Greater New York Council of the Blind
A chapter of the American Council of the Blind of New York;
An affiliate of the American Council of the Blind
American Foundation for the Blind: COVID-19 Resources
This roundup includes vital information for people who are blind or have low vision
A lot has happened in recent weeks since the spread of the global pandemic due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
At AFB, we are here for you, and we want you to know that there are a host of resources we've put together at
https://www.afb.org/blog/topic/coronavirus-covid-19
to support students and adults who are blind or low vision. We'd also love to hear from you. How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting your access to
healthcare, employment, social experiences, and more? If you are an adult who is blind or visually impaired,
please participate in the survey
Accessible Education Resources
As everyone adjusts to our new reality of working from home while simultaneously homeschooling our children, AFB staff have pulled together some
online resources that may be helpful
Guide Dogs, Pets, and the Coronavirus
As we all deal with the coronavirus (COVID-19), we need to consider the safety of our guide dogs and companion animals. The Animal Medical Center in New York City provides answers to many questions. It employs over 100 veterinarians and is the largest non-profit animal hospital in the world.
Learn more about keeping your guide dog safe
Telephone Support Groups
Social distancing may be just what the doctor is ordering to minimize the spread of the coronavirus, but this same distancing may contribute to the social isolation many people experience with vision loss. For
those that look forward to a low vision support group that meets face-to-face, this loss of support may be particularly difficult.
Explore some of the many options we have for staying connected
Accessible Gaming
There are a number of games that were designed for the sighted population but which have been made accessible to blind people using screen reading technology.
Learn more about these games at our resource hub
Nextdoor
With the current federal guidelines regarding social distancing, online social networks are becoming an even more essential way to maintain friendships and stay connected while we limit our in-person social interactions and gatherings. In these difficult times, however, it may be prudent to make some new friends a bit closer to home. Staying connected with people who can pitch in during an emergency, or someone to share the latest neighborhood gossip with is still important. You can
read more about AccessWorld author Bill Holton's personal experience on our blog
Moving Your Conference or Classes Online
From shifting events from live to virtual, and shutting down schools, to restricting approved business travel, everyone is now looking to make more training opportunites available online. As we move our interactions to the digital space, it is important we bring the same inclusive lens
to our decision-making as we do when planning face-to-face interactions that use technology. Here are
5 accessibility actions you can take when you're moving your conference or classes online
Virtual AFB Leadership Conference 2020: Connecting Online
Like so many other organizations, AFB is moving its events online to protect our community as the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic. We're beginning with key sessions from the 2020 AFB Leadership Conference, which will now be hosted as a mini virtual event. We will be adding new sessions approximately once a week, to make sure
each panel or presentation can be properly captioned, audio described, and transcribed. All sessions will be archived, so don't worry if you
can't attend a live session.
Keep checking back at
our website
to stay informed on new topics.
Copyright 2020 American Foundation for the Blind. All rights reserved.
American Foundation for the Blind
1401 South Clark Street
Suite 730
Arlington, VA 22202
United States
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