American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Winter 2026 WHAT'S NEW
“My slate and stylus are must-haves in my toolbox. They are my pen or pencil. I love my refreshable Braille display and my Braille labeler, but when they don’t work, it is my trusty slate and stylus that serve every time.”
Each year, hundreds of blind people across the United States receive a practical and empowering tool through the American Action Fund’s Free Slate and Stylus Program. Through partnership with the National Federation of the Blind, and designed to support Braille literacy and everyday independence, the program offers blind people one standard-size slate and stylus at no cost. This longstanding Braille writing method continues to be a relevant and essential resource for those who read and write Braille.
The slate and stylus are a simple yet powerful tool. With it, blind people can write Braille by hand on paper, making it easy to label items, jot down notes, or practice writing without the need for other equipment. The slate holds the paper in place while the stylus is used to emboss Braille dots, allowing for portability, convenience, and reliability in nearly any setting.
This program is available to blind people of all ages across the United States. Whether someone is learning Braille for the first time or has been using it for decades, the slate and stylus remain a trusted way to stay organized, communicate, and access information. While technology continues to evolve, the slate and stylus offer a low-tech solution that doesn’t require electricity or batteries. It remains an important part of Braille education and daily life.
Requesting a slate and stylus is simple. Individuals can complete an online form provided by the National Federation of the Blind, or mail in a completed accessible PDF form. Once approved, the materials are mailed free of charge. This ensures that cost is not a barrier to accessing basic Braille writing tools, particularly for students, seniors, or others who may be newly blind or rebuilding their skills.
The Free Slate and Stylus Program is one of the many ways the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults works to promote equality and independence for blind people. By distributing these tools at no cost, the organization supports access to Braille and reaffirms the importance of literacy in building confident, self-sufficient lives. For these recipients, a simple slate and stylus opens the door to greater independence, one Braille cell at a time.
https://nfb.org/programs-services/free-slate-and-stylus-program
Your support helps keep our resources free for blind children and adults. You can contribute to the American Action Fund in three easy ways.
Make a gift online by visiting https://actionfund.org/donate.
Give over the phone by calling 410-659-9315.
Send a check made out to “American Action Fund” to 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.
Often the simplest and most significant way to make a charitable contribution is to plan a legacy gift. Creating a lasting impact is easier than you might think. Choose an option that works best for your circumstances.
You can plan to give all or part of a bank account, insurance proceeds, investment assets, real estate, or a retirement account. You can even give a required minimum distribution from your IRA directly to charity and avoid taxes on the distribution. After taking care of your loved ones, you could bequeath a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your estate to an organization whose mission is important to you.
The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults Legacy Society recognizes and honors the generosity of friends of the Action Fund who have chosen to leave a legacy through a will or other planned giving option.
If you wish to give part or all of an account, simply fill out a POD (payable on death) or TOD (transfer on death) form. For pensions and insurance assets, simply designate a charity as a beneficiary. If you would like to leave a legacy to the Action Fund in your will, please include the following language:
“I give, devise, and bequeath unto the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, 1800 Johnson Street, Suite 100, Baltimore, Maryland 21230, (EIN# 52-1192529) the sum of $______________ (or) _________ “percent of my net estate” or “the following stocks and bonds”: ____________________, to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind persons.
If you have questions or would like more information, please reach out to Patti Chang at 410-659-9315 or [email protected]. If you have included the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in your will or have made some other provision for a future gift, please contact Patti so we can recognize you as a member of our Legacy Society.
Legacy gifts carry the values and ideals that have been important to you throughout your lifetime, and they provide for generations of blind children and adults. Please consider the American Action Fund in your future plans.