American Foundation for the Blind

Happening soon! Join the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) today at noon ET for a webinar on how research can help strengthen your state and local disability advocacy. AFB staff will discuss our recently published research summaries and fact sheets—valuable tools to share with state legislators and local officials as you advocate for transportation access, accessible digital information, expanded funding for disability services, and more. Denise Jess, executive director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired, will share a three-part formula for effective advocacy and discuss the power of coalition building. Watch live on YouTube: https://ow.ly/8bO150VoRWI

AFB is excited to participate in the 2025 Garden State Film Festival held this weekend in Asbury Park, NJ. For those in the NY/NJ region, join us as our award-winning documentary film Possibilities, which will make its East Coast premiere. Showtime will be this Saturday, March 29th, at 11:45 AM at Asbury Hall. Find out more about the festival at www.gsff.org. Prior to the screening, AFB’s Tony Stephens will host a festival block that morning entitled "Cinema for the Ear," spotlighting other festival entries with audio description. Shout out to the GSFF for elevating #AD for festival attendees. Learn more about Possibilities by visiting www.afb.org/possibilities.

There’s still time left to register for the next AFB research webinar, taking place tomorrow at noon ET! Join the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) on Wednesday, March 26, at noon ET for a webinar on how research can help strengthen your state and local disability advocacy. AFB staff will discuss our recently published research summaries and fact sheets—valuable tools to share with state legislators and local officials as you advocate for transportation access, accessible digital information, expanded funding for disability services, and more. Denise Jess, executive director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired, will share a three-part formula for effective advocacy and discuss the power of coalition building. Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/Rkri50VogBX

In case you missed it: Listen to a never-before-heard recording of Helen Keller, preserved from the AFB time capsule. This rare 1934 recording, featuring a powerful speech from Helen Keller and the vibrant sounds of New York City nearly a century ago, is now available to experience. Don’t miss this incredible piece of history. Watch the full event: https://lnkd.in/eDgxgTaV Learn more about the history of AFB’s time capsule: www.afb.org/timecapsule

Join the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) on March 26 at noon ET for a webinar on how research can help strengthen your state and local disability advocacy. AFB staff will discuss our recently published research summaries and fact sheets—valuable tools to share with state legislators and local officials as you advocate for transportation access, accessible digital information, expanded funding for disability services, and more. Denise Jess, executive director of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired, will share a three-part formula for effective advocacy and discuss the power of coalition building. Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/bNzw50Vmq9k

Stephanie Enyart, AFB’s Chief Public Policy and Research Officer, will present today alongside Mehgan Sidhu of the University of Pennsylvania and Silvia Yee of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) at the Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium. Their session, Leveraging Research for Impact in Litigation and Advocacy, will provide disability law practitioners with strategies to use research data to strengthen legal and policy advocacy. The workshop will explore key data sources, including AFB reports, and highlight real-world examples of data-driven advocacy. Learn more about the 2025 Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium: https://ow.ly/mlc950VlFpw

Early Bird Registration Ends Tomorrow, March 21 – Secure Your Spot for the 2025 Helen Keller Achievement Awards! The 2025 Helen Keller Achievement Awards will take place on the evening of April 24th in Midtown Manhattan. Since its founding in 1994, the Helen Keller Achievement Awards has celebrated individuals and organizations whose work has significantly impacted the lives of people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. This year, we are proud to honor Mattel for their global impact on the inclusion of people who are blind or have low vision following the release of the Blind Barbie Fashionista doll in 2024 and Andrew Leland for his powerful contributions to disability storytelling. Secure your registration today and take advantage of discounted rates before time runs out: www.afb.org/HKAA

Tomorrow is the last day to submit an application for the AFB Scholars Program! The American Foundation for the Blind is proud to support the next generation of leaders through the AFB Scholars Program, offering substantial financial assistance to students who are blind. This scholarship is more than just financial aid—it’s an investment in your future, your aspirations, and your potential to make an impact. Take the next step in your academic journey and gain the resources to achieve your academic dreams. Applications for the AFB Scholars Program are now open: www.afb.org/scholarships. Apply by Friday, March 21, 2025.

The Corinne Kirchner Research Award, established by AFB in 2007, honors groundbreaking research that employs a novel approach or explores new areas of inquiry with the potential to drive policy or systems change. Named after Dr. Corinne Kirchner, whose influential work set new standards for research in blindness and low vision, this award celebrates research that has significantly advanced the field. The next recipient will be announced at the 2025 AFB Leadership Conference in Arlington, VA, November 12-14. Know someone whose published work is making an impact? Learn more about the award and criteria: https://ow.ly/c9b950Vk8iq. All nominations must be submitted by April 7, 2025.

The application deadline for the AFB Scholars Program is quickly approaching! Apply by this Friday, March 21. The American Foundation for the Blind is proud to support the academic and career aspirations of students who are blind. The AFB Scholars Program provides substantial scholarships—up to $8K for community college students, $20K for undergraduates, and $28K for graduate students—along with mentorship and professional development opportunities. Eligible students must be legally blind, U.S. citizens, and enrolled full-time in an accredited degree program for Fall 2025. Start your application today: www.afb.org/scholarships.