LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 34th Anniversary Sound & Light
Gala of the Helen Keller Services for the Blind to be held on Thursday,
September 23, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 34th Anniversary Sound & Light Gala of the Helen Keller
Services for the Blind to be held at Stage 6 at Steiner Studios, Brook-
lyn Navy Yard, on Thursday, September 23, 2010; and
WHEREAS, At this year's Gala, Helen Keller Services for the Blind will
pay special tribute to four exceptional women who have made a difference
in the lives of many; they are: Jill Arkwright Harvey, Analytic Asset
Management; Abigail Breslin, Actress; Michelle Charlesworth, WABC-TV,
Channel 7; and Kelly Watson, KPMG; and
WHEREAS, The history of this illustrious organization begins on Novem-
ber 2, 1883, when 17-year-old Eben Porter Morford was caught in a trage-
dy that resulted in him becoming completely blind; undeterred, he went
on to successfully train at The New York Institute for the Education of
the Blind; and
WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his studies, Eben Porter Morford real-
ized that there were almost no employment opportunities for blind
people; he did not understand as he reasoned that blindness was phys-
ical; vision was mental and spiritual; blindness need not destroy
patience, fortitude, ingenuity, courage and the will to win; and
WHEREAS, Holding true to these beliefs, in 1886, Eben Porter Morford
gathered a small group of blind men and women together at the Baptist
Home on Throop and Greene Avenues in Brooklyn; the society was named the
Mizpah Circle and its purpose was for advancing socially and financially
those less fortunate than themselves; and
WHEREAS, On October 1, 1893, the Industrial Home for Blind Men, under
the auspices of the Mizpah Circle, opened its doors; Eben Morford acted
as superintendent and by 1894, 17 blind men lived in the Home; 10 were
employed producing 416 cane seats, 28 hair mattresses and 4,500 brooms;
and
WHEREAS, Within two years, on April 25, 1895, the Industrial Home for
the Blind of the City of Brooklyn (IHB) was incorporated; for 50 years
the IHB confined itself to services to blind men; the Brooklyn Bureau of
Social Services and The Association for Improving the Condition of the
Poor offered services to blind women; however, when these services were
diminished, IHB opened its doors to women; and
WHEREAS, The IHB programs continued to flourish and in the post war
years, a formal program for people who were deaf-blind was started; the
agency shifted from the single focus of employment to a more comprehen-
sive program of education and rehabilitation; and
WHEREAS, During the 1950s, services were established in Nassau and
Suffolk Counties; Burrwod, a residence for senior citizens who were
blind and deaf-blind, was established on Long Island; the IHB also
founded a nursery school for blind children; and
WHEREAS, In 1952, IHB established a Braille and Large Print Library to
make sure that textbooks were available for children who were blind and
mainstreamed within their local schools; in 1953, a summer day camp was
opened to encourage participation in sports, music and drama; and

WHEREAS, IHB initiated a major blindness prevention program in 1967
for pre-school children on Long Island; with the assistance of volun-
teers, IHB staff identified children who needed immediate medical inter-
vention in order to prevent vision loss; and
WHEREAS, In 1967, the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) was estab-
lished by a unanimous act of Congress and IHB was chosen to operate the
program which provided comprehensive rehabilitation training for people
with a severe dual sensory loss or impairment; and
WHEREAS, Temporary training facilities were created in New Hyde Park,
and in 1976, HKNC's new headquarters opened a 25 acre site in Sands
Point, Long Island; the Center's national services expanded to include
several regional offices, affiliate agencies and later a National Train-
ing Team, Technical Assistance Center, National Parent Network and
Services for Older Adults; and
WHEREAS, In 1983, IHB established a day treatment program for adults
who were developmentally disabled and who were also blind or deaf-blind;
in 1985, the Board of Trustees decided to change the name of The Indus-
trial Home for the Blind (IHB) to Helen Keller Services for the Blind
(HKSB); and
WHEREAS, New programs continued to develop and the Parent/Infant
Program was established in 1988; it provided intensive therapeutic and
educational services for preschoolers and infants who were blind; that
same year, HKSB established Supported Employment services to provide
ongoing individualized long-term support at the job site; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, program and facility changes have been made,
as needed, to reflect the needs of a diverse population of persons who
live in the New York City Metropolitan Area; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its distinguished history, Helen Keller Services
for the Blind has served tens of thousands of blind and visually
impaired individuals throughout the New York Metropolitan Area; and
WHEREAS, The ability of this agency to respond to changing needs over
the past 100 years has sustained its viability as an important resource;
HKSB is well prepared and positioned to move into its second century
maintaining a commitment to the mission of enabling people of all ages
who are visually impaired, blind or deaf-blind to lead as independent a
life as possible within their own communities; and
WHEREAS, Organizations and individuals who are devoted to improving
the quality of life for others, enabling them to build lives of dignity
and self-worth are deserving of the highest praise and recognition; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 34th Anniversary Sound & Light Gala of the Helen Keller
Services for the Blind to be held on Thursday, September 23, 2010, and
to commend this year's four outstanding women for special honor who have
truly made a difference; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Helen Keller Services for the Blind, and the aforementioned
honorees.