Arizona republican., 1921-04-25

conversation with him, soon almost forgot that he was talking to d dis abled man.
 The Blind Mans Viewpoint
 Another of the many interesting cases of blind men receiving training under the federal board is F. Ray mond Pyle, who in March, 1919. was sent to Evergreen" the Red Cross institute for the blind, at Baltimore Mir. Pyle took up the study of Braille, typewriting, business correspondence and dictaphone operating. He is now dictaphone operator at the R P Andwers Paper company. Inc, of Vir- ginia.
 In short article on the blind at Evergreen" written by Mir. Pyle for publication in the federal board mag azine. The Vocational Summary" Mir. Pyle takes up a point of showing the blind mans attitude toward those we'll meaning but tactless souls who can not, or will not recognize the ] fact that those physically afflicted may be quite as capable and natural individuals as the rest of humanity. ] Mir. Pyle says:
 Incidentally. happiness is given to the blind as well as to the sighted. but unfortunately. many people think not and always want to pity. To pity { N4lAtbAL ElEDL UT 10 COTlpil- ment one who can turn around with opt falling over, Is humiliating 10 him. blind man wants 10 be | treated as though he were the same as any other specimen of manhood. We can appreciate pretty flowers. nature. and intelligent conversation as well as anybody else. In my two years experience without sight and i in association with many other blind men. I find that we often forget our condition. but frequently, when We are with sighted persons we are re- minded of it.
 Sometimes when we are in room with a number of people and happen to change chairs like any one would i do, some one is sure to remark: ! doesn't he do it we'll If candy is 1 passed around the hostess may say to the man next to you: does your
 blind friend like chocolates?' II people would just act natural when they are with blind person, he ! would feel very comforta bic ["
 | The federal board has a total of PTS
 blind who have entered training 1 There are 2s different occupations in
 which training is given these men In the majority of cases placement training is possible. That is training
 on the job, the men being placed with firms where they may earn a salary while getting the necessary train ing.
 Among the occupations found pos sible for blind men are: Massage, | osteopathy vulcanizing various branches of agriculture. music. store
 keeping, machine work, insurance
 drug business. journalism, salesman ship, landscape gardening, book binding bask ketry, chair -caning. rug and broom making cigar making
 wood working and various branches of office work. There Is list oi 30 re-vocational and vocationa
 schools where the blind may receive
 training in these occupations as wei
 as the many firms who are accepting such men for positions and training
 combined.
 There are many obstacles to com
 bat in the individual cases of giving
 these men training. In one instance
 an agent of the board was told by the mother of one of the men that
 her son would never be given voca-
 tional training except over her dead
 body. Four unsuccessful attempts
 have been made thus far in an en-
 deavor to change her mind. The
 father of one of the men refuses tc
 be convinced that his son should re
 ceive training. My boy will always have enough money and all he need
 now is a good wife, he says. He cannot be convinced that a blind mar needs a purpose in life even more than a man with sight.