Welcome to the Foundation Chapters

The Foundation Fighting Blindness is a world leader in driving the research that eradicates the entire spectrum of blinding retinal diseases. The chapter network has three areas of focus: resources, education, and revenue. Chapters hold seminars and meetings that provide research information, low vision resources, and other industry topics and provide outreach to retinal practices and eye care professionals in local communities.

Along with raising revenue through VisionWalks, dinners and DIY fundraisers, individual donors can help accelerate our mission to drive research that will provide preventions, treatments, and cures for people with retinal diseases.

Upcoming National Chapter Vision Webinar

Stem Cells
Saturday, March 20, 2021

Hosted in part by Martha Steele, Chapter President, Foundation Fighting Blindness Boston Chapter, our panel of world-renowned stem cell researchers will present the latest in emerging stem-cell therapies for retinal degenerative diseases, including therapies in, or moving toward, clinical trials. Webinar participants will have the opportunity to ask questions during the question and answer session.

This webinar will be moderated by Ben Shaberman, Senior Director of Scientific Outreach at the Foundation. Panelists will include:

David M. Gamm, M.D., PhD
Emmett A. Humble Distinguished Director of the McPherson Eye Research Institute, the Sandra Lemke Trout Chair in Eye Research; Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Thomas A. Reh, PhD
Biological Structure Professor, Institute for Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine at the University of Washington

Michael J. Young, PhD
Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Director, Minda de Gunzburg Center for Retinal Regeneration; Harvard Medical School, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology; Co-Director, Ocular Regenerative Medicine Institute

Previous National Chapter Vision Webinar

Gene Therapy

Hosted in part by Davida Luehrs, Chapter President, Foundation Fighting Blindness Washington DC Chapter, the January 23rd gene therapy webinar featured a discussion of the many ways gene therapies can be used to address retinal degenerative diseases as well as the latest updates on gene therapy research and clinical trials.

Play video:

Ben Shaberman, Senior Director of Scientific Outreach at the Foundation, provided the opening presentation. Ben also moderated a panel discussion that provided insights into emerging gene therapies and the latest technologies in the pipeline. Panelists included:

John Flannery, PhD
UC Berkeley, Scientific Co-Founder of Vedere

Shannon Boye, PhD
University of Florida, Scientific Co-founder of Atsena

Pete Adamson, PhD
Vice President of Janssen Ophthalmology Disease Stronghold Area

Accessibility Guidelines

The Foundation Fighting Blindness has set a goal of best personal and professional standards for accessibility for all of its constituents. This document contains suggestions for ensuring that whether meeting in person, via telephone or other virtual method, or in written communications, the Foundation meets the goal of being fully accessible to all constituents, and sets an example for most inclusive practices. 

The best approach in any situation is to respect the dignity and independence of a person with a disability. 

A few basic reminders:

• Do not touch the person you are seeking to assist without first asking their permission to do so. While this may seem like a natural reaction, it can be invasive of personal space, and frightening to a person with vision loss. Similarly, do not touch or redirect a cane in use. Touch preference can vary from person to person and situation to situation.
• Do not handle or distract a service animal. Ensure that all attending with service animals are informed about relief areas and access to water. 
• The best approach, regardless of whether you are meeting in person or virtually is to ask: “How may I best assist you?” It is important to listen and respond appropriately to the answer provided. If your assistance is not required, it is important to allow the person with a disability to control their own actions, unless there is unavoidable severe danger they cannot anticipate and avoid.
• Ensure that all written or visual content is presented in alternate digital or audio described format. This means that slide presentations should be avoided, or if used, digital access should be provided with sufficient time for recipients to consume the content using their preferred method. If regular mail is used, for any form of written communication, including ‘meeting books’, make sure that fully digital or audio alternatives are distributed in advance of the meeting to allow for fully adaptive use. If video presentations are used, captioning and audio description must be included. 
• Assume and present in a format that meets our accessibility standards for all participants, do not single one or a group of people out based on their needs.
• Outside facilitators or speakers should provide any materials ahead of time and be made aware of and adhere to our accessibility standards.
• Participants should be cautioned to avoid dialogue that requires reference to a particular page, paragraph or statement in written materials. Instead, the speaker should paraphrase the relevant information, so that everyone is aware of the specific language referred to.
• Whenever speaking in a meeting ensure you are using proper annunciation, speaking at an appropriate pace and speaking into the telephone or microphone directly. Ensure everyone speaks directly into the microphone in order to be heard clearly.
• Include image descriptions and alt-text on all materials and posts. Utilize industry recommendations for font type and size, as well as contrast. Avoid using italics or bolding for emphasis when possible, unless also noting “emphasis added”. A good resource for contrast is WebAIM.
• Accommodate specific requests for accessibility — including ASL interpreters, CART reporting, proximity to speakers or screens. 
• Always announce participation in a meeting by description, include name and pronoun. For telephonic meetings, including virtual environments, everyone should be reminded to begin their participation, every time, by stating their name. 
• In-person meetings should begin by a description of the emergency exits, restroom and elevator locations, structural hazards such as stairs, reminders of amenities, and description about how to locate a sighted guide. Any directions provided should be detailed such as “make a right turn in 15 feet”, etc. 
• When possible, if you need to leave the room or call, please be sure attendees are aware of your departure.
• Provide individual water bottles, rather than pitchers of liquids that need to be poured and are easily spilled. 
• Ensure sufficient electrical outlets to allow for adaptive technology use. Keep chairs pushed close to tables. 
• Avoid use of low lighting or ‘mood’ accessories that may provide challenges in moving throughout meeting rooms. 
• Ensure adequate space between tables, chairs and in hallways to accommodate for persons using wheelchairs, canes and service animals. Discourage use of benches, temporary walls and aisle barriers in exhibition halls. At the beginning of a live meeting, remind guests to push in chairs when not at the table and have a designated area where luggage can be placed in order to avoid a trip hazard for attendees.
• For webinars, provide very clear directions as to where buttons are located or where items are on the screen, for example the mute button. This includes mentioning any keyboard shortcuts that are applicable. If possible, provide the one-click phone number for quick access to join meetings.
• When using virtual meeting software such as Microsoft Teams, do not have a bright light behind you. Have the light facing you so that your image is clearer to viewers. Keep contrast sensitivity and low lighting in mind for those who have low vision.