February: Where Black History and Low Vision Awareness Meet
Honoring Freddie Peaco and Black Advocates Alike
Expanded Access to Reading, Independence, & Opportunity
Reading changes lives. It opens doors to learning, imagination, independence, and connection. Yet for many people who are blind or have low vision, access to reading has not always been guaranteed. The ability to enjoy books in accessible formats exists today because of decades of advocacy, persistence, and leadership.
February offers a meaningful moment to reflect on that progress. As Low Vision Awareness Month and Black History Month are recognized together, we are reminded that accessibility and civil rights are deeply connected. One powerful story sits at the intersection of both, and it belongs to Freddie Peaco.
Why This Month Matters
Low Vision Awareness Month brings attention to the lived experiences of people with vision loss and the importance of tools, services, and support systems that promote independence. Black History Month honors Black leaders whose work helped build a more inclusive and equitable society.
When viewed together, these observances tell a deeper story. Access to information is a form of social justice. Literacy, education, and independence are not privileges; they are foundations for full participation in life.
Who Was Freddie Peaco?
Long before accessibility entered mainstream conversations, Freddie Peaco was already shaping it. After losing her vision early in life, Freddie understood how essential access to information could be. She began her education at the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh, North Carolina, and later earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology from Howard University in 1965. She went on to complete a master’s degree in public relations and journalism at American University.
As a Black woman working at the Library of Congress’ National Library Service, Freddie dedicated her career to expanding access for people who are blind or have low vision. She believed accessibility should be built into systems from the start—not added later. Her legacy remains an important part of both disability history and Black history.
A Legacy That Lives On
Today, the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), run through the Library of Congress, continues the mission that advocates like Freddie Peaco helped shape. Through free talking books, braille materials, accessible reading devices, and digital resources, NLS ensures that access to reading remains a right, not a privilege, for people who are blind or have low vision.
That commitment to access did not end with Freddie’s generation. It continues through organizations that believe, as she did, that independence begins with information.
Carrying The Mission Forward at The Chicago Lighthouse
At The Chicago Lighthouse, that same belief guides the work being done today. Through services, programs, and community partnerships, the organization continues to expand access and opportunity for people who are blind or have low vision.
My Tools For Living is one way that mission comes to life in the present. By offering adaptive technology, daily living aids, and practical guidance, My Tools For Living supports individuals, families, caregivers, and educators as they navigate vision loss at every stage and in ways that reflect real-life needs.
While the tools may look different than they did in Freddie Peaco’s time, the purpose remains the same: access should be built in, empowering people to read, learn, and live with confidence.
Take The Next Step
This February, we invite you to learn more about the NLS Talking Books and Braille Program, share Freddie Peaco’s story with someone who could benefit from accessible reading, and reflect on how accessibility - past and present - continues to shape our lives.
We also invite you to learn more about different products that are suited to help individuals with low vision or blindness live independently. To learn more, continue at www.MyToolsForLiving.com or call us at 1-800-919-3375.