Table Of ContentHV1794
B619
D34
V
artment of eterans
We
dedicate this publication to VA’s half
century of distinguished service to blinded
veterans and a legacy ofexcellence. From a
humble beginning to a program of national
prominence, Blind Rehabilitation Service
has become one of the Department ofVeter-
We
ans Affairs’ outstanding success stories.
honor the extraordinary talents, commitment
and high professional standards of the early
pioneers and the current staff. In more than
five decades of leadership, the principles and
VA
programs established within have signifi-
cantly contributed to raising the level of
quality services for the blind in the United
States and abroad.
The publication was sponsored through the
combinedfunding ofthe BlindAmerican Veterans
Foundation and VA. The text was prepared and
published by the Hines BlindRehabilitation
Center andMedical Media
staff.
Avon Old Farm campus is where 850 blinded servicemen were trained from 1944-1947.
VA
Blind Rehabilitation Service
July 4,1998, marks the 50th anniversary of VA President Roosevelt’s Commitment
Blind Rehabilitation Service with the establish- The roots ofVA Blind Rehabilitation Service can
ment of the first VA Blind Rehabilitation Center be traced directly to the pioneering military reha-
(BRC) at Edward Hines Jr. Hospital in the bilitation programs for war-blinded servicemen of
WW
western suburbs of Chicago. From a humble II and events surrounding that armed conflict.
WW
beginning with a nine-bed facility and a staff of Early in II, the United States government
nine, VA Blind Rehabilitation Service has grown was uncertain whether to pass legislation for a
significantly during the past half century, marked unified rehabilitation program for both disabled
by a continued expansion of comprehensive war-injured and civilians, or to establish separate
rehabilitation services to blinded veterans. programs. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt
There are now nine BRCs strategically lo- delivered a special address to Congress personally
cated throughout the country and Puerto Rico, 92 advocating a unified plan serving both civilians
full-time Visual Impairment Service Team and veterans. However, pressure from veteran
(VIST) Coordinators and 15 Blind Rehabilitation service organizations resulted in legislation sup-
Outpatient Specialists (BROS). VA, through its porting separate programs, and the passing of
innovative training programs, education and Public Law 78-16 on March 24, 1943, which
VA
research, is recognized nationally and interna- authorized to provide benefits, including
tionally for its leadership role as a premier vocational rehabilitation to veterans. Three months
service provider. later, passing of the Barden-LaFollette bill
provided rehabilitation for disabled civilians.
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The first VA Blind Rehabiliation Center (relocated in 1970) was established in 1948 at
Edward J. Hines Jr. Hospital near Chicago, III.
On Jan. 8, 1944, the United States govern- Farms Convalescent Hospital, Avon, Conn.,
ment made an extraordinary commitment to the where an 18-week, extensive rehabilitation
blinded war-injured with an order under Presi- training and vocational training program was
dent Roosevelt’s signature declaring “no blinded conducted. The Navy operated another special
servicemen from WWII would be returned to program for sailors and naval officers at Phila-
their homes without adequate training to meet delphia Naval Hospital. The final stage of the
the problems of necessity imposed upon them by rehabilitation program was the discharge of the
VA
their blindness.” soldier or sailor, at which time would provide
vocational training and placement.
Army and Navy Programs The Army programs were heavily modeled
To meet this commitment, the Army Medical after the St. Dunstan blind rehabilitation program
Corps developed a three-phase program. The in England and, from 1944 through 1947, pro-
medical and surgical treatment of the blinded vided 1,400 war-blinded servicemen rehabilita-
soldier was to be accomplished at two chief tion training that many considered superior to
centers. One was Letterman General Hospital, existing services in the private sector.
San Francisco, Calif., later transferred to Dibble
General Hospital, Menlo Park, Calif.; and the VA Adopts New Mission
WWII
other at Valley Forge General Hospital, With the conclusion of and the probability
Phoenixville, Pa. of the deactivation of the military blind rehabili-
While receiving medical care, the blinded tation program, the question arose as to which
servicemen started to receive basic blind reha- agency would provide remedial and ongoing
bilitation training. The second phase was at Old treatment of the 1,400 war-blinded veterans.
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—
In the spring of 1947, the Federal Budget Bureau
VA
raised the question of whether could legally
provide any services beyond vocational rehabili-
tation. President Harry Truman, on May 28,
1947, settled the issue by signing a Presidential
Order whereby responsibility for the social
adjustment training of blinded servicemen was
transferred from the Army and Navy to VA. In
June 1947, the armed services deactivated all
wartime rehabilitation programs for blinded Russell C. Williams, Hines BRC Chief, greeting first
patient, Naron Ferguson, on Independence Day 1948.
servicemen.
tation Program, was appointed Chief of the new
A
center. group of three outside consultants
comprised of Kay Gruber, Harry Sparr and Dr.
—
Richard Hoover were selected to assist Will-
iams in selecting, indoctrinating, and training the
nine-member
staff.
