Our History

Timeline of Education for the Blind

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).
• 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.
• 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 and M specialists.
• Boston College started the first university program for O and 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.
• American Foundation for the Blind National Literacy center established.

2001

• Bookshare, a source of downloadable books, was founded.