Policy Research

Policy research is an important tool in the advocacy work of the Public Policy Center. As an integral function of the Public Policy Center, AFB's policy research work is designed to achieve several goals.

• Evaluate gaps in existing research;
• Advocate for the establishment and funding of research priorities;
• Interpret currently available survey and related data to articulate the size and characteristics of the various populations of individuals with vision loss;
• Conduct and oversee specific research projects to investigate critical issues;
• Synthesize research findings and persuasively advocate evidence-based policy and programmatic change.

On this page you will find public policy research documents on various issues. These documents are also posted in the corresponding policy area in the Public Policy and Policy Research section.

Education Policy Research
Employment and Rehabilitation Policy Research
Technology Policy Research

Also see related documents at Statistical Snapshots.

Education Policy Research

Distance Learning: How Accessible are Online Educational Tools
Findings from the AFB distance learning survey indicated the most important and necessary features of online educational tools presented significant problems for those using assistive technology such as screen reading or screen magnification software.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=138&DocumentID=4492

Estimates of Severely Visually Impaired Children
This document compares the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and American Printing House for the Blind (APH) annual counts of children with visual impairments.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=138&DocumentID=3350

Issues Affecting Research Capacity in Blindness and Low Vision
This paper discusses some of the issues affecting the nation's capacity to conduct educational research in blindness and low vision.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=138&DocumentID=3379

Employment and Rehabilitation Policy Research

Access to Drug Labels Survey Report
More than 100 individuals completed the Access to Drug Labels Survey and, in nearly every instance, respondents explained serious negative consequences of unreadable drug labeling information. Respondents included people of all ages with vision loss, and people with all degrees of vision loss. To find out more, read the full report.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=135&DocumentID=4520

Transition of Youth with Visual Impairments, Multiple Impairments, or Deaf-Blindness: National Longitudinal Transition Study 2
In order to make the information that relates to youth with visual impairments or deaf-blindness/multiple impairments easily accessible, this manuscript condenses a National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLST2) report to show how youth with these specific disabilities experienced transition.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=139&DocumentID=3178

NLTS2 Tables: Transition of Youth with Visual Impairments, Multiple Impairments, or Deaf-Blindness
These tables provide condensed information about youth with visual impairments or deaf-blindness/multiple impairments that were surveyed by the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLST2).
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=139&DocumentID=3177

Special Report on Aging and Vision Loss
The Special Report on Aging and Vision Loss is intended to draw attention to the disproportionate number of elderly individuals who have vision loss as well as the difficulties encountered when trying to establish estimates of vision loss across age groups. To find out more, read the full report.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=15&DocumentID=4423

Featured Resources for Employment Statistics
Several recommended resources for employment statistics are provided. Investigators are advised that there are no perfect employment statistics currently available pertaining to Americans with vision loss. The primary limitations of the currently available nationally-representative data sources are discussed.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=15&DocumentID=4435

The Social and Economic Status of Working-Age Adults (21-64) with Sensory Disabilities
The data provided in this brief are from the 2005 Disability Status Reports. These status reports are based on the American Community Survey (ACS) data, a U.S. Census Bureau survey.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=139&DocumentID=3173

The Impact of Age and Health on the Employment of People who are Blind or Visually Impaired
The information presented here includes statistics collected in 1994 and 1995 on the employment of people ages 18-69 who were legally blind or had other severe visual impairments. The discussion shows how these figures can be interpreted and their implications for public policy. Although the data are outdated, the implications for public policy are still timely.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=139&DocumentID=1212

Technology Policy Research

Access to Drug Labels Survey Report
More than 100 individuals completed the Access to Drug Labels Survey and, in nearly every instance, respondents explained serious negative consequences of unreadable drug labeling information. Respondents included people of all ages with vision loss, and people with all degrees of vision loss. To find out more, read the full report.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=135&DocumentID=4520

Distance Learning: How Accessible are Online Educational Tools
Findings from the AFB distance learning survey indicated the most important and necessary features of online educational tools presented significant problems for those using assistive technology such as screen reading or screen magnification software.
www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=138&DocumentID=4492