APH News & Press
Warren Bledsoe Is Honored with Wings of Freedom Award
News Release: Louisville, Kentucky, May 28, 1996
C. Warren Bledsoe, a man who has made profound changes in the lives of blind people, will be presented with the Wings of Freedom Award at the Museum of the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) on Wednesday, May 29th during a reception held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bledsoe is being honored for his outstanding commitment to the advancement of rehabilitation programs for the blind.
Following World War II, Bledsoe worked with a colleague on the development of the long cane method of travel as they prepared blinded veterans for the return to civilian life. The white canes used by blind people around the world today are a testament to the benefits derived from Bledsoe's pioneering efforts in orientation and mobility. His work has allowed countless visually impaired people the freedom to travel independently.
Long associated with the Maryland School for the Blind, Bledsoe also served the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare as a special consultant on blindness. He developed the blind rehabilitation center at Hines Veterans Administration Hospital near Chicago and has been instrumental in preserving historical literature concerning visual impairment.
The Wings of Freedom Award from APH is bestowed on individuals who embody the ideals of the company's mission statement, which is to promote the independence of blind persons by providing the special media, tools, and materials needed for education and life.
Contact Roberta Williams, Public Relations Specialist, for more information. Telephone: 1 -800-223-1839 or (502) 895-2405; e-mail: rwilliams@aph.org