Our Mission:
The American Foundation for the Blind creates equal opportunities and expands possibilities through advocacy, thought leadership, and strategic partnerships.
Who We Are:
Since 1921, AFB has been a leader in expanding possibilities for the nearly 25 million Americans living with vision loss. A national nonprofit with offices in five U.S. cities, we champion access and equality and stand at the forefront of new technologies and evidence-based advocacy. We address the most pressing needs of people with vision loss and their families, breaking down societal barriers and promoting broad systemic change. Like Helen Keller, AFB's most famous ambassador, we are committed to creating a more equitable world for people with disabilities.
Our Action Plan:
AFB cultivates in-depth knowledge that improves understanding of issues affecting children and adults who are blind or visually impaired, to facilitate meaningful change that fosters equality and inclusion.
Our Culture Statement
We are committed to creating a future of possibilities for blind Americans—a world where individuals with vision loss at every stage of life can live, work, learn, and play at their full potential.
To achieve this goal, AFB values learning, collaboration, impact, and excellence. We are a dynamic, creative, results-driven organization. Our workplace is lean, fast-paced, and virtual, and our work is project- and team-oriented. Performance expectations are aligned with the organization's goals and values, and employees are empowered to make decisions and take care of business. We value and invest in our people and their tools, expanding our expertise and utilizing the latest accessible technology. We deliver excellence to our customers, partners, and constituents.
How Our Work Changes Lives
We expand and share knowledge through a variety of initiatives, including original research and our peer-reviewed Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness.
We create an accessible, equitable digital world through client services, digital accessibility internships, and accessibility programs.
Through AccessWorld® and other resources, we deliver objective information you can trust—smart and informed commentary, cutting-edge news, and trends concerning information technology and visual impairment.
We advocate for better policies that promote accessibility and ensure equality and opportunity for people who are blind or visually impaired, creating a culture of inclusion at work, at school, and in our communities.
We speak up for children who are blind or visually impaired, to make sure they have the resources they need, including textbooks and classroom materials.
We convene leaders—across our field and among business leaders, public officials, and other decision-makers—to champion the development of legislation and best practices that provide equal opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Through FOCUS, our newsletter, we deliver ways to engage with AFB through updates on all of its program areas.
For more information, please see our Strategic Plan, which includes our Vision and Strategic Goals to achieve it: The American Foundation for the Blind Strategic Plan