Research Presents Statistical Snapshots on Blindness

AFB conducted research in two phases to understand the experiences of people who are blind or have low vision when using technology such as websites and mobile apps. Our researchers found many issues that make it difficult for people to use technology, and made recommendations for improvement based on their findings.

AFB’s research showed that many workplaces could do a better job of making technology more accessible for people who are blind or have low vision. This summary covers what AFB learned and steps employers should take to create more inclusive workplaces.

Collaboration and funding are important to AFB’s research. Read about AFB’s study conducted in partnership with Guide Dogs for the Blind, transportation research funded by Volkswagen Group of America, and research and development of a hospital best practices guide funded by the Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation.

This fact sheet compiles AFB research specific to older Americans who are blind or have low vision from across multiple studies.

Lack of accessible transportation is a major barrier to independence for people who are blind or have low vision. Read key findings from a number of AFB studies.

AFB’s research helped lead to implementation of a final rule for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Learn how the rule sets standards for state and local governments and enforce accessibility of their websites and apps.

AFB’s Public Policy and Research Institute (PPRI) uses research to advocate for policy change. Here, AFB Director of Research Arielle Silverman, Ph.D., meets with President Biden at the White House.

To make the world more inclusive for people who are blind or have low vision, AFB uses our research to educate policymakers, employers, and the world at large about the systems change needed to increase inclusion and equal opportunity.

AFB’s research on web accessibility contributed to the implementation of a final rule on Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – just one example of how AFB uses research to shape policy. Read how this will improve access to state and federal government websites.

Using our research findings, AFB creates toolkits to provide actionable steps that employers, healthcare providers, and educational leaders – as well as parents, students, and others – can use to ensure equal access and inclusion for people who are blind or have low vision.

AFB’s research examines how people who are blind or have low vision interact with the world – and the barriers to inclusion that exist and need to be eliminated, so everyone has the opportunity to pursue endless possibilities.

AFB invites you to become an active participant in our groundbreaking research projects, where we focus on advancing the lives of people who are blind or have low vision.