American Foundation for the Blind

Are you 55 or older and have experienced changes in your vision within the last five years? We are seeking participants to better understand how older adults adjust to vision changes and what services can help. Participants can choose a 60-minute interview or a 90-minute focus group, offered in person or online. This study will close on May 31. Learn more and sign up: /agingstudy

Congratulations to the 2026 recipients of the ACB Scholarship Program, presented in partnership with AFB! These scholarships support students who are blind in pursuing post-secondary education and help cover costs such as tuition, fees, housing, and assistive technology. Read the list of recipients on ACB's webpage at acb.org/scholarships.

Join the American Foundation for the Blind on May 20 at 3:00 PM at the Woodlands Retirement Community in Huntington, WV, for a free presentation on Aging and Vision Loss, featuring Dr. Pris Rogers, AFB’s Special Advisor on Aging and Vision Loss. This session is designed for older adults experiencing vision changes, as well as family members, caregivers, and anyone interested in learning practical strategies for maintaining independence and safety. What you’ll learn: - Common causes of age-related vision loss - Local resources and services - Simple adaptations to make everyday life easier The event will also feature demonstrations by the Cabell Wayne Association of the Blind and a live smartphone accessibility demonstration by Aaron Preece, AFB’s Editorial Lead for Digital Inclusion. Door prizes and giveaways include magnifiers, writing guides, bump dots, and other adaptive tools that support independent living. 📍 Woodlands Retirement Community 1 Bradley Foster Drive, Huntington, WV

Have you been diagnosed with Sjögren’s Disease? Participate in a paid research study to share your lived experience. Exafield US is conducting a 35-minute online survey to gather insights that can help healthcare professionals, researchers, and organizations better support the Sjögren’s community. Diagnosis confirmation is not required. To request a survey link, contact Britney Jiron at [email protected].

Bravo, Logan! @logan.pianoman We couldn’t be more proud of you! Read on to learn about Logan’s extraordinary appearance at American Foundation for the Blind’s 2026 Helen Keller Awards. @afb1921 Reposting: What an honor for Logan to be back at AFB’s 2026 Helen Keller Achievement Awards. AFB’s @afb1921 mission is to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or visually impaired by expanding access and opportunity in all areas of life. They work tirelessly at promoting accessibility, advocating for equality, expanding education and employment opportunities and most importantly……. Changing perceptions AFB’s goal is to make sure that vision loss doesn’t limit someone’s ability to live, learn, work, and fully participate in the world. The Helen Keller Achievement Awards is a room full of extraordinary people whose work is helping to build a world where blindness does not define what someone can achieve. So grateful to be able to be in the room as Molly Burke @mollyburkeofficial was one of the honorees this year. Molly is someone we have admired for years and were just so incredibly happy to finally meet. Molly Burke’s achievements show how she turned personal challenges into global impact—and her mission is all about making the world more inclusive, understanding, and empowering for people with disabilities. As I listened to her speech, I felt every word. Both the hardships and the triumphs she’s experienced on her journey and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room as she spoke. Congratulations on your award and I so hope Logan gets to play for you and Elton John 🐶 again soon. Congratulations to @tmobile and educator Kathy Nimmer, who were also honored. Thank you to The Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School @fmdgmusic for letting Logan proudly represent and for this incredible opportunity. And thank you to AFB for another inspirational night and for all the work you do to make the world a better place. #afb #helenkeller #pianist #pianoman #achievement [alt txt: photos of smiling people posing for the camera at the Helen Keller Awards.]

