AFB's Commitment to Evidence-Based Advocacy

In January 2022, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) announced the release of the Workplace Technology Study, a new report examining how technology in the workplace influences the experiences of workers who are blind, have low vision, or are deafblind.

These collaborative surveys investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education of children and youth with visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities and deafblindness.

The Flatten Inaccessibility study examined the impact of COVID-19 on adults with visual impairments early in the pandemic. The survey focused on adults with visual impairments and their access to healthcare, information, education, online work environments, transportation, food and other supplies, and voting.

The Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) is the international peer-reviewed journal of record in the field, delivering current research and best practice information, commentary from authoritative experts on critical topics, and more.

• How many adult Americans have trouble seeing?
• How many seniors in the U.S. experience vision loss?
• How many children in the U.S. are blind or visually impaired?

Our research team has surveyed organizations and interviewed individuals to identify current transportation practices and challenges for older people with vision loss.

Stephanie Enyart has 20 years’ experience advocating for people with disabilities. She provides strategic leadership for the policy and research functions across the key focus areas of education, employment, aging, and the intersectional issues of technology and transportation.

Carlie Rhoads, Ph.D. serves as AFB's Program Metrics and Evaluation Specialist, after initially joining the organization as a research specialist. She is responsible for providing specialized knowledge and expertise in the development, selection, and implementation of metrics and methodologies to measure the impact of AFB and client programs, policies, and initiatives.

Dr. Arielle Silverman joined AFB as Research Specialist in September 2021, after having previously served as an independent contractor contributing to several AFB research projects, including studies related to Workplace Tech, Blind Leaders Development, and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

We are committed to conducting high-quality research related to blindness and low vision and sharing our findings broadly. If you would like to receive information about research opportunities, reports, webinars, and other ways we are sharing our research, please sign up!