light at the last annual meeting of the West Virginia Alumni Association of the Blind held at the West Virginia School for the Blind May 27-30, 1958, at Romney, W. Va. During this meeting a resolution was presented that the West Virginia Alumni Association of the Blind become the sixth affiliate of the West Virginia Federation of the Blind, Inc. Efforts to obtain an opinion from F. Ray Power, director of the division of vocational rehabilitation with reference to H.R. 14 and similar bills have been futile. If we are to assume that silence is the answer we must then assume that the division of vocational rehabilitation of West Virginia has accepted the policy of the National Rehabilitation Association and that it is opposed to this legislation now under consideration by your subcommittee. The West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled, the mouthpiece of the State director of vocational rehabilitation, has failed to declare its stand on the legislation now being considered. At this time I would like to present as appendix No. 1, the 11th Annual Report of the West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled, and I would like to refer you to page 4, paragraph 3, which reads as follows: "The society requires each blind operator to file weekly reports of his business transactions. Constant attention is given by the supervisor and assistant supervisor in regard to sales, appearance of operators, appearance of stands, relationship with customers, maintenance of equipment, and any problems confronting the operator. Experience has proved that blind persons are best served by business enterprises, when the establishment and operation of such enterprises are subject to the planning, control, and supervision of the division." [Emphasis added.] This gives further proof that some organizations for the blind do not have faith in their clients and even inform the public of their thinking; yet, they are supposed to assist the blind to improve their standard of living. As appendix No. 2, I would like to present a letter addressed to our State president, C. Chris Cerone, from the Community Foundation for the Blind, at Wheeling, W. Va., notifying him of a change in the organization's constitution and bylaws making it impossible for a blind person to become president of the organization. On invitation of His Excellency Gov. Cecil Underwood of West Virginia, the National Federation of the Blind conducted a survey of all programs serving the blind. In February of 1959, Governor Underwood released the survey report to the public. Administrators of programs which the report criticized have in turn been critical of the survey team and its findings. Administrators of programs which were commended have praised the report as well as the contentious and businesslike approach evidenced by the survey team. The blind men and women of West Virginia are grateful for our Governor's efforts to improve the State's programs which affect our daily lives and hope and believe that the report will serve as a basis for substantial improvements for program operations. We are also grateful for the fact that all West Virginia Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have sponsored bills to protect the right of the blind to self-expression through organizations of the blind. In closing I would like to remind this committee that when a blind man must enter into business of his own in an effort to make a living for himself and a State director, whose duty it is to assist the blind is opposed to the blind joining organizations of the blind; whenever a nonprofit organization operating a vending stand program for the blind suddenly begins to train other hadicapped groups to operate the stands, when a nonprofit community organization for the blind amends its bylaws to prevent a blind person from becoming its president, the situation is serious and the trend toward overprotection and custodialism becomes crystal clear. We who are blind urge this committee to enact legislation which will permit us to join organizations of the blind without threats of coercion or intimidation and providing for consultation with representatives of our organizations in the formulation, administration, and execution of federally supported programs which bear directly upon us. In brief, we are asking for nothing more and nothing less than the right to assemble freely and to make our views known and have them considered by those administering programs designed to help us. APPENDIX No. 1 ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WEST VIRGINIA SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND AND SEVERELY DISABLED, JULY 1, 1956, TO JUNE 30, 1957 JANUARY 11, 1958. The Board of Directors, West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled, Charleston, W. Va. GENTLEMEN: I submit, herewith, the 11th Annual Report of the West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1957. Respectfully, J. HARRY PARKER, Treasurer, West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled. REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE WEST VIRGINIA SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND AND SEVERELY DISABLED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES PROGRAM FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 1957 The West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled was incorporated under the laws of the State of West Virginia on January 3, 1946. The purpose of this nonprofit corporation is to create and maintain an organization of citizens interested in the training and employment of blind and severely handicapped persons, to conduct business and business establishments for the employment of such persons, and to carry out for the division of vocational rehabilitation the management and supervision of the controlled vending-stand program. An agreement was made under the date of October 2, 1946, by which the West Virginia Division of Vocational Rehabilitation engaged the