50th Anniversary Open House PR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
Oct. 26, 2009                                                            
Contact:  Shoshana Hebshi

515.281.1338

Iowa Dept. for the Blind celebrates 50 years with Open House

When: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 • 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: IDB building, 524 Fouth St., Des Moines
 
DES MOINES, IA – Fifty years ago, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan refined the novel concept of empowering blind people to lead confident, successful lives. He brought that vision to Iowa and transformed the state’s services it provides blind and visually impaired Iowans, making the Iowa Department for the Blind one of the top service providers of its kind in the country.
 
Jernigan’s philosophy has given thousands of Iowans renewed hope after severe vision loss to regain their lives. Through the Department’s array of services that include help finding and retaining jobs, teaching non-visual techniques for everyday tasks and encouraging confidence, Iowans around the state have gone on to lead successful lives at home, at work and in their communities.
 
The Department is celebrating these accomplishments during an open house on Friday, Oct. 30 in its historical downtown Des Moines building, which has recently been remodeled to better serve its clients.
 
The open house will provide the public with tours of the building, an in-depth look at the many services the Department offers and a chance to meet with staff and clients. There will also be a panel of clients, who will discuss how they have benefitted from the Department’s services. The panel begins at 1:30 p.m. An awards ceremony follows the panel, and it will honor clients, community partners and employers who have made a significant contribution to the Department’s work over the years.
 
“At the Iowa Department for the Blind, our mission is to create opportunities for independence,” said Director Karen Keninger. “It is the place in Iowa where blind and visually impaired Iowans can learn the skills, develop the confidence and get the help they need to go back to work, back to school, back to their roles in family and community--in a word, back to life.
 
“Over the past 50 years we have proven thousands of times that with the proper training and opportunities, blind people can work at regular jobs, raise families, run for public office, volunteer, take leadership roles in their communities and civic organizations, and do anything else they want to do.”
 
For more information about this event or the Iowa Department for the Blind and its services for blind and visually impaired Iowans, contact Shoshana Hebshi, communications specialist, at (515) 281-1338 or Shoshana.Hebshi@blind.state.ia.us
 
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