New-York tribune., 1908-04-17
WORK FOR THE BLIND
Association Tells Of Tzco Years Ef-
forts and Plans for Future.

record of work in behalf OF sightless men.
women and children is contained in the first report
Just issued OF the New York Association for the
Blind. which organized on November 25. 1905.
It's efforts have directed educating all
those who are able 10 become independent wage
earners, but IT has a corps doing social work and
helping the sick. aged and incompetent.
An important branch of the associations work
- devoted preventing blindness. Its physicians
and takers have decided that 80 per cent of
the cases noted We're preventabe and that % per
cent were due 10 infant ophthalnia- which is the
result OF neglect ignorance. The remaining 5
per of the cases caused by accidents
and. minimize these. the associations educa-
tional propaganda has been aimed at securing
legislation providing for safety devices in factories
and shops
The history Of the association shows how rs
small beginning a matter of happy chance.
Miss WiHifred Holt, the secretary noticed group
of blind boys at d concert in italy, several years
Impressed with the childrens enjoyment they
conceived the idea of obtaining unsod tickets 10
for distribution INDECENT blind per
sons. their return 10 New York they orga nized
in 1903. the committee for tickets for the blind
Among others. the late Carl Schurz took I'D the
idea enthusiastically As the members began TO
get in touch with the blind and with their needs ii
followed that the present association, with capital
Of S4o0 was organized. with the Rev. Dr. LYMAN
Abbott as the first president The present head is
Richard Watson Glider.
The association has taken h thorough census of
the blind in this state classifying as such all who
cannot read print with glasses The number
is 95S5. Statistics have been taken Of 35Ds cases
and records in fun Of the 300 blind in greater
New York" There are reports on III blind children
out OF school.
The association has reached 404 blind persons who
,ded he instruction and has given 24I4 les
II has maintained broom factory at No l47
East 42d street, and has taught ffty-fve men 10
make brooms and cane chairs, the output having
been S29S chairs and S4,952 broons. Two hundred
and sixty-three women have been instructed in
bead work, crocheting trimming hats and other
simple work.
The association then began to teach more lucra-
tive caIlngs to adaptable and clever blind men and
women OF teachers, musicians and census emu
meratoTs there are six each There two blind
stenographers and two piano tuners, Besides there
carpenters salesmen and basket makers The
association wishes funds for larger activity In mat
making, which il has found is specially fitted
for persons who work by the sense of touch The
officers learned that in Japan, until recently only
blind persons we're permitted to be masseurs They
have employed blind masseur. and his highly sen
sitive touch is said TO than counterbaIauce
his lack OF sight. There are also on the list Sly
switchboard operators employed outside Of classes
and ar electrician and a printer.
In the foreword of the report the association ap-
peals 10 the public 10 patronze its stepogranhers
ifs massage and shampoo!ng branch its Diano
tuners and other blind workers. Thsse who have
no work for blind to do asked TO contribute
clothes money or tickets that can he distributed
smnng the sightless through the ticket I,uraau
which has already given six thousand tickets to
bI persons The need OF help is 10 enlarge the
facilities that already under way, and friends
familiar with the work have promised $40 coo on
condition that association raise working cani-
tai OF 100000 The offices and salesTooms are at
Ne. 1lS East 18th street.