State of New Mexico Commission for the Blind

Introduction

The Commission for the Blind provides services designed to enable persons who are blind to become fully participating, contributing members of society. Blind people lead normal lives, have families, raise children, participate in community activities, and work in a wide range of jobs. They are secretaries, lawyers, teachers, engineers, machinists, scientists, supervisors and business owners. The real challenge is to educate blind people about their own potential and to educate society about the capabilities of persons who are blind.

The Commission believes blind people are normal, and blindness, in and of itself, should not keep a blind person from leading a productive life. The Commission provides services that enable blind persons to enhance their abilities and assume roles in the community as working, taxpaying, and contributing citizens.

The State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) works in close partnership with the Commission for the Blind by helping to formulate policies and priorities. One product of this partnership is the State Plan, which is developed jointly between the SRC and the Commission. The SRC and the Commission have collectively developed the following programs and services, and achieved the ensuing accomplishments:

Blind New Mexicans Served Fiscal Year 2007–2008:

Vocational Rehabilitation Program................496
Assistive Technology Service.....................718
Students in Transition to Employment Program......16
Emergency Eye Care Program.......................157
Business Enterprise Program.......................34
NEWSLINE for the Blind........................ 5,020
Independent Living/Older Blind Program...........536
Orientation Center................................24 
Employment Development Center......................8