AFB Blog

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.…

On May 24, by a vote of 96 to 1, the U.S. Senate passed a massive package of policy updates known as the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act. Read more about the legislation at: http://www.help.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=e1bfeed3-75b8-4945-81bd-af83bdaec2d3&groups=Chair The Senate-passed version of this bill includes provisions that would establish national best practices for retail and other pharmacies to use in providing accessible prescription drug…

...And maybe add "A Few Fruity Drinks!" to that title. I am just getting back in the swing of things after a great AFB Leadership Conference with Florida AER in St. Pete Beach, FL. I can tell you that it was hard to get back behind my desk after returning from our beautiful location at the Tradewinds Island Resort. I would prefer to set up my desk on the white sand beach with the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico in front of me. Still, I was glad to have the opportunity to connect with…

Wow, the AFB Leadership Conference and Preconference with the Florida Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind or Visually Impaired is just about here! Which means, it's almost time to head to St. Pete Beach, Florida, to see some great sessions presented by some of the top speakers from around the country. All of the partners have pitched in to create a great event. I am looking forward to seeing my friends from around the nation and from Florida. I have lived and worked…

I often have the opportunity to give presentations or workshops to professionals, adults or teens who are blind or visually impaired. I speak about the employment process, resources, and the route to a career or successful employment. It always brings me back, thinking about my very first job. It was at a video rental store that also provided photo processing and enlargements. I started working there when I was14 years old, through a bit of a fluke. I'd decided I wanted a job, so I…

[Editor's note: the following post comes from Deborah Kendrick, Senior Features Editor for AccessWorld.] It's the dreaded call we all have to make at some point: contacting technical support for a mainstream commercial company, where we know we'll talk to a technician who has no clue how people who or blind or have low vision use a computer. My own experience has run the gamut. There was the guy for my internet service provider, talking to me all the way from India, who kept saying upon…

Spring is in the air, and it is time to start thinking about upcoming vacation plans. Whether you will be traveling by plane, train, boat, or bus, there's a strong likelihood you'll be using travel websites and services to plan your trip. Online travel services, including travel aggregators such as Travelocity and Kayak, as well as hotel, airline, train, bus and ship websites, offer customers the convenience of comparison shopping, purchasing, and managing their travel from the convenience…

With the AFB Leadership Conference and Preconference, along with Florida AER, quickly approaching, we're busy packing our swim trunks and preparing for some amazing sessions. The reasons to attend are endless, but for fun, here are our top 10: You haven't been to the beach in a while and AFBLC will be held at the beautiful Tradewinds Resort on St. Pete Beach, FL. Bring your sunglasses and sunscreen because it will be a hot conference packed with quality information—don't get burned! You…

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the field of Assistive Technology, I encourage you to check out the Joseph Roeder Assistive Technology Scholarship offered by the National Industries for the Blind. As the deadline is drawing near, please read the information below and follow the links for further information. The Joseph Roeder Assistive Technology Scholarship Application is due May 5, 2012 National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Joseph Roeder Assistive Technology Scholarship is…