Arts and Leisure

Sight Unseen: International Photography by Blind Artists

We write a lot about art on this blog and I always like to keep readers updated on new exhibits and artists that get passed along to me. I was recently told that The California Museum of Photography has a new exhibit. It's called Sight Unseen, and it's a showcase of photographs by 12 of the most notable blind photographers in the world.

For more information, head over to BBC News and check out the short video they posted by the exhibit's curator, Douglas McCulloh. (Just to let you know, the video may not be accessible). The exhibit will be up until August 29th, so if you're in the Riverside area, or live close by, I encourage you to check it out and please let us know what you think!

Cheers to You, Alexandra Elman

Last week, The New York Times profiled Alexandra Elman in the most recent installment of One in 8 Million, an ongoing multimedia series on notable New Yorkers. Alexandra, a native New Yorker, lost her vision due to diabetes in 1995, but her vision loss hasn't stopped her from living an active life by any means-she bikes (on tandem), flies planes (with a co-pilot), swims, skis, and just happens to be one of New York City's most notable wine tasters.

I'm really proud of the Times for featuring Alexandra. It makes me happy to know there are people out there who are proving to the world that a disability shouldn't (and doesn't) get in the way of doing or enjoying something that they love.

And speaking of wine, this reminds me of M. Chapoutier, a French wine company that's been putting braille on their labels since 1996. We've blogged about this company before—here's the post if you want to check it out!

Seeing Through the Eyes of His Imagination

Guest Blogger, Emma Rosenbluth, Resource Development

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of joining AFB's Communications team to attend a screening of Antoine at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film follows Antoine Huang, a five-year-old boy who was born 100 days premature and lost his sight shortly after birth when his retina detached.

Now living in Montreal with his family, Antoine is fully integrated into the mainstream school system. Popular with his peers, Antoine participates in the same activities they do: learning the parts of a flower, painting, even physical education. Antoine is also shown learning how to read and write in braille; in fact, he uses his braille typewriter throughout the film to catalog his thoughts and his story. I found that the most moving part of the film is how Antoine embraces life and refuses to let his blindness slow him down. This film does not focus on the challenges he must overcome, but casts him as a curious and imaginative young boy who believes he is a detective in search of the mysterious Madame Rouski.

If you have a chance to check out the film, I definitely recommend it. Antoine's story is inspirational and perhaps best summed up by how his classmates describe him: a boy with a nose, two feet, and an occasional temper. Nowhere in the film does blindness define Antoine, and Antoine does not let his blindness define who he is.

We're Going to Disney World!

I didn't win the Superbowl and I'm not really going to Disney World, but if I were, it'd be much easier for me to enjoy the sights, sounds, and attractions of the "happiest place on earth." The folks at Walt Disney World announced that they have incorporated an audio description service that explains the unfolding scenes on a number of their rides—the Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean to name a few—for visitors that are blind or visually impaired. An article from yesterday's Orlando Sentinel goes into more detail about the description, talks about how the engineers at Disney have made adjustments to the description devices to allow for the best possible user experience, and also mentions that other museums and attractions are interested in purchasing the audio description technology from Disney.

I think it's great that more and more companies like Disney are paying attention to the needs of people with vision loss. If you're lucky enough to visit Disney World and try out the audio description service, let me know how it is!

Thoughts on this Season's American Idol

It will probably come as no surprise that AFB's number one music fan, yours truly, is a big fan of American Idol. I love to see how the contestants take classic songs and make them their own. My favorite idols so far are probably Kelly Clarkson and Jordin Sparks.

As my friend Susan LaVenture mentioned a few months ago on the FamilyConnect blog, this year there is a contestant on the show, Scott MacIntyre, who happens to be visually impaired. While it's neat to see someone from the blind community represented on the show, it seems like the public takes it as a surprise when someone who is blind can be talented. As I was watching the show last week, I couldn't help but become slightly perturbed when Paula Abdul, one of the judges, went on and on about how proud she was of Scott and the way he has overcome his adversities in life. Can't we just focus on his singing like we do for the rest of the contestants? I'm sure many of the other contestants have had obstacles to overcome, but their adversities aren't highlighted on the show.

I wonder how long it took for people to stop talking about Stevie Wonder in terms of his visual impairment and instead focus on the music icon that he is. Haven't we come far enough as a society to focus not on someone's visual impairment, but on the person? I hope that tonight the judges will keep it about the performances!

Helen Keller Speaks

One of my favorite things about our AFB headquarters in NY is the Helen Keller Archives. We are so fortunate to have the documents, photographs, and memorabilia from one of our nation's most influential figures here at our fingertips. Those of us that work here at AFB, or that have been given a tour of the archives, know that Helen Keller was much more than the deaf-blind child in The Miracle Worker, which is oftentimes how she is remembered. She was a famous activist and peacemaker who fought for those marginalized by class, disability, or gender. She worked with seven U.S. presidents, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, in 1964.

I was thrilled to hear today that a new performance exploring the views and ideas of Helen Keller, the activist, will be performed this Saturday at Fairfield University. The piece, described as part play and part dramatic reading, was created by Dr. John M. Orman, chairman of the political science department at Fairfield University, who was inspired to develop the piece after reading, "Lies My Teacher Told Me."

For those of you in the Fairfield area that are looking for something to do this weekend, check out the performance and let me know what you think. And did I mention that thanks to the generosity of Dr. Orman and Fairfield University, a portion of the proceeds from the show will be given to AFB? Thanks for your support!

Seasons Greetings for Everyone in Your Family

When someone is moved by a cause or an issue to a point where they work toward creating better opportunities for the people affected, I take notice—especially when it entails creating accessible products for people with vision loss.

Melissa Brashear started creating homemade accessible greeting cards for her grandmother who had macular degeneration and had difficulty reading cards received from friends and family. Her grandmother loved her cards, and Melissa quickly realized the power they have to warm hearts and help people with vision loss feel connected during the holiday season. So she created ICanSeeGreetings.com, an online store that offers vision loss friendly greeting cards that feature large-point fonts, large graphics, and good contrast, available for many different holidays and occasions. This holiday season, if you have a friend or family member who is visually impaired, consider sending one of Melissa's accessible cards, or create your own!

Also, if you're a little behind on your holiday shopping and still need to find that perfect gift for someone, check out AFB's Holiday Guide.

Our Gift To You: AFB's Ultimate Holiday Guide for People with Vision Loss

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we're only days away from the start of the holiday season. This morning when I walked into work, someone told me the lobby is decorated with lights, wreaths, and boughs of holly, and I can already hear "Jingle Bells" drifting down the hallway. There's no better way to get me into the festive spirit of the holidays!

Every year around this time, as people are starting to shop for gifts for their loved ones and prepare their homes for holiday visitors, we often get a lot of calls from family members of people with vision loss with questions like "What's the best gift for my mom now that she has macular degeneration?" or "What can I do to make my home comfortable and safe for my visually impaired grandma who's visiting this holiday season?" This year, to help answer questions and ease shoppers' anxiety, we compiled the ultimate Holiday Guide for people with vision loss. AFB's Holiday Guide is located on AFB Senior Site and contains a variety of gift ideas for people living with vision loss—some of my favorites are an accessible MP3 player like the iPod Nano, a talking watch, and a large print Scrabble® board. The Guide also contains travel tips you can share with a visually impaired loved one and tips on how to make your home more vision loss friendly this holiday season.

