Dear Friend,
This fall, as classrooms fill and new careers take shape, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is working hard to ensure the next generation of leaders and innovators is empowered to make our digital world more accessible and inclusive for people who are blind or have low vision.
Each year, AFB’s multi-tiered Digital Accessibility Internship brings together talented computer science students from across the country to learn how to test, design, and build inclusive technology alongside AFB’s own experts. Last month, we concluded the fourth cohort of our Digital Accessibility Bootcamp, an intensive summer experience that has welcomed over 50 students to date and is still growing! These participants leave not only with stronger technical skills but with the knowledge, experience, and confidence to become advocates for accessibility in their future workplaces.
Andrew Worley is AFB’s Program and Instructional Operations Manager as well as an alumni of previous AFB programming himself. When describing the value of the Internship, he explains:
“I rely on screen readers to access content on my laptop, tablet, and phone, and I can tell you from experience that I frequently become frustrated by the overall poor accessibility of many websites and apps. Even the simplest tasks that so many people take for granted, like reading the news or using digital banking, often have interfaces that are unintuitive at best and completely inaccessible at worst,” Andrew says. “What gives me hope for the future is that there are students out there who have identified this need and the gap in their education and have chosen to take action by applying to our Digital Accessibility Internship.”
This year’s Llura Gund Award Winner, Nicholas Cook, is proof of that impact. An intern in the inaugural 2022 cohort, Nicholas currently works as a software engineer for Assistiv Labs, where he develops accessibility testing tools for software developers. He has presented at national conferences on accessibility and is currently exploring the development of a book that will dive into the ethical principles behind creating a more digitally accessible world.
As Andrew notes:
“The facet of the Internship that excites me most is that our interns get to work alongside our Digital Accessibility team. It’s especially rewarding when students feel comfortable enough to ask questions about our lived experiences as people who use different assistive technologies in our daily lives.”
Alexis Hubbard, a recent computer science graduate from the University at Buffalo, joined the program to advance her knowledge of accessibility—something that had not been discussed, let alone prioritized, throughout her years of education. Here is what she had to say:
“Not a day went by that I didn’t learn something new, whether it be through structured modules and hands-on assignments, live workshops and group sessions, or direct feedback from and engagement with AFB staff, many of whom are people with disabilities. Discussing experiences with the people who live them is something I find invaluable – you don’t often find opportunities like this. Having the opportunity to help shape a future where all users can access content and enjoy the experience is something that I am, and will continue to be, forever grateful for.”
This is the true value of your investment: equipping future leaders who will shape a world designed for everyone.
And our work doesn’t stop with those we can mentor directly through the Internship. AFB is building a new digital learning platform to share our training resources broadly, multiplying access to knowledge for students, professionals, and educators worldwide. That’s why I'd like to ask if you can support this vital work by making a contribution today?
We are grateful for your support of our work, and it is through donors like you that we can make a difference through initiatives like our Digital Accessibility programming. Will you help us continue to create a world that is built for everyone by donating today?
If you donate today, every dollar you give will be matched dollar for dollar by our friends at the Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation.
When it comes to significantly improving the lives of those who are blind or have low vision, each of us is responsible for ensuring every ounce of our energy yields the greatest momentum for full and equal inclusion.
Because of you, the road ahead remains bright.
With gratitude,
Eric Bridges
President & CEO
The American Foundation for the Blind
P.S. I can’t express how grateful I am for the AFB community for the breadth of support you provide. Over the next couple of months, the Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation has generously committed to matching gifts dollar for dollar, up to $250,000, made in support of our workforce development programs. Will you double your impact by making a gift today?
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