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American Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is an American non-profit organization, specifically a 501(c)(3), for people with vision loss. AFB's objectives include conducting research to advance change, promoting knowledge and understanding, and shaping policies and practices.
AFB is especially known for its development of the Talking Book in the 1930s, and for having studios for recording these books in various audio technologies. The M.C. Migel Memorial Library, in existence since the 1920s, hosted one of the leading print collections of non-medical research regarding blindness and visual impairment. Throughout its history, AFB has put out a scholarly journal, at first called Outlook for the Blind, then The New Outlook for the Blind, and subsequently, the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. Over the years, AFB has engaged in partnerships with the American Printing House for the Blind that have included transferring some of its programs to them, such as the Migel Library in 2009.
Eric Bridges, formerly the Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind, has been AFB's president and CEO since April 12, 2023. For most of its history, AFB was based in New York City. Since 2017, AFB's main headquarters have been in Arlington, Virginia.
AFB, with the support and leadership of M.C. Migel, a philanthropist who was moved to help the large number of veterans blinded in World War I, was formed in 1921 to provide both a national clearing house for information about vision loss and a forum for discussion for blindness service professionals. Its founding, made official at the convention of the American Association of Workers for the Blind in Vinton, Iowa, was also intended to spur research and represent the needs of people with vision loss in the US government. It filed as a tax-exempt organization in 1922. Its role as a national clearinghouse for information began in 1923.
AFB's early accomplishments included taking the lead to standardize English Braille code and establishing the first professional publications program for teachers and administrators of programs for people with vision loss. In 1926, AFB's Directory of Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons was first published, compiled by social worker Lotta S. Rand. The directory continued to be used for decades afterward as resource for both professionals and for the blind and their families to locate services in their geographical areas.
In its early years, the foundation had its headquarters on East 46th Street in Manhattan. AFB hosted the World Conference for the Blind in New York City in 1931.
In 1932, AFB engineers developed the Talking Book and Talking Book Machine and set up studios for recording these books, marking the advent of the modern audiobook. AFB played a major role in persuading the federal government to include talking books in the National Library System for blind people operated by the Library of Congress. The development by AFB of the Talking Book made a large-scale difference in how services could be extended to blind patrons. The foundation engaged in fundraising campaigns to support thousands of talking book machines being distributed around the country. In 1936, AFB set up arrangements for two additional organizations to produce Talking Books, the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and the British National Institute for the Blind. APH made extensive changes to its production facilities for this purpose. Within the United States, the Library of Congress gave lists of titles needing recording and AFB and APH split the lists between them.
In 1934, the foundation built a new headquarters at 15 West 16th Street in Manhattan, between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, in what would become known as the Ladies' Mile Historic District. It was a three story, Georgian Colonial style structure. Over time, a grouping of four buildings, surrounding a courtyard, became occupied by the American Foundation for the Blind. They consisted of two Georgian Colonial buildings on West 16th Street as well as another building and a taller loft on West 17th Street.
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American Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is an American non-profit organization, specifically a 501(c)(3), for people with vision loss. AFB's objectives include conducting research to advance change, promoting knowledge and understanding, and shaping policies and practices.
AFB is especially known for its development of the Talking Book in the 1930s, and for having studios for recording these books in various audio technologies. The M.C. Migel Memorial Library, in existence since the 1920s, hosted one of the leading print collections of non-medical research regarding blindness and visual impairment. Throughout its history, AFB has put out a scholarly journal, at first called Outlook for the Blind, then The New Outlook for the Blind, and subsequently, the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. Over the years, AFB has engaged in partnerships with the American Printing House for the Blind that have included transferring some of its programs to them, such as the Migel Library in 2009.
Eric Bridges, formerly the Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind, has been AFB's president and CEO since April 12, 2023. For most of its history, AFB was based in New York City. Since 2017, AFB's main headquarters have been in Arlington, Virginia.
AFB, with the support and leadership of M.C. Migel, a philanthropist who was moved to help the large number of veterans blinded in World War I, was formed in 1921 to provide both a national clearing house for information about vision loss and a forum for discussion for blindness service professionals. Its founding, made official at the convention of the American Association of Workers for the Blind in Vinton, Iowa, was also intended to spur research and represent the needs of people with vision loss in the US government. It filed as a tax-exempt organization in 1922. Its role as a national clearinghouse for information began in 1923.
AFB's early accomplishments included taking the lead to standardize English Braille code and establishing the first professional publications program for teachers and administrators of programs for people with vision loss. In 1926, AFB's Directory of Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Persons was first published, compiled by social worker Lotta S. Rand. The directory continued to be used for decades afterward as resource for both professionals and for the blind and their families to locate services in their geographical areas.
In its early years, the foundation had its headquarters on East 46th Street in Manhattan. AFB hosted the World Conference for the Blind in New York City in 1931.
In 1932, AFB engineers developed the Talking Book and Talking Book Machine and set up studios for recording these books, marking the advent of the modern audiobook. AFB played a major role in persuading the federal government to include talking books in the National Library System for blind people operated by the Library of Congress. The development by AFB of the Talking Book made a large-scale difference in how services could be extended to blind patrons. The foundation engaged in fundraising campaigns to support thousands of talking book machines being distributed around the country. In 1936, AFB set up arrangements for two additional organizations to produce Talking Books, the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and the British National Institute for the Blind. APH made extensive changes to its production facilities for this purpose. Within the United States, the Library of Congress gave lists of titles needing recording and AFB and APH split the lists between them.
In 1934, the foundation built a new headquarters at 15 West 16th Street in Manhattan, between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue, in what would become known as the Ladies' Mile Historic District. It was a three story, Georgian Colonial style structure. Over time, a grouping of four buildings, surrounding a courtyard, became occupied by the American Foundation for the Blind. They consisted of two Georgian Colonial buildings on West 16th Street as well as another building and a taller loft on West 17th Street.