 Images from as early as the 13th century exist,
proving that people who were blind/visually
impaired have been traveling with dogs and canes
for a long, long time.
Jacob Birrer (Germany)
1840
People
 Germans pre-dated everyone in the dog guide
business (WW I).
 Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe (1800’s) - Founder of
Perkins School f/t Blind
 Sir Francis Campbell (1800’s)- Teacher @ Perkins
who was blind. Informally taught O&M. Emigrated
to England and founded the Royal Normal College
and Academy of Music for the Blind.
 W. Hanks Levy (1800’s)- Originator of Touch
Technique, but was “out of step”
The Seeing Eye
First formal mobility training in the U.S. 1929 (Dorothy Harrison Eustis,
Morris Frank)
More people
 Dr. Richard Hoover – Former teacher @ Maryland School for the Blind,
part of initial War Blind Program @ Valley Forge Army Hospital, originator
of the in-step Touch Technique @ Valley Forge Army Hospital (Battle of the
Bulge, Dec. 1944 - Jan. 1945. 17 blind soldiers arrived in one day.) “People
say blind people in this country do a good job of getting around. I don’t
think they do a good job. I think they do a hell of a poor job.”
 Warren Bledsoe – Son of John Bledsoe ( John studied under Michael
Anagnos, who taught Anne Sullivan, & was superintendent of Maryland
School for the Blind), also part of initial War Blind Program @ Valley Forge,
perfected Hoover’s techniques, used the blindfold to train trainers.
 Russ Williams – Lost his vision after the Normandy invasion, student @
Valley Forge and Avon, instructor at Valley Forge, chief of the program @
the Hines V.A., and “father” to several techniques we use today,
including: Guide Technique, Hines Break, Protective Techniques, use of
sound clues, projecting a line of direction, use of Touch Technique all the
time (was previously prohibited indoors), diagonal to Touch Technique in
the stairwell.
Places
 Valley Forge Army Hospital – site of original War
Blind Program. Housed veterans of the European
Theatre of war (Hoover, Bledsoe, Williams were all
instructors here.)
 Dibble Army Hospital - same as Valley Forge, served
veterans from the Pacific Theatre.
 Avon Army Hospital - abandoned the cane and
taught use of “facial vision.”
 Hines V.A. - 1st V. A. Program. Started when Army
“let go” of the War Blind Program.