About the Directory
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)'s Directory of Services
for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons in the United States and Canada
was first published in 1926, only five years after the inception of AFB. That a
national service directory was produced so quickly after the establishment of
the organization indicates both the great need that existed for information
on available services and the desire of AFB to support and respond promptly to
blind and visually impaired persons, their families, and professionals who worked
with them.
Since that time, AFB has continued to publish the Directory to meet the same
pressing need and with the same critical purpose: to provide useful, comprehensive
information that helps persons who are visually impaired and their families find
the assistance they need and to help professionals identify, coordinate, and
deliver services effectively.
The Directory contains information on more than 1,500
organizations and agencies that serve people who are blind or visually impaired.
It compiles listings of schools, agencies, organizations, and programs in the
governmental and private, nonprofit sectors that provide a wide variety of direct
and indirect services, information, and other assistance to blind and visually
impaired children and adults, their families, and professionals who work with
them. Information is also included on producers and distributors of braille,
large-print publications, audiotape, and other alternate media; specialized
computer hardware and software and other assistive technology and adapted
devices; and other products used by people who are visually impaired.
Each listing of organizations in the Directory provides contact information and a detailed description of the
services the organization provides. A listing in the Directory,
which is based on information supplied by the individual organization itself,
does not imply endorsement or evaluation by AFB. (Additional information on
accreditation and evaluation of agencies can be obtained from the "National
Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving People with Blindness and Visual Impairment.")
How to find organizations and services in the Directory is explained in
How to Use This Directory. For
more detailed information about the kinds of organizations that assist people
who are blind or visually impaired and the nature of the services they offer,
see Description of Services,
Description of Organization Types,
An Overview of Services and
A Summary of Major Federal Programs.
A Glossary of Common Terms
offers an explanation of some of the specialized terms frequently used in
the Directory and in the field of visual impairment, as well
as some common abbreviations. Quick
Links contains direct links to the web sites of many
of the national organizations that offer services to people who are blind or
visually impaired.
Because of
the complexity of information today and its constantly shifting nature, AFB
welcomes suggestions for corrections, deletions, and new listings for the
Directory. Such information should be sent in writing to:
AFB Press
American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
or to afbdirectory@afb.net.
AFB Directory of Services, Copyright © 2009 American Foundation for the Blind. All rights reserved.
If you would like to give us feedback on the data in the Directory of Services, or if you know about new organizations, please contact us at afbdirectory@afb.net.
