OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Empower Oregonians who are Blind to Fully Engage in Life
The Oregon Commission for the Blind was established in 1937 as a state agency to provide services to Oregon’s citizens who experience vision loss and need specialized training and support to live full and productive lives. The agency receives policy direction and oversight from a seven member Commission representing consumer organizations, education, ophthalmology/optometry, business and individual citizens.
The agency operates under ORS 346.110 through 346.570 and through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, which designated the US Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration as the principal federal agency to oversee the national vocational rehabilitation system throughout the nation, in collaboration with the US Department of Labor and other workforce entities.
The Commission for the Blind has the following program objectives in service to our mission:
- Helping Oregonians who are blind get and keep jobs that allow them to support themselves and their families
- Supporting Oregon businesses in hiring and retaining qualified job seekers who are blind in their workforce
- Supporting youth who are blind in the transition from high school into a career path/employment
- Training Oregonians in the alternative skills related to blindness such as adaptive technology, white cane travel, braille and activities of daily living;
- Helping seniors and individuals with vision loss who are unable to work live with the highest levels of independence and self-sufficiency so that they can remain independent in their homes and active in their communities;
- Licensing and supporting business owners who operate food service and vending operations in public buildings and facilities throughout the state.