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REGISTER OF THE BLIND IN NEW YORK STATE

Total Verified Names on Register June 30, 1924:

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The register of the blind shows a total of 8,073 blind persons in New York State, 3,765 or 46% living in Greater New York. On the basis of established percentages for the United States (one blind person to every 1,000) the register for New York is lower than the average, there being one blind person to every 1,605 of the population. A thorough study of the blind in each county of the State is now being made, with reference to age, cause of blindness, and economic need.

Summary of "Under 16" Register:

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The Pines, N. Y. Guild for Jewish Blind...
St. Joseph's Home....

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34

32

9

21

6

Institutions for Feeble Minded.

32

134

Not Attending School:

Under school age..

Pupils not returned to school this year.
Working (partial sight).....

Unclassified (including those "unable to profit
further from instruction" and yet not defi-

nitely subnormal ...

Deaf-blind and otherwise handicapped.

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Subnormal mentality-living at home.

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The 65 cases referred from other parts of the State represent those coming direct from sources other than Commission Agents or local Associations for the Blind. Approximately 60% of the total number of cases handled by Commission Field Workers involve medical problems which are referred to the Commission Head Nurse for advice and recommendation. Three group conferences on the medical aspects of their work were conducted by the Commission Head Nurse with Home Teachers in the field. The Commission now includes Strabismus (cross eyes) in the eye conditions for which Home Teachers are to be responsible for medical examination and treatment. These cases are listed on the register for the blind but are classified under a separate prevention group. It is the responsibility of the Commission Worker to see that glasses are provided when recommended. The addition of this medical group to the work of Commission Agents involves extensive follow-up, but in view of the seriousness of Strabismus, when not attended to, the Commission has assumed this task as part of its prevention program.

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A new medical report blank has been inaugurated whereby more accurate diagnoses and medical reports are being secured direct from physicians; these forms, filled out and signed by the occulist are resulting in a more complete record of diagnoses than formerly.

A survey of eye conditions in rural schools in Albany County, started last year, has been completed. 4,165 children were ex

amined for eye defects; 224 were found to have serious eye conditions needing further treatment: 56 visits were made to homes in company with local Health Nurses to stimulate interest in following up these eye conditions. This survey was the outcome of a conference between the State Board of Education and the State Commission for the Blind. The National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness cooperated with the Commission in carrying on this study and loaned the services of a Social Worker to assist with eye tests, recording, and in visiting parents throughout the County. The tabulated report as published in full by the National Committee for the Prevention of Blindness, was analyzed and prepared by their organization. This cooperation greatly facilitated the work of the Survey and contributed largely to its

success.

The State Department of Health, County Welfare Organizations and Women's Clubs of Albany County rendered most efficient help. Superintendents of Schools were active in their interest and facilitated the work in their districts. Two additional Public Health Nurses have been assigned to Albany County because of the needs revealed by the Survey. At the close of 1923 when two-thirds of the County rural schools had been covered and the work was temporarily suspended, appeals were received from schools in the balance of the district, urging that the Survey proceed and cover the rural school population of the entire County. A total of 121 schools were covered; attendance ranging from two to several hundred pupils. It is notable that not as large a percentage of children were found to have seriously defective vision as was anticipated; those having serious eye defects were in urgent need of medical care thus emphasizing the importance and necessity for adequate medical examination and treatment for children in rural communities.

Whereas it is not the policy of the Commission to be responsible for individual case work, medical or social, where there are local Health and Social Agencies through whom this work may be done, the Commission has demonstrated the need for clinic social service with eye cases in three large hospitals, as part of its preventive work. In 1917 a Commission Nurse was assigned to the Eye Clinic of the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, and later a Nurse was sent to the Syracuse Free Dispensary, Syracuse. In 1922, the Commission initiated Socal Service follow-up on eye cases in cooperation with the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital, and assigned a Nurse to the Eye Clinic.