I don't think there is anything better than a joyful, safe holiday season, and AFB is so happy to help you and your family achieve that. Be sure to check out our guide at www.afb.org/seniorsite/holidayguide.

Gold Medals and Brass Bands

The 2008 Paralympic Games were held in Beijing, China, just a few short weeks after the 2008 Olympic Games were over—for those of you that happened to miss them, you're in luck! Universal Sports will re-air coverage from the Paralympic Games next week (November 10-16), including highlights from track and field events, swimming, and men's and women's wheelchair basketball. If you're interested in learning more about the U.S. Paralympic team, tune in to NBC this Sunday, November 9, at 2:30 pm. NBC Sports will air a 90-minute special on the Games, narrated by Bob Costas, profiling the U.S. Paralympic Men's Wheelchair Basketball Team and eight more top U.S. athletes that competed in Beijing.

While I'm on the subject of television, I thought I'd let you know about a special segment on the Ohio State School for the Blind Marching Band that airs tonight on CBS News with Katie Couric. The band is the only blind marching band in the nation (talk about being unique!), and was recently accepted to march in the 2010 Rose Bowl Parade. This is a huge accomplishment for the band and I'm sure I'll have more to report about them during the Rose Bowl.

It's always great to see people with disabilities profiled on national television, especially when they are making strides in their field or setting national records and winning gold medals! It's a great reminder to everyone that people with disabilities are breaking boundaries every day and striving to make a difference.

Social Style

I'm not the biggest fashion follower, but I've heard from those who are that Fashion Week kicks off today here in New York City. So in honor of the designers, models, and fans of fashion—I hear they're called "fashionistas" these days—I thought I'd let you know about a fantastic magazine produced by one of the biggest global clothing brands, United Colors of Benetton, or rather, one issue in particular. The company's quarterly magazine is called Colors and is published by Fabrica, the Benetton Group Communications Research Center.

About a year after its publication, the Fall 2007 issue of the magazine somehow appeared on my desk. It's called Without Colors, is printed solely in black and white (most issues are printed in full color), and is dedicated to the people of the world who are blind or visually impaired. Most of the issue is available online, where you have the option of downloading stories and listening to them in MP3 format. There are some fantastic stories about people living with vision loss all across the globe, and I highly suggest you check this out.

It's encouraging to see such a big company in the fashion world making strides toward social awareness and bringing to light the many stories of people around the world that often go untold. Bravo to Benetton and keep up the good work. You're definitely my kind of style.

An Excellent Adventure, Indeed…

Guest Blogger, Caitlin McFeely, Communications Specialist

I am feeling like one lucky girl this week! This Saturday, I'm packing up my gear, heading to JFK, and flying to Provence, France, with four fabulous teenagers to attend the fragrance design school funded and run by French beauty company, L'Occitane. I am super excited for my first trip to the French countryside (I can't wait for the lavender fields!), but am probably more excited to get to know these four teens, their families, and all of the generous people at L'Occitane. I'm sure I'll have plenty to say about the trip when I return next week, but I wanted to let you know about Emily, one of the students coming to Provence with me, and her amazing web site devoted to this trip. The site is called "Emily and DeeAnn's Excellent Adventure" and was created by Emily and her mom (DeeAnn) so that their family and friends can keep track of their trip. There are already some photos, videos, and even a blog where Emily and DeeAnn are writing about getting ready for the trip. You should definitely check it out. I can't wait to tell you all about our trip when I get back. Until then, au revoir!

Celebrity Witnesses Support Equal Access to Communications Technologies

From Mark Richert, Esq., Director, Public Policy

Though we live in a world where we rely on technology to succeed at our jobs, keep in touch with friends and family, and stay on top of current events and pop culture, communications technology isn't accessible to everyone. Tomorrow celebrity witnesses and disabilities rights groups are gathering before the US Congress to testify on the need for a comprehensive piece of legislation known as the "21st-Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act." This bill aims to expand access to communications technology including text messaging, smart phones, the menus on DVDs, TV programming and more.

The celebrity line up supporting this legislation includes Jamal Anderson, a pro football player for the Atlanta Falcons, Russell Harvard, a Hollywood actor who is deaf, Sergeant Major Jesse Acosta, who has vision disabilities as a result of action in Iraq, and Larry Goldberg with WGBH in Boston, a leading provider of video programming accessibility. You can watch the May 1 hearing via the Internet at http://energycommerce.edgeboss.net/wmedia-live/energycommerce/
11990/100_energycommerce-2123_060901.asx.

AFB is really excited to be part of the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) that has been working hard to ensure people have access to modern-day, mainstream communications technology. To read more about AFB's work on the cell phone front, visit www.afb.org/cellphones, and to check out some examples of good video description, take a look at our new video gallery on FamilyConnect. With the population aging and the vision loss numbers expected to multiply in the next couple of decades, it is really important that we make sure technology can be used by everyone.

Horton Hears a Who!, Video Described for You

From action films to animated children's films, WGBH Media Access Group is doing a lot to make a night out at the movies more accessible and enjoyable for those of us who are visually impaired. I've blogged about video description in the past, especially for movies like The Great Debaters and National Treasure, a Schroeder family favorite. Opening today, March 14, Dr. Seuss' classic Horton Hears a Who! is the next film in a lineup of many to be video described by WGBH. You can check out the accessible trailer here.

AFB is so excited about the movie that we've made Horton Hears a Who! the Braille Bug Reading Club Featured Book to draw attention to the issue of video description. And video description is not just for fun; it can be an important component of education as well. AFB has partnered with the Described Captioned Media Program (DCMP) to develop guidelines for description of educational media materials for students from preschool to high school.

The accessible Horton trailer has certainly inspired my colleagues, so I will leave you with one of their interpretations of how Dr. Seuss might've described the movie's opening. Enjoy!

Horton Hears a Who!, Dr. Seuss' whimsical creation,
Is a story about an elephant who hears a Who nation.
It opens in theaters March 14, today,
So make plans to see it. You must! You may!
Based on a book, this great children's narrative
Is video described, and this is highly imperative
For those of us who are visually impaired
Because without it, unless we are paired
With a sighted friend who can give their remarks
Of what's happening on screen, we'd be lost in the dark.

One More Reason to Love Paris

Shortly after my post on the blind Tibetans and their visit to the MoMA here in New York City, I came across this article on the Louvre in Paris, France. Ah, the Louvre—one of the world's most prominent art museums, home to the Mona Lisa and other famous works of art. For those of us living with vision loss, though, experiencing these world-renowned works is often difficult, unless you're visiting with a friend who can describe the art or happen to be taking an audio-guided tour. Most museums tend to offer these tours, as well as braille labels and large print guides, but many ask visitors to refrain from touching the art on display. This isn't the case with the Louvre's Tactile Gallery, where "Please Don't Touch" signs are absent and exploring art with your hands is highly encouraged. The Tactile Gallery opened in 1995 as a way for those of us who are blind or visually impaired to experience art; it's the only space in the museum where visitors can actually touch the sculptures.

I had the opportunity to visit the Louvre 10 years ago, and spent some time wandering around the Tactile Gallery. I have to admit, I wasn't very impressed with what they offered. The collection seemed inferior and fell rather short of my expectations, but it's been quite some time since my visit, and I hope the Louvre has made some changes to improve the exhibit. This doesn't take away from the fact that the museum created an accessible exhibit for people who are blind or visually impaired, something I hope to see other museums provide.

