Helen Keller: A Champion Among Presidents

Helen Keller touching Eisenhower's face, 1953 Helen Keller and Calvin Coolidge, circa 1926 Helen Keller meeting President Kennedy, 1961

AFB’s Vice President Paul Schroeder's Visit to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

Paul Schroeder stands in front of the Mercedes self-driving concept car at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show Our VP of Programs and Policy, Paul Schroeder, got up close and personal with the Mercedes self-driving concept car at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Fitbit and Up24: Are These Health-Tracking Devices Accessible to Exercisers Who Are Blind?

Fitbit on the wearer's wrist. Woman is holding an iphone with which to check the Fitbit app.

Tracking health and fitness is all the rage. Should you jump on the bandwagon? Can you? That is, are these tracking devices accessible to users who are blind?

I've tried two such devices: the Fitbit Flex™ (usually just called Fitbit) and the Up24™ from Jawbone.

Comcast Announces New Talking Guide for Access to Television

Comcast has just announced a solution to a huge television-watching problem.

The Joy of Voting Independently as a Blind or Visually Impaired Citizen

Voting with the Accu-Vote TS Man voting with an accessible voting machine

It's National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Expect. Employ. Empower.

Each October, we mark National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. The theme for 2014 is “Expect. Employ. Empower.”

The Need for Access: AFB Testimony on Intellectual Property Law

Note: The following is testimony made by Mark Richert, AFB's director of public policy, on how copyright law affects those with vision loss. For a primer on this topic, please see All Rights Reserved—How Copyright Law Can Leave People Who Are Blind Out. Video of this testimony is also available from the U.S. House of Representatives.

Privacy, Courtesy, Efficiency: Break out the Headphones!

Crista Earl at her laptop, using headphones

Have you ever wondered if other people can hear your babbling talking smart phone?

Have you ever wondered why the "buttons" on the screen sometimes don't work?

First, yes, those polite people at the next table can hear your iPhone or Android phone babbling as you search for a contact and make a call.

Free Money Identifier for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision: How Do I Get One, and Why?

a woman's hands feeding a one dollar bill into the iBill Money Identifier

At a conference recently, I received a free money identifier. What is this? How did it happen?

The saga is long and complicated. And, your real questions might be:

  • How do I get in on this?
  • But wait, what happened to the accessible money?

If you are reading this from another civilized country, you might be puzzled. Accessible money? What is inaccessible about money?

John DeWitt Leaves a Legacy of Access and Mentorship for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

I recently learned that John DeWitt passed away. He was the founder of DeWitt & Associates, an organization that provided technology assessment and training in New Jersey for persons who are blind or visually impaired. He also worked for the American Foundation for the Blind from 1978 to 1989 as a resource specialist. John's passing was a great loss to New Jersey, the blindness community, his family, and all of the people he touched through his work and volunteering.

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