By Kim Y. Stanley
I interviewed Sherry Gaskins, Second Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind’s local Greater Philadelphia Chapter. I wanted to find out why she felt it was so important to hold trainings on the accessibility features on voting machines for the blind and visually impaired. According to NFB, there are approximately 8 million Americans with vision loss, yet many don’t vote because they’re unsure how to use the accessible features or where the box with the tactile buttons is located.
From the time she was able to vote, Sherry made sure to vote at every election. When she went blind, she did not let it stop her from continuing to vote. At the polls of one election where Sherry had just voted, there was a gentleman standing behind her who was also blind and was asked if he wanted to use the same machine she had used, but he declined because he thought you had to know, Braille to use the machine, which isn’t true.
That conversation sparked something in me, and it shifted my focus to encourage other blind and visually impaired individuals to exercise their right to vote independently. “Here we are in 2025, and people who are blind or visually impaired still face barriers that shouldn’t exist.” I knew then just how badly hands-on training was needed.
Rutgers’ April 2024 report to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission stated that of all the disabilities, 52.5% of blind and visually impaired voters in 2022 reported problems with voting in person and for those voting by mail, 38% reported difficulties. Compare those statistics to 4% of the voters who do not suffer from any vision loss.
A recession and the inability to find a job after returning home from Pittsburgh, PA shaped her opinion that those elected into office are our future. “I’ve been voting in every election since I turned 18. It’s not just a civic duty for me, it’s personal.” She went on to say that “The people we elect directly impact our lives. Every leadership choice matters, and I promised myself I’d never miss an opportunity to have my voice heard.
August 2025 was the first training and demonstration. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. We had fewer attendees than I’d hoped, but the session exceeded my expectations. For years, I advocated for these trainings and was ignored and told I was the only person in my apartment building requesting this training. In fact, the person who was supposed to advocate on behalf of the building’s residents thought it was a joke and actually laughed at me. Finally, I got in touch with the Judge of Elections and the rest is history. After that training, that same person who laughed at me wasn’t laughing anymore.
That’s why I’ve organized another training for October 17th at Park Tower Apartments, located at 4001 Conshohocken Avenue in Philadelphia, PA from 2 PM to 4 PM. With Election Day approaching, I want as many people as possible to feel confident walking into that voting booth.
Research shows that voters with disabilities participate at lower rates than the general population and often not by choice, but because of accessibility concerns and lack of information.
When people ask why this matters so much to me, “I think about Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis. They sacrificed everything so we could vote. The least we can do is honor that legacy by actually showing up and ensuring everyone can show up confidently.”
As a matter of fact, I’m already planning another training before May’s election next year. This isn’t a one-time thing, it’s a commitment to breaking down barriers, one training session at a time.
My message is simple: “Vote in every election, regardless of your opinions or party affiliations. Bring your neighbors, friends, and family members who might benefit from learning about accessible voting. Self-advocacy starts in the voting booth, and nobody should feel scared or intimidated by a machine designed to amplify their voice.”