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Timeline of Visual Impairments

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated June 18, 2022

The history and documentation of visual impairments dates back to Biblical times. There are numerous references in the scriptures specific to blindness. These passages give us an insight into how visual impairments were perceived so many years ago. Clearly during this time, people with visual impairments were seen as helpless and dependent on others. The perception was that the cause of blindness could be attributed to the sin of the father.

It wasn't until 1260 that there is documentation that perceptions of people who were blind began to change. After King Louis the Ninth of France had suffered a defeat in the Sixth Crusade, he returned with an interest in charities. He endowed one of the first formal institutions for the blind. (Enabling Technologies, How braille Began) During this period there was no formal education available for those who were blind. Although braille had not yet been developed, some developed their own literacy methods in clever ways including a writing system of pinpricks and silk embroidered onto cardboard. The following are some important historical events in the history of the field of visual impairments.

1784    The first school for the blind was established in Paris, France by Valentine Hauy.
1791    First school for the blind established in Liverpool, England.
1793    France had first mandatory school for the blind
1808    Charles Barbier invents Ecriture Nocturne, or night writing, for use by French soldiers at night.
1827    James Gall publishes First Book for Teaching the Art of Reading to the Blind, the first English-language work in raised type.
1829    Louis Braille publishes an explanation of his embossed dot code (inspired by Barbie)
1829    The New England Asylum for the Blind (later the Perkins School for the Blind) was incorporated in Watertown, MA
1831    The New York Institution for the Education of the Blind (now the New York Institute for Special Education) was incorporated.
1832    The Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind (later the Overbrook School for the Blind) was founded.
1833    The Gospel of St. Mark was printed in Philadelphia. It was the first book in raised print in the United States.
1834    Louis Braille perfects the literary braille code.
1837    The Perkins School for the Blind establishes a printing plant, later named the Howe Memorial Press.
1839    A state-supported "normal school" for training general education teachers is started in Lexington, MA.
1854    France officially adopts braille as a reading mode for people who are blind.
1858    Seven states establish central printing house. APH.
1860    The Missouri School for the Blind becomes the first institute in the United States to use braille.
1872    The Scottish Education Act calls for educating children who are blind with sighted children.
1878    Joel W. Smith at the Perkins School for the Blind develops the American raised-point system, modeled closely on braille, which became the foundation for American braille.
1879     Act to promote education of blind and establish quota funds. Quota funds brought about the American Printing House for the blind (APH). It was established with federal money. APH was the first professional organization of blind workers. Materials from APH can be purchased with quota funds for students who are legally blind.
1893    Children 0-22 who are blind receive an education
1903    Helen Keller was the first student who is deaf/blind to receive a college degree.
1905    The New York Association for the Blind (now Lighthouse International) was  founded.
1915    The National Society for the Prevention of Blindness was founded.
1918    The University of California offers the first university preparation courses for teachers of students who are blind.
1921    The American foundation for the Blind was founded.
1922    The Council for Exceptional Children was founded.
1929    The seeing Eye, the first dog guide school in the United States, was incorporated.
1931     The Library of Congress established the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. It began distributing braille and recorded materials in accordance with the Pratt-Smoot Act of 1930.
1935    The Social Security Act is passed. It adopts the AMA's definition of legal blindness.
1940    The National Federation of the Blind was founded.
1947    The Perkins Brailler is designed and developed by David Abraham of Howe Press.
1948    Recording for the Blind (RFB) is established.
1954     The Pine Brook Report identifies different educational options for students who are blind or visually impaired and the type of teacher preparation required.
1960    US conducts a study outlined in the Comstock reports. Determined a need for O&M specialists.
1960    Boston College started the first university program for O&M instructors.
1961    The American council of the Blind was founded.
1966    The CEC Project on Professional Standards defined visually handicapped to include both blind and partially sighted.
1970    CCTVs become commercially available.
2000    Academy for certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals is established.
2000    American Foundation for the Blind National Literacy center established.
2001    Bookshare, a source of downloadable books, was founded.

NOTE: I have assembled this list from online and offline resources. If you know of a discrepancy on this page please contact me so I can amend the entry. Thank You!

History of vi