After four months of intensive staff training,
the nine-bed unit admitted the first patient, Naron
Ferguson, on July 4, 1948. Williams, himself a
product of both the Valley Forge and Old Farms
The first VA Blind Rehabilitation Center staff at Hines
blind rehabilitation programs, provided expert
(1948). First row (from left): A. Stafford Chiles, Russell
C. Williams, Dr. Louis Newman, Edward Mees and leadership in developing a model program. A
Joseph Romanko. Back row (from left): Edward Thuis,
Loretta Goergen, Alfred Corbett and Stanley Suterko. well-rounded instructional curriculum was con-
structed around Williams’ unshakable faith in the
Hines Chosen as First Site capabilities of the blinded veterans.
On Sept. 15, 1947, VA Administrator Gen. Omar
Bradley and VA Chief Medical Director Gen. Orientation and Mobility
Paul Hawley appointed C. Warren Bledsoe as VA The rehabilitation was demanding, with both
Coordinator of Blinded Veterans Affairs, charged high expectations and standards. The long cane
with the development of a blind rehabilitation concept, developed by Richard Hoover at Valley
program. Hines Hospital was selected as the site Forge Hospital, was instituted, refined, and
of the first VA BRC, due in part to its large and expanded by the staff. During the next two
well-functioning Physical Medicine and Reha- decades, a systematic approach to independent
bilitation Department. On Feb. 20, 1948, Russell travel utilizing the long cane technique became
C. Williams, a WWII blinded veteran and former the foundation of the new training in Orientation
counselor at the Valley Forge Military Rehabili- and Mobility.
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Early interest in the new training program and
techniques taught became so widespread that
other rehabilitation professionals and agencies
requested and were
granted rudimentary
training at Hines
BRC. From 1949
to 1960, the Hines
Orientation and
Mobility staff also
conducted more than
one dozen workshops Multiply-handicapped blinded veteran using adaptive
devices.
for teachers at several
universities and unilateral and bilateral leg amputees, neurologi-
schools for the blind cally impaired, and brain injured. Many new
in the principles of techniques were created, as well as adaptations to
A veteran receives long cane ^^e new long cane training and prosthetic devices, which later
instruction from early mobility
instructor Jim Enzinna. techniques. proved to benefit the general population.
In 1953, VA, with the cooperation of the
BRC
During Korean Conflict Department ofAgriculture, produced a one-hour
During the Korean War in 1951, the beds at Hines film entitled The Long Cane, which documented
BRC were increased to 27, plus an additional 13 the adjustment process. Utilizing the BRC staff
beds in the Ophthalmology Ward. The nature of at Hines and featuring a blinded veteran, Lloyd
combat in the Korean Greenwood (later the
War resulted in numer- Executive Director of
The nature of combat in the Korean
ous instances of blind- BVA), the film was
War resulted in numerous instances
ness and multiple created to promote
of blindness and multiple handicaps.
handicaps. More than awareness of the new
More than 500 servicemen were
VA
500 servicemen were program within the
blinded, accounting for five percent of
blinded, accounting for system. During the
all casualties, the highest ratio of any
five percent of all ensuing years, the film
American conflict up to that time.
casualties, the highest was viewed by not only
VA
ratio of any American personnel but seen
conflict up to that time. During this period, the throughout the country and abroad by a variety
blind rehabilitation program at Hines treated a of organizations as a model training film on
substantial number of unique cases including blindness and mobility.
bilateral hand amputees, unilateral arm amputees.
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outstanding model for the many university
training programs to follow.
VA
Through the continued support of
stipends and new university affiliations, VA
BRCs have played a major role in preparing
teachers in blind rehabilitation. Nationally,
1,154 specialists in Orientation and Mobility,
and Rehabilitation Teaching have received their
VA BRC.
clinical intern training at a In addi-
Western Michigan University intern observing veteran tion, through a VA-funded Optometric Resi-
being instructed in manual skills.
dency Program, 117 optometrists have success-
University Training Programs VA
fully completed residency training at a
VA
Beginning in 1960, assisted in playing a BRC, while 849 optometry students have also
major role in developing university training received training.
programs in blind rehabilitation. In 1961 and
VA
1962, approved clinical training affiliations
with Western Michigan University (WMU) to
train Orientation and Mobility specialists and
Rehabilitation teachers at Hines. Support for
funding the university program was under the
sponsorship of the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare. Three staff members
BRC
from the Hines had previously joined the
WMU
program to administer it and create the
Orientation and Mobility training segment.
WMU
The program at soon became an
Research and evaluation of new technology resulted
in programs in closed circuit television, reading
machines and computers.
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Rehab
Blind
Veterans
Integrate!
BLIND REHABILITATION CENTERS • VIST PROGRAMS (Full-Time) Washington D.C. Indianapolis, Ind.
