​Blindness Awareness Month - Blindness Awareness Month brings a heightened focus on the blind and visually impaired community.

​Blindness Awareness Month 2025 – October 2025

Every October, Blindness Awareness Month brings a heightened focus on the blind and visually impaired community and the realities of living without sight. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “everyone, if they live long enough, will experience at least one eye condition in their lifetime”. The proof is in the numbers. An estimated 2.2 billion people around the globe suffer from some form of visual impairment or blindness – including everyone who simply wears corrective lenses. One billion of these cases could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed. So, we should all understand how to maintain optimal eye health and how to navigate life with visual impairments, whether for ourselves or loved ones. Read on to learn how you can observe, celebrate, and advocate during Blindness Awareness Month. 

History of Blindness Awareness Month

Blindness Awareness Month launched in October 2009 from The Little Rock Foundation, an organization in Voorhees, New Jersey, dedicated to serving families with blind or visually impaired children. Tina and Rocco Fiorentino formed The Little Rock Foundation one year after the birth of their child, Rocco, who was born four months premature and blind. As Ambassador for The Little Rock Foundation, Rocco has shown the world blindness doesn’t prevent people from living life to the fullest.Blindness Awareness Month seeks to accomplish many things:Education: Companies around the world teach the public about good eye health and the latest research and innovations in the treatment of eye disorders.Inspiration: Stories are shared about blind or visually impaired people accomplishing incredible things most sighted people do not attempt.Advocacy: Organizations garner support for more resources, research, access, and laws that enable people with visual impairments to live fully productive lives and contribute equally to their communities.There is no shortage of ways to learn about, celebrate, and support the visually impaired community throughout Blindness Awareness Month.

Blindness Awareness Month timeline

October 2009
​Blindness Awareness Month Launched

The Little Rock Foundation in Voorhees, New Jersey created Blindness Awareness Month to be recognized every October to promote improving blind and visually impaired children's lives.

1999
​Vision 2020 Proposed Global Plan

​The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness proposed Vision 2020 to advocate eliminating needless visual impairment and helping those with unavoidable vision loss reach their life's full potential.

1995
​​Newsline For the Blind Established

​​The National Federation of the Blind created the Newsline for the Blind — giving blind and visually impaired people access to newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals using touch-tone phones.

1824
​Initial Braille Writing System Developed

​​At age 15, Louis Braille developed his first writing system that led to modern-day Braille, allowing the visually impaired to read through a series of raised dots on embossed paper.

​Blindness Awareness Month FAQs

Where can I go for more information?

There are numerous local, national, and global organizations that support the blind and visually impaired and the research to end blindness. Check out the National Federation of the Blind, Foundation Fighting Blindness, and The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

When is National Blind Day?

World Sight Day (WSD) is an annual event held on the second Thursday of October. 

What color ribbon is for blindness?

White

How to Observe Blindness Awareness Month

  1. Donate money

    In the name of a relative, friend, or even yourself —donate to an organization helping the visually impaired. Organizations like the National Federation of the Blind or the Foundation Fighting Blindness work year-round to fund research to prevent and cure conditions causing vision impairment or blindness. Your donations support their research in areas such as genetics, transplantation, retinal implants, and nutritional and pharmaceutical therapies.

  2. Read to someone

    Do you know a legally impaired or blind student? Does your elderly neighbor struggle to read books, newspapers, or magazines? Volunteer to read to them. This is a meaningful way to spend time with someone who is visually challenged and may not have tools to read on their own.

  3. Volunteer to Be My Eyes

    Be My Eyes is a free app connecting visually impaired people with sighted volunteers who lend their eyes to help them lead more independent lives. Join over 3 million volunteers worldwide who assist with everyday activities such as navigating new surroundings, distinguishing colors, and reading instructions.

5 Tips For Maintaining Eye Health

  1. ​Watch your sugar

    ​Diabetics are 25 times more likely to develop blindness or visual impairment than non-diabetics.

  2. ​Wash your hands

    ​We don’t realize how many times we touch our face and eyes each day, especially if we wear contacts; washing your hands prevents the spread of bacteria and germs which can lead to pink-eye, colds, and other ailments.

  3. ​Wear sunglasses

    Protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays by wearing sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.

  4. ​Monitor device time

    To avoid eye strain from time in front of your electronic devices, take frequent breaks to focus on a far-away object; adjust brightness, and use soothing eye drops, as needed.

  5. Get checked out

    ​Many eye disorders could be easily treated or even prevented through early detection; make an appointment with your eye doctor today!

