Vision loss: The experts answer your questions

August 20, 2010

Last Sunday's "Aging in Iowa" opinion package on vision loss solicited questions for Karen Keninger, director of the Iowa Department for the Blind. Below are questions and answers.

Q. How can Iowans help the blind or help your department? Can the department accept donations or are there certain areas where you need volunteers?

A. There are many ways a person can support the Department.

First, they can tell their friends and families about us, and about the many services we offer blind and visually impaired Iowans. The more people who understand what we do and who we serve, the better service we can provide. Refer people to our web site --www.idbonline.org -- or call our toll-free number (800) 362-2587 to get complete information on our services and programs and how to get in touch with the person who can be of the most help within our department.

People can also sign up for our mailing list, to receive our quarterly magazine about blind Iowans and any other Department news. They can join us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/IowaDeptartmentfortheBlind and on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/idbonline to get the latest information about the Department and blindness in Iowa.

If they are in a position to do so, a person can hire blind or visually impaired employees. Through the Department's vocational rehabilitation program, we match qualified employees with employers, saving the organization the hassle and money of going through an intensive hiring process. We also provide job-site training and workstation accommodations to enable the worker to perform the job with vision loss. We have placed blind and visually impaired Iowans in jobs from all industries, including high tech, education, child care, food service, banking and maintenance. Learn more at: http://idbonline.org/employment/services.
Another way to support the department is to put in a good word for us with their state legislator or the governor, reminding them that the services we provide are crucial for Iowans. We have a page on our web site that discusses how the Department's services affect many more people than those we serve directly: http://www.idbonline.org/newsroom/theres-something-everyone.

The Department is always looking for volunteers, especially to help in our Library. Library volunteers can be trained to narrate books and magazines, transcribe or proofread Braille, help with the circulation of books and light clerical duties, such as data entry. Those who are interested may also want to join the Friends of the Iowa Library, which raises money for the Library through various activities during each year. http://idbonline.org/volunteers/friends.
We do accept donations, which are used to help individuals in need.



Q. When I see a blind person crossing the street downtown, I'm not sure what, if anything, to do. Should I ask if the person needs help or let her know the road is clear to cross?

A. Treat blind people as you would treat anyone else. If you see them crossing the street downtown, they likely do not need any assistance. If they do need assistance, they will ask for it.

We often have our orientation center students taking cane travel lessons through the streets of downtown. They are in the process of adjusting to their vision loss, and are learning to use the white cane for mobility. If you see a person with a white cane and sleep shades on, they are most likely one of our students and do not need assistance from the public. There is either a teacher nearby while they are learning to use the cane. Generally they know when the light turns green and it is time to cross the street. In short, while it seems like being a good Samaritan to offer help to a blind person, wait for a person to ask for help before offering your arm or suggestions.
Q. Do you know how Iowa's funding for your department compares to other states?

A. A comparison between the Department's funding and that of similar agencies in other states is somewhat tricky, because agencies are structured differently from one state to another where services are concerned and because of how money is distributed by congress. However, it is probably safe to say that in addition to appropriations from the legislature, most other state agencies serving blind persons rely principally on appropriations from the federal government using a common formula stipulated by law. The formula relies on a base appropriation and also accounts for relative per capita income in each state as well as population. States with lower per capita incomes and higher populations tend to fare better in the distribution. Iowa is around 30th in population (and closer to 31st and 32nd than 29th) with about 1 percent of the total U.S. population, and Iowa is about 27th in per capita income.