How do other blind people navigate the visual world? How do they buy products or compete in the job market? How does a blind parent change a diaper or care for a young child?

These are all questions that the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has been answering for its thousands of members by connecting blind people to blind people across all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. As a leading membership organization of blind people, the NFB coordinates programs, services, and resources to defend the rights of blind Americans, to provide information and support to blind children and adults, and to build a community that creates a future full of opportunities.

Starting on October 15, the NFB is joining Be My Eyes as a support provider. With a wide network, a wealth of resources and an unyielding mission to empower people to live the lives they want, the NFB has mobilized a ‘Specialized Help’ team to answer calls from our community.

The NFB’s blindness experts will be on call Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM Eastern Time to answer Be My Eyes users’ questions about blind parenting, independent living and, when a question can’t be answered over chat, to give callers information about additional resources and support.

“The National Federation of the Blind has always believed that connecting blind people with one another is crucial both to the success of blind individuals and to our mission of raising expectations of the blind,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “Through this new partnership with Be My Eyes, we will be able to extend our expertise, support, and mentoring to blind people across the globe. We commend Be My Eyes for recognizing that while our sighted friends can be a resource for the blind, it is equally true that we are a critical resource for each other.”

As a recipient of the NFB’s highest award, the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award, in 2018, Be My Eyes has welcomed the opportunity to engage with blind consumers at every level, listening carefully to blind consumers’ feedback and always striving to make the world more accessible for people who are blind or low-vision.

“The NFB has always been a huge supporter of Be My Eyes,” says Be My Eyes Founder Hans Jørgen Wiberg. “We are thrilled that our platform can support any organization who wants to support the blindness community, and we hope to see many more join in the future.”

If you have other requests for companies or institutions to become a part of Specialized Help – or if your organization is interested in joining as a support provider – please fill out our Specialized Help submission form, and we’ll reach out.