Blindsight Stars Visit NYC

A great article ran in the NY Times today about some of the stars of Blindsight, the movie I wrote about yesterday. Five of the blind Tibetan teenagers that accompanied our friend Erik Weihenmayer up Lhakpa Ri, a 23,000-foot mountain on the north side of Mount Everest, spent Wednesday afternoon at one of New York's most beloved attractions, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MoMA). According to the article, the students are spending a month in the United States to promote the film and also have some fun—walking across the Golden Gate Bridge, hang gliding in Los Angeles, and visiting museums in NYC. I was happy to read that the teens were able to experience MoMA's "touch tour" of the museum, a regular service MoMA provides for the blind and visually impaired. I hope they enjoyed their visit to New York!

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Blindsight Coming Soon to New York

Our good friend Erik Weihenmayer is at it again! For those of you that don't know him, Erik is an accomplished athlete, author, and motivational speaker. He has climbed all Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each of the world's continents, and he also happens to be blind.

In a few weeks, on Friday, March 7, Blindsight, a new and exciting documentary featuring Erik, will debut at the IFC Center in New York City. The film tells the adventurous story of six blind Tibetan teenagers who, along with Erik and their instructors, set out to climb the 23,000-foot Lhakpa Ri on the north side of Mount Everest. It amazes me to think about the amount of dedication and courage all of the climbers in the film must possess and I'm interested to see how the film captures the dangerous and inspiring journey up the mountain. In addition, the film seems to focus a lot of attention on the way blindness is perceived within the Tibetan culture. According to the film's announcement, these six blind teens, along with many other blind Tibetans, are believed to be possessed by demons and are rejected by their families, villages, and society. I wonder if their adventure up the mountain changes these cultural perceptions and shows all viewers that people who are blind or visually impaired are able to achieve the same accomplishments as those in the sighted world.

For the film's trailer and for more information visit the Blindsight web site. If you have the chance to see the film, let us know what you think.

Playhouse Celebrates 25 Years of Accessible Theatre

I came across this article in the New York Times yesterday about Paper Mill Playhouse, a critically acclaimed theatre in Millburn, New Jersey. The playhouse is celebrating 25 years of access services and a commitment to making theatre fully accessible to those with disabilities. All shows in Paper Mill's current season have scheduled performances offering sign-interpreted and open-captioned performances for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, and audio-described performances for those with vision loss; large print and braille playbills are also available. If you can make it out to Millburn, I encourage you to stop in and see Paper Mill's current show, "The Miracle Worker," running now until February 24. Visit Paper Mill Playhouse's web site to see when sign-interpreted and open-captioned performances and audio-described performances are scheduled.

Let's give a standing ovation to Paper Mill Playhouse for their commitment to making theatre something that can be enjoyed by everyone!

Let's Go to the Movies!

Great news! I'm happy to report the Schroeder family will be able to see a video described version of The Great Debaters. My wife, Lori, and I received a reply from Ms. Olivares of The Weinstein Co., yesterday, letting us know that The Great Debaters will be released with descriptive video as well as captions, thanks in large part to Lori's efforts (you have to let me brag a little). In addition, Ms. Olivares said the company will attempt to make this happen whenever possible.

This whole experience proves yet again that sometimes companies like film studios want to hear from their customers and are listening. If DVS is important to you, I encourage you to urge the movie studios to add description, and to go to as many described movies as you can. If we ask for DVS, and take advantage of it when it is offered, I can foresee a time when video description will be much more available.

Many thanks to The Weinstein Co., Buena Vista, WGBH Media Access Group, and of course, to Lori, for making this happen!

Finding Treasure at the Movies

The Schroeder family loved the movie National Treasure (yes, sometimes even I like pop culture) and we were thrilled to find that the sequel is scheduled for release this holiday season. But, there was a disappointing catch-it was being released without video description.

We've blogged before about Descriptive Video Service (DVS), which is a separate audio track heard through a headset that describes key visual elements in a movie, and its importance to blind and visually impaired moviegoers (and there are many of us!). With DVS, there's no need to have my wife or daughters describe the movie to me in a whisper that's sure to irritate our fellow moviegoers. And so we contacted a friend at WGBH, the pioneer behind DVS and the motion picture access efforts called MoPix, who put us in touch with National Treasure's distribution company, Buena Vista.

Thanks, in part, to a most eloquent note written by my wife, Lori, Buena Vista agreed to describe the movie. So there you have it-proof that one person can make a difference!

Emboldened by this success, we are now petitioning The Weinstein Co. to describe The Great Debaters, also due out during the big Christmas rush. You can read Lori's letter, which is similar to the one she sent to Buena Vista.

Her words express exactly how important DVS is for our family, and I suspect for others as well. In fact, my favorite line was "I hate to admit, there are times that I avert my eyes (because I am scared by what is on the screen) and during those times, Paul has no idea what is taking place on the screen." Yes indeed! Taking my wife to see Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, which was not described in theatrical release but was later released on video with description, is now the stuff of legend in our house as I was left hanging disappointed at some very key moments. If you also love movies, but hate missing much of the action, take this story to heart and urge the movie studios to add description-they will listen to you, and the more they understand how important DVS is, the more movies will get described.

WGBH's National Center on Accessible Media maintains an excellent site with lots of information about movies and theaters with video description (and closed captioning) at www.mopix.org.

Hollywood Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Tomorrow, MGM Studios will release Music Within—a film based on the story of Richard Pimentel, the man who advocated for the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Coinciding with National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the film is going to be released in select cities including New York, San Francisco, Dallas, and Washington, DC (all home to an AFB office!).

We often talk about ADA on this blog, and justly so, since it is such a critical piece of legislation for people with vision loss and other disabilities. What I love about this film is that it not only tells the inspiring story of how Richard Pimentel passionately pushed for the passing and implementation of ADA, but also relays a message important to all of us here at AFB: people with disabilities have the same hopes and dreams as everyone else and should have equal opportunities to pursue them. I'm so glad the folks in Hollywood have devoted so much time and energy to spreading this message to others.

Visit www.musicwithinmovie.com to check out more about the film.

Accessible Broadway Receives A Standing Ovation

Guest Blogger, Caitlin McFeely, Communications Specialist

Tuesday night, a few of my colleagues and I had the privilege of attending a very special performance of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. I'm a big fan of Broadway and have seen many shows, but this performance was unique because it was fully accessible to audience members who were visually or hearing impaired!

We were invited to attend the performance by Bridge Multimedia, the NYC-based media company (and close friend of AFB) that works to create universally accessible media, including live events like this Broadway show. For Spelling Bee, Bridge had a live sign language interpreter present during the show for the hearing impaired. In addition, they demonstrated a technique called Expanded Audio Description for the visually impaired. Prior to the show, physical descriptions of the cast, explanations of key parts of the show, and descriptions of the scenery of the theatre and stage were provided to audience members who were blind or visually impaired as an audio file, online text, mp3, or in braille.

