move about the home independently and safely. Through policy work, advocacy, research, nonprofit and corporate partnerships, the Center is at the forefront of aging and vision loss in the 21st century.
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About The American Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. Headquartered in New York, AFB is proud to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the more than 40 years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB. Visit: www.afb.org.
