The National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky

Who We Are: The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the largest and oldest organization of the blind in America. Founded in 1940, the Federation has grown to include over fifty thousand members. The NFB also includes members without visual impairments.

The ultimate purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is advocating for the complete integration of the blind into society on the basis of equality. This objective involves the removal of legal, economic and social discriminations; the education of the public to new concepts concerning blindness; and the achievement by all blind people with the right to fully exercise their individual talents and capacities. It means the right of the blind to work along with their sighted neighbors in professions, common callings, skill trades, and regular occupations.

Changing What It Means To Be Blind: It is estimated that over one milion persons in America are blind and each year, fifty thousand more will become blind. Studies show that only AIDS and Cancer are feared more than blindness. However, blindness need not be the tragedy which it's generally thought to be.

The NFB is not a governmental or private service agency for the blind, but rather a consumer organization of blind people working together to improve opportunities for the blind, as well as the understanding of blindness by the general public. The NFB has affiliates in all fifty states, in the District of Columbia, in Puerto Rico, and over seven hundred local chapters.

History and Mission Statement

The Technology Assistance Division (TAD) of Kentucky is a chartered division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Kentucky. The National Federation of the Blind (national office and all state affiliates) are tax-exempt non profit agencies and are classified as 501 C (3) organizations. The NFB is a Better Business accredited charity as well as a Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) approved charity.

The Computer Users Division (CUD) of Kentucky was the first computer users group associated with the National Federation of the Blind in the United States. This division was established by Federationist, Dr. Tim Cramner in 1995. In the words of Federationist, Dr. Buffa Hanse, Dr. Cramner can best be described as a beloved leader of the National federation of the Blind of Kentucky and a distinguished inventor and technical thinker in the blindness field. You may find a most informative article on Dr. Cramner written by Buffa at Technology Division Founder

In 2006, the Computer Users Division board decided to adopt a more contemporary name, and thus TAD was enacted on September 10, 2006.

The mission of the Technology Assistance Division, a Chartered division of the Kentucky affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind is to develop a network of knowledgeable and supportive individuals willing to provide and to share appropriate, blind related assistive technology resources and services with its members. TAD will provide a forum for its members to share information, and to support one another in a world of ever-evolving technology.

The Technology Assistance Division of NFB KY will: 1) collaborate and network with AT professionals who are experts in the field of current and future technology. 2) Present to its members both new and existing assistive technology through training seminars and workshops, whenever possible.

You may read the TAD Constitution, MS Word version 97-2003 at: TAD Constitution.

Equal Access for All: Former President, William Jefferson Clinton had this to say on the matter of equal access

"New information and Communications technologies can improve the lives for people with disabilities, but only if such technologies are designed from the beginning so that everyone can use them. Given the explosive growth in the use of the World Wide Web for publishing, electronic commerce, life long learning and the delivery of government services, it is vital that the web be accessible to everyone."

This is what TAD has to say on the topic of equal access for all.

We are absolutely committed to the research and development of assistive technology. In addition, this division is invested in making sure that those with vision impairments have access to assistive technology that is warranted. Furthermore, it is vital that this assistive technology used to access electronic information has proper interface with both mainstream hardware and software.

As we have evolved into this digital world, digitized/electronic based devices can be found in every department and on every desk of every institution; therefore, it is vital to understand and embrace the commitment to ensuring that all technology is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.

As the focus in technology has become more prevalent in our society, the skills needed to access electronic information has become as fundamental as knowing how to read, how to write and how to comprehend the basic principles of mathematics. It is essential that the technology used to access this electronic information leaves no one behind. We must all have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field! It is through Education that we increase awareness. It is through awareness that we will increase the potential for informed decisions, and informed decisions will inevitably allow us to exercise our rights to full participation in the society in which we live.

The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight. The real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of information that exists. If a blind person has proper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a physical nuisance.