AFB Blog

For many Americans, this long-weekend marks the beginning of summer, when families across the country dust off their coolers and unpack their beach chairs from winter storage. But, as families make their way to the shore or their local park, it’s important to pause and remind ourselves of the significance this holiday plays in our freedom and independence, particularly for those within the blindness field. At the American Foundation for the Blind, our own history is steeped in the sacrifices…

On Friday, May 19, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division and the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Joint Dear Colleague Letter on the participation of people with disabilities in online activities made available by colleges, universities, and other postsecondary institutions. The accessibility of online education has been a major focus for AFB’s Public Policy and Research Institute since the pandemic expedited the adoption of educational technologies…

Each year, the third Thursday of the month marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day. This year, on May 18th, the American Foundation for the Blind wanted to share some updates and actions we can all take to help make the world more inclusive online for people with disabilities. Since developer Joe Devon first posed the concept of a day dedicated to expanding awareness in late 2011, we have seen a continuous uptick in the participation #GAAD garners each year. Now in its 12th year, it’s been…

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) celebrated on Tuesday, May 2nd, the completion of the third cohort of fellows in the Blind Leaders Development Program. The special evening event brought together participants, along with family and friends, who gathered together virtually from across the country. The third cohort of AFB Blind Leaders Fellows spent the past ten months immersed in The Leadership Challenge, an engaging professional development curriculum designed to bolster confidence…

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) just released its Barriers to Digital Inclusion study, which identified the key areas where accessibility gaps still exist for online and mobile application content. And, as one would expect, education still rises to the top when it comes to accessibility hurdles. To close the gap, AFB wanted to share some valuable resources we have prepared for parents, students, and advocates over the past year. Three years ago, as the novel coronavirus pandemic…

(EDITOR’S NOTE: We wanted to share an important post from the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), who is collecting valuable stories to assist in a national coalition to make the internet fully accessible. Your story can help make a real difference. Please take time to read and share widely.) As many website and application users with disabilities know, far too many websites are inaccessible for users with disabilities. This reality is disastrous for Americans with disabilities. We live…

ARLINGTON, VA (April 6, 2023) — The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) commends the sponsors of the 2023 AFB Leadership Conference and Helen Keller Achievement Awards. Their continued support of AFB helps drive our mission forward to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or have low vision. “We have put together a fantastic program with a strong emphasis on empowering digital inclusion, and thanks to this “year’s sponsors, we are able to further create a world of no limits…

Just as the flowers bloom and come to life again in Washington, D.C., Springtime often brings a flurry of activity from the federal government. Our Public Policy Research Institute (PPRI) has been tracking the activity, and would like to share two key recent actions that have taken root and could yield positive fruit for people who are blind or have low vision. First, the Department of Justice (DOJ), along with the General Services Administration (GSA), released a long-awaited report on the…

Arlington, VA (Feb. 23, 2023) — The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) announced today a major bequest in excess of $2.2M made on behalf of Marilyn and Francine Gruder, which will support the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB). AFB’s flagship publication of scholarly research to the field of blindness and low vision, in perpetuity “On behalf of AFB’s staff and its Board of Trustees, we want to extend our deepest thanks to the Gruder Trust for investing in AFB’s scholarly…