As a result of the work at the Manhattan Eye and Ear Clinic. a special Nurse on eye cases has now been added to their Social Service Department and the services of the Commission Nurse have been withdrawn. Since being relieved of her duties at the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, the Head Nurse has assumed direction of the medical work of Home Teachers and Field Agents. The group conferences referred to have been held in order to

increase their working knowledge of eye conditions and the significance of diagnoses and prognoses in connection with social problems among the blind. The Commission plans to continue these conferences at reasonable intervals, as a regular part of its program. The Commission emphasizes that it is not a policy to do individual case work, yet so large a number of medical cases eventually find their way to Headquarters for advice and recommendation, that the education of Commission Agents regarding eye conditions is of the utmost importance. Difficulties in securing correct diagnoses and amount of vision are many, when local Health Workers and Nurses are already over-burdened with their routine responsibilities and where so large a part of the State has no organized welfare work whatsoever. In the smaller towns and rural communities, there are few if any resources to depend upon. Full data must be sent to the Commission office before suitable action may be determined upon.

Eye Clinic at Sing Sing Prison:

Whereas the Commission withdrew from official responsibility towards this Eye Clinic in 1922, because of provision on the part of the Prison authorities for carrying on the work, the Commission Head Nurse has on request assisted the doctors with special examinations and operations. Dr. Conrad Berens, Jr. and Dr. H. Robertson Skeel have continued their service to the Clinic since the official withdrawal of the Commission. Statements of the value of this Eye Clinic, initiated by the Commission in 1916, have been made in previous reports. Available statistics for the past year, are as follows:

Patients examined
Operations performed

840 15

The Commission presents this brief report in view of its continued interest in the Eye Clinic and the contact maintained through the Commission Head Nurse whose long experience has made her continued interest and help a contributing factor in retaining the voluntary service of the Ophthalmologists whose interest was secured through the Commission.

HOME TEACHING AND FIELD WORK

Work of Home Teachers:

Work of the Home Teachers has continued as in former years and with an increased efficiency, due to closer medical and social supervision than has been possible heretofore. Owing to the withdrawal of the Head Nurse from the work at the Manhattan Eye and Ear Clinic, supervision of the field work has been increased;

special emphasis has been laid on the case work and the necessity for adequate medical knowledge, before making a social plan. As there are comparatively few social agencies in the outlying sections of the State, the Commission Home Teacher is responsible for case investigations apart from her assistance to individuals in teaching raised type and home occupations.

5158 blind people visited.

*3346 cooperative calls made.

844 negative calls made.

1396 pupils under instruction during the year.
287 graduate pupils given special instruction.
2610 lessons given:

Reading and writing...

Home occupations

1663 visits to new pupils.

542 visits to graduate pupils.

1560

1050

†201 blind persons referred directly for medical examination and treatment.

26 referred to Schools for the Blind.

86 referred to Libraries for the Blind.

The above report covers the services of 12 Home Teachers on full-time work and the services of one apprentice for two months. From a social viewpoint, the results of Home Teaching are very far-reaching; the change of attitude towards life is greatly influenced by the visits of these women who are also blind and who bring encouragement and hope into the lives of many. It is not unusual to receive a report such as the following:

"Mrs. M. lost her sight less than a year ago. She still has light perception in the right eye but this is failing rapidly. When she lost her sight, she felt that there was nothing more to live for. She contemplated many dreadful things. I have started to teach her to read, to sew, and to tell the time and am encouraging her to go to places of amusement. She feels wonderfully encouraged; to be able to write and to tell the time seem like a marvel to her. She has promised to get out and around with other people and I believe that this will be the saving of her."

The influence of a Home Teacher in getting blind children to school is likewise significant. One of the Home Teachers visited a mother who was so unhappy about the condition of her child's eyes that she had lost her control over the child. Lucy was a

*

Special Agencies; Public Health Officials; interested individuals.

This does not include individuals needing medical examination or treatment reported to Heads of Associations through whom necessary arrangements were made.

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