Advocacy & Rights | My Blind Spot

Student with visual impairment using her talking computer and Braille display

The American Foundation for the Blind

(AFB) Founded in 1929, AFB is a leader in expanding possibilities for the more than 20 million Americans living with vision loss by providing resources and ensuring access for people with vision loss, and providing information and tools for the professionals who serve them.

The National Federation of the Blind

(NFB) was founded in 1940 and today has grown to include over 50,000 members in the USA. The NFB focuses on the removal of legal, economic, and social discriminations; the education of the public to new concepts concerning blindness; and their right to exercise, to the fullest, their individual talents and capacities

The American Association of People with Disabilities

(AAPD) is one of the nation’s largest disability-rights organizations. They promote equal opportunity, economic power, independent living, and political participation for people with disabilities. AAPD represents a powerful force for change.

National Council on Independent Living

(NCIL) is the longest-running national cross-disability, grassroots organization run by and for people with disabilities. Founded in 1982, NCIL represents thousands of organizations and individuals including: individuals with disabilities, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs), and other organizations that advocate for the human and civil rights of people with disabilities.

The American Council of the Blind

(ACB), founded in 1961, has state affiliates and local chapters across the US. Since its inception, ACB has been at the forefront of the creation of policies and networks with agencies serving the blind. The ACB believes that each blind person has the potential to be seen as valued, capable, and independent individuals.

National Organization on Disability

(NOD) is a private, non-profit organization that promotes the full participation and contributions of America’s 58.7 million people with disabilities in all aspects of life. NOD works to increase employment opportunities for Americans with disabilities through a suite of workforce solutions tailored to meet leading companies by building or enriching their disability inclusion programs.

Disability Rights Advocates

(DRA) is one of the leading nonprofit disability rights legal centers in the nation. Its mission is to advance equal rights and opportunity for people with all types of disabilities nationwide. DRA uses litigation, structured negotiations, advocacy, community education, and media to reform systems and practices that discriminate against people with disabilities.

International Association for Accessibility Professionals

(IAAP) My Blind Spot is proud to be a founding member of IAAP, whose mission is to define, promote and improve the accessibility profession globally through networking, education and certification in order to enable the creation of accessible products, content and services. The IAAP is dedicated to promoting accessibility for all people of all abilities. The IAAP knows that true global accessibility and inclusion can never be complete unless all people can engage in education, networking and certification opportunities to become accessibility professionals with a common goal of creating, designing, and developing accessible digital content for people of all abilities.

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund

(DREDF) Founded in 1979, DREDF is a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities. DREDF’s mission is to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, and public policy and legislative development.

National Association of the Deaf

(NAD) is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the USA. Established in 1880, the NAD works to promote, protect, and preserve the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing individuals. While the NAD works for deaf people it also works to promote knowledge about the rights, culture, and language of deaf people to hearing people.

The Disabled American Veterans Organization (DAV)

(DAV) is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families. DAV is dedicated to empowering veterans to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity and ensuring that our Veterans have the opportunity to participate in the American Dream their sacrifices have made possible by advocating on Capitol Hill and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.

National Council on Disability

(NCD) is charged with reviewing all federal disability programs and policies. In 1986, NCD recommended enactment of the ADA, and then drafted the first version of the bill introduce in the House and Senate in 1988. NCD’s mission is to be a trusted advisor, in collaboration with people with disabilities, to the President, the Congress, Federal, State, and local governments; tribal communities and other entities and organizations.

Disabled Peoples International

(DPI) was the world’s first successful cross-disability endeavor to convert the talk about full and equal participation of persons with disabilities into action. DPI is the world’s ONLY cross-disability Global Disabled People’s Organization and has a presence in more than 150 countries. DPI’s focus is particularly on those in developing countries who form 80 percent of the world’s 1.3 billion people with disabilities and 20 percent of the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged people.

Americans with Disabilities Act Resources

Run by the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, this page provides information and technical assistance on regulations and policies regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The National Disability Rights Network

(NDRN) serves a wide range of individuals with disabilities – including, but not limited to, those with cognitive, mental, sensory, and physical disabilities – by guarding against abuse; advocating for basic rights; and ensuring accountability in health care, education, employment, housing, transportation, and within the juvenile and criminal justice systems.

ADA National Network

With 10 regional centers throughout the country working together to develop projects and events of national significance, provides information, guidance and training on the ADA tailored to meet the needs of business, government and individuals at local, regional and national levels. The Network is not an enforcement or regulatory agency, but a helpful resource supporting the ADA’s mission to “make it possible for everyone with a disability to live a life of freedom and equality.”