Blind Industries and Services of Maryland provides employment, vocational training, rehabilitation, and education to blind adult Marylanders, some of whom have multiple disabilities. This includes teaching blind adults day-to-day skills necessary to live in a sighted society. The agency is open for the labor and manufactures of all blind citizens of Maryland over eighteen years of age who can give satisfactory evidence of character and ability to do the work required. All profits from blind industries are used to further the agency's mission (Code 1957, Art. 30, secs. 3-10, 30A).
To carry out these programs, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland operates four divisions: Industries; Rehabilitation; Services; and Vending Services. The divisions market their products and services with the aid of the pricing committee for Blind Industries and Services.
The Committee consists of four ex officio members (Code State Finance and Procurement Article, sec. 14-104).
BASE-SERVICE STORE OPERATIONS
INDUSTRIES DIVISION (BALTIMORE OPERATIONS)
REHABILITATION DIVISION
SERVICES DIVISION
The Services Division also sells, at cost, items such as braille watches, talking clocks, talking calculators, canes, and games. Items are available at the office on Strickland Steet, or by mail-order catalogue.
VENDING SERVICES DIVISION
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The Board of Trustees consists of eleven members appointed for three-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent.
PRICING COMMITTEE FOR BLIND INDUSTRIES & SERVICES
The Pricing Committee for Blind Industries and Services of Maryland sets prices of supplies and services provided to State government agencies by Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. The Committee reviews contracts to ensure that fair market prices are charged.
Blind industries operates four Office Eagle Base Supply Centers located on military instalations throughout Maryland. A fifth Office Eagle store is located in the U.S. Department of the Interior headquarters. The stores carry a full line of office supply products and are staffed by employees of Blind Industries. The products also are available through an e-commerce site staffed by customer service representatives who are blind.
The Industries Division employs blind and visually impaired adults to manufacture more than 150 products for federal and State government agencies and commercial and private businesses. The Division is located in Baltimore. Sewn products, including clothing items, tote bags, and medical soft goods, are manufactured in the Western Maryland plant in Cumberland and the Eastern Shore plant in Salisbury.
Accredited by the State Department of Education, the Rehabilitation Division operates a residential training center in Baltimore City. The blind instructors who staff the center encourage the attitude that it is okay to be blind, while providing training in adaptations that are necessary in a sighted society. Each eight-month training course covers braille computer training, independent cane travel; and life skills, such as finances, cooking, and cleaning. Job seeking and employment skills also are offered as part of the course, and students enjoy physical fitness activities, such as bowling, tai chi, and white water rafting. In addition, the center runs youth and senior programming, including a summer camp for elementary-school aged children, and a biannual teen retreat.
The Services Division transcribes printed material into braille for individuals, organizations, companies, and government for a nominal fee.
Created in 1989, the Vending Services Division installs and services vending machines dispensing beverages or snacks throughout Maryland. Teams of two employees (one blind, one sighted) keep the machines stocked, and in working order. The Division is opening up many nontraditional sales and service jobs for blind workers.
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