AFB's Commitment to Evidence-Based Advocacy

Digital platforms have not been designed for everyone. In 2023, researchers at AFB conducted the Barriers to Digital Inclusion Survey (BDIS) to learn about the prevalence and impacts of digital inclusion barriers faced by individuals who are blind, have low vision, or are deafblind. To follow, in 2024, AFB conducted a second study, Barriers to Digital Inclusion 2 (BDIS 2), to take a more in-depth look at blind and low-vision people’s digital experiences in real time.

In response to AFB’s study last year on the challenges job seekers who are blind or have low vision face toward closing the opportunity gap, our Public Policy & Research Institute has prepared a helpful toolkit for HR professionals and hiring managers. Steps for Success: Hiring, Onboarding, and Retaining People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision provides key best insight, practices, and guidance to assure barriers to opportunity don’t stand in the way of people who are blind or have low vision.

These collaborative studies, conducted from 2020 to 2022, investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education of children and youth with visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities and deafblindness.

The Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB) is the international peer-reviewed journal of record in the field, delivering current research and best practice information, commentary from authoritative experts on critical topics, and more.

• How many adult Americans have trouble seeing?
• How many seniors in the U.S. experience vision loss?
• How many children in the U.S. are blind or visually impaired?

Transportation can be a major barrier to participation in the community. In our efforts to improve options for people who are blind, AFB has conducted research and written white papers on various aspect of the transportation experience.

Stephanie Enyart has 20 years’ experience advocating for people with disabilities. She provides strategic leadership for the policy and research functions across the key focus areas of education, employment, aging, and the intersectional issues of technology and transportation.

Dr. Arielle Silverman became Director of Research at AFB in April 2022, after serving as an independent contractor and then a research specialist. She manages the formulation and implementation of AFB’s research to inform AFB’s public policy agenda and direct research projects related to AFB’s mission and strategy.

Sarahelizabeth Baguhn, Ph.D. serves as a Research Specialist on AFB’s Public Policy and Research team since joining in June 2022. She is responsible for contributing to research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting.

AFB is offering an exciting opportunity for graduate students and recent grads who are blind or have low vision to build hands-on experience doing impactful research under the direction of blind mentors. Discover eligibility requirements and key dates to apply!

Share your thoughts on Artificial Intelligence (AI)! AFB's Public Policy and Research Institute (PPRI) would love your feedback as we explore AI use by people with and without disabilities. Our survey is open now through September 30th, 2025.

We are committed to advancing the voices of people who are blind or have low vision, both institutionally and by conducting high-quality research and sharing our findings broadly. If you would like to receive information about research opportunities, our latest reports or webinars, or our public policy advancements, please sign up!