try{ The organisation received a Royal Charter in 1948, and changed its name to Royal National Institute for the Blind in 1953. window.fbl_started = false; The Board of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC), a proud division of the National Federation of the Blind, has established a new membership tier: Twig membership. The Board of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC), a proud division of the National Federation of the Blind, has established a new membership tier: Twig membership. ©2020. Delivered annually by our President at the national convention, the banquet speech often delves into groundbreaking philosophical thought and results in a rousing standing ovation. } catch (e){} Be My Eyes is a free app connecting visually impaired people with sighted volunteers who lend their eyes to help them lead more independent lives. }); ​​At age 15, Louis Braille developed his first writing system that led to modern-day Braille, allowing the visually impaired to read through a series of raised dots on embossed paper. } ); (function(d, s, id) { function fbl_init(){ xfbml : true, The official policies of the National Federation of the Blind are established every year with annual resolutions adopted at the national convention. Do you know a legally impaired or blind student? We take a different approach. This month reminds us that we don't have to be defined by our physical limitations. fbl_init(); autoLogAppEvents : true, There are numerous local, national, and global organizations that support the blind and visually impaired and the research to end blindness. Check out the National Federation of the Blind, Foundation Fighting Blindness, and The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. In 1875 Queen Victoria became the organisation's first patron. status : false, var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; This is a meaningful way to spend time with someone who is visually challenged and may not have tools to read on their own. Read on to learn how you can observe, celebrate, and advocate during Blindness Awareness Month. So, we should all understand how to maintain optimal eye health and how to navigate life with visual impairments, whether for ourselves or loved ones. Blindness Awareness Month launched in October 2009 from The Little Rock Foundation, an organization in Voorhees, New Jersey, dedicated to serving families with blind or visually impaired children. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); Every October, Blindness Awareness Month brings a heightened focus on the blind and visually impaired community and the realities of living without sight. Newsline For the Blind Established The National Federation of the Blind created the Newsline for the Blind — giving blind and visually impaired people access to newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals using touch-tone phones. The National Federation of the Blind of Georgia knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Delivered annually by our President at the national convention, the banquet speech often delves into groundbreaking philosophical thought and results in a rousing standing ovation. } window.FB.Event.subscribe('xfbml.render', function() { Protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays by wearing sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection. appId : '179692745920433', The central executive board of the association consists of 17 including 6 blind Women members elected by the General Assembly held every three years. An estimated 2.2 billion people around the globe suffer from some form of visual impairment or blindness – including everyone who simply wears corrective lenses. The National Federation of the Blind's extensive legal program has helped advance disability rights case law under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, creating more equitable workplaces, classrooms, and communities for blind Americans. Many people make a sharp distinction between whether a person is visually impaired or blind, and accordingly classify various tools or techniques as being useful for either a partially sighted person or a person with little or no sight. ​We don’t realize how many times we touch our face and eyes each day, especially if we wear contacts; washing your hands prevents the spread of bacteria and germs which can lead to pink-eye, colds, and other ailments. Ask your Benefits department for more information on your vision plan to ensure you are getting the most from your insurance coverage. This later became the British and Foreign Blind Association. Start forming new habits this month that continue throughout the year whether that is volunteering with the visually impaired or taking care of your eye health. Your donations support their research in areas such as genetics, transplantation, retinal implants, and nutritional and pharmaceutical therapies. Blindness Awareness Month seeks to accomplish many things: There is no shortage of ways to learn about, celebrate, and support the visually impaired community throughout Blindness Awareness Month. Nepal Association of the Blind (NAB) Nepal Association of the Blind (NAB) is a non-Governmental, non-profit making national organization of the blind, formally established in 1993. To become a Twig Member fill out this form and submit your $12 payment for membership. }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); , [wpforms id="8315" title="false" description="false"], .