Before heading to the theatre, I listened to the audio description and synopsis provided by Bridge. It was neat to hear the description of the theatre and characters and even listen to a few clips of music. Once I was in the theatre, I paid more attention to my surroundings as I was looking for the things that were described in the audio clip. I definitely had a better understanding of the show before it even started. My co-worker Jay Leventhal, Editor of AFB's Accessworld®, who is visually impaired, took advantage of reviewing the description provided by Bridge before seeing the show. He found the descriptions to be helpful, especially the description of the theatre, set, and characters. Jay also pointed out there is one downfall to advance audio description: you learn a lot about the plot, so there are fewer surprises. Regardless, he still found the show entertaining and funny.

I learned two things from this performance. The first is that it only takes a few extra steps to make live events accessible. Wouldn't it be great if all live performances were accessible to all people? The second, I am not a very good speller!

Stars Dance in Dallas!

If you are anywhere in the Dallas area, you don't want to miss this! We're busy pulling out our dancing shoes and evening gowns here in Dallas for a star-studded gala to raise awareness of two great causes. Teaming up with philanthropist Ruth Altshuler and former Dallas Cowboys stars Emmitt Smith and Roger Staubach, AFB is hosting "Dancing with a Vision" in conjunction with All Stars Helping Kids.

The black-tie gala is being held on Thursday, September 20, 2007, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Phyllis George, former Miss Texas, Miss America and First Lady of Kentucky, will be emcee for the evening, which includes a dance performance by Emmitt Smith, winner of the "Dancing with the Stars" television competition, an exhibition dance by professional dancers Sergey and Michelle, and another by the Dallas Summer Musicals School of Musical Theater. American pop singer—and former "Dancing with the Stars" competitor—Willa Ford, will also attend the event.

It seems like just yesterday that we were busily preparing for a week of events to celebrate the grand opening of the AFB Center on Vision Loss in October 2006. I'm pleased to say it has been an active and exciting year for the Center, and thanks to the support of the Dallas community, we have filled the Center walls with groups of visitors, purchased new products to help people experiencing vision loss, and hosted numerous events at the Center.

I feel so encouraged by the great number of stars, entertainers, and other individuals willing to continue to support the AFB Center on Vision Loss and our efforts to ensure that people with vision loss can maintain independent and fulfilling lives.

Tickets are available for anyone interested in joining what I'm sure will be a fantastic evening. Call Carolyn Morgan at the American Foundation for the Blind, 469-522-1804, to purchase your tickets today.

And I'll be sure to post a follow-up entry after the night of "Dancing with a Vision"!

Helen Keller Lives On

We just received the most heartwarming letter from a nine-year-old girl in Colorado named Hannah. She wrote to tell us that she raised $11.25 for AFB from her lemonade stand. "The reason I choose to donate the money to the Foundation for the Blind is because my hero is Helen Keller," she wrote.

Nine-year-old Hannah is a testament to the fact that Helen Keller lives on today. She was an extraordinary woman who inspires so many of us to push forward and fight for goodness in this world. And for that reason, a statue of Helen Keller will soon be added to the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol, according to AP reports.

Although Helen Keller is often remembered as the deaf-blind child in The Miracle Worker, it was in her adult life that she really moved mountains. She was a famous activist and peacemaker who fought for those marginalized by class, disability, or gender. She worked with seven U.S. presidents, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, in 1964.

Thanks, Hannah, for your generous donation, and for reminding us all that Helen Keller's important legacy lives on.

[Text from postcard: Dear Foundation For The Blind, My Family and I just did a lemonade stand. We raised $11.25 to donate to you. I choose to donate the money to The Foundation For The Blind because my hero is Helen Keller. I have read many books about her. I hope the money will get to you soon. Love, Hannah Sherfflus, age 9]

Bitty Braille for Sale

I just learned that AFB's favorite braille-jewelry artist, Julie Dutt expanded her product line to include clothing. The collection, called Bitty Braille consists of children's t-shirts that are designed with "kid-friendly" words like "laugh and smile" in braille lettering. I'm told that the shirts are cute and the braille is presented quite stylishly—Swarvoski crystals for girls' shirts and metal studs for the boys' shirts. And, like Julie's other products, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to AFB. Thanks Julie! The launch of the line actually couldn't come at a better time. AFB is currently a sponsor of the Families Connecting with Families Conference that will take place this July. I have the great opportunity of speaking at the conference, but what I am most excited about is hanging out with so many kids. Wouldn't it be cool if we could institute a Bitty Braille dress code for the weekend? Now, if they only came in not so bitty sizes!

Can I Talk Your Order?

A colleague of mine just shared some of the most delicious restaurant information I've heard in a while. Menus That Talk. Just add a trademark sign (TM) to the end of that phrase and you've got the name of a new portable hand-held device that describes the contents of a restaurant's menu. This device can accommodate patrons who don't speak English, diners with vision loss, and customers who are hearing impaired. For people who are blind or visually impaired, the device features brailled buttons. For non-braille readers, you just tap the buttons to hear main menu categories, such as appetizers or seafood. When you hear something you like, keep tapping to hear a list of options. The one challenge is that restaurants must purchase the devices so that their menus can be recorded, so next time you're dining out, share the good news. Order information can be found on the main website, www.menusthattalk.com. Anyone hungry?

Well, That's News to Me.

Two of the world's most well known artists, Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, lived with vision loss; Monet with cataracts and Degas with retinopathy. Today, the NY Times published an article discussing the work of Dr. Michael F. Marmor, a professor of ophthalmology at Stanford, who used computer simulations to create images of what these two artists might have seen as their vision declined. This is great, since it's difficult for the average person to understand what a person with vision loss "sees." What's also great about this article is it sends a great message to the public that having a disability does not mean leading a limited life.

"Art-ifying" the Blind Biz and Helping AFB!

We love it when people raise awareness about vision loss in creative ways. Check out these two artists who are generously donating some of their proceeds to help expand possibilities for people with vision loss.

The first is Zack Orr, a musician originally from Atlanta, GA. Last week, Zack released his new album, "Francisco the Man." Francisco the Man consists of 12 songs, each coinciding with the months in a year. Each month, he will release one song from the album. In addition to his different and new release style, Zack is donating 5% of all sales from the album to AFB. You can visit www.fransicsotheman.org to read more about the album, hear clips from songs, or even buy the album. Thanks for your support, Zack!

Our second artist is Julie Dutt. Julie and her daughter create braille initial and name pendants and charms using polymer clay and Swarovski crystals. You can visit the braille jewelry section of her etsy shop to see these great pieces of jewelry. And don't forget, every purchase helps AFB!

Helen Keller Documentary Wins Award at NY International Film Festival

And we're back! I returned to the NY office earlier this week after a successful JLTLI Conference in Dallas, TX. Keep checking afb.org for post-conference overviews, reflections, and photos.

Amid a plethora of e-mails in my inbox early this week, I came across a noteworthy press release. Back in 2006, I worked with Emmy Award-winning producer and director Penny Price on a documentary about Helen Keller. The film, titled "Shining Soul: Helen Keller's Spiritual Life & Legacy," commemorated the 125th anniversary of Helen Keller's birth and explored the last years of her life, years that have remained unknown to many. I was pleased to read that the documentary won the Best Director's Award in Short Film Genre: Documentary, 2006 at the New York International Film Festival. I encourage you to check out the release to find out more about the film and note other film festival awards that have been presented to "Shining Soul."

