BALTIMORE—Betsy A. Zaborowski, who provided education, employment and adaptive technologies for the blind and served in several leadership positions with the National Federation of the Blind, has died. She was 58.
Zaborowski died of cancer Thursday morning at her home in Denver, said her husband, James Gashel. She had lived until recently in Baltimore, where the NFB is based.
Zaborowski was diagnosed with retinal blastoma at age 3 and later lost her eyesight.
From 2003 through this year, Zaborowski served as executive director of the NFB’s Jernigan Institute, a research and training facility. She also spent eight years as the NFB’s director of special projects.
Zaborowski “materially increased opportunities for blind youth and blind adults for at least the next generation,” NFB president Marc Maurer said.
Among the institute’s programs was a summer science academy for blind middle and high school students that offered new ways for the blind to participate directly in scientific experiments.
