Author Andrew Leland Receives 2025 Helen Keller Achievement Award
'Mr. Leland's gift to wield words in a way that both informs and inspires us offers our generation a powerful voice capturing the blind experience in modern life,' said Eric Bridges, AFB president and CEO. 'Helen Keller knew well the power that personal narrative could play toward altering perceptions, and it's clear Andrew's craft as a storyteller carries on Keller's legacy of bridging culture and humanity through the power of words.
Mr. Leland's nonfiction book, The Country of the Blind, a Memoir at the End of Sight,' published in 2023 on Penguin/Random House, received strong praise from the literary community. The book chronicles his experience of losing sight due to retinitis pigmentosa while offering a deeper look into blind culture. Further published works through print, radio, and podcasting speak to the hearts of millions of people who are blind or have low vision.
For this collective body of work, Mr. Leland is quickly becoming one of the leading voices within the disability community. His memoir was a finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize, and his audio works have reached tens of millions of listeners across the globe. He currently serves as the Koppel Fellow in Journalism at Wesleyan University.
Since 1994, the Helen Keller Achievement Award has recognized the finest thought leaders, change-makers, and performing artists committed to carrying on Keller's mission to create a world of full and equal inclusion for people with disabilities. For over 40 years, Helen Keller was AFB's leading ambassador, inspiring millions worldwide as she demonstrated all that can be accomplished through determination and perseverance.
AFB continues to honor Keller's legacy by recognizing exceptional individuals and organizations from industry, education, and the arts who have distinguished themselves in pursuit of expanding possibilities for those who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Past honorees include author and advocate Haben Girma, tech leader and entrepreneur Bernard Newcomb, Chef Christine Ha, filmmaker Shawn Levy, and performing artists Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.
Founded in 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind creates equal opportunities and expands possibilities for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision through advocacy, thought leadership, and strategic partnerships. In addition to publishing the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness (JVIB), AFB is also the proud steward of the Helen Keller Archive, which is available on the AFB website at www.afb.org.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dog the Bounty Hunter's family: Meet his kids, wives and exes
Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman has amassed a big brood over the years, welcoming 13 children. The reality star has been married six times, first tying the knot with La Fonda Sue Darnell in 1972 followed by Ann Tegnell seven years later. Chapman shares kids with both, having more after he and Lyssa Rae Brittain walked down the aisle in 1982. He and his fourth wife, Tawny Marie Chapman, don't share any children. Duane and fifth wife Beth Chapman have three kids, with the former bail bondsman also sharing a child with ex-girlfriend Debbie White. In 2023, he revealed he had secretly fathered a 13th. Keep scrolling to learn more the 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' star, who married to Francine Frane in 2021 and became the stepdad to her two sons, and his growing family. Christopher Michael Hecht Duane was serving an 18-month prison sentence for a third-degree murder charge when White gave birth to his eldest child, son Christopher, in 1972. The little one was adopted by Keith Hecht and Gloria Hecht when White died by suicide six years later. Duane reached out to the family when Christopher was 19. Christopher was reportedly arrested in 2008 on suspicions of a third-degree assault. In February 2021, he was sentenced to three years in prison following a menacing arrest, a sentence he served in Colorado (via the US Sun). Duane Lee Chapman II The bounty hunter welcomed his second son while married to Darnell. Duane Jr. worked alongside his dad at Da'Kine Bail Bonds in Hawaii, also appearing on 'Dog the Bounty Hunter.' Although the show aired from 2004 to 2012, Duane Jr. and his younger brother, Leland, quit one season ahead of the finale amid a dispute with Beth. Leland Blane Chapman Duane Jr. became a big brother in 1974 when Leland was born. When Darnell placed Leland in foster care, he ran away as a teen and was given the choice to live with Duane — which he took. After quitting his family's reality show, Leland seemingly reconciled with his dad, as Duane posted a birthday tribute via Instagram in December 2020. Leland has been married twice, first to a woman named Maui from 1995 to 2005, with whom he shares sons Dakota and Cobie. He welcomed daughter Leiah with Lynette Yi before marrying model Jamie Pilar Chapman in 2016. Zebadiah Chapman Duane married Tegnell in August 1979 in a Colorado ceremony, shortly after the former A&E personality was paroled. While their son Zebadiah was born in January of the following year, the infant died suddenly at 1 month old. Wesley Chapman Wesley was born in 1980, with his parents divorcing shortly after. He was raised by his maternal grandmother but reconnected with Duane at age 38. 'Man it's been a journey to get here, to be in a place to have … a father and his son building a legacy,' the Alabama School of Fine Arts graduate wrote via Instagram in September 2019. 