DEED Marks 100 Years of State Services for the Blind
June 23, 2023
"It's always important to look back and take stock of where we've come from," says State Services for the Blind (SSB) Director Natasha Jerde. "Here at SSB, we're very focused on using the lessons of the past to shape a better future."
Jerde's reflection comes as DEED's State Services for the Blind Office marks its 100-year milestone. Indeed, Governor Walz proclaimed June 22 as "One Hundred Years of State Services for the Blind Day" in Minnesota – highlighting the centennial anniversary of the legislation that established a program to serve blind, DeafBlind, and visually impaired Minnesotans.
Since 1923, SSB has served thousands of Minnesotans, from injured World War I veterans, to blind, DeafBlind, and visually impaired job seekers, to seniors adjusting to vision loss. Assisting customers in achieving vocational and personal independence has always been a goal of SSB. At first, options were extremely limited. Broom-making, for instance, was a trade open to blind individuals. In the middle of the last century, options were expanded as a federal law, the Randolph-Sheppard Act, gave priority to blind citizens to own and operate newspaper and vending stands on federal property. Now, SSB assists Minnesotans with visual impairments to work in any field that interests them.