The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. REPORT. His Excellency the Governor, and the Honorable the Members of the Council. GENTLEMEN:- The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind beg leave to submit the following report, covering the period between Dec. 1, 1907, and the end of the last fiscal year, Nov. 30, 1908. The appointing of the commission, under chapter 385 of the Acts of 1906, was the outcome of an agitation, begun nearly ten years earlier, for greater attention on the part of the Commonwealth to the needs of the adult blind. A valuable report by the late Frank A. Hill, at that time secretary of the State Board of Education, on the "Feasibility of instructing the Adult Blind at their Homes," was followed by legislation authorizing the instruction, under the direction of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind, of adults in their homes, and making appropriations therefor. In 1902 was formed the "Massachusetts Association for promoting the Interests of the Adult Blind," which was instrumental in leading the Legislature to appoint a commission to investigate the condition of the adult blind. That commission, consisting of Dr. E. M. Hartwell, Mr. A. H. Hardy and Miss Agnes Irwin, made a report to the General Court, on Jan. 15, 1904, and a second report on Jan. 15, 1906. These reports took effect in the legislation already referred to, authorizing the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Council, to appoint five persons "to prepare and maintain a register of the blind in Massachusetts . . . to act as a bureau of information and industrial aid . . . to establish, equip, and maintain one or more schools for industrial training, and workshops for the employment of blind persons ... to devise means for the sale and distribution of the products of such schools and workshops. . . to ameliorate the condition of the blind by devising means to facilitate the circulation of books, by promoting visits among the aged or helpless blind in their homes, and by such other methods as it may deem expedient: provided, that the commission shall not undertake the permanent support or maintenance of any blind person. The members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services." This act also appropriated $20,000 for the carrying out of the above provisions for the remaining months of that fiscal year. For the year 1906-07 was appropriated $40,000, of which $15,000 was by a special act allowed as working capital for the industries. A like sum was appropriated by the General Court of 1908. PERSONNEL. The original commission, as appointed by His Excellency Governor Guild, and approved by his Council in July, 1906, consisted of Dr. Edward M. Hartwell of Boston (subsequently elected chairman of the Board), Miss Helen Keller of Wrentham, Miss Annette P. Rogers of Boston, Dr. J. H. A. Matte of North Adams and Robert L. Raymond, Esq., of Milton (subsequently elected secretary). On the expiration of Mr. Raymond's term, in July, 1907, and upon his declining to serve again, Mr. James P. Munroe of Lexington was appointed in his place. During 1908 the commission suffered a further loss through the resignations of Miss Keller and Dr. Hartwell, both of whom found it impossible, consistently with their other duties, to carry the burdens incident to service upon the commission. The vacancies thus created were filled by the appointment, in February, 1908, of Mrs. John T. Prince of Newton, and, in November, 1908, of Mr. Walter B. Snow of Watertown. As now organized, Mr. Munroe serves as chairman and Mr. Snow as secretary of the commission. LOCATION. The headquarters of the commission are established at rooms 308, 309 and 310 of the Ford Building, 15 Ashburton Place. There are held the semimonthly meetings of the commission, and there are to be found the superintendent and deputy superintendent of registration and information, the deputy superintendents of the industrial department, and other workers. In addition, the commission have established workshops for men, occupying two floors of a brick building, 686 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge; a workshop for women, at 277 Harvard Street, Cambridge, at which place are the headquarters of the superintendent of the industrial department; a salesroom for articles made by the blind, at 383 Boylston Street, Boston; a shop for employment and instruction, at 24 Dunham Street, Pittsfield; a workshop for men, at 98 Central Street, Lowell, and another workshop for men, at 194 Front Street, Worcester. The aims of these several shops and the results thus far accomplished will be considered later. DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION. In the first annual report of the commission the preliminary work of ascertaining the number and status of blind persons in Massachusetts was explained at length. As a result of this investigation, there were found recorded on Dec. 1, 1907, the names of 3,907 blind citizens of the Commonwealth, in regard to the great majority of whom the commission possessed accurate and