The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-01-21

One Of the most practical philan-l
thropies now being developed Is that
of preparing the adult blind for fn-l
.ancia1 independence. The schools forj
the blind have been chiefly for the|
education Of blind children. The blind
adult received little attention. Until
within . few years past Il was tac-|
ttlg understood that q blind person
must Of necessity be public charge
unable to do any work OF real value
10 the community and therefore in-|
capable of| becoming self supporting
In the true sense OF, the word. Such
q theory Is no longer held By those
who are most In touch with the work
being done by the blind. II has been
practically disproved by the develop
ment OF Industrial conditions, inl
which blind persons are not only COM
pletely self supporting, but are able
to materially contribute to the sur
port OF others
Since kully three fourths OF the blind
persons in, this country lose their|
sight after school age, the problem Of
providing them with employment isl
more complex than Is that OF dealing
with those who have been blind from
infancy and have therefore been edu-
Gated with reference to their pa1ysicall
lack. Yet plans by which the adult
blind shall be made self supporting
are being so well perfected in matty
places that large numbers Of blind
men and women are taking their
places industrially, side by side with
seeing workers. {. & Z
The Massachusetts Commission for
the blind has divided its adult charges
into two classes, those who have had
detective sight from birth and those
whose vision tailed during the indus
trial period. 1t would seem that fhe
latter class feel their loss more than
those who have never had good sight
but they are usually had the adyar-
tage OF ordinary school training and
also the training, OF the years Il,
which they worked. Their greatest
hardshtps seems to come from me
the realization that loss OF vision.
usually means loss Of earning now-
en- y this can be prevented their
keenest suffering Is overcome. 4; A mar,
under the observation of the Massa-
chusetts commission had worked Al
an engineer until he lost his sight at
the age of twenty-seven years. He
was Idle for sever years, his courage
as we'll as his vision having failed
him. The commission secured him .
situation as furnace tender and inns
tor. OF building, and for Ave years
ne has been doing the work of a see
ing person because his present en1-
ployment Is practically a modification
OF his old work. He has been able
to adapt himself to the difference "a
methods upon him by the loss OF sight.
Inc old way Of providing for blind
people Is to place them in institutions
IN which certain restricted industries
were given them under conditions
which differentiated them in every
way from people with normal vision,
The modern method recognizes the
limitations OF the blind man but be
ieyes It aids him most effectually ,by
Keeping him with seeing persons and
providing him with employment m
which his disability Will not move
too serious handicap in Industrial
competition. 1t is frequently found
!. that the lowered sense OF sight gives
added keenness in some OF the oti1ef,
senses, especially in touch and hear
ing.
the Massachusetts commission now
maintains a number OF industrial
shops in several towns exclusively fol
the employment of blind adults. ID
Is the policy of the commission when
ever feasible 10 nave the men board
In the families OF Seeing workmen and
to live as nearly. normal Hives as il
possible. The success with which, this
plan is meeting is Indicative Of Its
practical value. Instead OF beif1e
housed with others equally unfort,,n.
ate, the blind man learns rapidly ID
lessen his handicap by constant az,
citation with seeing persons. He i.
paid regular wages, which In mos
cases render him fully self support
ing, so that he is not Inundated h,
any sense Of dependence.
The same plan is being worked on
In q number Of other states. Il
Pennsylvania the sum OF sis. 145. ID
was paid out last year for work mar
formed by blind persons at reg1Ila,
wage rates. This money was earnef
by shop work, piano tuning, commits,
sions on piano sales, commissions q,
broom sales, and a little misceiian
\ eous employment "A great impetu.
IN the work OF making the adult blin{
men i'm Pennsylvania self supporttns
IS due to the personal efforts Of / a
bort Dalfno, OF Philadelphia. who los
MS sight after reaching manhood. a,
has been able not only to overcome
his cwn handicap, but to haln nm
dreds OF other blind men to indenend,
ence. HIS idea is that a blind mar
can usually do best a wo1t, sinrila,
to that which ne was performing wl "a.
ne lost MS sieft, so his first question
y, What did You do before you be,
came blind! The man usually giyes
III HMM