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Helen Keller publishes her autobiography: "The Story of My Life"

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Cleveland Sight Center (n.d.). History of Cleveland Sight
Center. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from https://www.clevelandsightcenter.org/about-cleveland-sight-center/history

https://nwlc.org/resource/forced-sterilization-of-disabled-people-in-the-united-states/#:~:text=These%20include%20laws%20about%20sterilization,This%20is%20called%20forced%20sterilization.

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The defining event of the 1930s the Great Depression, brought a resurgence in the Eugenics Movement. This time eugenicists based their arguments on economics instead of genetics. These arguments, and the notion of Darwin's 'survival of the fittest', proved persuasive as competition for a scarce number of jobs became brutal.

Paradoxically, the decade saw the election of FDR, the first president with a physical impairment. Using a wheelchair for mobility due to polio, Roosevelt's disability was not widely known by the public. During most of Roosevelt's public appearances he was not seen in his wheelchair and was often placed at the podium to appear as if he was standing on his own.

Although he downplayed his own disability, Roosevelt brought the concept of social security to America through his New Deal. As part of the Social Security Act, public assistance was extended to 'the blind' and children with disabilities. Ironically, his belief in a social safety-net for citizens with disabilities contrasted the fact that the work relief programs his administration devised often discriminated against individuals with disabilities.

1933

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the first physically disabled person to be elected as a head of government, is sworn into office as President of the United States.

The Council for the Retarded Child in Cuyahoga County, Ohio was founded by concerned parents to assist children of the area who had been excluded from Cleveland's public schools. This organization is largely recognized as the prototype and founding organization upon which the Association of the Retarded Citizens was built.

1935

New York City's League for the Physically Handicapped was formed to protest discrimination by New Deal programs. The Home Relief Bureau of New York City stamped all applications with "PH" which stood for physically handicapped.

Members of the League held a sit-in at the Home Relief Bureau for nine days and a weekend sit-in at the WPA headquarters. These actions eventually led to the creation of 1500 jobs for people with physical disabilities in New York City.

1936

The Randolph Sheppard Act establishes a program for employing blind vendors at stands in the lobbies of federal buildings.

1938

Passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act leads to an enormous increase in the number of sheltered workshop programs for blind workers. Although intended to provide training and job opportunities for blind and visually impaired workers, it often leads to exploitation of workers through sub-minimum wages in poor working conditions.

1939

The Cleveland Rehabilitation Center evolves from the Sunbeam Association to provide services to people with disabilities.

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Brief 1930's disability rights background information including key events of the period.

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Cleveland Society for the Blind Founded by Linda Eastman

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Established as Cleveland Society for the Blind in 1906 and today known as Cleveland Sight Center (CSC), our agency has long been a resource and advocate for those who are blind or have low vision. For over a century, CSC has provided rehabilitation, social and independent living services to Northeast Ohio residents of all ages. In addition, in 1928 CSC opened the first summer camp, Highbrook Lodge in Chardon, Ohio, dedicated to serving those with blindness or low vision.

Continuous Innovation

For over 100 years, CSC has nurtured innovators. The result has been a long list of unique and creative programs, which were the first of their kind:

1909: Pioneering partnership with Cleveland Public Schools to keep blind children in their communities

1922: First food service businesses operated by blind persons in the United States

1928: First camp dedicated to people who are blind or have low vision

1953: First community-wide glaucoma screening in a major city

1975: First national convention of deaf-blind persons held at Highbrook Lodge

1984: The STORER Center, one of the first assistive technology centers in the country, opens at CSC

1994: Share the Vision program created, the first peer mentoring program for seniors

2010: CSC adopted an evidence-based model for vocational services called "Supported Employment." The effectiveness and efficiency of our program has set CSC apart from various competitors and resulted in partnerships with area companies to provide employment opportunities for people who are blind, have low vision or other work-limiting disabilities.

2012: CSC renovated its headquarters, becoming a model of accessible buildings in the United States, using color, textures and other cues in the building's design.

2015: CSC continues to improve the services offered to those who are blind or have low vision in Northeast Ohio under the leadership of Larry Benders, who began his tenure as CSC's 10th President and Chief Executive Officer on April 27, 2015.

