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for the blind are becoming more competitive due to the industrial
and commercial advice given them by the Industrial Advisors to
the Blind Limited. The National statistics show that there is a
steady reduction of blind workers in the traditional trades of
basket, brush and mat makers, also knitters and piano-tuners. The
London Borough of Bromley supports one blind person in London
Association for the Blind Workshops. The emphasis now is for
employable blind persons to be trained and placed in open employment.
The unemployed blind or partially sighted person who is
likely to go blind can avail themselves of the services of the Blind
Persons Resettlement Officer. This officer is employed by the
Department of Employment and Productivity and, in co-operation
with the local D.R.O.* and local authority social workers.
endeavours to place persons with defective vision in employment.
By using the goodwill of local employers and work people the
B.PR.O.† can successfully place a blind person in sighted employment.
A similar placement service is provided by the Royal
National Institute for the Blind for professional persons who lose
their sight.
Register of the Partially Sighted
After adjustments for new registrations, transfers and deletions
from the register there were 218 persons on the register as at
31st December, 1968; a net increase of 21 on the previous year.
There were increases in both male and female sections; males 57 to
66 and females 140 to 152.
The trend nationally is for the numbers of registered partially
sighted persons 65 years and over to increase. As people grow
older their visual acuity diminishes, until for some people it reaches
a point of becoming a serious disability. Modern medical knowledge
has reduced the effects of partial sightedness in those below
65 to manageable proportions.
Royal National Institute for the Blind
1968 was the centenary year of this world-famous voluntary
organisation for the blind. In June, 1968, the R.N.I.B. opened its
first holiday hotel, the Centenary Hotel at Blackpool. This is a far
cry from the days of 1868 when it was not unknown for blind
persons to be shut away in asylums and institutions.
The deaf-blind were not neglected in centenary year; in
Harrogate at the end of the year the first purpose built home for
the deaf-blind was opened. The highlight of the celebrations was
the Centenary Exhibition opened in London. The Exhibition was
designed to present to both blind and partially sighted the many
facets of the Institute's work. Among the 5,000 people visiting the
*Disablement Resettlement Officer
†Blind Persons Resettlement Officer