Meet Connor Boss, Miss Florida USA Contestant, Legally Blind

A few weeks back, you might have seen features on ABC's Good Morning America, CNN, and other media outlets about the Miss Florida USA, contestant with a visual impairment called Stargardt's Disease. You may have heard that Connor Boss finished fourth overall in the competition, but won a few hearts and opened some eyes along the way. I saw her interview on Good Morning America and loved her upbeat attitude about life and her vision loss. Just from witnessing a few interviews that she…
Author Joe Strechay
Blog Topics Employment

On Navigating New York's Streets and Sidewalks

[Editor's Note: the following post comes in response to the recent New York Times article, "With Changes in New York's Streets, More Hurdles for the City's Blind Pedestrians" and is authored by Dan Aronoff. Dan is a licensed social worker (LMSW) currently looking for work helping people with disabilities. He also happens to be New York's premier blind food critic. Check out his blog at blindtastetest.net, and follow him on Twitter at @blindblog.] Optimism is essential, in my opinion, for…

Practical Advice 101

This past weekend, I had one of those opportunities I cherish: a chance to talk to parents of children who are blind or visually impaired. I love these opportunities, partly because I get to talk about all the things my parents got right in helping me achieve independence as a blind person. A lot of it they did on instinct and good judgment, following a few good words of advice from, believe it or not, the surgeon who removed my eyes as an infant. His parting advice was direct and profound.…
Blog Topics General

Urge Your Senators to Ratify International Disability Rights Accord!

On July 26, the 22nd anniversary of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is considering whether to recommend that the Senate ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Now is the time for all advocates to urge each of your two Senators to support the CRPD when it comes before the Senate. While the Foreign Relations Committee is expected to report the CRPD out favorably, clearing it for Senate floor…
Author Mark Richert
Blog Topics Public Policy

AFB Will Be Rolling Deep to the 2012 AER International Conference

The American Foundation for the Blind is prepped and ready to head to the 2012 Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind or Visually Impaired (AER) International Conference in Bellevue, Washington. We are "rolling deep" to the conference, prepped to present, attend, and show off our amazing exhibit! Our exhibit is in a prime location, exhibit space number one! As you enter the exhibit hall, AFB will be the first booth that you encounter. We will be showing off the titles…
Author Joe Strechay
Blog Topics Conference Recaps

Watching TV Blind: A Love-Hate Relationship

I have a longstanding love-hate relationship with television. And, for 20 years now, video description has hung like a shadow over this relationship. I grew up on the great classic comedies of the 1970s: "All in the Family," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and "M.A.S.H." I spent far too many summer vacation hours lazily watching programs from "Love Boat" to gameshows. I later adopted sitcoms like "Cheers" and "The Cosby Show," along with a sprinkling of a few medical and legal dramas. In other…

Accessible Drug Label Bill Passes in House; on Course for President's Signature

On Wednesday, June 20, the U.S. House of Representatives passed comprehensive legislation, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. Advocates will recall that companion legislation had previously passed the Senate including provisions that would establish national best practices for retail and other pharmacies to use in providing accessible prescription drug labeling to their customers with vision loss. Once these best practices are promulgated, a Government Accountability…
Author Mark Richert
Blog Topics Public Policy

How to Order Walmart Talking Prescription Containers

Following up on the recent press release from Walmart, please read below to learn how to order Talking Prescription Containers. On June 8, Walmart announced that it is now providing ScripTalk Talking Prescription Containers free of charge to people with vision loss as part of a pilot program. The ScripTalk Talking Prescription program is being offered to customers across the country through Walmart mail order, and also at three Walmart stores. To listen to the talking label provided by…

Christine Ha Cooking Her Way to Being Next MasterChef

Have you heard about Christine Ha? She's a contestant — who’s blind — on MasterChef, the FOX Network Primetime reality television cooking competition starring Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Graham Elliot. These star chefs and food critic judge aspiring cooks from around the country on their culinary skills. Christine is a University of Houston graduate student and a food blogger who shows off her skills in many ways. "You have an excellent palate!" said Chef Gordon Ramsay about Christine…

MasterChef Cooks Up Positive Portrayal of Blind Cook

I was catching up on some television recently when I caught the season premiere of MasterChef, starring Gordon Ramsay, Graham Elliot, and Joe Bastianich. My wife said to me, "Wait, I think I just saw a white cane." She rewound the recording and there was definitely a woman using a white cane. "Oh no," I said, "how are they going to portray her on this show?" We continued watching, and they teased it a little bit. They had her as the last person to compete for a spot on the episode.…