"Black Sun" Debuts on Cinemax

Guest Blogger, Abby Manishor, Communications Specialist

Last May, AFB's communications deparment attended a screening of a film titled, "Black Sun," about a painter/filmmaker living with vision loss. The movie is very inspiring because the artist, Hugues de Montalembert continued to pursue an independent and adventurous lifestyle despite the tragic circumstances that led to his blindness. Hugues serves as a great role model for people in the vision loss community and I am pleased to announce that his story will now be available to a wider audience. "Black Sun" airs tomorrow, February 28 at 7 p.m. (EST) on the cable movie channel Cinemax. I encourage you all to treat yourself to this thought-provoking film.

New Release From The Man Who Knows No Limits...Erik Weihenmayer

I have spent most of my career working to expand possibilities for people with vision loss, so it really brings me great pleasure to talk about a good friend of mine and of AFB's...Erik Weihenmayer. Erik truly personifies someone who expands possibilities and I really admire both his professional accomplishments and his willingness to always lend support to the blindness field. Erik is an accomplished athlete, author, film documentary subject, and motivational speaker who also happens to be blind. Erik is most well known for his outstanding ahievement of being the first blind person to climb all Seven Summits, the highest mountain peaks of the seven continents. (Just writing that made me tired.)

However, his other successes are just as inspirational to both sighted folks and people living with vision loss. His latest feat comes in the form of a book titled, The Adversity Advantage that Erik co-authored with Paul Stolz. I just learned that Paul is the world's leading expert on the science of adversity, so I think him and Erik make for a pretty good team. The Adversity Advantage provides readers with doctrines on how to overcome life's challenges and how to use those challenges to create success. I'd really like to congratulate Erik on reaching the pinnacles of success—both literally and figuratively—and on continually proving the capabilities of someone who is dedicated to his dream.

Today is World Braille Day, and the Birthday of Louis Braille

Happy new year everyone! Today we are celebrating World Braille Day and the birthday of Louis Braille. As many of you know, braille has given people with vision loss a way to read and write English, and any other language, for close to two hundred years now. For many of us, it is the key to intellectual freedom, independence, and employment opportunities. If you'd like to learn more about this important code, visit our Braille Bug® web site, which offers fun ways for kids to learn about braille.

Spreading Some Holiday Cheer

One of my colleagues at AFB really gets into the holiday spirit by bringing Christmas cheer to children with vision loss. For the past few years, during the Denver Anchor Center for Blind Children's annual Christmas party, Dr. Kay Ferrell, Associate Director for Policy Research at AFB, and her husband, Richard Gibboney, have brought the joy of the holiday season to children with vision loss. Festively clad as Santa and Mrs. Claus, they pose for pictures with the kids and help them open their presents. Check out this great article from Channel 9 News in Denver to read more about the party.

Happy Holidays to you all!

Braille in the Beer Hall? Prost to That!

I recently read that German beermaker, Uerige, is releasing a line of 0.33 liter bottles with braille labels. Uerige is known to be one of the world's best "Alt" beer makers and it's encouraging to hear that such a successful company makes efforts to ensure that its products are accessible to all of its customers. This reminds me of other European companies, such as French fragrance company, L'Occitane en Provence, and French wine company, M. Chapoutier. Both L'Occitane and M. Chapoutier label their products in both print and braille because they believe it's the right thing to do. Let's hope this type of business approach spreads to other areas of the world.

Art Museum is Made Accessible for People with Disabilities

The United Nations marks today, December 4, as the International Day for Persons With Disabilities. Yesterday, in honor of this event, Pinacoteca Nazionale, a museum in Bologna, Italy, made its galleries fully accessible to people with disabilities. Throughout the day, in addition to regular tours, sign language interpreters explained paintings to visitors who are deaf, while museum guides led visitors who are visually impaired to touch tactile reliefs of paintings while describing them. In the press release announcing the event, Franco Faranda, the museum's director, said, "A museum cannot exclude but must integrate. We intend to offer a tour route which is personalized but does not exclude, to be followed together with everybody else. The goal is to adapt the museum to the needs of the visitor with disabilities, not the other way around."

Pinacoteca Nazionale not only acknowledged people with disabilities for yesterday's event, but also took its first step towards making its entire web site accessible to people with disabilities and approached the UN to encourage other museums to replicate their initiatives. Enjoying a museum is a great way to spend a cold, winter day, and I'm happy one museum is leading the way towards making all museums accessible for people with disabilities. Three cheers for Pinacoteca Nazionale!

I See Good Fortune in Your Future

If you're anything like me, you have probably been thinking about delicious food for about a week now. So, I thought I would post about something edible created by the Lucky Touch Fortune Cookie Company, a student-operated business at the California School for the Blind that specializes in braille and large print fortune cookies. The company offers customized fortunes to fit all types of events, including birthdays, weddings, or conventions. There are even chocolate-dipped fortune cookies for the chocolate lovers among us!

The cookies range from $1.00 for three small Braille cookies to $13.00 for one giant, customized, chocolate-dipped fortune cookie. You can place your order by contacting Lucky Touch Advisor Judith Lesner by phone at 510-794-3800 x300 or by e-mail at Judith Lesner. The company has also set up a linked order form to see prices and complete an order. Test your luck and order some braille fortune cookies today!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Holiday Shopping at L'Occitane Helps AFB and ORBIS

French fragrance company L'Occitane is once again helping people with vision loss. If you purchase a sweet cherry jam candle and teddy bear from L'Occitane this holiday season, 20% of sales go to AFB and ORBIS. As many of you know, L'Occitane and AFB have partnered on a number of projects over the years. This summer we worked with the company to send four US students with vision loss to a fragrance workshop in Provence, and in 2000 we gave them an Access Award for brailling the packaging of their products. They really make a lot of effort to expand possibilities for people with vision loss around the world. So, if you're planning on buying someone a bath and body product or candle this holiday season, consider shopping at L'Occitane. Not only is it a socially responsible company, but its holiday candles smell so good you want to eat them! And don't forget the cherry-flavored one helps AFB.

Helen Keller inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame

Helen Keller will be inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame (CWHF) during a gala event this evening. Below is a great videography of Keller that CWHF created to honor her outstanding achievements. Keller lived in Connecticut from 1939 until her death in 1968. She was a renowned activist, peacemaker, and women's rights advocate who made our world a better place. AFB was lucky to have Helen Keller on our staff for the last 40 years of her life, and we continue her legacy today. The video features AFB archivist and Helen Keller expert, Helen Selsdon, who will be accepting the CWHF induction award on behalf of the Keller family. It's a great video and I encourage all of you to watch it.

Support Eric B. and Designing Blind

Back in August, I wrote about Designing Blind, a new show featuring renowned blind interior designer, Eric Brun-Sanglard. Eric B., who is known for his breathtaking renovations of prime properties in Los Angeles, has spent the season on A&E bringing his interior designs to families across the country. What I love about Designing Blind is that viewers can see that losing your vision doesn't mean giving up the career you love. Eric B. is a talented designer, and an excellent role model for all of us with vision loss.

Now, Eric B. and Designing Blind need our help and support. Though the show has received positive press and great ratings, there hasn't been much promotion of the Sunday at 3 pm air time. Consequently, Designing Blind has yet to be renewed for a second season. I think anyone who has seen the show would agree that it would be a great loss to our community if this show is cancelled.

In an effort to keep this valuable show on the air, Eric B. and the producers at Designing Blind are asking viewers to write in to A&E to support the show. I am encouraging you to take a few moments to contact A&E. Let them know how you feel about the show, how important this show is for people in the blindness and vision loss field, or any other comments you think would help.