2019: The Medicaid rule 5160-10-30 includes coverage for ambulation aids under durable medical equipment, which previously covered canes, crutches or walkers but excluded coverage of white canes.

Influential Advocates

CSC has a rich history of community leaders who have provided opportunities and overcome challenges for those who are blind or have low vision.

1907: Robert Irwin, a blind Harvard graduate, proved visually impaired children could succeed in Cleveland public schools. His findings verified the idea of "mainstreaming" a half-century before it became an educational buzzword.

1918: Industrial giant Caesar Grasselli donated his home to create the first permanent location for the Cleveland Society for the Blind.

1930s: Lubrizol founder Kelvin Smith and his wife Eleanor became involved with Cleveland Sight Center, a commitment that lasted over 50 years and continues today through the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation.

1980s: James P. Storer, a blind broadcasting executive financed one of the nation's first digital technology centers to provide technology to others with similar vision impairments. These advocates were able to achieve success with the support of private funds and endowments.

Affirmation of Excellence

Beginning in 1968, CSC has maintained national accreditation at the highest level, first through the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped and, since 1982, through CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). CSC has consistently received Charity Navigator's highest ratings, which are a reflection of excellent financial stewardship and commitment to accountability and transparency.

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Established as Cleveland Society for the Blind in 1906 and today known as Cleveland Sight Center (CSC), our agency has long been a resource and advocate for those who are blind or have low vision.

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Clifford Beers is Released from a mental asylum and publishes "A Mind That Found Itself"

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Citizens with disabilities often were treated like charity cases, tragedies or freaks. Unable to support themselves in the United States' manufacturing and agriculture-based economy, people with disabilities frequently had to panhandle and live on the streets.

1921
The American Foundation for the Blind is founded. Helen Keller becomes its principal fundraiser.

1924
The commonwealth of Virginia passes a state law that allowed for sterilization (without consent) of individuals found to be “feebleminded, insane, depressed, mentally handicapped, epileptic and other.” Alcoholics, criminals and drug addicts were also sterilized.

Disabled people have fought to make their own decisions about their bodies. But many laws still take that decision away. These include laws about sterilization.

Sterilization is an operation that stops someone from ever having babies. In many states, laws say that doctors can sterilize disabled people against their will. This is called forced sterilization.

1927

The Buck v. Bell Supreme Court decision ruled that forced sterilization of people with disabilities was not a violation of their constitutional rights. This decision removed all restraints for eugenicists.

By the 1970’s, over 60,000 American Citizens were sterilized without their consent.

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People with mental disabilities in 1930s America were treated very unsympathetically by the majority of society. Abnormal behaviour and low levels of economic productivity were thought of as a 'burden to society'

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the first physically disabled person to be elected as a head of government, is sworn into office as President of the United States in 1933.

The Council for the Retarded Child in Cuyahoga County, Ohio was founded by concerned parents to assist children of the area who had been excluded from Cleveland’s public schools. This organization is largely recognized as the prototype and founding organization upon which the Association of the Retarded Citizens was built.

1935

New York City’s League for the Physically Handicapped was formed to protest discrimination by New Deal programs. The Home Relief Bureau of New York City stamped all applications with “PH” which stood for physically handicapped.

Members of the League held a sit-in at the Home Relief Bureau for nine days and a weekend sit-in at the WPA headquarters. These actions eventually led to the creation of 1500 jobs for people with physical disabilities in New York City.

1936

The Randolph Sheppard Act establishes a program for employing blind vendors at stands in the lobbies of federal buildings.

1938

Passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act leads to an enormous increase in the number of sheltered workshop programs for blind workers. Although intended to provide training and job opportunities for blind and visually impaired workers, it often leads to exploitation of workers through sub-minimum wages in poor working conditions.

1939

The Cleveland Rehabilitation Center evolves from the Sunbeam Association to provide services to people with disabilities.

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Cultural context WW11 was starting this snowballed a disabled rights act movement.

1940-The American Federation of the Physically Handicapped started in an attempt to end job discrimination.

1945-President Harry Truman establishes a National Employ the Handicapped Week.

1948-"University of Illinois at Galesburg disabled students’ program was officially founded. It became a prototype for disabled student programs and independent living centers across the country."

1950-Social Security Amendments establish a federal-state program to aid permanent and total disability.
-para progressives continue their fight for equality