Celebrating Blind Equality Achievement Month

October is a big deal in and out of the blind community. Fall is in full swing, the school year is in full swing, and Halloween is on Oct. 31st. Several causes, and various disabilities are in the spotlight this month, including Dysautomonia, and, Blind Equality Achievement, along with Disability Employment. In the blindness community, some National Federation Of The Blind affilliates, especially the Ohio affffilliate, are getting ready for their state conventions next month. The blind community is also celebrating Blind Equality Achievement Month or B.E.A.M.

Blind Equality Achievement Month means many different things to many different people, and, every blind or low-vision person celebrates it differently, and has a different perspective. I want to share my perspective on what this month means to me, what strides we’ve made, and, what work still needs to be done. However, I also want to hear thoughts and perspectives from  others in the blind community.

What This Month Means To Me

To me, Blind Equality means being able to do the things that sighted people take for granted. There’s a lot that sighted people take for granted, such as reading the news, voting, reading and talking about books, and so much more.

Because of NFB. Newsline, and The National Library Service For The Blind And Print Disabled, I can read a lot of magazines and newspapers. I can keep up with the news, and have and participate in conversations about current issues and topics. I can read books that others are reading, and talk about them, including bestsellers and other high profile books thanks to Bookshare, The National Library Service For The Print Disabled, Audible, Libby and other sources that are accessible. We can have access to more books than ever, thanks to the Marrakesh Treaty also, which let’s other participating countries have access to our books in digital accessible formats, and vice versa. Mom and I read some of the same series, the Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich being a prime example. Both of us can let each other know when a new book in the series is released, and, I can read it on my braille display or listen to it in audio format, and Mom can read her print book. We can swap book recommendations with our blind and sighted peers! For me, reading is very important, because it’s a form of escape for me, and a form of self-care, plus, it’s a big cornerstone of my coping mechanisms.

It means being able to be on par with and participate along with the sighted community.

All blind people want is to be on par with or at least be able to participate alongside their sighted peers. Whether in education, employment, or other activities. Do I and other blind people need accommodations and adaptations? Yes, we do! But, those adaptations and accommodations allow me to still have the same enjoyment, fulfillment, learning experiences, etc.

It means being able to live the life that I want to live, not the life that someone else wants me to, or thinks that I should live.

I know there are people, that think that people with disabilities should just be in the background, and not have a life of their own. They think that we don’t have preferences, can’t live independently, etc etc. But, we can and want to. The same stereotypes, beliefs, etc affect the blind community. People think that we can’t work in tech support, or other jobs. They think we should be shut away. We do have preferences, we can live independently with the right supports etc. While I’m more of an introvert and prefer being at home rather than being out and about a lot of the time, another blind person might be an extrovert and prefer hanging out with friends and going out to eat after an NFB. Chapter meeting. Some people may not be able to go out much, because of other disabilities, or lack of access to transportation, etc. But, they still want to connect with people on Zoom and over the phone, etc.

It means being able to be in advocacy. I advocate for blind people, and other disabilities. I love helping people with their DODD. and Medicaid and other things. I love giving resources to anyone that needs them. I can be in meetings with policymakers from different agencies, and state legislators, and talk about various laws relating to people with disabilities.

It means being able to have choice.

This could be anything, from what I want to eat, where I want to order food from, and how I want to read my books and magazines, the list is endless.

When I read a book, I like to read it in braille if and when possible. Of course, sometimes, I have a problem that a lot of bookworms have. I have narrowed my reading choice down to 2 books, but, can’t decide which one I want to read first. Well, I decided to read one in braille, and, I listened to the other one as an audiobook!

This month means these things, and so much more to me. While this month is indeed a time for reflection, it’s also a time for celebration. In a time where people with disabilities, including blind people still face a lot of challenges, barriers, and more, we should also raise a glass and toast to the strides we have made!

One timely stride we have made, is that we can vote accessibily and independently, thanks to the Help America Vote Act or HAVA. passed in 2002. This law mandates polling places have at least one accessible voting machine, among other things. 

We have VoiceOver, which is a screenreader on Apple products. It allows blind and low-vision people to use products like an Ipad, Iphone, and Mac for example. I’m writing this blog using an app on Iphone, with a braille display paired to it via bluetooth. There are also other screenreaders that we can use on other platforms, such as Non-visual Desktop Access or NVDA. or the built-in screenreader on Windows called Narrator, or the Talkback screenreader that’s on Android devices.

We also have the American With Disabilities Act, passed in 1990 that gives protection to people who are blind, and have other disabilities in employment, transportation, and education for example. These are just some examples of the victories and battles that we have won. Along with reflection, and celebration, we also need to realize that there’s still  lots of work to be done, and there’s still a lot of battles to be fought.

First off, there’s still a lot of disparity and inequality surrounding employment, of people with disabilities including blind and low-vision people. Stats show that 70% of blind people are unemployed. We should be creating opportunities for blind people, and continue to advocate for employment of blind people. We should also eliminate any burreaucratic red tape that could and does ensnare people at any level of the employment poocess. Departments of Rehabilitation should also be finding ways to use federal funding they get. Every year, millions of federal dollars go unused and get sent back every year. We could use these dollars to for instance, pay for college. There should also be a wide choice of jobs, hybrid, in-person, and remote work-at-home jobs. That way, blind people can choose a position or job that works for them, and their lifestyle and circumstances.

