Have a story to tell?
The Iowa Department for the Blind is interested in your memories, recollections or experiences living as a blind person in Iowa as it embarks on an oral history project to document the changes over time of blindness in Iowa.
Iowa has been a focus point for the blind community since Dr. Kenneth Jernigan transformed the state agency from one of the worst in the country to one of the best. His Iowa Model for rehabilitation of blind individuals has been replicated in many other states across the country and has been internationally recognized as a positive approach toward blindness. It has been said time and time again that if one is to be blind, it is best to be blind in Iowa.
The Department's services have helped thousands of Iowans adjust to their vision loss and learn techniques to live independently and work successfully. Today in Iowa you can find blind and visually impaired Iowans employed in nearly all sectors of the workforce, caring for their grandchildren, enjoying retirement and living to the fullest.
We would like to record these stories and hear of personal journeys of dealing with vision loss as an Iowan.
You can submit your stories by e-mail or by regular mail in either print or Braille.
Shan.Sasser@blind.state.ia.us
or
Oral History Project
Iowa Department for the Blind
524 Fourth Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
This project is supported in part by the State Historical Society of Iowa, Historical Resource Development Program and the Friends of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
