The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has launched a webinar series of “Centennial Conversations” focusing on the issues affecting blind and low vision communities.
The organisation working to create a more inclusive world for people who are blind or visually impaired, is pairing prominent speakers with younger voices. The series starts on Thursday 22 April (2pm EDT) with Matthew Whitaker, who will focus on the inclusive power of music. Whitaker is a multi-instrumentalist who taught himself to play piano at age three, the Hammond B3 organ at age nine. Four years later he became the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond in its 80-year-plus history. He was also named a Yamaha Artist at 15, becoming the youngest musician to join the stellar group of jazz pianists. Having just turned 20, Matthew is currently enrolled in the jazz studies programme at Juilliard in New York City; the first person who is blind to be accepted in the programme.
AFB’s Major Gifts Specialist Melody Goodspeed will host the webinar; and the pair will discuss the power of combining music, technology, self-advocacy and collaboration. “Matthew’s music comes straight from his heart and I have learned a great deal from him,” said Goodspeed. “He tells a beautiful story in each note he plays and brings joy in challenging places. His musical prowess illustrates that we all need to take our unique gifts and apply them for the greater good.”
INCLUSIVE EVENT
As with all AFB centennial events, the Inclusive Power of Music will be an inclusive event. Captions, ASL, audio description and transcripts will be made available for the event, confirmed the organiser. Upcoming Centennial Conversations include:
- Gratitude, Courage, and Joy: 27 May (2pm EDT)
- Inclusion, Intersectionality, and the Future of Work: 24 June (2pm EDT)
- Making Money Work – Including Disability in the Financial Equation: 22 July (2pm EDT)
The centennial events are made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of partners like Hewlett Packard Enterprise, JPMorgan Chase & Co, American Printing House for the Blind, Exelon, Google, LHH, Northrop Grumman, Pepco, US Bank, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Walmart, Microsoft, Verizon, Charter Communications, Challenger, Gray & Christmas and IBM, concluded the AFB.
For more information about the free event, click here.
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