MAB history

In 1901, The Union’s Ethics Committee persuaded the Boston Public Library to provide a space in which blind and visually impaired people would have an opportunity to read from the Library’s collection of embossed books.

MAB Community Services has been serving blind and visually impaired people since 1903, the oldest social service agency to serve blind and visually impaired people in the United States.

The labor union movement was also growing, and legislation that provided for vocational training and counseling had been passed in 1918.

In addition, the American Foundation for the Blind, one of the first national, consumer-driven organizations, was created in 1920.

Inspired by a MAB member who was also a Perkins graduate, in 1927 MAB began publication of a news magazine, The Weekly News, printed by what was then known as the Braille Weekly Publishing Company, now the National Braille Press.

Passed in 1935, it provided income support for children with disabilities and people who were blind.

He was a soldier in the British army in Burma and was blinded in the war during the 1940's.

He asked that methods be found “to retain in and return to the community the mentally ill and mentally retarded, and thereto restore and revitalize their lives through better health programs and strengthened educational and rehabilitation services.” Thus began two decades of de-institutionalization. It wasn’t until 1946 that MAB acquired its first office space, in downtown Boston, hired its first paid Director, and began to expand services.

Subsequently, he became the first Executive Director of the MAB in the 1950's.

In fact, the MAB was formed on November 21, 1951 on the initiative of Major D.R. Bridges who was then an officer in the Department of Welfare Services of Malaya.

In 1952 he obtained the British Resident, Sir Henry Gurney, to lay the foundation stone for Gurney Training Centre (GTC) at Jalan Marsh, Kuala Lumpur.

In the same year of 1953, the GTC was also opened with an enrolment of five trainees.

The establishment of the Kinta Valley Workshop in Ipoh, Perak was also brought in the same year of 1958 with enrolment of 20 to produce handicrafts for sale.

Reflective of that change was the development of a direct service volunteer program in 1959.

Many of these developments took place when the Prime Minister, YAB Tun Hussein Onn, was the President of MAB from 1975-1990. Thus, by the time he left Malaya in the early 1960's, a firm and solid foundation had been laid for the work for the blind to continue in this country.

In line with its increasing professionalism, MAB hired a Director of Volunteer Services in 1961.

In 1970 the MAB initiated a scholarship fund to provide loans and grants to support the blind at the college and university level.

In 1974 MAB’s first Consumer Advisory Council was established under the leadership of Board President Albert K. Gayzagian.

MAB’s programs were reorganized in 1975 into two departments, Residential Services (the Deaf-Blind Program and the Life Learning Center) and Community Services, reflecting the agency’s philosophical move towards more community-based services.

In March 1976 The Permanent Charity Fund (now The Boston Foundation), funded a feasibility study for joint planning and programming among Greater Boston agencies serving the blind.

By 1979 MAB publications were talking about “a new spirit within the organization, and progress made pushing ahead with new and expanded services.” Aids & Appliances Stores opened in MAB’s three offices, selling items such as canes, kitchen aids, watches, and talking clocks.

These efforts culminated in the establishment of the Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital for which a fund-raising campaign was launched in 1983 by the MAB President, YAB Tun Hussein Onn.

In 1984 the foundation stone for the eye hospital was laid by His Highness, the Sultan of Selangor on September 22.

The first computers arrived in 1985, partially funded by the Digital Equipment Corporation.

The Worcester office celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 1986.

His Highness also launched the hospital at its grand opening in 1987.

The agency hired a Development Director in 1988 and began to slowly build an organizational culture committed to raising the funds needed to support its programs.

With regards to I.T, computer literacy courses were first introduced to the GTC in 1989.

A further boost was given to the fund when in 1991 the Institute of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) made available an annual grant to the Tun Hussein Onn Memorial Scholarship Fund which was set up in that year.

(left) Bob Ottaway, MAB President 1992 presenting Ernie Harwell the 1992 Lifetime Achievement Award.

1993 saw the First ASEAN Seminar on Computer Techology for the Blind organised by MAB in Kuala Lumpur.

Finally, in March 1996, the hospital attained national status and became known as the Tun Hussein Onn National Eye Hospital.

Thus, in 1997 the GTC, Braille Library, Placement Service and Headquarters moved into the complex which was officially opened by His Majesty, the Yang Di Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Ja'afar Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

Then in 1998 all the welfare services were categorised under the MAB Welfare Unit with a welfare officer to be in charge.

2000 Michigan Census enlists Michigan stations for assistance through the MAB’s NCSA program.

June 2001 – MAB members complete a survey and strategic plan that helps create a new mission for the MAB.

(right) MAB Chairman 2002 Curt Smith presents the 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award to Joe Blake.

January 1, 2003 – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm is sworn in as Michigan’s 47th Governor.

March 2004 – MAB partners with MAPB to kick off the “Michigan DTV for Me” campaign to prepare Michigan broadcasters and citizens for the impending transition to Digital Television.

July 2005 – MAB launches the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee (MABPAC). September 2005 – MAB and Michigan stations join Governor Granholm with the Michigan Cares, Michigan Gives public service campaign to aid victims of the recent hurricanes.

The 2006 Gubernatorial Debates between Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Richard DeVos involved many MAB members.

November 2007 – MAB launches “Countdown to 2-17-09 The Digital Transition” campaign.

January 2008 – MAB introduces the new electronic form of the MAB newsletter.