Show your support by calling the A&E network at 212-210-1400, or by going to the Designing Blind website and sending an e-mail using the 'contact us' link. You can also register for the show's online discussion board by visiting the Designing Blind website and clicking on 'discussions'.

Tomorrow is our Blogiversary!

It's hard to believe, but tomorrow this blog turns one. I spent the morning looking through some of my old posts, and realized we've covered a lot in the past year. We've talked politics, movies, web accessibility, guide dogs, sports, music, health, fitness, technology, writers, offensive news stories, and so much more. This space has given me, and several guest bloggers, a place to talk about vision loss in real time, and on a regular basis. It also give me a chance to hear your thoughts, and connect with all of you. Thank you for reading, and commenting, and helping to build a community on this blog. Cheers to the next 12 months!

Another Show to Watch

When vision loss enters the pop culture arena, we get excited because it's an opportunity to challenge the public's perceptions of what it means to be blind or visually impaired. Right now on A&E you can watch Eric Brun-Sanglard—a renowned blind interior designer—transform people's homes into beautiful spaces.

What I love about this show is that viewers can see that losing your sight doesn't mean giving up your career. Eric. B. has a reputation for being one of the best interior designers, and though I haven't yet watched the show, it sounds like he does amazing work. According to A&E, "Even the most skeptical onlookers are awestruck by the makeovers that Eric B. is capable of designing and then executing. They describe how a once cold and dull home became tactile and alive with feeling and yes, color!"

I hope "Designing Blind" teaches viewers that Eric B. is not alone, and that there are lots of people with vision loss hard at work in a variety of fields. As our very own Paul Schroeder said in a recent USA Today article on the show, "What I hope a show like this does is make people look at the quality of the work being done first, and the condition of the person doing it second."

Chill Out, It's Just About Showtime

It seems like no matter where you are in the fifty states, you cannot escape the heat. So, when the weekend comes, we are all looking for a cool place where we can relax and enjoy ourselves...like a movie theater, perhaps.

I want to follow up on a previous post I put up back in December. I wrote about how Spitzer's office announced that they worked to expand the availability and use of assistive technology in movie theaters across New York state. Well, a colleague of mine passed along a list of theaters across the country that provide assistive technology for movie patrons. Check out the list and see if there is a theater in your area. Then all you need to worry about is who buys the popcorn.

Dress Me in See NYC!

Just wanted to spread the word about this great company whose name was passed my way. See NYC is a company that sells clothing apparel with brailled words or sayings splashed across them. And, the braille is actually tactile—it's made with fuzzy dots. All profits are donated to organizations that work to help people who are blind or visually impaired. Thanks to the company's founder and designer, Stephen Kenny, for devoting his energy to helping people around the world who are living with vision loss.

Happy Birthday, Helen Keller

As I sit in my office, underneath a large painting of Helen Keller, I thought I'd take some time to acknowledge this extraordinary woman who was a life-long employee of AFB. Tomorrow, June 27, is Helen Keller's 126th birthday, and it makes me happy to know that her spirit is still very much alive. When I walk through the halls of AFB, I am surrounded by artifacts from her inspiring experiences. We even have an area in the office devoted to the Helen Keller Archives, a fully arranged collection of Keller's letters, possessions, and photographs from her travels, achievements, and daily life. The archives offer web visitors a chance to get to know the woman who worked tirelessly for the rights of people with disabilities, especially those with vision loss. For more information on this great woman, please visit the Helen Keller section of our web site. And, to Helen Keller, a very happy birthday!

AFB & L'Occitane: Partners in Provence

Guest blogger Abby Manishor, Communications Specialist

Last week, I attended the 4th Annual Cause Marketing Forum and it proved to be a truly inspiring experience. Cause marketing is basically a collaboration between a business and a charity cause in an effort to combine resources and channel them to a project benefiting both parties. The most celebrated cause marketing partnership at the Forum was between The Home Depot and the KaBOOM organization. KaBOOM's "mission is to create great playspaces through the participation and leadership of communities." The Home Depot supplies KaBOOM with materials, labor, and a lot of friendly support. The team recently launched a campaign to build or refurbish 1000 playgrounds in 1000 days. Quite amazing.

AFB is presently involved in a little cause marketing project of its own. Two of my colleagues from the Communications Department are in Provence, France with the company L'Occitane en Provence as part of L'Occitane's free summer fragrance workshop for students with vision loss. AFB and L'Occitane chose four students from the United States to attend the school, learn how to further explore their senses through perfume making, and enjoy the beauty of Provence. AFB feels honored to participate in this event and is thrilled to continue our partnership with L'Occitane in such a positive and fulfilling capacity.

JVIB Wins the Prestigious Bledsoe Award

Last week we learned that the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness (JVIB) has received AER's prestigious Bledsoe Award—typically given to exceptional new books—for 100 years of outstanding contributions to the literature of the blindness field. So many of us were thrilled when we heard the news because JVIB holds a special place in the hearts of almost every member of this field. If you look through past issues, you will see that every major player who has worked on vision loss has been published or involved with JVIB in some way. The congratulations e-mails have been pouring in over the last few days. Our favorite part is hearing all of the anecdotes and stories about how JVIB has impacted this field, and who has been involved over the past 100 years.

If you're one of those people with a story to share about JVIB, I encourage you to post in the comments section of the blog as a tribute to JVIB. Please join me in congratulating everyone who has made JVIB such a success! And special thanks to the hard working AFB staff, past and present, who've made JVIB the well-respected publication it is today.

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Tune into A & E on Sunday

This Sunday at 8 pm, tune in for the A&E premiere of "Touch the Top of the World®"—the story about legendary climber Erik Weihenmayer, who is the only blind athlete to summit the seven highest peaks on each of the world's continents. Erik is an amazing person and a dear friend of AFB. For the last few years, Erik, Verizon, and AFB have collaborated on a great project to improve literacy for schoolchildren with vision loss.

From what I've read this movie is supposed to be action-packed and inspiring. Here's a little more from A&E's web site:

"After conquering numerous major peaks, Erik decided to confront his biggest challenge—Mount Everest, the world's highest peak. Erik was joined by several of his climbing buddies who risked their own lives in this pursuit. Along the journey, the team faced unbearably treacherous conditions and witnessed the frozen remains of those who had failed in similar attempts years earlier. Finally, Erik and his colleagues made it to the top of Mount Everest, quite literally the top of the world."

If you aren't available this Sunday, A&E will air the program again on June 19 and 23. Tune in and let us know what you think!

A Great Exhibit for Young Artists

We just posted some info on a really interesting national exhibit being planned for young artists. VSA and Volkswagen of America are seeking artwork from 16-25 year olds with disabilities living in the United States. The exhibit, titled "Destination Anywhere," will feature pieces that illustrate a destination through painting, drawing, fine art print, photography, computer generated print, or mixed media. The artists are being asked to consider the picture plan as a destination, "a place where the viewer might take a trip they never expected." Fifteen finalists will be awarded a total of $60,000 during an awards ceremony on Capitol Hill and artwork will be displayed in a nationwide touring exhibit that will debut at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. If you are a young artist, or know young artists, make sure to pass this along. What a great opportunity!

Calling All Dallas Shoppers!

