THE BLIND IN THE UNITED STATES The census of 1920 estimates the sum total of the blind popu lation of the United States at 75,000, approximately 5o% being over 5o years of age. There is no Federal Pension law, but a few States give pensions and where these are in force the percentage of blind in receipt thereof is as high as 78%.
The Perkins Institute, originally the New England Asylum for the Blind, was established in 1830 and Laura Bridgman was among the first pupils. The printing of embossed books was begun and in 1879 Congress granted an annual subsidy of $10,000 (increased to $5o,000 in 1919) to the American Printing House for the Blind in Kentucky. The American Braille press is a war-develop ment. Its publications are in several languages and it prints music as well as literature. Through its branch in Paris the press serves European war-blinded with free publications. It has readers in every civilized country in the world.
Every blind American child depends on the State for its educa tion, but each individual State has made different arrangements both official and voluntary. America spends $2,740,000 annually in educating her blind. (See BLIND, TRAINING AND WELFARE OF THE, U.S. Section.) Of the 24.000,000 children of school age 25% have some defect of vision. An Eyesight Conservation council has been formed to arouse public interest in eye-hygiene. This body has discovered that there are 200,000 eye accidents a year in American industry, and that in a single State a million dollars has been paid for dam aged eyes in one year. A movement for special classes for the semi sighted was organized on the British model, and the first class was opened in Boston in 1913 ; many States have followed the lead given. In some States the Board of Education carries through home teaching, the marketing of goods and distribution of books.
Factories absorb a large percentage of American blind ; others engage in professional work, salesmanship, piano-tuning, caning, basket work, etc. The making of dolls' wigs is offering satisfactory employment to blind girls in one district. Men engaged in weaving are earning equal wages to those with sight. A correspondence school for blind students in one State has enrolled I,5oo students; the most popular course is life insurance.
The American Foundation for the Blind (publishes the Outlook, the chief journal) was established in 1921 ; it is national in scope, co-operates with the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness and the Boards of Health and Education. The American Association of Workers for the Blind holds biennial conventions and contemplates international gatherings held in Europe.
Responsibility for the care and preliminary training of the four to five hundred Americans who lost sight while in military service, rested in the first place on the Surgeon-General of the U.S. Army, and then on the Federal Board for Vocational Training.
The Red Cross (this work of theirs being rendered possible by a grant from the Permanent Blind Relief Fund collected for the benefit of Allied soldiers and sailors) took up work for these men on their final discharge. The Federal Government made provision for the war-blinded through insurance, private company rates being prohibitive. Insurance was made compulsory, also for sea men in private employment entering the war zone, and the Treas ury, through the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, took out policies for these on reasonable terms. Owners of American vessels were compelled to insure their crews.