HUMANE CHARITY SPOTLIGHT

Support the National Federation of the Blind

More than 1 million people in the United States are blind, and it is estimated that 50,000 additional people become blind each year. Despite these large numbers, accessibility barriers and legal, economic, and social discrimination against the blind still exist. The National Federation of the Blind is an organization dedicated to helping those with blindness achieve equality and live their lives to the fullest through teaching, advocacy, and research.

NFB, with its 50,000 members at more than 700 local chapters across the country, empowers blind people through programs such as Braille Readers are Leaders, which helps blind and visually impaired students learn braille. For those who lose sight later in life, the NFB holds the Possibilities Fair for Seniors, an annual event where seniors can learn about alternative techniques, equipment, and helpful hints to enjoy life with vision loss.

NFB’s Jernigan Institute, named after blindness research pioneer Kenneth Jernigan, is a one-of-a-kind research facility dedicated to understanding the real problems of blindness and developing education, technologies, products, and services that help blind people achieve independence. The human-based research at the Jernigan Institute has resulted in improved teaching methods, better access to information, and many other breakthroughs for the blind.

The motto of NFB is, “The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight. The real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of information which exist. If a blind person has proper training and opportunity, blindness is only a physical nuisance.” Through its effective advocacy and groundbreaking research, the NFB has made great strides to raise awareness and improve the lives of blind people across the country. For more information about blindness or the National Federation of the Blind, please visit www.NFB.org.

Humane Charity Spotlight Archive