More by this author

Creating a World of No Limits

Last night's Helen Keller Achievement Awards were a huge success, and we couldn't have done it without your help. We are so grateful to all of our partners, friends, and donors. This was our 21st year handing out these awards, and looking back, I can only feel gratified and inspired by the sheer scope and caliber of the Helen Keller Achievement Award recipients. From Stevie Wonder to Steve Jobs, AFB has recognized profound contributions by artists and inventors, corporate leaders and…
Author Kirk Adams
Blog Topics

Join Us in Celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Kirk Adams is president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. We are delighted to join our friends and colleagues in celebrating the sixth Global Accessibility Awareness Day, a day designed to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion for people with disabilities. At the American Foundation for the Blind, we are committed to removing barriers, creating solutions, and expanding possibilities for people with visual impairments so they can…

Welcome to the 31st American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conference

Kirk Adams is president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. It is my pleasure to be in Washington, D.C., welcoming attendees to the 31st American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conference, and my first as president and CEO of AFB. We are delighted to have a record number of attendees this year, as well as a record number of exhibitors, including our lead exhibit sponsor, Humanware. I want to thank our conference co-host, Virginia AER, and conference ally, VisionServe…
Author Kirk Adams
Blog Topics Conference Recaps

You Don't Have to Be Afraid of Going Blind

Kirk Adams is president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. This weekend in the New York Times, personal health writer Jane E. Brody tackled a sensitive topic: the fear, isolation, and anxiety that many people experience when losing their sight. The Worst That Could Happen? Going Blind, People Say. In 2007, AFB commissioned a national study on people's attitudes and opinions of severe vision loss and blindness. The survey revealed that Americans believe strongly that losing one…

Looking Forward: Join Us in Expanding Possibilities for People with Vision Loss

Kirk Adams is president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. "Expanding possibilities" is both our promise and our challenge. The promise: "When we expand possibilities, we will improve people's lives." The challenge: "Can we achieve the future we believe is possible?" The American Foundation for the Blind has put forward a vision of possibilities for people with visual impairments and works to make that vision a reality. We champion the needs and dreams of millions of people…
Author Kirk Adams
Blog Topics

Let's Keep Changing the World Together on Giving Tuesday

Kirk Adams is president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. I know more than I ever wanted to about unmet needs. I became blind when I was five years old. That's when I learned about AFB. It produced my educational materials and devices, which were my lifelines. When I grew up and graduated college, I tried but struggled to land a job. I would send my resume and cover letter, then ace a phone interview. Everything looked promising until I showed up for the in-person interview…
Author Kirk Adams
Blog Topics

Hiring People With Disabilities Helps Everyone

Kirk Adams is president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. For most of us, work is a big part of how we define ourselves and measure our value. For many people with disabilities, it’s also the key to independence. That’s a point worth remembering in October, which is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Finding employment remains a monumental challenge for people with disabilities. And no wonder: A May 2016 study (PDF) by the Perkins School for the Blind found that…