History
It began with a blind man’s vision.
It took the vision of a blind man to truly appreciate the needs of people who were blind in South Australia and understand the plight they faced in the late 19th century.
Andrew Whyte Hendry, who was blinded after a childhood accident, had the conviction and determination to start an industrial training school for the blind in 1884, which has steadily grown and flourished into the multi-faceted Royal Society for the Blind of the 21st Century.
With the help of Sir Charles Goode, a philanthropist, Andrew’s dream was realised on 21 November 1884 when the Institute for the Blind was formed – the genesis of what would become the Royal Society for the Blind of South Australia.
Through 127 years of supporting South Australia’s blind and vision impaired community, the RSB has grown from an ambitious employment and training centre, to be the primary provider of services to more than 12,000 people who are blind or vision impaired.
The RSB holds true today to the vision Andrew Whyte Hendry held in 1884: The Vision to make a Difference.
Chronology
1884 - Founders Andrew Whyte Hendry and Sir Charles Goode started an industrial school at Ebenezer Chapel, Brougham Place, North Adelaide, to enable people who were blind or vision impaired to live independently within the community and to improve the quality of their life.
1915 - The success of this employment school, which offered good wages and a growing demand for its goods including the Renown brand of brooms and brushes required new premises which opened on King William Street, opposite the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
1972 - With 120 workers and increased manufacturing activity, The Institute moved to Gilles Plains in 1972 and changed its name by Act of Parliament to 'The Royal Society for the Blind". Services were expanded to include assistance with daily living, recreation and study needs.
1992 - Knapman House, in Pirie Street Adelaide, was opened to provide the best low vision care and assessment in South Australia.
1997 - The Adaptive Technology Centre was opened at Knapman House offering the widest tange of adaptive technology in the southern hemisphere.
1998 - Orientation & Mobility Services were introduced in 1998, to assist client’s independence
2005 - The National Books in the Sky (BiTS) Pilot was launched, an innovative and portable reading system
2006 - The RSB Guide Dog Service was established, enabling full mobility services to be offered to RSB clients.
2009 - RSB celebrates 125 years of service to South Australians who are vision impaired. Andrew Whyte Hendry’s vision lives on today, no more clearly seen than through some of its clients.
2010 - The RSB partnered with the Freemasons Foundation, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmology SA (RANZCO) and the Sight for All Foundation (SFAF) to launch the My Eye Health Program, educating and creating awareness about the issues of eye health, intervention and rehabilitation in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
2011 - The RSB now provides services to more than 12,000 South Australians who are blind or vision impaired.
- A significant expansion in the RSB's Recreation and Leisure Service saw the employment of a third RSB Recreation and Leisure Officer to manage the eastern and western suburbs. More than 1,200 Recreation and Leisure participants now have access to 108 groups.
- The RSB employed a Child and Youth Services Coordinator to provide dedicated support to RSB clients under the age of 18. To compliment this expansion, the RSB was acknowledged by FaHCSIA as a Better Start Funding service provider.