[NFBNJ] #CBVIStrong2020 - Who Was Joseph Kohn?

Thu Sep 17 01:25:48 UTC 2020

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From: Pamela Gaston
Subject: #CBVIStrong2020 - Who Was Joseph Kohn?

Who Was Joseph Kohn?
Joseph Kohn was the Executive Director of the then NJ Commission for the 
Blind (and Visually Impaired was not added until 1982) from 1964 to 1976. 
During his 12 year tenure, his creativity and energetic hands-on approach to 
leadership more than doubled the size and scope of the Commission's staff 
and service programs.  Significant expansions occurred in many areas 
including social services and home teaching under the supervision of Helen 
Gromann; the home industries and crafters' program under the supervision of 
Dan Sullivan; vocational rehabilitation, career development and the contract 
workshop program under the supervision of Irv Kruger; the opening of the 
George Meyer Textbook and Materials Center; implementation of volunteer 
programs; eye health nursing, preschool and migrant eye screening programs 
under the supervision of Esther Cully; and many more.

Joe Kohn was known for getting things done. It was not uncommon for him to 
unexpectedly accompany direct service staff on visits to consumers.

He also was not one to let bureaucracy keep him from achieving his goals, 
especially when he wanted to do something that he believed would make life 
better for consumers of Commission services. A real innovator with regard to 
services for people with visual impairments, he had, for many years, tried 
tirelessly to establish what he then called, ï¿½A hub center for training the 
blindï¿½. Heï¿½d gotten as far as acquiring a building in Westfield, but, 
unfortunately, he became very ill and although he fought hard to move 
forward with his plans, he passed away before there was tangible evidence 
that his dream was to become a reality.

After many obstacles and setbacks, the groundbreaking ceremony for the 
training center took place on Thursday, June 12, 1986 and although it was a 
very rainy day, it was a bright and victorious day for the Commission. 
Approximately 2 years later, in 1988, the first students began receiving 
training at 130 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick.

The Joseph Kohn Training Center from inception, was designed to give access 
to opportunities for self-sufficiency and full community integration in a 
facility where CBVI consumers could  receive instruction in an environment 
that reinforces independence with dignity.

Over 50 years ago, one man had a dream to build a center that would enable 
people who are blind, deaf-blind and visually impaired to believe in 
themselves and their abilities to achieve their goals. Since opening, over 
1,500 people have come to the JKTC to acquire skills that empower them to 
proceed on their individual journey towards success.

 Attachments:

Photo of the front of the JKTC taken from the other side of Livingston 
Avenue; it is a brown brick 2 floor building with a tall flagpole on the 
left corner. There are two sets of stairs on the left and right and a ramp 
to gain entrance to the front sliding glass doors to the lobby.

Photo of a student at the Commissionï¿½s training center that was located on 
Broad St. in Newark (1977); he is working with a power saw cutting a piece 
of wood.

Photo of a group of business enterprise program students from the 1990s; 
they are in the cafï¿½ receiving instruction at a beverage vending machine. 
The group includes Will Robinson, who currently manages the JKTC cafeteria.

A photo of the headshot portrait of Joseph Kohn which hangs in the 
Commissionï¿½s board room; heï¿½s a smiling white haired man, wearing glasses. 
(Joe Kohn was not blind or severely visually impaired)

A photo of one of CBVIï¿½s first mobile eye screening units in front of 
Boonton School; children are lined up to enter the door of the converted 
camper/RV like vehicle (1960s)

A 1954 photo of an elderly female student wearing a full apron and chefï¿½s 
hat receiving hands-on, one to one cooking instruction from a female 
teacher. They are working on a pie crust; there are bowls, cups, ingredients 
and other utensils on the counter where they are working.

A 1980s photo of a young woman, wearing a white blouse and starfish earrings 
assembling pin back buttons at the Commissionï¿½s contract shop that was 
located on Frelinghuysen Ave. in Newark.

A recent photo of a CBVI crafters' sale table; there are sweatshirts with 
peace signs; Christmas stockings; crocheted blankets, ponchos and hats in a 
variety of colors; and other items handcrafted by CBVI consumers; there is a 
woman behind the table transacting a sale with a female customer

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