American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults / Blind Children and Adults

Braille publications and programs - conducted and participated in programs and initiatives emphasizing braille and tactile literacy, education, and independence including: the free braille books program which sends a new braille book to over 4,100 Blind children each month; early pre-reading and tactile exploration program for Blind children from birth through age eight; braille readers are leaders contest to improve reading skills and encourage more braille reading; distribution of electronic braille ready (brf) files for onsite production of hard copy braille; share braille.org an online community to connect people who have braille books that they no longer need with people who are looking for braille reading material; outreach to locate individuals in need of braille instruction; mass communication programs to raise public understanding and support for requiring adequate braille reading and writing instruction for Blind children and youth in public and private elementary and secondary schools; and collaboration with other entities making similar efforts to make braille and braille instruction available to all Blind persons. All Blind persons and persons with visual disabilities in the united states (approximately 7 million as reported by the u.s. census department) are potentially benefitted by these activities.

Specialized programs and services - conducted and participated in activities to eliminate massive systemic barriers to full participation by Blind individuals embedded in education; employment; transportation; governmental services; commerce; recreation; housing; retail establishments; medical facilities; web-based and automated kiosk and touch-screen based information services; and all other forms of exclusion based on non-visually accessible information systems, devices, and tools and upon misunderstandings of the true nature of the problems caused by lack of eyesight and the resultant low expectations. These activities are multifaceted and include: direct services to Blind individuals; support for parents of Blind children; massive, broad-based communications to and interaction with individuals, governmental, educational, cultural, and business entities aimed at making widespread and permanent changes to public perceptions about blindness; leadership training; support for self-advocacy and self-organization groups; legal action to enforce existing laws and governmental regulations; support for creation and distribution of new tactile methods for access to information; efforts to locate Blind people needing assistance; and collaboration with other entities working toward similar goals. All Blind persons and persons with visual disabilities in the united states (approximately 7 million as reported by the u.s. census department) are potentially benefitted by these activities.

Tools for independence - gave white canes, slates and styluses for writing braille, and braille calendars at no charge to Blind individuals upon request. Approximately ten thousand such items were distributed during the year.