WHY BLINDNESS AWARENESS MONTH IS IMPORTANT

  1. It helps us understand vision problems

    Education is key. Throughout Blindness Awareness Month, many companies provide educational events to teach employees about eye disorder prevention. Ask your Benefits department for more information on your vision plan to ensure you are getting the most from your insurance coverage.

  2. It gives us hope

    Blindness Awareness Month is a time for sharing stories of hope as much as it is understanding the alarming statistics. It gives blind and visually impaired people a platform for telling their own stories as well as inspiring others to overcome the stigma of their disabilities. This month reminds us that we don't have to be defined by our physical limitations.

  3. It serves as a reminder

    While there are many opportunities to learn about the blind and visually impaired community throughout October, it’s better to allow this time to serve as a reminder that protecting our vision and helping those who suffer from low or no vision is something we can do year-round. Start forming new habits this month that continue throughout the year whether that is volunteering with the visually impaired or taking care of your eye health.

Blindness Awareness Month dates

Year Date Day
2023 October 1 Sunday
2024 October 1 Tuesday
2025 October 1 Wednesday
2026 October 1 Thursday
2027 October 1 Friday
International Coffee Day
World Vegetarian Day
​International Day of Older Persons
Chinese National Day
National Black Dog Day
National Homemade Cookies Day
National Walk and Bike to School Day
National Hair Day
National Fire Pup Day
Maha Navami
National Lace Day
CD Player Day
Model T Day
International Music Day
Balloons Around the World Day
National Kale Day
National Pumpkin Seed Day
Filipino American History Month
World Ballet Day
International Walk to School Day
National Day of China
Ayudha Puja
Mahanavami
Navami of Durga Puja
Teacher's Day in Uzbekistan
ROK Alliance Day
Nigeria Independence Day
Coffee with a Cop Day
Cyprus Independence Day
World Sake Day
Tuvalu Independence Day
Semana Morazánica
International Raccoon Appreciation Day
Nepal: Maha Navami
Investiture of the Captains Regent in San Marino
FGTeeV Chase's Birthday
Peter Thomas's Birthday
Julie Andrews's Birthday
Latisha Scott's Birthday
Dorian Hunter's Birthday
Jurnee Smollett-Bell's Birthday
Matthew Daddario's Birthday
Priah Ferguson's Birthday
Delianna Urena's Birthday
Zach Galifianakis's Birthday
Nathaniel Drew's Birthday
Myles Parrish's Birthday
RD Benji's Birthday
Brie Larson's Birthday
Drew Chadwick's Birthday
Isis King's Birthday
National Walk Your Dog Week
Elderly Filipino Week
Health Literacy Month
​​Italian American Heritage Month
Eat Better, Eat Together Month
Emotional Wellness Month
German American Heritage Month
National Caramel Month
National Chili Month
​National Dental Hygiene Month
​National Depression Education and Awareness Month
National Dessert Month
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Pasta Month
National Pickled Peppers Month
​National Pizza Month
​National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month
National Pretzel Month
National Sausage Month
Polish American Heritage Month
​Fair Trade Month
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Caffeine Addiction Recovery Month
Vegetarian Month
National Chiropractic Month
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month
​Blindness Awareness Month
AIDS Awareness Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
​National ADHD Awareness Month
​National Critical Illness Awareness Month
​National Ergonomics Month
​National Liver Awareness Month
​National Protect Your Hearing Month
​Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
​World Menopause Month
​National Physical Therapy Month
​National Book Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
National Crime Prevention Month
Church Library Month
Halloween Safety Month
Go Sober For October
Italian American Heritage and Culture Month
Financial Planning Month
International Walk To School Month
National Apple Month
National Non-GMO Month
National Pescatarian Month
Celebrate The Bilingual Child Month
Bat Appreciation Month
National Cookie Month
National Medical Librarians Month
​National Learning and Development Month
Contact Lens Safety Month
Country Music Month
National Animal Safety and Protection Month
National Church Safety and Security Month
Head Start Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
National Arts & Humanities Month
National Cookbook Month
Long Term Care Planning Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National LGBT History Month
​National Bullying Prevention Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
World Animal Month
Unblocktober
National Pet Wellness Month
World Autism Month
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month
World Habitat Awareness Month
Museums and Galleries Month
National Pitbull Awareness Month
Squirrel Awareness Month
National Orthodontic Health Month
​​Global Diversity Awareness Month
Family History Month
International School Libraries Month
Hog Out Month
Prenatal-onset GBS Disease Recognition Month
​Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Work and Family Month
​National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
The Big Draw
National Indigenous Peoples Month
American Pharmacists Month
Black Speculative Fiction Month
​Healthy Lung Month