SERVICES FOR THE BLIND--25 YEARS, STILL GOING STRONG

Part I of III

 

SERVICES FOR THE BLIND--25 YEARS, STILL GOING STRONG

by

Carl Jarvis

May 11, 2002 marked the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Commission for the Blind Bill, by Governor Dixie Lee Ray. With the stroke of a pen, actually a hand full of pens, Governor Ray proclaimed the establishment of the Washington State Commission for the Blind, bringing an end to seven years of tireless labor by blind Washingtonians.

The call for a separate agency first went out in 1970, In part, it was a response to the establishment of the Department of Social and Health Services(DSHS), the previous year. According to Sid Smith, first Secretary of DSHS, the new agency would be a, "One Stop Shopping Center". There would be no more running from agency to agency, no more confusion, no question as to who provided what to whom. Simply come in, sit down and be served.

However, as DSHS began to take shape, the Office of Services for the Blind, was buried deep within layers of bureaucracy.

If blind consumers felt they had been under served or ignored in the past, they soon found this new Office of Services for the Blind was even more removed and better insulated from public influence than it had been when under Public Assistance. The head administrator , called Chief of the Office of Services for the Blind, had limited authority over Office programs, and even less influence within DSHS. The Washington State Association of the Blind(WSAB), at that time the only state-wide consumer organization of blind people, began to voice concerns. Services already considered to be inadequate could deteriorate or even be eliminated with no recourse for blind consumers using those services.

Even as WSAB protested, DSHS was formulating a plan that would completely disband the Office of Services for the Blind. With the exception of the Orientation and Training Center, and the Business Enterprises Program, blind consumers would receive services from integrated programs serving all disabilities.

At the WSAB 1970 State Convention, held in Hoquiam, we met with three members of the Office of Services for the Blind, Dr. Dunham, Chief, Ike Meyers and Lloyd Smart. They proposed that we join together in recommending to the state legislature that the Office be preserved within DSHS. While we were in agreement that we must do all within our power to keep services for the blind intact, we did not believe that consumers would have a voice in determining programs and services as long as the Office continued under DSHS. After a long debate the members voted for a resolution calling for a separate agency, a Commission for the Blind.

Not all blind people in Washington agreed with the resolution. The establishment of the Washington Council of the Blind(wcb) in 1971, provided a strong voice for those in support of maintaining Services for the Blind within DSHS.

For nearly 6 years WSAB and WCB held firmly to their positions. As a result, neither the House nor the Senate voted the Commission Bill out of committee.

By the 1977 legislative session the two organizations had worked through their differences and presented a united front in support of a Commission for the Blind. At long last the years of experience in the political arena coupled with the new found solidarity, paid off. The Bill passed out of committee, through both House and Senate and on to the Governor.

Under the newly formed Commission the Governor appointed a five member Board of Commissioners. In turn, these Commissioners hired the Director of the Commission. Ed Foscue, Irving Smith, Frank Cuta, Laurie Shwager and Luddie Martinson were the original Commissioners. Ed served as the Boards first Chair. Ken Hopkins, at the time Chief of the Office of Services for the Blind, was employed as the Commissions first Director.

The Commission Board had broad powers including setting policies and regulations, and establishing programs. The public Commission meetings were lively and well attended. They became a forum where consumers brought concerns, discussed recommendations and debated issues--at times into the wee hours of the night.

For the next five years the Commission oversaw Programs for the Blind. In a later article we will discuss what brought about the transformation from Commission to Department, and how the Rehabilitation Council serves the agency and the public today.