North Texas Nonprofit Transforms Lives by Bringing Technology to the Blind
By Lauren Crawford
August 25, 2025 / 3:32 PM CDT
DALLAS – In today’s digital era, where screens dominate communication and information, one North Texas nonprofit is ensuring that blindness or visual impairment does not become a barrier to participation in the modern world. Computers for the Blind, a Dallas-based organization, is transforming lives across the country by refurbishing donated computers and equipping them with advanced accessibility software for those who are blind or have low vision.
Situated in an office off the North Central Expressway, the nonprofit operates with shelves lined not merely with machines, but with opportunities—doorways leading to greater independence and empowerment for thousands of people.
Life-Changing Technology and Empowerment
The organization specializes in installing specialized accessibility programs such as JAWS—software that converts text on the screen into speech—and ZoomText, which magnifies on-screen content. These tools allow users to confidently navigate computers, send emails, search the internet, and engage in a variety of digital activities independently.
Antoinette McDonald Ellis, a recipient of one of these customized computers, described the experience as “nothing short of transformational.” She shared, “I can send that email myself. I can look things up myself. Whatever I need to do on that computer, I have the ability now to go in there and do it. And not only that, I have the confidence.”
The moment when Ellis first turned on the computer and heard it speak to her was especially poignant. “I just kind of felt like I grew three or four inches,” she recalled, emphasizing how empowering the technology can be.
A Personal Commitment from Those Who Understand
Marci Duty, an employee at Computers for the Blind who is herself completely blind, plays a vital role in the organization’s mission. Having previously trained others in Texas on how to use JAWS, Duty now helps prepare and ship these adapted computers nationwide. She knows firsthand the massive impact these devices can have.
“What makes them different is they’re loaded with software that either makes the computer speak or magnifies the screen,” explained Duty. “We’ve almost shipped 22,000 computers, and each one of them makes a big difference in a person’s life.”
Beyond Hardware: Training and Community
The program’s impact extends beyond simply providing technology. Computers for the Blind offers training and ongoing support to help recipients maximize their new tools and regain autonomy in a fast-paced, tech-driven society.
More than just closing the digital divide, the nonprofit fosters a renewed sense of community, creativity, and confidence for people who are often underserved. “It gave me freedom,” Ellis said. “It’s given me the ability to go and feel like I’m part of this 21st-century world.”
As this Dallas-based nonprofit continues its work, each refurbished computer shipped across the nation represents far more than technology—it symbolizes opportunity, independence, and the hope of a more inclusive future for all.
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