History of Perth Society for the Blind 

 

The Society was founded in 1866 as the "Society for teaching the blind to read in the county and city of Perth" and its aim was initially a religious one, to enable blind people to read the Bible by using what was then a new language, Braille. By the early 1930's the Society had new pemises in South Methven Street and the staff had become home teachers who were kept busy visiting the 170 blind people on the register of blind people.

 

By the late 1960's the register had only increase by 100 to 270 and the Society's organisation had split into district committees centred on Crieff, Dunblane, Alyth and Perth and chaired by the titled ladies of the day.

 

In 2011 we now have 803 people on the register and yet we only employ one more person on a part time basis than we did in 1967. We no longer have ladies committees and we are a lot less paternalistic. There are flourishing sub-sections of the Society such as the Macular group and the visually-impaired bowlers which are run by blind people for blind people and not by the honorable ladies of the parish. The Society is now a company limited by guarantee which means that any liabilities no longer fall on the whole membership.

 

We moved to our new premises at 14 New Row in 2003 and now offer an up-to-date resource centre and low vision facility which is open to all those with poor sight, not only those who are registered blind or partially sighted and our many social activities enable blind people to get out of the house and enjoy friendship and companionship. Our central location makes us better known in Perth and our facilities are used by many other voluntary groups as well as ourselves.