American Lake/Tacoma, Wash. Birmingham, Ala. Bay Pines, Fla. Des Moines, Iowa
Augusta, Ga. Tuskegee, Ala. Ft. Myers, Fla. Wichita, Kan.
Birmingham, Ala. Little Rock, Ark. Gainesville, Fla. Lexington, Ky.
Hines, III. Phoenix, Ariz. Jacksonville, Fla. Louisville, Ky.
Palo Alto, Calif. Tucson, Ariz. Miami, Fla. New Orleans, La.
San Juan, P.R. Fresno, Calif. Oakland Park, Fla. Shreveport, La.
Tucson, Ariz. Loma Linda, Calif. Orlando, Fla. Togus, Maine
Waco, Texas Long Beach, Calif. Tampa, Fla. Baltimore, Md.
West Haven, Conn. Los Angelos, Calif. West Palm Beach, Fla. Boston, Mass.
Sacramento, Calif. Augusta, Ga. Ann Arbor, Mich.
San Diego, Calif. Decatur, Ga. Detroit, Mich.
San Francisco, Calif. Boise, Idaho Minneapolis, Minn
Denver, Colo. VA Chicago (West Side) III. Biloxi, Miss.
West Haven, Conn. Hines, III. Jackson, Miss.
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Services
litation
Service Networks
Kansas City, Mo. Winston-Salem, N.C. Sioux Falls, S.D. * BLIND REHABILITATION
St. Louis, Mo. Cincinnati, Ohio Dallas, Texas OUTPATIENT SPECIALIST
Omaha, Neb. Cleveland, Ohio El Paso, Texas PROGRAMS (BROS)
Las Vegas, Nev. Columbus, Ohio Houston, Texas Albuquerque, N.M.
Manchester, N.H. Muskogee, Okla. Lubbock, Texas Ann Arbor, Mich.
East Orange, N.J. Oklahoma City, Okla. San Antonio, Texas Bay Pines/St. Petersburg, Fla
Albuquerque, N.M. Portland, Ore. Waco, Texas Baltimore, Md.
Albany, N.Y. Lebanon, Pa. Salt Lake City, Utah Boston, Mass.
Brooklyn, N.Y. Philadelphia, Pa. Hampton, Va. Cleveland, Ohio
Buffalo, N.Y. Pittsburgh, Pa. Richmond, Va. Dallas, Texas
New York, N.Y. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Salem, Va. Gainesville, Fla.
Northport, N.Y. San Juan, PR. American Lake, Wash. Los Angeles, Calif.
Syracuse, N.Y. Providence, R.l. Seattle, Wash. Phoenix, Ariz.
Durham, N.C. Charleston, S.C. Spokane, Wash. Portland, Ore.
Fayetteville, N.C. Columbia, S.C. Huntington, W.Va. San Antonio, Texas
Milwaukee, Wis. San Juan, PR.
Seattle, Wash.
West Haven, Conn.
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New Centers Open
After 18 years with only one VA BRC, a combi-
nation of events led to a steady expansion. The
—
Vietnam War coupled with the earlier inclu-
sion of non-service connected veterans, more
low-vision applicants, and a more expansive
—
referral system increased the demand for
additional blind rehabilitation sites. BRCs were
VA
strategically created within the system at
VAMC
Palo Alto (Calif.) (1967), West Haven
VAMC
(Conn.) (1969), American Lake (Wash.)
VAMC Waco VAMC
(1971), (Texas) (1974),
VAMC
Birmingham (Ala.) (1982), San Juan,
VAMC,
Puerto Rico (1986), Tucson (Ariz.)
VAMC VAMC
(1994), and Augusta (Ga.)
(1996).
As the number ofVA BRCs expanded, so
did the number of accomplishments and innova-
tions. Research was conducted in fostering
advances and progress in electronic travel aids,
reading machines, low-vision devices, and
Veteran being taught by a nurse to independently
computers. Involvement in prosthetic equipment
administer medications.
evaluations directly resulted in new clinical
VA
programs. Blind Rehabilitation Service led improving adjustment to sight loss.
the nation in incorporating a family training Today, VA has 228 beds committed to the
program at all its facilities. The development of nine BRCs staffed by more than 300 blind
new methodology in the blind rehabilitation of rehabilitation specialists and support personnel
the multiply handicapped, the geriatric popula- providing a variety of training programs. Last
tion, and in program evaluations continued year, 1,634 blinded veterans attended a BRC;
through the 1970s, ’80s, and into the ’90s. and since 1948, 23,41 1 blinded veterans partici-
The multi-disciplinary team approach to pated in a residential BRC training program.
treatment was expanded to include not only
blind rehabilitation specialists, but also a physi- Research Studies
cian, nurse, optometrist, dietitian, social worker, The first comprehensive follow-up study of
and psychologist. Regardless of discipline, all WWII and Korean blinded veterans was con-
team members’ efforts focused on promoting ducted from 1952 to 1954, involving 386 VA
health, developing skills of independence, and social workers interviewing 1,949 service-
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