In an effort to spread some retail joy before the weekend, I wanted to pass on some news about a shopping event that my good friends and long time supporters at the L'Occitane company are hosting in conjunction with AFB. On Saturday, May 20, to celebrate Healthy Vision Month all local Dallas shoppers should come to the L'Occitane boutique at Galleria Dallas because 20% of all sales generated on that day will go to AFB. This past August, L'Occitane held a lavendar harvest festival in New York City's Rockefeller Center. AFB joined the festivities for the week, so I certainly became familiar with the wonderful scents of Provence. If you are looking for some exceptional products, treat yourself to a few purchases at L'Occitane. You'd be treating us, too...

Black Sun Sheds a Bright Light

Guest blogger Abby Manishor, AFB Communications Specialist, comments:

AFB's communications team found the screening of Home Front quite informative and beneficial, so we decided to check out another film. Black Sun is a documentary film about Hugues de Montalembert, a filmmaker/painter who is blinded as a result of a tragic accident. However, Hugues refuses to allow tragedy to break his spirit or hinder his lust for life.

AFB strongly supports the notion that people living with vision loss should strive to maintain their independence and Hugues personified that notion. He immediately enrolled in a rehabilitation program and within months Hugues not only visited friends in his neighborhood, but also traveled—by himself—to Indonesia, Bali, and India. While traveling, Hugues decided to write his first book about his experiences. Before he tackled writing, he explored music and took up piano lessons while at the rehabilitation center. He also kept an active social and personal life that continues to this day. The film's director informed the audience that Hugues spends his time between Copenhagen, Paris, and New York.

Hugues de Montalembert is not only a role model for people with vision loss, but also a role model for anyone who seeks a healthy and independent existence after a life-altering incident. He proves that true vision is made of more than what appears in front of the eyes.

HBO will be showing Black Sun as a special feature. We will keep you informed of the date because this is a story that is not to be missed.

Helen Keller in an article on the Viswanathan plagiarism scandal?

Guest blogger Helen Selsdon, AFB Archivist, comments:

I was surprised to find Helen Keller in a New York Times article earlier this week about the plagiarism scandal surrounding young Harvard novelist Kaavya Viswanathan, who has been accused of copying the content of another novel. The piece, "In Internet Age, Writers Face Frontier Justice," discusses an incident that took place when Helen Keller was just 11 years old and wrote a story called the "The Frost King" that she sent to the Director of the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston. Keller says in her autobiography that after discovering similarities between her story and one written years ago, she realized that she must have heard the original one at some point in the past, and subconsciously recreated the story.

As the archivist at the American Foundation for the Blind, I have come to know Keller's work very well. And as a result, I find myself wanting to defend her. Too many already question whether Keller—as a deaf and blind woman—was capable of independent thought, but let me assure you, she was. The woman with greatest access to Keller and most capable of influencing her opinions was her teacher Anne Sullivan Macy. However, when one reads Keller's texts and opinions they diverge greatly both in style and content from Macy's.

Helen Keller was a prolific writer. Into her old age, she wrote countless speeches, articles, and books. When you read her works, you see that she was a brilliant woman with original thoughts. The difficulty in categorizing Keller has led to oversimplifications of her life story and motivations. A much more complex Helen Keller is far closer to reality.

Back on the Home Front: Ex-Soldier Adjusts to Blindness

Guest blogger Judy Evans, AFB Communications Manager, comments:

Yesterday, AFB's communications team attended a screening of Home Front, a documentary playing at the Tribeca Film Festival here in New York City that aimed to show what life is like for injured soldiers returning from Iraq. It caught our eye because philanthropist M.C. Migel founded AFB in 1921 to help the large numbers of soldiers blinded during World War I.

The movie tells the story of Jeremy Feldbusch, a former Army Ranger who was blinded by shrapnel in Iraq. He's shown learning new skills, such as using a white cane or reading braille, and figuring out new ways to do activities he enjoyed before losing his vision. Feldbusch and his family also speak frankly about the difficulties of vision loss—his anger and eventual resignation when he learned he had permanently lost his sight, the things he misses being able to see, how his parents and brothers' lives have changed as they've had to support his recovery, and his desire to learn all he needs to live independently as a person who is blind. It's a vivid portrait of what those in the blindness field already know about the emotions, struggles, and triumphs experienced by people who lose part or all of their vision as adults.

After the film, the director Richard Hankin and Feldbusch spoke to the audience, and while they couldn't recall exact numbers, thought that about 17,000 American soldiers have been wounded in Iraq to date. The percentage of soldiers who've sustained head injuries, which can result in vision loss, is greater than any of our recent wars. It remains to be seen how meeting the needs of these soldiers will affect the blindness field, but the impact is sure to be substantial.

If you get a chance, see this film. No matter what your political stance, we're sure you'll find it as moving as we did.

Dining in the Dark

NPR has covered it, the Wall Street Journal has featured it, and so has Time Europe... it looks like dining in the dark has "tipped" and become an international trend. Just recently, one of these events was held in New York at the CamaJe Bistro... but, sadly, we missed it.

For those of you unfamiliar with the trend, it involves restaurant patrons dining in complete darkness, and served by blind or low vision waitstaff. From what I've heard, the idea came from a blind minister who opened one of these restaurants in Zurich so that people could experience eating with vision loss. From there, the trend took off in London, Paris, L.A., and more...

It's an interesting idea, and to be honest we've all been trying to figure out what we think of it. Some people find it a bit "gimmicky," others are intrigued, and there are those who are turned off by the idea.

It's not the same as being blind, but I guess it's as close as you can come. The reality is that when you have vision loss, you learn proper techniques for eating without sight. But these guests are thrown in and have to literally "dine blind." What I imagine is interesting for these guests is eating without focusing on presentation. So much of eating is about the way things look, versus how they taste.

Anyway, we're curious to hear what all of you think about this. Has anyone been to one of these restaurants? What was it like?

Reading with your kids

Reading with your children is so important, which is why I was thrilled to hear that Eric Ligon, a father in Texas, is designing childrens' books that allow parents and children who are blind to read together. Unlike the majority of books designed for sighted parents and children with vision loss, these books don't contain transparent plastic sheets with braille—which can make it difficult for a parent to follow along because the child's hand is often in the way. Instead Ligon's books have braille at the bottom of the page with words and illustrations at the top. There's a great article in the Dallas Morning News featuring these books. Take a look at it and pass the good news around.

Braille Bug I Love You's

It's that one day of the year when everyone's talking about love... and we have a cute, creative way to celebrate here at AFB. If you visit our Braille Bug web site, you can e-mail braille love notes (like the "I love you" above) to your friends and loved ones. The recipient of your note will be taken to a page where they can easily decode your message. We think it's a fun, different way to say I love you. Rumor has it Cupid likes it too.

Vive la France! Another French Company Uses Braille

My colleague just sent me some information about a French wine company called M. Chapoutier that brailles their labels. She saw one of their bottles in a wine store this weekend and was really impressed. We did a little research and found the story behind the braille labels on the Paterno International Wines web site.

Here it is:

"In 1993, French singer Gilbert Montagne, a good friend of Michel Chapoutier, was invited to a dinner party in New York. Deciding to bring a bottle of wine for his host, Montagne visited a wine shop, but found an unhelpful salesman. Montagne's blindness prevented him from reading the labels and make his own selection, so he left empty handed. Later, he mentioned this discouraging experience to Michel who decided to introduce Braille on his labels."

