The following are a few facts provided by http://www.afb.org:
About The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB):
-Founded on June 28, 1921
-Nonprofit organization based in New York providing resources nationwide for the visually impaired
-In 1928, the AFB provided visually impaired people with radios, granting them access to the news
-In 1932, the AFB created talking books and machines, which they also distributed to the National Library Service for the Blind
-Had a hand in the passing of the Wagner O’Day Act in 1938, which required blind-made products to be purchased to improve employment opportunities
-In 1983, the AFB advertised a device that “spoke” the currency of U.S. paper money
-Had an aid in the 1996 legislation that required telephones to be fully accessible for the blind
-Last year, the AFB helped the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act get passed, which required all major communications, including television programs, to be accessible
Helen Keller
-Was deaf and blind from infancy
-Worked with the AFB beginning in 1924 for 44 years, seeking to find ways to improve the lives of those who were visually impaired
-Traveled to 35 countries while working with the AFB
Statistics (Provided by http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/)
-284 million people in the world are visually impaired
-39 million are blind
-80% of those visually impaired can be cured or their impairment could have been avoided
Four levels of Vision (Provided by http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/)
-Normal
-Moderate visual impairment
-Severe visual impairment
-Blindness
Road Scholar Transport Awareness Program
Road Scholar created an awareness trailer displaying its purpose of being “On the ROAD to expanding possibilities for children with vision loss.” This purple tractor trailer features a young visually impaired girl and displays one of Helen Keller’s famous quotes, “Every child has a right to be well-born, well-nurtured and well-taught…”
Visit www.roadscholarawareness.org to learn more about our awareness campaign.
