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

Bridal Rovenheimer, a Sandpoint resident, appeared before the Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee to discuss her gubernatorial reappointment to the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Rovenheimer told the committee she lost the vision in her right eye overnight on Jan. 29, 2003, and most of the vision in her left eye over the following nine months. "Staff from the commission traveled to my home and taught me to use the technology I would need to be able to continue my work," she said. She told senators she now uses screen‑reading software, a talking smartphone and audible GPS cues and that she was taught to use a cane and later obtained a guide dog.

Rovenheimer said the commission’s services allowed her to keep working and remain independent. "Most importantly, I was given the confidence that I could remain independent and that I could have a successful career," she said. She said she has served on the commission for about 18 years and that her experience with budgets and program evaluation would continue to be useful to the board.

Senator Harris asked physicians’ conclusions about the cause of Rovenheimer’s vision loss; Rovenheimer said doctors had found optic nerve atrophy and suspected clogged capillaries had deprived the nerves of nutrients. She said her remaining vision is a very small central dot.

Committee members thanked Rovenheimer and asked a few personal questions, including about skiing at Schweitzer and a question passed from a colleague in her area. The committee chair said the panel will not vote on the reappointment that day and will instead vote the following day.

No formal action on the reappointment was taken during the hearing; committee members will record a vote at the next meeting.