American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Special Issue on Braille NEWS AND MORE
Computers for the Blind
https://www.computersfortheblind.org
Contact: [email protected]
Computers for the Blind offers affordable refurbished laptop technology with accessible software including JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion. Clients are eligible for free training focused on keyboard skills and JAWS proficiency. Computers for the Blind also is now selling refurbished iPads.
Perkins Braille Bloom
https://www.perkins.org/perkins-brailler/perkins-braille-bloom
Perkins School for the Blind announces the release of Perkins Braille Bloom®. The Perkins Braille Bloom is a new device that can bring Braille to life on any screen. With the Bloom, any Perkins Classic Brailler connects to the internet, becoming a modern, plug-and-play Braille keyboard for computers, tablets, and mobile devices. It’s real-time communication without barriers; instant Braille-to-text translation for teachers conducting virtual lessons, for parents staying close to their child’s learning, for kids who want to text with their friends, and more. The Bloom clicks into the Brailler and connects via Bluetooth or USB.
Perkins 2026 CVI Conference: The Collective Power of Us
Dates: July 19-21, 2026
Registration Deadline: July 6, 2026
Location: Hyatt Regency Boston
https://www.perkins.org/event/2026-cvi-conference/
Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of blindness in children. Explore assessment tools, the latest research, and resources for families, individuals with CVI, and service providers. The conference brings together leading experts, groundbreaking research, and individuals living with CVI to leverage the power of collective expertise and community.
Word Learning and Vocabulary Development in Blind Children
Contact: Lindsay Harris
309-338-3716
[email protected]
The NIH (National Institutes of Health) is funding this research because kids who are blind have been ignored by language development researchers. Nearly all theories of language development claim that vision is central to children’s language development, yet tens of thousands of blind children learn words perfectly well. This research hopes to shed light on the strategies blind children use to build an English vocabulary and looks at which words they know at different ages.
There are two stages to the study. First a parent or guardian will fill out a survey with demographic questions, questions about the child’s visual impairment, their language use, and their outdoor activities. After the survey, the child will have a virtual session with a member of the research team. The team session will last about an hour and will focus on the child’s vocabulary and experiences. Participants will receive an Amazon gift card worth $250.
Wellbeing and Health among Low-vision and Blind Youth
https://www.youthviewresearch.org
Contact: Arianna Albertorio, 806-742-3769
[email protected]
Conducted by the NIH/National Eye Institute, this study seeks to examine the impact that positive and negative social interactions have on the physical and mental health of blind and low-vision children and teens. This virtual study conducted across the United States seeks to identify the driving factors of the physical and mental health inequities in blind and visually-impaired children. Participants will complete two testing sessions, including interviews about mental-health symptoms. Participants’ physical activity and sleep data may be assessed via an activity-monitoring watch which the participant will wear for fourteen days. Participants who complete the study will receive a gift card valued at $150.
Educational Technology Survey
https://nfb.org/legal/surveys
The NFB is gathering information regarding the accessibility of educational technology used in our nation’s schools (kindergarten through graduate level). If you are a student, parent, teacher, or administrator who uses screen access software or other accommodations to participate nonvisually in educational programs or services, or if you are the parent, teacher, or administrator of someone who does, please complete the Education Technology Survey once a semester and contribute to this important research.