The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) offers a wide range of services and resources for assisting individuals with visual impairments. Their offerings range from research initiatives and education to employment assistance and advocacy.
AFB is committed to breaking down barriers for the estimated 30 million Americans living with vision impairments. With the support of donations and campaigns such as the No Limits Matching Campaign, they engage in various programs aimed at creating equal opportunities for those affected by blindness or low vision. In particular, AFB, through the Winston Foundation, promises to match contributions up to $50,000, thus facilitating a significant impact in its initiatives.
One of AFB's main objectives is to ensure equal education opportunities for children who are blind or visually impaired. They advocate for these students, working to ensure that they are not left behind in their academic journey. Simultaneously, AFB is dedicated to changing employer perspectives when it comes to job seekers who are blind or have low vision. This is achieved through research, education, and advocacy initiatives centered around employment.
As a response to the growing number of older adults losing their sight, AFB aims to transform aging services and support. It believes that aging should not inherently lead to exclusion or inability to participate in societal activities.
Additionally, the foundation offers varied resources such as the AFB blog, AccessWorld, the FOCUS on AFB Newsletter and the Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness. These provide critical information, updates, and stories relevant to the visually impaired community. AFB also provides statistics, guides on technology use for those with visual impairments and resources on disability rights and laws.
Overall, The American Foundation for the Blind is a comprehensive source of support, and it serves multiple aspects of life affecting individuals with visual impairments. The foundation's initiatives in education, employment and aging support, alongside their wide range of resources, position it as a beneficial organization for those with vision impairments and their families.