'A legacy that will be passed down for generations to come.' Not only did Wesley found The Human Project to help at-risk youth, but he and his wife, Jodie, run the Chapman Springs Ranch. He is the father of daughters Chloe and Peyton from a previous relationship. James Robert Chapman Duane and Tegnell reunited briefly after their divorce, welcoming son James in their time together. J.R. has stayed out of the spotlight, with very little known about his life. Barbara Katie Chapman In 1982, Duane wed Brittain in a ceremony reportedly performed by a Native American chief in Colorado, days after meeting at a bar. Barbara, who was born in June of that same year, died in a 2006 car crash when she was 23 years old. She was survived by son Travis. Duane honored Barbara on the 15th anniversary of her death with an Instagram post reading, '15 years ago today My Barbara Katie went to be w/ JESUS.' Tucker Dee Chapman Duane and Brittain's second child together, son Tucker, joined the family in September 1983. Despite Duane telling Larry King in 2007 that he 'love[s] him very much,' Tucker has a strained relationship with his dad. When tapes were leaked of Duane saying the N-word to describe Tucker's girlfriend that same year, A&E put 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' on hiatus for the 'foreseeable future.' The show resumed production four months later. Duane claimed in a 2021 'Entertainment Tonight' interview that he had a 'pass' to use the slur from his time in prison. 'I thought I had a pass in the black tribe to use it, kind of like Eminem,' he told the outlet at the time. 'So that was a word that we used back and forth, as maybe a compliment. 'I have never been a racist,' Duane continued. 'I'm 33.5 percent Apache. But because of over 15 years ago, I have an Achilles' heel because I used the wrong word.' Lyssa Rae Chapman Four years before Duane and Brittain's divorce in 1991, their daughter, Lyssa, was born. Lyssa gave birth to daughters Abbie Mae and Madalynn with husband Braham Galanti before getting divorced. She and Leiana Evensen tied the knot in June 2022 after six years of dating. 'Last week Lei and I boarded a boat at 7 in the morning with 7 of our closest family members and we dedicated our love and lives to one another,' the bride gushed via Instagram at the time. The ceremony took place in the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii, with Lyssa's uncle David officiating. At the time, Lyssa told People about Duane's reaction to her coming out, explaining, 'I don't want to put words in his mouth because I don't know what his exact feelings about it are, but he's never shown me anything other than support.' Bonnie Joanne Chapman After an on-again, off-again relationship, Duane married Beth in Hawaii in 2006. They were already the parents of daughter Bonnie, who was born in December 1998. Bonnie, who often shows her makeup skills via Instagram, made headlines in 2021 when she accused her father and Frane of not inviting her to their wedding because of her 'choice to participate in social justice and [Black Lives Matter] protests.' She also alleged that Duane cheated on her mom, writing, 'I hated him every time he did it, but I forgave him for that because I wanted a relationship with my dad' — which led to Duane's 'Entertainment Tonight' denial. Garry Chapman Garry, born in February 2001, was hospitalized in the summer of 2020 after a four-wheeler wreck. Three years prior, his mom was diagnosed with throat cancer. Beth died of the disease two years later at age 51. 'It's 5:32 in Hawaii, this is the time she would wake up to go hike Koko Head mountain,' Duane told his Instagram followers at the time. 'Only today, she hiked the stairway to heaven.' Cecily Barmore-Chapman Beth welcomed Cecily in 1993 with her ex-husband, and Duane adopted the little one when they got married. Cecily was arrested for domestic violence in July 2021, telling Page Six about the alleged act of 'self-defense' in a statement the following month. 'I was attacked. I defended myself,' she claimed. 'I'd do it again. End of story.' Jon In June 2023, Duane told his Instagram followers he had secretly fathered a son named Jon but did not provide further details about his maternity. 'For the last four years, this day was a terrible reminder of one of the greatest losses of my life,' he wrote, referencing Beth's death. 'But God redeemed this day when I discovered my son Jon, who I just met recently, was born on this day. So now instead of sorrow, this day has a new meaning. This is my son Jon and his wife, Jodi.' Gregory Zecca Duane revealed during a 2020 'Dr. Oz Show' appearance that Frane, whom he was engaged to at the time, has two sons from a previous relationship. One of his stepsons Gregroy Zecca made headlines in July 2025 over allegedly shooting and killing his 13-year-old son, Anthony, in a 'freak accident.' After the teenager died in their Naples, Fla., apartment, Duane and Frane released a statement on the 'incomprehensible' tragedy. Solve the daily Crossword
Business Upturn
a day ago
- Business Upturn
Pace-O-Matic Presents Integrity Award to the Honorable Tom Walters
By GlobeNewswire Published on July 22, 2025, 22:21 IST Duluth, GA, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pace-O-Matic and its founder, Michael Pace, have presented the Honorable Tom Walters, a former Wyoming legislator, with an Integrity Award. The award was presented to Walters on July 18th in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Integrity Award recognizes individuals in the amusement industry or related fields who exemplify the highest standards of integrity. Recipients are those who consistently demonstrate honesty, fairness, and ethical conduct in all aspects of their professional endeavors. Walters served in the Wyoming House of Representatives for 12 years. In that time, he built a reputation as a staunch defender of small business rights and our military service members. Walters also became the main champion for skill game regulation in the General Assembly and was instrumental in passing legislation in 2020. Creating a regulatory framework for skill games in Wyoming has established an important blueprint for legislation in other states. 