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What is NYSCB?
The New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) provides vocational rehabilitation and other direct services to legally blind New York State residents, including children, adults, and elderly persons. One of NYSCB's primary objectives is to assist consumers in achieving economic self-sufficiency and full integration into society. NYSCB offers these services from seven district offices across the state.
NYSCB was established by law in 1913 to maintain a "census of the blind" in New York State and to help individuals who are legally blind find suitable employment. NYSCB was also charged with researching the causes of blindness and advancing blindness prevention.
In 1920, the state/federal partnership in vocational rehabilitation (VR) was created under the National Vocational Rehabilitation Act. This law created a system of state VR agencies and established federal funding of VR services. In addition, the law allows for separation of state VR agencies into those that serve individuals who are legally blind and those that provide services to all other disabled groups.
Download and read highlights of the Commission's history as Word version of our history or PDF version of our history.
NYSCB is unique among other state VR agencies in its cooperative relationship with private not-for-profit provider agencies. Supported in part by NYSCB contracts, these agencies deliver a variety of services to individuals who are legally blind in all parts of the state.