West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled to conduct and supervise its program for the training of vending-stand operators and the operation of vending stands and other small businesses for the employment of the blind and severely disabled. Blind persons throughout the State are referred to the West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled by the West Virginia Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, after they have been evaluated and it is felt they will make good vending-stand operators. A training stand, located in the State Office Building, Washington Street, Charleston, W. Va., continued to be utilized for the training of prospective operators. Each trainee receives individual instruction in vending-stand operation for a period of 3 months. Necessary costs of the training are paid by the division of vocational rehabilitation. While in training, he is instructed in such items as the development of good customer relationships, the physical arrangement of the stand, sectioning and location of merchandise display, purchasing and inventory of merchandise, making change, care of equipment, and vendingstand housekeeping. Travel training is also provided as needed. Four blind persons were trained by the society during the year. The West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled is responsible for the securing of new businesses. This is done in cooperation with the counselors of the division and interested citizens of the State. During the fiscal year the training-stand sales amounted to $31,019.25. This operation has been successful and paid the salaries of the assistant manager, training instructor, and other services not paid from State appropriations. The society requires each blind operator to file weekly reports of his business transactions. Constant attention is given by the supervisor and assistant supervisor in regard to sales, appearance of operators, appearance of stands, relationship with customers, maintenance of equipment, and any problems confronting the operator. Experience has proved that blind persons are best served by business enterprises, when the establishment and operation of such enterprises are subject to the planning, control, and supervision of the division. An appropriation by the legislature of $7,420 has been a great help to the society. However, this appropriation does not cover the entire administrative cost of the program. The society is responsible for maintaining all records, reports, and communications for each operator; also, for repairs of stands and equipment. At the close of the fiscal year, June 30, 1957, the West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled had 20 stands in operation and 1 training stand. During this period 24 operators were employed. Due to a large volume of business, three of these stands employed two operators each. All operators were covered by social security, workmen's compensation, and were given a vacation with pay. Also, they were covered by a group life-insurance plan, which provides $2,500 to their beneficiaries. Two new stands were opened by the society during the year. They were located at the following sites: 1. Hotel Huntington, Huntington, W. Va.: This stand is operated by Millard Norman, who is totally blind. Along with the usual vending-stand items, coffee is being served. 2. Lewis Arcade Building, Huntington, W. Va.: This stand is operated by Ervin Grizzel and Celeste Albertson. Along with the usual vending-stand items, hot coffee and lunches are being served. We feel that we have made progress this past year in establishing good businesses and improving present businesses. We hope that the members of the West Virginia Society for the Blind and Severely Disabled will help establish new businesses, of which they can be proud. New locations and new ideas are always needed. Hugo F. Schunhoff, Romney, W. Va. Charles E. Roberts, 850 Walters Road, Charleston, W. Va. Thorold S. Funk, 537 West Main Street, Clarksburg, W. Va. Mrs. W. E. Flannery, Man, W. Va. R. A. Slater, 4711 Pennsylvania Avenue, Charleston, W. Va. Harry Brawley, 4013 Noyes Avenue, Charleston, W. Va. F. L. Hoffmaster, Millville, W. Va. James R. Hammond, 330 East 10th Street, Belle, W. Va. January 1959 Frank Chapman, Rural Route, Wellsburg, W. Va. William E. Jackson, 537 West Main Street, Clarksburg, W. Va. J. Doyle Yoak, Veterans' Administration, Federal Building, Charleston, W. Va. W. J. Falconer, assistant area medical administrator, UMWA, Beckley, W. Va. S. B. Preston, 1229 Ridge Drive, South Charleston, W. Va. David O. Songer, 2000 Quarrier Street, Charleston, W. Va. C. C. Hennegan, 320 Virginia Street, West, Charleston, W. Va. January 1960 Mrs. Andrew Gardner, 1806 McClung Street, Charleston, W. Va. Berie R. Radow, 221 Ashby Avenue, Charleston, W. Va. Caton N. Hill, Institute, W. Va. Joseph Thompson, State Capitol Building, Charleston, W. Va. Keith C. Wright, 1118 Beverely Drive, Richmond, Va. W. G. Winchell, 300 Bair Building, Beckley, W. Va. Dr. Eva L. Teter, Beaver, W. Va. George H. Gunnoe, supervisor, Employment Security, 723 Third Street, Hunting ton, W. Va. Ward E. Gamble, 2228 Washington Street, East, Charleston, W. Va. D. Earl Fisher, Monongahela Building, Morgantown, W. Va. Tom Orr, Logan, W. Va. Anna Marie Lovejoy Hunt, Hamlin, W. Va. Victor Gonzales, Anmoore, W. Va. West Virginia consumers sales tax and Federal excise tax. 1,011.03 Total current liabilities. 2,228.61 Trust capital: Stands and equipment investment July 1, 1954 $30, 094. 05 30, 1957. 8, 810.30 SCHEDULE B.-Statement of operations and analysis of surplus for the year ended June 30, 1957 SCHEDULE C.-Statement of stand operations for the year ended June 30, 1957 Segregated training stand income (from schedule D)__. Net gain from stand operations___ $190, 637.23 138, 270. 06 52, 367. 17 33, 917. 62 10, 712. 94 1, 111. 91 2, 021. 20 4,993. 94 1, 077. 29 3,022. 35 79.84 672. 73 59.34 57, 669. 16 -5, 301. 99 7, 020. 51 1, 718. 52 |