Image via Wikipedia
from Disability.gov
By Guest Blogger Carl Augusto,
President and CEO, American Foundation for the Blind
"I, for one, love strength, daring, fortitude. I do not want people to kill the fight in them; I want them to fight for right things."
- Helen Keller
Today marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of Helen Keller (www.afb.org/helenkeller), a woman who showed the world that with the right tools and attitude, anything is possible. We at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), where Helen worked for the last 44 years of her life, still see her as our guiding light. Helen believed in many of the same things we work toward today. She was outspoken about the potential of technology (www.afb.org/technology) to connect people with disabilities to the wider world, the need for high quality education for children with visual impairments (www.familyconnect.org), equal access to employment opportunities (www.afb.org/careerconnect) and so much more. In today's world, where the vision loss numbers are steadily growing among seniors, I know she would have been particularly outspoken on the need to provide resources to those with age-related vision loss.
To help seniors and their family members cope with age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma, AFB created Senior Site (www.afb.org/seniorsite), a web community that offers visitors information on how to remain independent and make everyday tasks like cooking, paying bills and reading easier. Senior Site also features comprehensive information on various eye and health conditions, including a Diabetes Guide (www.afb.org/seniorsite/diabetes). The site includes message boards and inspiring video testimonials from people who refuse to allow their vision loss to slow them down. Senior Site is the online component of our Dallas-based AFB Center on Vision Loss (www.afb.org/centeronvisionloss), which also serves as a working lab for vision loss products and adaptations, making it a valuable resource for families and professionals in the vision loss field. The centerpiece of the AFB Center on Vision Loss is Esther's Place, a fully furnished, 1,800-square-foot model home, complete with living room, dining area, kitchen, bedroom, closet and a bathroom; all fitted with simple adaptations and products designed to make daily life more manageable for individuals with vision loss.
The world has progressed tremendously since Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880, and she was a huge factor in that progress. During her lifetime, she was a world-renowned author, activist, lecturer and peacemaker who advocated for the poor and people with disabilities and fought for women’s suffrage. Her biggest desire was to leave the world a better place than she found it. And that is exactly what she did. On her birthday, let's honor her legacy and join together to continue to expand opportunities for those of us with disabilities. Helen Keller will forever be a true American hero.
For More Information
To learn more, visit the AFB website at www.afb.org.
"I, for one, love strength, daring, fortitude. I do not want people to kill the fight in them; I want them to fight for right things."
- Helen Keller
Today marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of Helen Keller (www.afb.org/helenkeller), a woman who showed the world that with the right tools and attitude, anything is possible. We at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), where Helen worked for the last 44 years of her life, still see her as our guiding light. Helen believed in many of the same things we work toward today. She was outspoken about the potential of technology (www.afb.org/technology) to connect people with disabilities to the wider world, the need for high quality education for children with visual impairments (www.familyconnect.org), equal access to employment opportunities (www.afb.org/careerconnect) and so much more. In today's world, where the vision loss numbers are steadily growing among seniors, I know she would have been particularly outspoken on the need to provide resources to those with age-related vision loss.
To help seniors and their family members cope with age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma, AFB created Senior Site (www.afb.org/seniorsite), a web community that offers visitors information on how to remain independent and make everyday tasks like cooking, paying bills and reading easier. Senior Site also features comprehensive information on various eye and health conditions, including a Diabetes Guide (www.afb.org/seniorsite/diabetes). The site includes message boards and inspiring video testimonials from people who refuse to allow their vision loss to slow them down. Senior Site is the online component of our Dallas-based AFB Center on Vision Loss (www.afb.org/centeronvisionloss), which also serves as a working lab for vision loss products and adaptations, making it a valuable resource for families and professionals in the vision loss field. The centerpiece of the AFB Center on Vision Loss is Esther's Place, a fully furnished, 1,800-square-foot model home, complete with living room, dining area, kitchen, bedroom, closet and a bathroom; all fitted with simple adaptations and products designed to make daily life more manageable for individuals with vision loss.
The world has progressed tremendously since Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880, and she was a huge factor in that progress. During her lifetime, she was a world-renowned author, activist, lecturer and peacemaker who advocated for the poor and people with disabilities and fought for women’s suffrage. Her biggest desire was to leave the world a better place than she found it. And that is exactly what she did. On her birthday, let's honor her legacy and join together to continue to expand opportunities for those of us with disabilities. Helen Keller will forever be a true American hero.
For More Information
To learn more, visit the AFB website at www.afb.org.
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