Our Mission:

Our mission is to empower the blind and visually-impaired people of New Mexico to achieve their highest potential.

We believe that with proper training and encouragement, a blind person can be gainfully employed in the career of their choice, raise a family, participate in community clubs and other organizations, and in all ways enjoy life to the fullest. We accomplish our mission by:

• Educating the public about blindness and the abilities of blind people.
• Providing support and resources to blind individuals and their families.
• Advocating on behalf of blind individuals in a variety of areas, including special education, vocational rehabilitation, independent living, and assistive technology.
• Providing assistance to parents to obtain appropriate special education services and instruction for blind children, including instruction in Braille.
• Advocating with local and state government to promote the rights of blind people.
• Advocating on behalf of blind seniors who are losing vision due to conditions such as macular degeneration.
• Addressing issues of concern to persons who are blind or visually impaired who have conditions such as Retinopathy of prematurity, septo-optic dysplasia, Cortical visual Impairment, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
• Bringing blind people together to work toward a common purpose.
• Collaborating with other organizations to achieve our common goals.

National Federation of the Blind
2020 Scholarship Program

Each year, our organization awards a broad array of scholarships to recognize achievement by blind scholars. The NFB Scholarship Program is our investment in the future of blind people who demonstrate scholastic aptitude, leadership, and service. The cash value of our thirty scholarships, generally ranging from $3,000 to $12,000, is only one aspect of this prestigious program. Each winner also receives funding to travel to and attend the NFB’s national convention, where they have the opportunity to network with other blind students, to exchange information and ideas, and to meet and talk with hundreds of blind people who are successfully working in many occupations and professions.

All applications and supporting documentation must be submitted no later than March 31, 2020. A list of eligibility requirements, as well as documents containing answers to frequently asked questions, a submissions checklist and other supporting materials can also be found on the scholarships website.

Click here to read more about our national scholarship program and to apply for one of our high-value national scholarships.