CONTACT: Tony Stephens, Assistant Vice-President, Communications 212.502.7627 | tstephens@afb.org
ARLINGTON, VA (July 10, 2025) — The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) announced today the recipient of the 2025 Llura Gund Leadership Award. The recognition this year goes to Nicholas Cook of Brookline, Massachusetts. Named in honor of Llura Gund, the wife of philanthropist Gordon Gund, this award goes to an outstanding individual who has participated in AFB’s workforce programs and contributed back to the community.
“Nicholas has truly demonstrated how a passion for accessibility fused with the right set of skills can plant the seeds for the next generation of developers who champion accessibility,” said Matthew Janusauskas, AFB chief technology and programs officer.
In 2022, Cook was accepted into AFB’s digital accessibility internship program, where he received hands-on training as an accessibility engineer. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, linguistics, and cognitive science. He currently works as a software engineer for Assistiv Labs, where he creates accessibility testing tools for software developers.
His passion for accessibility grew out of a desire to solve many of the challenges he witnessed firsthand at the hurdles his blind stepfather, who relies on the use of screen-reading applications, would encounter online. He has presented at national conferences on accessibility and is currently exploring the development of a book that will dive into the ethical principles behind creating a more digitally accessible world.
The Llura Gund Leadership Award strives to elevate those participants of AFB’s workforce programs who can make long-lasting contributions to a more accessible and inclusive world. For more information on AFB’s workforce programs, visit afb.org/internships.
Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind creates equal opportunities and expands possibilities for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision through advocacy, thought leadership, and strategic partnerships. In addition to publishing the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB), AFB is also the proud steward of the Helen Keller Archive, which is available on the AFB website at afb.org/HelenKellerArchive.