Another big one is the elimination of sub-minimum wage. Some states have done it, and some states are moving to do that. However, while we advocate for sub-minimum wage elimination, we should also be making sure that there are protections for people who are on any type of benefits, and, protection from retaliation from employers including complaint processes and investigative proceedures for employers caught doing this. We should also be advocating for supports still being in place such as day-programs. A reason being is that this may be the only support that a person has access to.

We should be reforming/updating the Social Security system for blind and disabled americans. Such reforms and changes, include but aren’t limited to making sure the amount of money being received reflects current economic conditions and cost of living, and will be able to keep up with future changes. Another reform is raising the amount that people can keep in savings without penalty. Right now, at 2 grand, people can’t have a rainy day fund, for emergencies, such as a broken appliance, or equipment repair, or save up for other things. One other reform that we should be advocating for, is elimination of the earnings cliff. Anyone whose on SSI. and working, and also receiving other assistance such as Medicaid, is on this cliff and hanging on by their fingernails. People who are on these coverage and benefit systems depend and rely on them to receive timely and much-needed medical care and financial support.

Another reform we should be advocating for, is the elimination of the marriage penalty. People should be able to get married regardless if they’re on SSI. or SSDI. Their benefits should not be cut off especially if both parties are disabled and rely on these benefits.

Another thing we should be advocating for, is web and digital content accessibility, and accessibility in the digital age. We live in a time where people order their groceries online for delivery, we pay our bills online, and order food online for example. Much of our lives are in the digital space. Sadly, while sighted people are able to enjoy these luxuries with little to no issues, people with disabilities including blind people, have to contend with inaccessible websites, forms, apps and a lot more. Worse yet, there’s either no legislation to protect us, or, the legislation we have has not kept up with the changing times. Right now, the only tools we have are either talking to the companies, and agencies, and a rule in the ADA. where any website with a disgov domain must be accessible, and, either continued advocacy or a lawsuit. This requires a 2-pronged approach. First, we should be advocating for updates and changes to current legislation we have se as the ADA. and the Rehabilitation Act, and section 508. These are great tools that we have in our toolbox, and they give us a great deal of protection. So, we should update them to reflect current times, and keep them updated, as times and technology advance and change. We should also make sure there are plenty of resources at the state and federal governments disposal to enforce these laws and regulations. Because you can pass or reform a law all you want. But, if you don’t enforce it, then there won’t be much weight and teeth behind it.

The second prong to this approach, is writing and passing new legislation that is spicifically geared to these issues, such as legislation regarding the accessibility of web sites and digital content. This will help ensure that there’s spicific rules, regulations, and other legal tools that are dedicated to it, and the issues that inevitably will and do arise related to this. This creates more tools that we can have in our toolbox, that can have more precision. Of course, we should also be making sure that these pieces of legislation be updated regularly to reflect both the changing technological and digital landscapes, and the changing times.

This will help give people with disabilities, lawyers and others who represent them and guide them through legal processes, and, the courts to be able to make sure companies and agencies are held accountable. It should not take a lawsuit like the one that was filed with regards to Domino’s for changes to be made, and a spotlight to be shined on these issues.

Yet another battle we have to fight is to make sure that braille sticks around. Sadly, braille readers and users are in the minority in the blind community. People who learn and use braille, are more likely to be employed. There’s a widely held belief that braille is going away. I highly disagree. I think that braille is entering a new era, of braille on demand and also electronic braille. A lot of blind children are not taught braille. This has to change. We should be educating parents about braille, and, helping give them resources to teach their blind and low-vision children. This sets them up for a great start in school and life. We should be finding ways to remedy the shortage of braille teachers in schools. Braille should also be taught in school and at home. Schools need to do a better job producing materials in braille for students, and make sure that they connect parents of blind kids with other resources that can provide braille litterature to their children, regardless of age. I’m very fortunate that Mom taught me braille. She started teaching me when I was 6 months old, and I’m 27 now. I can safely say that if I didn’t know braille, I could not do even half of the advocacy work that I do. I may not be able to write this blog either. Braille speeds up my productivity, and efficiency. I can be in a conference call, and listen to the speaker, and read messages in chat, and do other things with the aid of braille no speech needed.

We should also be teaching people who lose their sight later in life, or who are losing their sight. We should be connecting them with resources such as Hadley where they can learn braille.

Braille should not be so expensive. One of the big hurdles for many blind people, and their families, is the expense of braille materials and equipment. We should be making funding resources available to assist people and their families in buying braillers, braille displays, and other products and essentials related to braille, whether for work, school, or personal use. This includes any repairs needed.

One resource available to anyone who is a patron of the National Library Service For the Blind And Print Disabled, is they offer a braille-on-demand program, where patrons can either call their network NLS. library, or fill out a form online, and request up to 5 braille books a month.

Another resource that patrons can take advantage of, is the NLS. provides a 20-cell braille display to its patrons. You can call your network NLS. library and request one. You can read braille books and periodicals from the NLS. BIND. or Braille Audio And Reading Download, and, Bookshare, and NFB. Newsline, along with pairing it to your Iphone or Ipad.

This is just a small but by no means comprehensive list of work that needs to be done, and continued.

I’d like to leave you with 2 songs from the National Federation Of The Blind that talk about braille and technology. Let’s turm on our high beams to the highest setting, and, let these songs be your anthems!

NFB. Songs

Braille is beautiful by James Brown And The Cane Tips

Braille Is Beautiful (youtube.com)

Accessible Technology by James Brown And The Cane Tips

Accessible Technology (youtube.com)