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we're reflecting on a pioneer whose impact on disability education is still felt today. Anne Sullivan Macy (1866–1936) was the eldest daughter of poor Irish immigrants in Massachusetts. When she was 7, she developed trachoma, a bacterial eye infection that affected her vision. She had almost no usable sight until an operation at age 15 restored some of her vision, though she continued to have low vision for the rest of her life. She lost her mother in 1874 and was sent to the Tewksbury Almshouse at age 10, where her brother died three months later. She later appealed to a visiting state official to be sent to school, was admitted to @perkinsvision , and graduated as valedictorian in 1886. It was Alexander Graham Bell who connected Helen Keller's family to Perkins School for the Blind, which led to Anne being placed as Helen's teacher in 1887. Her approach to teaching children who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision continues to influence the field. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2003. Mark Twain called her a "miracle worker." At a 1915 international exposition honoring both educators, Maria Montessori said of Anne, “I have been called a pioneer… but there is your pioneer.” Yet Anne herself believed her story was secondary. Her work tells a different story. This Teacher Appreciation Week, we thank all teachers for the work they do every day to support their students and expand access to learning. Visit our link in bio to learn more about Anne Sullivan Macy and explore a historic photo of her with a young Helen Keller at Alexander Graham Bell’s home.

Color contrast is a key part of accessible design. But is more always better? In our latest blog post, we explore a question that often gets overlooked: can color contrast go too far? From how contrast is calculated to the “color vibration” effect and the role of user interaction, this piece examines what happens when strong contrast begins to undermine usability. Even combinations that meet WCAG standards can still create visual strain or discomfort in certain contexts. Accessible design is not only about meeting minimum requirements. It is also about how people experience your content. Visit our link in bio to read the full post.

A new project from the Harvard & Smithsonian @centerforastro is expanding access to astronomy through sound. Sensing the Dynamic Universe (sdu_project) invites people to explore the cosmos, from variable stars and pulsars to black holes, through webpages and sonified video plots designed with accessibility in mind. Traditional astronomy relies heavily on visual data. SDU uses sonification to translate brightness into pitch, making complex astrophysical data more accessible, especially for people who are blind, have low vision, or are neurodiverse. Through this approach, users can explore light curves and spectra, and learn about phenomena like binary stars, supernovae, quasars, and gamma-ray bursts in a new way. Explore the project at cfa.harvard.edu/sdu or visit our link in bio.

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the 2026 Helen Keller Achievement Awards! Your partnership helps expand access and opportunity for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision.

There are few bonds stronger than that of a guide dog and its handler. We celebrate that bond today, on #NationalGuideDogDay, as we recognize that the relationship goes much deeper than just assistance with mobility and navigation. As AFB’s research has shown, guide dogs offer support that bolsters independence, empowering handlers with a newfound confidence as they move freely through our society. To deny handlers of this sense of freedom is to deny them the opportunity and dignity promised in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each refusal of public accommodation, whether in a restaurant, hotel, taxi, or ride-share, chips away at that dignity and confidence, turning that sense of empowerment into a feeling of powerlessness. On this day, it’s important for us to remember that a guide dog and its handler share an unbreakable bond, and denying them access is nothing short of breaking the law. To learn more about our research on this special bond between human and canine, visit: afb.org/guidedogs-research

National disability rights leaders and champions for inclusion and accessibility gathered last week at the 32nd annual Helen Keller Achievement Awards at the Harvard Club of New York City. We were proud to honor social influencer, speaker, and author Molly Burke; nationally recognized teacher, mentor, and author Kathy Nimmer; and T-Mobile for their work expanding possibilities for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Each honoree was introduced by leaders in the field: Kathy Nimmer by Bernadette Kappen, retired Executive Director of the New York Institute for Special Education; Molly Burke by Dr. M. Leona Godin, writer, performer, and educator; and T-Mobile by Sarah Herrlinger, AFB Board Chair. Since 1994, the Helen Keller Achievement Awards have recognized individuals and organizations carrying forward Keller’s legacy by expanding possibilities for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. From left to right: Sarah Herrlinger; Brianna Burrows and Ayelet Winer (@tmobile ); AFB President and CEO Eric Bridges; Kathy Nimmer; Bernadette Kappen; @mollyburkeofficial ; @drmlgodin .

The @afb1921 Helen Keller Archive is an important part of our collection. But what is it? And how will it be a part of our museum experience? Learn about this exciting collection that brings Helen Keller's story to life.