About Us
The mission of the American Foundation for the Blind is to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired. We mobilize leaders, advance understanding, and champion impactful policies and practices using research and data.
What We Do
AFB Leadership
Events and Awards
- American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conference 2022 |
- 2021 Centennial Celebration |
- Helen Keller Achievement Awards |
- AFB Leadership Conference 2020 |
- Migel Medal Awards |
- American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conference 2019 |
- Corinne Kirchner Research Award |
- AFB Scholarships |
- Stephen Garff Marriott Award |
- Other Scholarships and Grants for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
AFB Videos
- Changing the Way the World Sees Blindness |
- Introducing the AFB Talent Lab |
- AFB Envisions a World of No Limits for Children with Visual Impairments |
- Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2021 |
- AFB Breakthroughs |
- Expanding Possibilities for People with Vision Loss |
- AFB Breakthroughs (Full Video) |
- Launching the Helen Keller Archive |
- When I Grow Up |
- Patricia Walsh Keynote |
- Finding Wheels: Let’s Talk Nondriving and Low Vision Driving for Teens and People in Their Early 20s
Annual Report and Financials
Strategic Plan
History
Research and Initiatives
AFB's Public Policy and Research Center strives to accurately and persuasively understand and describe the characteristics, experiences, needs, and capabilities of people who are blind or visually impaired.
Workplace Technology Study
- Executive Summary |
- Acknowledgements |
- Introduction |
- Employment of Participants |
- Learning To Use and Keeping Current with Assistive Technology |
- Accommodations and Accessibility |
- Working with IT Staff |
- Productivity |
- Employers Adopting New Technology |
- Social-Emotional Well-Being of Employees with Visual Impairments |
- Self-Employment |
- Recommendations |
- Final Thoughts
Public Policy Advocacy
- 2022 Public Policy Priorities |
- 2021 Public Policy Priorities |
- AFB Public Policy Letters, Comments, and Statements
COVID-19 and Adults Who Are Blind, Have Low Vision, or Are Deafblind
Treat Transportation as a Essential Service (Joint Letter from the CCD)
Best Practices Guide for Hospitals
- Video: Supporting Individuals with Visual Impairments in the Healthcare Setting, Part One |
- Video: Supporting Individuals with Visual Impairments in the Healthcare Setting, Part Two |
- Handout: General Serving the Needs of Individuals with Visual Impairments in Healthcare Settings |
- Handout: Guidelines for Ancillary & Support Staff |
- Handout: Guidelines for Food Service Staff |
- Handout: Suggestions for Guest Services Staff |
- Handout: Suggestions for Registration Staff
AFB's Research for Guide Dogs for the Blind
Statistical Snapshots from the American Foundation for the Blind
- Key Definitions of Statistical Terms |
- Facts and Figures on Adults with Vision Loss |
- Employment Statistics |
- Statistics About Older People with Vision Loss |
- Statistics About Children and Youth with Vision Loss |
- State-Specific Statistical Information |
- A Resource Guide to Disability Statistics |
- Archive of Blindness Statistics and Reports
Employment
- No Limits Employment |
- Disability Employment Research: Key Takeaways |
- Employment Programs for Blind and Low Vision Americans: What Are We Not Doing? |
- Employment Summits |
- AFB Blind Leaders Development Program |
- Meet Denna Lambert
Education
- Research on Educational Impact of COVID-19 |
- Joint Letter from AFB and ACB to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions |
- Consortium on Blindness and English Learners |
- An Open Letter to the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services |
- Joint Letter from ACB and AFB Regarding the COVID-19 Package |
- No Limits Education |
- What Does No Limits Education Look Like? |
- Education Policy: AFB's Past Initiatives
Aging
- Special Report on Aging and Vision Loss |
- No Limits Aging |
- Project VISITOR: Transportation Research |
- AFB Aging and Vision Loss Initiatives
News & Publications
The American Foundation for the Blind is dedicated to promoting awareness of the latest research, resources, and news in the blindness field.
Publications
Press Room
Blindness and Low Vision
Blindness or visual impairment can have a profound impact on your life, but you are still in control. We have an abundance of information to help you, whether you're visually impaired, losing vision, or know someone affected by vision loss.
FamilyConnect
VisionAware
Eye Conditions
- Cortical Visual Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Neurological Vision Loss |
- Diabetes and Vision Loss |
- Diabetes: 7 Lessons on the Basics in Audio with Transcript |
- Low Vision and Legal Blindness Terms and Descriptions |
- Diabetes and Vision Loss: A 7-Lesson Guide to Caring for Yourself |
- Macular Degeneration Guide |
- La diabetes y la pérdida de visión
Braille
Using Technology
- Prescription, Health, and Fitness Management Tools |
- Smartphone GPS Navigation |
- Accessible Identification Systems |
- Selecting Home Appliances |
- Interviews with Technology Pioneers |
- Learn Tech: Assistive Technology Videos |
- Using Social Media |
- Online Shopping and Banking |
- Using Technology for Reading |
- Entertainment |
- Assistive Technology Products |
- Using a Computer with a Visual Impairment |
- Cell Phones, Tablets, and Other Mobile Technology
Disability Rights and Laws
- AFB Comments on Title II & Title III ADA Proposed Rulemaking |
- Health and Safety |
- Of Consuming Interest: Titles II & III of the ADA |
- Rx Label Enable Campaign |
- ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments |
- Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security |
- Technology and Information Accessibility |
- ADA Title III Public Accommodations Key Links |
- An Appropriate "Copyright of Way" for People with Disabilities: How Would You Describe It? |
- Section 504: Legal Foundations of the Right to Accessible Information |
- Civil Rights Laws Covering Service Animals |
- Civil Rights Laws Covering Transportation Vehicles and Services |
- Voting Accessibility |
- Transportation Issues Key Links |
- Advocacy Resources |
- Section 501 and Section 504 Key Links |
- ADA Title II State & Local Governments Key Links |
- ADA Title I Employment Key Links |
- Telecommunications Policy
Take Action!
Join AFB’s no limits mission to help us create an accessible, inclusive world for millions of Americans with vision loss.
Pass the Disability Access to Transportation Act
COVID-19 Advocacy
Announcements
- Coachella Program for BIPOC Individuals with Disabilities |
- Learning from Patients to Provide Accessible Healthcare and Effective Communication for Patients who are Blind or have Low Vision |
- REV UP Summer Intern |
- En-Vision America Celebrates 25 Years |
- AER Seeks Executive Director |
- National Registry for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments Launches |
- Students With Visual Impairments Needed for Physical Education Research |
- We Have A Winner! (A Photo Contest Winner, That Is) |
- World Blind Union Statement for World Braille Day |
- Important Information Regarding Short-Term TEPEZZA (teprotumumab-trbw) Supply Disruption |
- Remembering Jeopardy! Host, Alex Trebek |
- Hey, Kids! Enter the Benefits of Audio Description in Education (BADIE) Contest |
- Aira Announces Support for Get Out The Vote 2020 |
- Measuring the Time Impact of Web Accessibility for Blind Users |
- Tech Industry Career Showcase |
- ATIA Live Course Series: Assistive Technology Resources During COVID-19