Like L'Occitane, the French fragrance company that brailles their packaging, M. Chapoutier is dedicated to ensuring all customers can shop independently. Seems French companies are ahead of the game on this... let's hope it becomes an international trend.

Learning About the Miracle Worker

We all know Helen Keller, the famous activist, peacemaker, and women's rights advocate who lost her sight and hearing when she was just a little girl. Helen was amazing; she actually spent the last 40 years of her life working for AFB and she remains our guiding light today.

But what about Anne Sullivan Macy, Helen's beloved teacher? Know much about her? Even though Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) dubbed Anne the "miracle worker," her personal story is relatively unknown. But the fact is she was a remarkable woman whose life and teaching philosophy remain an inspiration to those who educate children with vision loss. She was a woman whose brilliance, passion, and tenacity enabled her to overcome a traumatic past, and she was a model for others disadvantaged by their physical bodies, as well as by gender or class.

In order to revive Anne's important legacy, AFB launched an online museum dedicated to her life. The museum's galleries seek to show Anne through her own words as well as through the eyes of others. The pages feature photographs, letters, comic strips, sound recordings, and other artifacts relating to Anne's life and work. Check it out when you have a second. It's really interesting.

More good news on the TV/movie front...

Last week we reported that eight movie theater chains will expand the availability and use of assistive technology and take other steps to encourage people with sensory disabilities to patronize movie theaters across the state, which is great news for people with vision loss. Just this morning, I came across a new study that found increasing the contrast of image details makes television watching more enjoyable for people with low vision.

Dr. Eli Peli, senior scientist at Schepens Eye Research Institute and a professor at Harvard Medical School, used an image processing device that allowed him to manipulate the contrast of images on a TV screen. Through his research, he found people with low vision prefer watching these enhanced images. The good news is that the information from Peli's study can be used to help create devices that will enhance TV screens and make television watching more enjoyable for people with low vision.

TV and movies are a huge source of culture and entertainment and everyone should be able to enjoy them.

On another note, it came to our attention this week that people's comments have not been posting on our site due to an internal error. The problem was fixed today; we're so sorry!

"A Time to Love" by Stevie Wonder:The GRAMMY® nominations are in

Stevie Wonder has been one of the world's most influential artists for more than four decades, winning 22 GRAMMY awards to date. This morning he was nominated again for his new album, "A Time to Love." One of this year's nominations is for "So What the Fuss"—a song that debuted earlier this year in the form of the first ever accessible music video. With this video, Stevie Wonder gave people with vision loss the opportunity to experience the artistry and magic of a music video through video description. We hope the success of "So What the Fuss" will inspire other musicians to follow in Wonder's footsteps so that all people can enjoy music videos.

AFB applauded Wonder when "So What the Fuss" premiered, and again today, we offer a standing ovation to one of the most amazing performers of all time. He is a talented musician and a generous, kind person. Wonder is being honored this weekend during the GRAMMY Jam™... it's definitely the "time to love" Stevie.

Everyone's talking about Madonna

Everyone's talking about Madonna's new album "Confessions on a Dance Floor," which is topping the charts and my Christmas list. I am a huge music fan and Madonna is one of my all-time favorites. I actually keep a running list of favorite performers and the Material Girl is at number two—right behind Donna Summers.

I have memories of seeing Madonna in the 1980s when I still had some usable vision—she's quite a performer. Just last year, I attended her "re-Invention Tour" at Madison Square Garden. I had ground floor seats, which were great because they allowed me to feel the energy, vibrations, and spectacle of the show. Some may wonder why people with vision loss want floor seats, but the truth is that when you can't see the stage, being close to the performer helps you experience the magic of the show. And let me tell you, the concert was amazing. If she tours again you can be sure I'll be there.

L'Occitane's Gingerbread Scent Supports People with Vision Loss

Any person with significant vision loss can tell you that shopping can be a difficult task. Whether you need to buy a new suit or food at the grocery store, few manufacturers have large print or braille labels. One exception is the French company L'Occitane.

L'Occitane puts braille on almost all of its packaging because, according to its web site, it believes in "...making its products available to a broad spectrum of the population..." AFB has been working with L'Occitane on a variety of projects since 2000 when we gave the company an Access Award to acknowledge its commitment to access and choice for consumers.

We also partner with L'Occitane on product promotions such as the one currently running. When you purchase L'Occitane's new Gingerbread Candle and set of seven candle bases—which have the word "LIGHT" spelled out in braille—during the month of November, 20 percent of the proceeds will benefit AFB. Please join us in encouraging more companies to follow L'Occitane's lead by purchasing a candle this month.

Meet Maria Bulk: AFB's New Intern

Hello, my name is Maria Bulk; I am a new intern at AFB. I will be training with AFB for the next six months. From time to time, I will be contributing to this blog. For starters, a little bit about myself...

I was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. I lived with my dad, mom, and little sister. When I graduated from high school, I was eager for a new adventure, so I headed to the big city of Vancouver, Canada. In May 2005, I graduated from college with my diploma in Marketing Management. Yet again I needed a new adventure, and I was off to the BIG city of New York, New York.

If I had to describe my personality in one word it would be flamboyant. I was always the one in school that was being scolded for chatting with my friends and causing a scene. I have never been afraid to speak what's on my mind and I doubt if anyone would accuse me of being shy. That's not to say I don't have my quiet moments when I like to sit back and enjoy the view and sometimes I will even give up the spotlight and let someone else be the center of attention. I have dreams of traveling, seeing the Seven Wonders of the World, eating new foods, and experiencing other cultures. I aspire to make a difference everywhere I go. I want to leave my mark on this world. I love to cook, dance, watch movies, and hang out with my family and friends. In fear of sounding like a personal ad, I will stop now.

There is one thing I left out—I am a visually impaired young woman. Not that this has stopped me thus far, nor do I have any intentions of letting it slow me down. I do have challenges and obstacles to face, as everyone does at times; mine just come in a different form. My greatest fear is that people will first see my disability before my successes and failures. I am first a daughter, a sister, and a friend. A flamboyant and outgoing young woman who is always seeking a new adventure and then—after that and only then—I am a visually impaired person. I do not let my disability define me.

I am excited to share more of my experiences and thoughts with you, and I look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Making Van Gogh, Picasso, Renoir, Monet, Degas and Others Accessible to People with Vision Loss

October is Art Beyond Sight Awareness Month—a time when museums and galleries across the country help to make the world of pictorial art accessible to people with vision loss. It's also a time when we celebrate the work of visually impaired artists.

Art and culture enrich all of our lives, including people with disabilities; and though it is easy to take for granted the ability to marvel at the visual images encountered in museums, there are 10 million Americans like me who can't experience art through sight. Of course, that doesn't mean people with vision loss can't experience it at all. Touch tours, braille labels, large-print booklets, and verbal imaging tours like the ones at The Museum of Modern Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, make the world of art accessible to all people. And the truth is, these tours are great!

There are also a number of successful artists who are blind and I hope we're all encouraging more and more young people with vision loss to explore their creative talents. A couple of years ago we published a book—that quickly became popular—on how blind and visually impaired people explore art and creativity. It serves as a great resource if you're interested in this topic. Also, check out Art Education for the Blind's Art Beyond Sight web site that offers a variety of information on this topic.