'The Integrity Award is not just about what one achieves but how they achieve it. For Tom, as a former member of the Wyoming General Assembly, this means standing up for sound policy proposals, even when they may not have been popular among other lawmakers,' said Michael Pace. 'It means putting the needs of Wyomingites above status-quo politics, and it means doing the right thing and leading with integrity. Without his leadership, we surely would not be standing here today.' Walters took up the skill game cause, understanding that this was an issue that greatly impacts local businesses – the backbone of our economy – and important veteran organizations. 'I want to thank Michael and Karmin Pace for this wonderful award, and to all of you here tonight for joining us in beautiful Cheyenne,' said Tom Walters. 'Acting with integrity has always been important to me, not just while serving in office but in life. Integrity is one of the foundations of the Code of the West, and something Wyomingites specifically take pride in. So, it's an honor to be here and to be recognized.' Mark Twain once famously said, 'Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.' The Integrity Award is intended to celebrate those who live by this example. The award is embodied in a stunning piece of hand-blown glass art, featuring a clear, luminous structure with intricate layers and varying colors. Every award is a unique art piece, and no two are alike. This is the second Integrity Award that has been presented by the company, with the first recognizing Larry Hilimire of Staunton Automatics in New York. Attachment Michael Pace and Tom Walters Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Atlantic
a day ago
- Atlantic
The Atlantic Festival Announces New Events Across New York City
July 22, 2025—Today The Atlantic is announcing more speakers, events, and the agenda for the 17th annual Atlantic Festival, taking place September 18–20 for the first time in New York City. This year's festival will be anchored at the Perelman Performing Arts Center along with venues around the city, including the Tenement Museum, the Town Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Hauser & Wirth, and McNally Jackson Seaport. Among the speakers announced today: actor Robert Downey Jr. and Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Ayad Akhtar, in conversation with The Atlantic 's editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg; actor Tom Hanks, who voices several historical figures in the new Ken Burns documentary series The American Revolution and who will join the premiere screening of the series at the Town Hall; comedian, writer, and director Richard Ayoade in a conversation moderated by talk-show host, comedian, and producer David Letterman; Executive Producer of The Apollo Kamilah Forbes; Professor of Marketing at NYU's Stern School of Business and a serial entrepreneur Scott Galloway; clinical psychologist and Founder and CEO of Good Inside Becky Kennedy; and TV personality, chef, author, and activist Andrew Zimmern. Previously announced Festival speakers include Mark Cuban, Jennifer Doudna, Arvind Krishna, Monica Lewinsky, Tekedra Mawakana, H.R. McMaster, and Clara Wu Tsai. The Atlantic Festival will also host an exclusive first look for Season 3 of Netflix's The Diplomat, which debuts this fall, followed by a conversation with the show's stars Keri Russell and Allison Janney and creator and executive producer Debora Cahn; a sneak peek screening of FX's The Lowdown, along with a talk with creator, executive producer, writer, and director Sterlin Harjo and executive producer and star Ethan Hawke; and a screening of The American Revolution, followed by a discussion with directors and producers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein, along with actor Tom Hanks, who voices several historical figures, and historian Annette Gordon-Reed. New this year: The Atlantic Festival introduces Out and Abouts, intimate events around the city that are ticketed individually. Among the events announced today: Atlantic Reads book talks at McNally Jackson Seaport. Featuring Walter Mosley for his new novel Gray Dawn; Susan Orlean for her memoir Joyride; and a poetry conversation around The Singing Word: 168 Years of Atlantic Poetry, featuring the book's editor and Atlantic contributing editor Walt Hunter, with Singing Word contributor and MIT professor Joshua Bennett. Premiere of Dread Beat an' Blood at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), featuring a live performance by legendary poet Linton Kwesi Johnson. The Big Story Live events, across downtown venues: 'What Does it Mean to Be an American?,' at the Tenement Museum, featuring staff writers Xochitl Gonzalez and Clint Smith, plus more speakers to be announced. 'The Future of the Arts in a Changing World,' at Hauser & Wirth, featuring Jeffrey Goldberg, Noah Hawley, and Kamilah Forbes, with more speakers to be announced. With more to be announced, including a live taping of the Radio Atlantic podcast. The festival's Single-Day Passes and Out and About tickets will go on sale this Wednesday, July 23, at 11 a.m. ET. Atlantic subscribers receive an exclusive 30 percent discount on festival passes and select Out & About programming. Festival sessions will be led by Goldberg and many of The Atlantic 's writers and editors, including Adrienne LaFrance, Tim Alberta, Ross Andersen, Anne Applebaum, Gal Beckerman, Elizabeth Bruenig, Sophie Gilbert, Jemele Hill, Walt Hunter, Shirley Li, Ashley Parker, and Clint Smith. The 2025 Atlantic Festival is underwritten by Microsoft at the Title Level; CenterWell, Eli Lilly and Company, and Scout Motors at the Presenting Level; and Aflac, Allstate, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Destination DC, Diageo, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Hauser & Wirth, KPMG, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation at the Supporting Level.
