2025 AFBLC Agenda

This session explores how the ACB Community model can be adapted and leveraged by blindness organizations as a strategic tool for both post-program engagement and long-term personal development. By offering virtual spaces for peer-led sessions, training workshops, and social interaction, ACB Community enables individuals to remain active, build confidence, and explore leadership opportunities well beyond the lifespan of traditional programs. Attendees will learn how the platform fosters a sense of belonging and accountability, provides avenues for volunteerism, and serves as a launchpad for new leaders to emerge.

First, from the National Research and Training Center (NRTC), researchers provide an overview on the successes and challenges identified through the Older Individuals with blindness Technical Assistance Center (OIB-TAC) program. OIB-TAC has provided technical assistance (TA) to older blind programs in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and the five U.S. territories since October of 2015. This presentation will allow attendees to better understand program strengths, recognize challenges, and explore opportunities for improvement in services to older-age adults with vision loss.

Second, Vision Serve Alliance (VSA) continues to lead the way in valuable research measuring the current state of blindness services in our country and the effectiveness of rehabilitation for people who are blind or have low vision. This presentation will provide the latest research from VSA just released prior to the conference. Additional insight from VSA’s Big Data Project will also provide additional insight into the current state of rehab in America.

From expert-driven policy recommendations to sneak-peak early results of data from a national cross-disability survey, this session reveals where AI is helping and where it’s failing in key areas like employment, transportation, and healthcare. Learn how people with and without disabilities perceive AI’s usability, trustworthiness, and fairness, and leave with actionable insights for equitable AI design and policy.

As organizations strive to meet legal, ethical, and user-driven expectations, true usability goes beyond compliance. It demands a collaborative approach among developers, designers, content creators, and assistive technology vendors. Key themes include the importance of user-centered testing, the limitations of automated accessibility tools, and the growing need for cross-functional collaboration to bridge technical and experiential gaps.

Their presentations will break down barriers to technology, offer strategies for enhancing the use of technology, and offer hands-on demonstrations of how independence can flourish when we bridge the digital divide for people who are blind or have low vision. Whether you work with older age adults trying to sustain independence in the home, or newly blinded adults trying to return to work, this presentation gives tangible solutions to tackle tech.

With over 30 years experience in the blindness field, Neva Fairchild is a leading expert on expanding opportunity and independence for the blind. She served AFB for 15 years, most recently as the National Aging and Vision Loss Specialist before retiring in 2023 and previously served as president of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER).

Lacy Web is a certified teacher of the visually impaired and has almost a decade of experience providing hands-on training and rehabilitation for people who are blind or have low vision.

Learn more about AFB’s Digital Accessibility Internship Program and how participants are developing practical expertise in accessible design and engineering, highlighted through a demo of interactive learning tools from AFB’s upcoming online portal. A panel of AFB staff and partners will explore why practical learning experiences matter, how grassroots and institutional shifts are both needed, and how shared ownership can empower emerging professionals to lead the way in accessibility and inclusion. Join us to meet the team and learn how you can get involved.

Drawing on our qualitative research guided by Feeney and Collins’ Thriving Framework, we will share how supportive relationships formed within the program can serve as a safe haven for emotional support, fortification through knowledge-sharing, reconstruction through practical problem-solving, and reframing through peer mentorship and success stories. The session will highlight the program's structure, including thematic workshops, guided discussions, and peer support networks, which can help in reducing isolation, enhancing coping strategies, and increasing parental confidence. Attendees will gain insights into how structured parent programs can be intentionally designed to foster resilience, community, and empowerment, equipping parents to thrive rather than merely cope. The session will also discuss implications for early childhood practitioners and nonprofit leaders aiming to implement or enhance support programs for families navigating disability.