recent information. During the period Dec. 1, 1907, to Nov. 30, 1908, additions to and corrections of this list have been made, as follows: Names recorded up to Dec. 1, 1907,. New names added, Dec. 1, 1907, to Nov. 30, 1908, 3,907 246 4,153 21 19 40 4,113 Total, The securing of this information was of course fundamental to the work of the commission, and the carefully classified records are of daily use and value not only to ourselves but also to other workers for the blind. In obtaining additions and corrections the commission have been greatly helped by the hearty co-operation both of the blind themselves and of various State, municipal and private boards, especially the Massachusetts Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary, the officers of which send to our superintendent of registration immediate notice of all cases of blindness coming to their attention.1 1 For further report of the work of the department of registration and information, see Appendix A. In this connection the friends of the blind are urged to send information to the office of the commission of all deaths, removals from the State or recoveries of sight, so that the register of the blind may be kept fully up to date. It is the desire of the commission to reach every blind person who may be helped by us, and who cares for such assistance, at the time when aid, given either directly through the resources placed at our command, or indirectly by putting him in touch with other agencies for advice and help, may be of most value to him. Moreover, we are anxious to be kept informed of those blind workers who have so well succeeded through their own efforts as to need no help from the commission, but whose example cannot fail to be very stimulating to others. To a number of such successful blind men and women we are under obligation for most valuable and valued service during the past year. As regards the young, we are fortunate in having the co-operation of the State Board of Education, which has agreed to make special inquiry concerning blind and partially blind children in the taking of the annual school census. DISPOSITION OF CASES. Having secured definite information regarding an applicant for aid or counsel, it is obvious that there are many directions in which the commission may proceed in their endeavor to perform the duties with which they are charged. In the case of a child, they may ask the co-operation of the medical authorities, in the hope that medical or surgical aid may be of value; of the school authorities, if the child is being denied an education; of the various philanthropic associations, if there appears need of financial assistance or wise guardianship; of the Perkins Institution for the Blind, if the child seems a suitable candidate for that school; of the trustees of the School for the Feeble-minded, if there be mental as well as visual defect; or of local individuals or organizations, if it be merely a question of friendly interest in the child and its family. In the case of an adult, the commission must decide whether or not it is one for the attention of local or State charitable organizations, and they may suggest medical or surgical alleviation. There is a much larger question, however, in all such cases, than that of mere relief or support, the question of giving the blind person occupation, and of making him, if possible, partly or wholly self-supporting. Enforced idleness is the greatest curse of blindness, and one of the chief duties of the commission, as they understand their obligations, is that of furnishing, directly or indirectly, such training to those who desire it as may enable the blind adult at least to keep himself occupied, and at best to earn a comfortable living. Summary Outline of Commission's Work, Dec. 1, 1907, to Nov. 30, 1908, showing that the Commission has been in Touch with 676 Blind Persons this Year, of whom 392 have been helped in 767 Ways. 1. Results: Number Groups. Individuals not counted Elsewhere. (1) Training given or expenses provided during (4) Home industry fostered (loans, equipment, so- 91 (5) Employment and training given through sales 100 room. (6) Information and advice (occupation, boarding 49 (7) Reported to other for blind, 115 agencies, general agencies, 84 (8) Recreations, symphony tickets, vacations 153 2. Pending for various reasons (work, supervision, etc.), 1 These figures cover sub-groups in which some individuals appear twice. For details of (1), see table on p. 30; of (2), see table on p. 32; of (3), see table on p. 33; of (4), see table on p. 34. HOME WORK. The commission, having taken over in the summer of 1907 the home industries for women, formerly maintained by the alumnæ of the Perkins Institution for the Blind, are making every effort to promote the sale, through their rooms on Boylston Street, of all such articles as may be made by the blind in their homes. The training of these home workers is largely done by the home teachers (maintained, under the supervision of the Perkins Institution for the Blind, by legislative appropriation), upon whose friendly co |