Cynthia A. Watson

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss. AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. AFB's work in these areas is supported by the strong presence the organization maintains in Washington, DC, ensuring the rights and interests of people with vision loss are represented in their nation's public policies. In addition to its New York City headquarters and Public Policy Center in Washington, DC, AFB maintains offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Huntington, WV, and San Francisco. AFB is also proud to house the Helen Keller Archives and honor the over forty years that Helen Keller worked tirelessly with AFB to expand possibilities for people with vision loss.

Industries for the Blind, serving the Winston-Salem community since 1936, the Asheville community since 1991, and the Mayaguez, Puerto Rico community since 2006, provides employment and services for people in the local blind communities. The company produces high quality, value priced products ranging from custom-made mattresses and military clothing to prescription eye glasses for consumers in the local community and across the nation as well as for military personnel and their families around the world. Industries for the Blind provides meaningful employment with competitive marketplace wages and benefits for a segment of the population that national statistics indicate might not otherwise be employed. The firm is widely known for their quality workmanship, teamwork and dedication. Its mission is to provide opportunities for persons who are blind or visually impaired in need of training, employment and services. The mission is accomplished through creating a state of the art work environment with work processes and training programs custom designed to meet special needs. The company's agency has been recognized locally, regionally and nationally as a provider of choice for jobs, products and services. Industries for the Blind has provided employment for thousands of visually impaired people since its inception. It is currently the largest employer of the blind in North Carolina with over 200 (and over 350 blind employees in total) blind employees and 80 million dollars in sales. Industries for the Blind is a self-supporting not-for-profit organization that has won many prestigious awards over the years, most recently received national recognition by the company’s industry for having the highest growth in blind jobs for an unprecedented three out of four years. Industries for the Blind is proud to be a strong builder of social, capital and an economic contributor in the Winston-Salem and Asheville communities.