4 - r f-2 Michigan Eiployment Institution for the Blind Saginaw, W. S., Michigan "While stressing the difficulty of fitting blind people for the business competition of the world, Mr. Edward E. Allen, Director of Perkins Institution for the Blind at Watertown, Mass., pleads for a better understanding of what blind people can do. 'The pity most people give them', he says, 'is not helpful-it is destructive rather than constructive'. The proverb 'They can who think they can' applies very well to the blind at school; but after graduating the proverb should read 'They can what the public thinks they can'." KEEP THIS LEAFLET The Michigan Employment Institution for the Blind was founded in 1903 for the benefit of the adult blind of Michigan. It furnishes training to physically and mentally competent blind or partially blind adults between the ages of 18 and 60, in various arts and trades whereby they may become wholly or partially selfsupporting. It serves as a working home for those persons, who, having completed their period of apprenticeship, wish to remain at the institution as regular employees in the Broom-making, Brush-making, Chair-caning or Cedar Oil Mop-making departments. A Free Lending Library for the Blind is maintained. This consists of 6,000 volumes in four different styles of raised print. Blind people in every section of the State can, therefore, avail themselves of the best literary and musical productions, both current and classical. An Employment and Information Bureau is operated for the benefit of the blind throughout Michigan. Individual vocational guidance and placement service is thereby afforded without cost to the recipients. BROOMS The institution operates the largest broom factory in Michigan, with a capacity of 100 dozen per day. Our line is complete, the quality high and prices attractive. Blind men become very proficient at broom-making. We have several broommakers with over twenty years of experience. We do not sell to, neither do we have any blind people whatsoever peddling our product. We have ample work in our broom factory and in our Cedar Oil mop plant for all blind workmen. CHAIR CANING We recane a large number of chairs each month, this work being done by blind girls at the Institution and is of excellent quality. A standard price of 4 cents per hole is charged for this work, and the cost for a chair can easily be figured by counting the number of holes around the outside of the seat, through the wooden rim of the chair. Chairs for recaning having pressed bottom seats require the services of a skilled sighted carpenter and prices range from $4.00 upward, depending on size of seat. This type of chair can be bored here at the institution for regular caning for a slight charge, and the rate of 4 cents per hole for caning would then apply. CEDAR OIL MOP-MAKING This line has been taken up only recently. It is closely associated with the broom industry and will work out to good advantage. An excellent standard of quality will be maintained. A HIGH ACT OF SERVICE Remember our industrial work is accomplished almost wholly by the blind. Each piece represents more than the manufacturing of a mere article. It is a result of the patience and industry of persons who are most unfortunately handicapped and who are struggling bravely to overcomne this handicap. When you purchase a useful article manufactured at our institution, you are buying a measure of contentment for someone who is less fortunate than yourself; you are rendering one of the easiest, simplest, yet highest acts of service possible. The blind people at the Employment Institution are well provided for in every way. They are industrious and happy. The daily paper is read each evening by sighted readers, thereby encouraging the blind to keep in touch with modern events. Our sightless workers take pride in what they are doing and ask only that the good people of Michigan "help them to help themselves" by patronizing their institution. I;