Dear friends and supporters of AppleVis,
We are reaching out to share some exciting news about the future of AppleVis.
In late July 2024, we announced the impending closure of the AppleVis website. Today, we are incredibly excited to announce that AppleVis has partnered with the wonderful team at Be My Eyes and will reopen on September 9, 2024.
In an update to his original post announcing the website's impending closure, AppleVis Founder David Goodwin wrote:
Update 28 August: I am thrilled to share some great news about AppleVis' future - AppleVis will be joining the Be My Eyes family through an acquisition that ensures not only its continued existence but also opens up exciting new possibilities. When I announced the impending closure of AppleVis in July, I was deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our community. Your responses underscored the vital role AppleVis plays in the lives of so many blind and low-vision individuals. I am thrilled to inform you that this acquisition means AppleVis will continue to serve our community, stronger than ever before. In our discussions with the team at Be My Eyes about saving AppleVis from closure, they have demonstrated a profound understanding of AppleVis' mission and the value it brings. I am confident that their clear commitment to our community aligns seamlessly with the principles that have guided AppleVis since its inception.
Key aspects of this acquisition that I believe will benefit our community include:
1. Editorial Independence: AppleVis will maintain its editorial autonomy, ensuring that content continues to reflect the authentic voices and needs of its community.
2. Stability: Be My Eyes is creating two new paid staff positions and retaining existing volunteer editorial team members, which will enhance the ability to serve the community and place AppleVis on firm foundations moving forward.
3. Experienced Oversight: Bryan Bashin, Vice Chairman of Be My Eyes and a respected figure in the blind community, will oversee AppleVis, bringing valuable insights and leadership.
4. Timely Re-opening: AppleVis will reopen shortly after the acquisition, ensuring uninterrupted access to its resources, including coverage of Apple's upcoming software releases.
I want to be transparent about the nature of this acquisition. This is not a financial transaction - no money has changed hands, and I have not personally profited from this arrangement. Instead, this is a mission-driven partnership where Be My Eyes is taking on the responsibility of maintaining and growing AppleVis for the benefit of our community. My decision to transfer stewardship of AppleVis to Be My Eyes was driven solely by the desire to ensure its continued existence and growth. In this arrangement, Be My Eyes will acquire the AppleVis website, brand, and a license to all content, allowing them to invest in its future while maintaining the volunteer spirit that has always been at the heart of our community. As planned, I will still be stepping down from my role on the editorial team. For more information, read the announcements from Be My Eyes and the AppleVis editorial team. I am excited about the potential for AppleVis to grow and evolve under Be My Eyes' stewardship. Their expertise and resources will allow AppleVis to develop and expand its platform in ways that would not have been possible under my leadership. While I am proud of what we have accomplished over the past 14 years, I am even more optimistic about what the future holds for AppleVis.
We would like to express our appreciation to the community and to the team at Be My Eyes for their investment in and support of AppleVis. We look forward to seeing everyone when the site reopens on September 9!
With gratitude,
The AppleVis Editorial Team
Www.applevis.com