The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is one of many non‐profit organizations whose mission is to enable blind or visually impaired people to achieve equality and access. Its Web page is plain but attractive containing very few graphics and good contrast between the type and background. It is very accessible to users with text browsers and talking Web browsers.
The first section of the page lists what is new on the Web site and is updated regularly. The second section is a list of about 14 links to pages on the AFB and other Web sites. The links do not appear to be in any obvious order; links to different publication lists are interspersed with links to divisions of the AFB. There is no search software to search for keywords within the site. The first link, Information Resources, Reports, Fact Sheets and More!, goes to a page that includes multiple links to information about activities and publications of the foundation. A second link, Quick Facts about AFB, links to a page containing an overview of the foundation’s activities and includes e‐mail addresses, office phone numbers, and a toll‐free number.
The full text of selected portions of recent issues of four AFB publications, Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (last two years), AFB News (last two issues), DOTS for Braille Literacy (Development of Teacher Support) (all issues), and JLTLI Bulletin: The Newsletter of the Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute (last three issues) are available on the Web site. Also included are AFB press releases from the last year and current projects and activities.
AFB publishes books, pamphlets, and videos which are listed by format (videos) and subject area, plus recent publications and titles soon to be published. There is a link to a Web guide to toys for children who are blind or visually impaired, which is a joint initiative of the American Toy Institute, Inc. and the American Foundation for the Blind.
Under the Information Resources, Reports, Fact Sheets and More! link is the National Technology Program which includes the Careers & Technology Information Bank (CTIB). The CTIB not only gives information about career possibilities for visually impaired people; but, by filling out an interest form reproduced online, you can speak with a visually impaired person actually working in your field of interest.
AFB started the Talking Books program in 1932 and has recorded thousands of titles for the Library of Congress. Information about the Talking Books program, including rates and advertisements, is included on the AFB Talking Books page. Other main page links are to a calendar of events, online audio of speeches from AFB events, AFB job postings, and reasons to give to AFB.
AFB emphasizes that Helen Keller worked at AFB for over 40 years. Under the information resources link, there is a brief biography of Helen Keller and Annie Mansfield Sullivan Macy, Helen Keller’s teacher. Of particular interest are the Helen Keller Archives, a collection of personal material donated to the AFB by Helen Keller. The archives include links to The Helen Keller Papers, The Helen Keller Artifacts and Memorabilia Collection, The Helen Keller Photograph Collection, and Books from Helen Keller’s Library. Each section includes a description of the archives. The papers include selected full‐text, online, of letters to and from Helen Keller and quotes from her. The artifacts and memorabilia include pictures of the collection. Selected representations from the full collection of photographs are on the site although the graphics are of low quality.
The AFB Web site has a great deal of information for people interested in resources for the blind and visually impaired and is a good source of information about Helen Keller. In addition to what has been mentioned, the site includes information about ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), aging, braille and literacy, access to product evaluations, and education for the visually impaired. The information is tailored for various groups, parents, teachers, and businesses working with the visually impaired and the visually impaired themselves.
