Evening star., 1940-11-17
mo. S OF q Series. J

! mo. OF q SeTleS.)
The little orchestra is sin the
groove" and the customers love it.
They dance with abandon as the
swingy rhythm fills the night club
At an upright piano sits clean-cut
young fellow nodding his head in
time with the music.
The piano player smiles as he
slips in a riff" here and there.
Occasionally he huns a few bars or
takes solo passages.
Work and pleasure are combined
! for this youth. Between $50 and 8
pm. four nights a week, he makes
| his way to the orchestra stand in
the small suburban establishment
and takes his place at the piano. He
likes dance music, Sc he is happy.
This boy is just one of numerous
high school-age youngsters who find
time to play for great deal of fun
and some pay in bands of their own
formation. His situation varies
sharply from the pattern, however.
His work. and recreation are con-
Quoted in darkness, and the Com
munity Chest is responsible partially
for his finding enjoyment in living.
He is grateful to a member agency
of the great humanitarian confed-
Grafton for an existence favored with
many of the advantages of his
sighted friends.
Boy Assured Advantages.
When a worker of the organiza-
ton now known as the Department
for the Blind of the Family Service
Association became acquainted with
Vernon several years ago she found
him 10 be a young man of high in
telligence who appeared capable of
fitting himself into work of regular
public high school if guided properly.
A plan was decided on with school
authorities, and the boy was assured
the same educational advantages, in
almost all respects, as other students
in the institution. His progress justi-
fled the case workers original ap-
praisal of his capacity.
He Joined the school orchestra,
and, as he acquired new friendships,
formed band for dance engage
ments. Then came the chance to
play in another outfit" at the night
club a few miles beyond the District
line.
A case worker continues to keep in
touch with Vernon, dealing with new
problems as they arise in his devel-
opment, offering suggestions, talking
over plans for the future. This is
the policy of the Department for
the Blind-individua service in &C
cordance with the particular needs
of each client, formulation of plans
designed to bring the sightlesS or
those with disabling vision dehcien-
cies an awareness that they can
build for themselves worthwhile
and interesting life.
Not a Relief Agency.
I'VE are not relief agency" Miss
Stella Plants, executive OF the de-
partment, emphasizes. She declares
the majority of Washington's totally
and partially blind are not relief
cases, and almost all OF those who
are can qualify for grants from pub
lie funds.
The organization seeks to keep a
record of every blind person in the
city and to adjust its activity to the
changing requirements of that group
of the Capitals citizenry thus handi-
canned Miss Plants explains her
department does not attempt to
work out definite programs for care
of the city's blind, but examines
each situation referred to it and
then determines the most practica-
BILE course of action, keeping in
mind not only what may be the
handicapped persons immediate
needs, but also possible long-range
recommendations.
Members of the staff make it their
business to know just what each of