Notes on Blindness, a synopsis by Rachel Pulver Notes on Blindness At age 45 John Hull was registered blind due to a combination of cataracts that developed in his youth and later a detached retina. In June of 1983, three years after being registered blind, Hull began to keep an audio diary on cassette to make sense of his gradual transition into blindness. Hull recorded 16-hours of audio describing his new-found world, the dichotomy of sight and blindness, his new relationships with his children, family, wife and colleagues, and his dreams. Hull’s audio diary is full of insight, poetic la ..read more

The flowers are brought in, the chairs are placed, the photographers ready their focus, the MC stands at the podium, and the Red Carpet is unrolled. There is an excitement in the air. The models are prim and proper. FBC’s 2024 Fashion Show is just days away.  Every year, Foundation for Blind Children puts on a Fashion Show in which our students to participate. From infants to high schoolers, everyone has the opportunity to dress their best in a fresh, new, look and strut their stuff on our catwalk. The energy is palpable. The enthusiasm is only overshadowed by the smiles and laughter ..read more

Ashton Family Field Dedication This morning, Foundation for Blind Children celebrated Marc Ashton by dedicating the field at our Central Campus as the Ashton Family Field. Marc is retiring at the end of June after 17 years as FBC’s CEO. It has been a long and exciting 17 years, full of challenge, growth, and success, and we are honoring Marc Ashton for his sacrifice and commitment to FBC. Marc’s Legacy Marc took over leading FBC during a challenging time, and things were only made more difficult a year later when the Great Recession shook everything up. Marc’s steady hand guided FBC th ..read more

Story Time Every year, on March 2nd, classrooms, libraries, and communities across the United States celebrate Read Across America and the importance of reading. This annual event, organized by the National Education Association (NEA), aims to promote literacy and encourage a love for reading among people of all ages.  At Foundation for Blind Children, we celebrated Read Across America and the importance of reading with two-weeks of fun. We had parents, staff, and volunteers join our classes to read some of our favorite books. It all culminated in a special Read on the Green, where our ..read more

Tax Dollars at Work Want to make an impact with your tax dollars? You can choose where to send your tax dollars when you use the Arizona Charitable Organization Tax Credit. This tax credit lets you donate to a qualified nonprofit like FBC and get all your money back when you file your taxes. Individuals can get a credit up to $421 and couples filing jointly can give up to $841. All you need to do is give to FBC, claim the credit when you file your taxes, and wait for your money to come back to you in your tax return. Giving to FBC using the tax credit is a great deal: a total win-win! You ca ..read more

Goalball at FBC Sports play a big role in the physical and emotional development of many kids. For children who are visually impaired, having access to physical activities is vital in making sure they can not only stay active, but develop additional skills that will help them navigate the world without sight. Goalball is a sport that was created for people who are visually impaired, and it gives many people the chance to have fun, stay active, and be a part of a team.   History of Goalball  Goalball was designed by two veterans of World War II as a way to rehab soldiers who lo ..read more

When Phoenix author Barbara Hinske first toured the Foundation for Blind Children she felt “an electric shock”. Immediately, she knew she wanted to contribute her talents for the benefit of FBC and thus the children, families and adults FBC serves. Over a year later, Hinske’s contribution, Guiding Emily: A Tale of Love, Loss and Courage, is now available on Amazon, Bookshare and in Braille from FBC’s library. A portion of the book’s proceeds will be donated to FBC. Now, Guiding Emily has been produced by Hallmark with hopes of the book series being adapted into a television series. How d ..read more

“I can do it!” Can you imagine yourself running a 5k without sight? For FBC student Cattleya, there was no question if it was possible. Her favorite thing to say is “I can do it.”  Do you think you can do it? At the Foundation for Blind Children’s 13th annual Stride for Sight on March 16, you can try walking in Cattleya’s footsteps and participate in the Blindfold Challenge.   Cattleya’s Story  Cattleya is totally blind, but she doesn’t let that stop her from doing whatever she wants. Now in third grade, she shows incredible determination in everything she does. Whe ..read more

Low Vision Awareness Month Foundation for Blind Children is participating in Low Vision Awareness Month. We always say that vision is a spectrum, but what do we mean when we say that? Here are 7 kinds of low vision that affect FBC students. Read on to understand a little more about the unique ways our students see the world. 1. Central Scotoma A scotoma is a visual field abnormality or blind spot. In this example, the scotoma is affecting central vision. People with this type of vision need to compensate for their lack of vision in one area. These blind spots can vary in size and location ..read more

What to Know About Low Vision February is Low Vision Awareness Month, and FBC is helping spread the word. For people outside our community, the whole concept of low vision might be confusing. People hear the terms blind, visually impaired, and low vision, but what do they mean? What is Low Vision Someone who has low vision is someone who has at least some vision remaining. The vast majority of visually impaired people fall into this category, but their vision can vary widely in how they experience it. Some people have very little usable vision, while others may only require a little as ..read more