ACB members put a strong emphasis on creating an environment for long-term career development and employment. Blind and visually impaired people with stable careers have increased independence, financial security and the opportunity for home ownership. A good job is a key step to participating as an integrated, productive member of your community. ACB is focused on this mission of establishing a career path to success for all of its members. There are special-interest affiliates for blind teachers, attorneys, IT specialists, government employees, Randolph-Sheppard vendors, military veterans and entrepreneurs.
Professional Employment Associations Resources
Please click on the links below for more information on specific ACB professional associations.
Attorneys – American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys (AAVIA)
Formerly known as the American Blind Lawyers Association, this affiliate is composed of blind and visually impaired lawyers, attorneys, judges and other legal professionals. Law school students are also welcome.
Entrepreneurs – Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs (IVIE)
IVIE is a national organization for visually impaired business owners or those interested in entrepreneurship. Members are small-business owners; businesses include braille transcription and production, piano tuning, business coaching, software/game development, health and wellness, low-vision products, foreign language instruction, and more.
Government Employees – ACB Government Employees
Formerly known as ACB Federal Employees, this special-interest affiliate is composed of members who are currently or have worked for the government at the local, state or federal level.
IT Specialists – Blind Information Technology Specialists (BITS)
This affiliate was originally called Visually Impaired Data Processors International. When computers and the Internet came into greater use in everyday work life, the group realized it needed to expand its focus, and changed its name in the process. BITS fostors the career development of blind computer professionals; promotes the use of computer technology by blind persons to improve the quality of their personal and professional lives; and advocates for improved information access for all visually impaired people.
Military Veterans – Visually Impaired Veterans of America (VIVA)
Visually Impaired Veterans of America is composed of blind and visually impaired veterans of all of the nation's armed forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. Regardless if whether your vision loss was service-related, you are welcome here.
Snack Stand and Cafeteria Vendors, Operators and Managers – Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America (RSVA)
RSVA is a national membership organization composed of blind and visually impaired vendors and those individuals who support the Randolph-Sheppard program. The group is committed to improving economic opportunities for blind vendors/managers. It promotes independent and effective participation in the Business Enterprise Programs, and encourages the creation of new business opportunities as well as better working conditions for all vendors. The affiliate also negotiates better merchandise pricing from suppliers for blind and visually impaired vendors/managers. In many states, blind vendors have joined together to form state affiliates that carry out the purposes and programs of RSVA at the local level.
Teachers – American Association of Blind Teachers (AABT)
The American Association of Blind Teachers is an informal association of blind and visually impaired teachers, with members teaching on all levels from elementary to graduate school in subjects ranging from rehabilitation to physics, special education to history, and music to foreign languages. Members teach both blind and sighted students. Some members are itinerant teachers of the visually impaired; others work in traditional residential schools for the blind. The majority of our members teach in either the conventional public school or college classroom. The primary purpose of the organization is to provide support to our members and other blind and visually impaired teachers or students.