Photos of an older couple walking, a teacher and child, a child eating, a man in an office with a screen reader, two AFB Tech employees looking at a monitor, and a woman with her guide dog

Our Mission

The mission of the American Foundation for the Blind is to create equal opportunities and expand possibilities through advocacy, thought leadership, and strategic partnerships.

Who We Are

Since 1921, AFB has been a leader in addressing the most pressing needs of people with visual impairments and their families, breaking down societal barriers, and promoting broad systemic change. Publisher of the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness for over a century and counting, AFB is also proud to steward the accessible Helen Keller Archive, honoring the legacy of our most famous ambassador. AFB’s mission is to expand pathways to leadership, education, inclusive technology, and career opportunities to create a world of no limits for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision.

How AFB Changes Lives

AFB is dedicated to promoting equality and inclusion for people who are blind and have low vision and targets key areas that impact both children and adults to facilitate meaningful change.

  • Our Digital Accessibility Internships offer students an exciting opportunity to engage in the rapidly growing accessibility field, providing hands-on learning and mentorship from industry experts.
  • We expand and share knowledge through a variety of initiatives, including original research and our peer-reviewed Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness.
  • In the business world, we guide the creation of more accessible products and websites.
  • We advocate for better policies that promote accessibility and ensure equality and opportunity for people who are blind or visually impaired, creating a culture of inclusion at work, at school, and in our communities.
  • We convene leaders—across our field and among business leaders, public officials, and other decision-makers—to champion the development of legislation and best practices that provide equal opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired.
  • We advocate for children who are blind or have low vision, to ensure they have necessary resources, including textbooks and classroom materials.
  • Through FOCUS, our newsletter, we deliver ways to engage with AFB through updates on all of its program areas.
  • Our documentary film Possibilities celebrates Helen Keller's legacy through the shared stories of 21st-century voices and proudly stands as the first widely released film to offer open audio descriptions, ensuring accessibility for all audiences.
  • Through AccessWorld® Magazine, our monthly newsletter for accessible design and technology, we deliver objective information you can trust—smart and informed commentary, cutting-edge news, and trends concerning information technology and visual impairment.

Learn More

Join AFB in creating a world of endless possibilities for millions of Americans who are blind or have low vision.

Donate today!

About the American Foundation for the Blind

Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that creates a world of no limits for people who are blind and low vision. AFB mobilizes leaders, advances understanding, and champions impactful policies and practices using research and data. In addition to publishing the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, the essential professional resource for information about visual impairment in the field, AFB is also the proud steward of the accessible Helen Keller Archive, honoring the legacy of our most famous ambassador. To learn more, visit Afb.org.