Sandpoint resident seeks reappointment to Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Bridal Raukenheimer of Sandpoint asked the Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee on an unnamed meeting day for support for her reappointment to the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Raukenheimer told the committee she lost vision in her right eye “overnight on 01/29/2003” and lost most of the left eye over the following nine months. She said staff from the commission provided in-home training and assistive technology that allowed her to continue working, including a talking computer and smartphone, audible GPS, a cane and a guide dog. “Most importantly, I was given the confidence that I could remain independent and that I could have a successful career,” she said.

Raukenheimer described 18 years of prior service on the commission and said her experience with budgeting and program evaluation would help the board promote employment and independence among blind and visually impaired Idahoans. She answered questions from senators about medical causes of her vision loss, saying doctors had told her optic nerves had atrophied and that capillary clotting likely caused the loss, and she described adaptive strategies she uses for daily life, including skiing with a guide.

Committee members asked follow-up questions about the commission’s services and about Raukenheimer’s perspective as a long-serving board member. The chair told Raukenheimer the committee would not vote on the reappointment that day; the committee will vote on the nomination at the next meeting.

The committee also recognized visiting physicians from Full Circle Health and the Boise Family Medicine residency program but had no testimony on the reappointment.

Raukenheimer concluded by thanking the committee for the opportunity to appear and said she looked forward to any questions at the next meeting.