BISM Logo, blue and gold compass icon with modern styled letters reading BISM Empowering the Blind Community, employing, educating, training.

Simple Definition of Legal Blindness

Visual acuity less than 20/200 

AND/OR a visual field of 20 degrees or less 1

70% of Blind Working-age Adults are Unemployed

Full-time employment opportunities for blind working age adults in the US remain low. 2

111,000 in Maryland are Blind

Number of individuals in Maryland who are blind 3

This equals the same number of students in Baltimore County Public Schools 4

Drivers Must Yield Right of Way

All 50 states plus DC have laws that require drivers to yield the right of way to a person traveling with a white cane.

Only Blind and Low Vision People May Carry a White Cane

You see more blind people today walking alone because we have learned how to make our own way in the world. Independent travel is a skill that unlocks the doors to personal freedom.